Main Roads Wheatbelt South Region

Brookton Highway Upgrade (221.6 –226.0 SLK)

Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan

June 2005 Contents

Executive Summary 1

1. Introduction 4

2. Project Description and Justification 6

3. Environmental Impacts and Management 9 3.1 Natural Environment 9 3.2 Social Environment 19 3.3 Pre•construction Phase 23 3.4 Construction Phase 23

4. Consultation 27 4.1 Adjacent Landowners 27 4.2 Environmental Protection Authority 27 4.3 Department of Conservation and Land Management 27

5. Environmental Approvals 29 5.1 Commonwealth Government 29 5.2 Western Australian Government 29

6. Environmental Compliance and Monitoring 30

7. References 31

Table Index Table 1 Brookton Highway Widening and Realignment Project Key Characteristics Table 6 Table 2 Vegetation Communities intersected by the Brookton Highway• Corrigin Upgrade (After Beard, 1980). 11 Table 3 Vegetation Type, Extent and Conservation Status 13

Figure Index Figure 1 Project Locality Plan Figure 2 Reserve Boundaries Figure 3 Project Design and Aerial Figure 4 Gorge Rock Re•alignment Option

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219.6•226.0 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Appendices A Project Environmental Aspects Table B Environmental Management Responsibilities and Actions Table (Environmental Management Plan) C Bush Forever (2000) Vegetation Condition Rating of Site Vegetation D Photographs of the Project Area

E Appendix E F List of Declared Rare and Priority Flora Potentially Occuring in the Project Area

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219.6•226.0 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Executive Summary

GHD Pty Ltd (GHD) was commissioned by Main Roads WA Wheatbelt South Region (Main Roads) to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EIA & EMP) for the proposed upgrade of a seven kilometre section of the Brookton Highway (221.6 – 226.0 SLK) located 17 km east of Corrigin.

The project under assessment was included within the Brookton Highway (Corrigin to Kalgarin) project which was formally referred to the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) by Main Roads in May 2003 (EPA reference CRN 188905). The EPA set a level of assessment at the level of Not Assessed – Public Advice Given. Two appeals were raised against the proposed level of assessment by members of the community. Due to the timing of the appeals resolution process and Main Roads road construction timing the proposal was subsequently withdrawn from the assessment process by Main Roads.

This EIA & EMP has been prepared to:

» Describe the significant aspects of the existing project environment;

» Detail the primary environmental impacts of the proposed roadworks, and

» Provide actions to manage and minimise the identified environmental impacts. The proposed roadworks consist of widening 3.45 km of the existing road on its present alignment and a 0.95 km re•alignment through Water Reserve 9 425 and Recreation and Hall Reserve 18 318. The land requirement from Reserves 9 425 and 18 318 is 4.7 ha from a total of 91.7 ha. No land will be required or impacted from the adjacent “A” Class Gorge Rock Nature Reserve (Reserve 16 714).

Main Roads considered an alternative alignment to the proposed works to minimise impacts on Reserves 18 318 and 9 425. This alternative route south of the reserve areas was considered unacceptable for the following reasons:

» The alternative re•alignment would cross a watercourse located to the south twice. This watercourse is identified by DoE as an Environmentally Sensitive Area and would require the construction of two floodways at the crossing point;

» The alternative option would result in significant land acquisition and severance impacts on private property. Land owners are expected not to agree to the land acquisition. Land acquisition and compensation costs are are expected in the vicinity of $200 000;

» The alternative alignment would require 3.7 km of additional road to be constructed; and

» Estimated additional costs of $470 000 for roadworks and intersections, and $400 00 for floodways. Main Roads also considered the option of widening the existing highway on its current alignment rather than a re•alignment. This option was considered unacceptable due to the road’s poor horizontal geometry (i.e. sharp curve), which would not improve road safety at the site. The vegetation of the project area was assessed during the Spring of 2005 conforming to methodologies stipulated in the Bush Forever’s Vegetation Condition Rating System (Department of Environmental Protection 2000). It is anticipated that some 2.43 ha of native vegetation will be cleared to provide for the

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 1 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan proposed roadworks. Of the expected clearing impact approximately 34% (0.82 ha) is of vegetation in good condition (Bush Forever Condition 3), 36 % (0.88 ha) is of moderate condition (Bush Forever Condition 4) while the remaining 30% (0.73 ha) of vegetation could be described as degraded to severely degraded (cleared) (Bush Forever Condition 5•6). The remainder of the roadworks footprint is 0.6 ha which is currently cleared land.

The vegetation of the project area can be considered as four vegetation associations based on the vegetation decriptions of Shepherd et al (2002). All four of these vegetation associations are considered to be poorly regionally represented, being below the 30% threshold level set by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA, 2000).

Main Roads propose to widen the existing 20m wide road reserve to 60m where it traverses private property, with the widened reserve being revegated with endemic native vegetation. It is expected that approximately 6 ha of widened road reserve and redundant sections of Brookton Highway and the Bullaring Gorge Rock Road will be available for revegetation at the completion of roadworks.

Based on flora surveys in 2000 and 2004 it is expected that five Priority 4 Metallic Flowered Eremophila (Eremophila veneta) plants and two Priority 4 Daviesia purpurascens will be taken by the roadworks.

A search of CALM’s Threatened Ecological Communities database revealed that no such communties are believed to occur within the project area.

A search of CALM’s Threatened and Priority Fauna species database identified the following species of conservation significance as potentially occuring within the project area: » Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata);

» Peregrin Falcon (Falco peregrinus);

» Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis); and

» White•browed babbler (Pomatastomus temporalis). In addition, Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris), although not identified within the CALM database search, has been observed throughout the WA Wheatbelt.

No mallefowl nest sites were identified within the, or in close proximity to the project area. The works will require the removal of 18 potential Carnaby’s Cockatoo nesting trees and should be timed to avoid the nesting period for this species. After consideration of the fauna habitat to be impacted by roadworks, fauna species mobility and habitat preference, it is considered unlikely that any of the local populations of these threatened or specially protected fauna species will suffer major impacts or their populations be put at threat by the proposed works.

Dieback disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi) is not considered to be an issue within this project as the project area falls within a rainfall zone of less than 400 mm (Dieback Consultative Council, 2000).

A variety of weed species were observed during the 2000 and 2004 vegetation surveys of the project area. Most are pasture grasses which have spread from neighbouring paddocks and displaced native

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 2 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan groundcovers. No Declared Weeds listed under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act (1926) were recorded within the site.

An Aboriginal Heritage Survey of the Brookton Highway between Corrigin and Hyden was conducted for Main Roads in 2000. One previously recorded archaeological site (Site ID 5444) was identified in close proximity to the project area. This site will not be impacted by the proposed works. The ethnographic survey, conducted in consultation with local Aboriginal community group members identified a new site • the Gorge Rock Camp and Hunting Grounds north of the existing highway. This site is not expected to be impacted by roadworks, although may be disturbed by the possible develeopment of a construction camp at the Gorge Rock Hall site. The Ethnographic survey resulted in two conditions being set by the community regarding the Gorge Rock Hall Site and Site S810 ‘Gorge Rock’. These conditions have been included a management measures in the EIA and EMP.

According to the Heritage Commission of Western Australia, four Heritage listed places were identified within the vicinity of the project, north of the existing highway within Reserve 18 318. None of these sites are expected to be impacted by roadworks.

As no issues or impacts considered to be of National Environmental Significance were identified during the preparation of this Environmental Impact Assessment, it is believed that the project does not require referral to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment under the provisions of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

Due to the clearing of poorly regionally represented vegetation and the fact that two appeals were made to the previously determined level of environmental assessment for the Corrigin to Hyden project, the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) may wish to consider this widening and re•alignment project. As such, Main Roads should refer the project to the EPA under the provisions of the WA Environmental Protection Act (1986).

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 3 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 1. Introduction

GHD Pty Ltd (GHD) were commissioned by Main Roads WA Wheatbelt South Region (Main Roads) to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EIA and EMP) for the proposed upgrading and realignment of a section of Brookton Highway, in the vicinity of Gorge Rock, east of Corrigin. Main Roads has been progressively upgrading Brookton Highway between Corrigin and Hyden (202 – 310 SLK) over recent years as funding has become available. These roadworks are a continuation of the Brookton Highway upgrade that was commenced at Armadale in the early 1990s and has progressively moved towards the east.

Main Roads proposes to upgrade a 4.4 km section of the Brookton Highway located 221.6 – 226.0 km east of Perth, and some 17 km east of Corrigin. The roadworks proposed involve the widening of the road formation and seal width on 3.45 km of the existing alignment and a 0.95 km re•alignment of the highway between 221.65 – 222.60 SLK. The location of the re•alignment is adjacent to the Gorge Rock Nature Reserve (Reserve 16 714) and will require the acquisition of land from Water Reserve 9425 vested in the Water and Rivers Commission (now Department of Environment) and Hall Site and Recreation Reserve 18 318 vested in the Shire of Corrigin. The project area is shown at Figure 1 and the Reserve areas at Figure 2.

It should be recognised that the Brookton Highway (Corrgin to Kalgarin) project that includes the works subject to this EIA and EMP, was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) by Main Roads in May 2003 (EPA reference CRN 188905). The EPA determined that the project be assessed at the level of Not Assessed – Public Advice Given. Two appeals were raised against the proposed level of assessment. Due to the timing of the appeals resolution process and Main Roads road construction program the proposal was subsequently withdrawn from the assessment process by Main Roads in December 2003.

This EIA and EMP has been prepared congruent with Main Roads brief for the project and:

» Describes the significant aspects of the existing project environment

» Details the primary environmental and social impacts of the proposed works, and

» Details actions to manage and minimise the identified impacts. The EIA and EMP has been prepared based on:

» Discussions with MRWA Project Manager

» Previous consultation with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Service Unit

» A Declared Rare and Prioroty flora species search of the project area by botanists from the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM)

» A Declared Rare and Priority flora species survey of the project area by GHD in Spring 2004

» Inspection of the project site; and

» A relevant literature and database review.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 4 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental and social aspects identified as requiring consideration during the proposed roadworks addressed in this report are:

» Reserve areas • Gorge Rock Nature Reserve (16714), Water Reserve 9425 and Gorge Rock Hall Reserve 18318

» Vegetation – Rare Flora, Threatened Ecological Communities and vegetation clearing

» Weed Management

» Drainage

» Dieback Disease

» Topsoil Management

» Fauna

» Aboriginal Heritage

» European Heritage

» Land use

» Land acquisition and fencing

» Visual amenity

» Contaminated sites; and

» Construction phase impacts – Damage to public property, noise and vibration, Gorge Rock Hall site, dust, traffic safety and access, fire management, fuel and chemical storage, and rubbish disposal.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 5 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 2. Project Description and Justification

2.1 Project Justification Brookton Highway is a major inter•regional road route linking Perth and Esperance to the Wheatbelt. In addition to heavy vehicles transporting freight and local traffic movements, Brookton Highway supports high levels of tourist traffic in buses and cars accessing the attractions around Hyden. The current condition of Brookton Highway between Corrigin and Karlgarin (seal width and road geometry) is considered by Main Roads and Austroads standards to be sub•standard for both traffic volumes and vehicle mix. This section of Brookton Highway was identified within the Community Prioritisation Workshop 2 (Yeomans Consulting, 2002) as the second priority within the Brookton Highway Upgrade Strategy.

The upgrade of this section of the highway is urgently required as a consequence of its recent traffic crash history and it is now considered by Main Roads to be a “Black Spot” project. Over the 2000 – 2005 period four major crashes have occurred within the project area resulting in three fatalities from two separate crashes, one hospitalisation and one major property damage.

2.2 Project Description The proposed works described in this EIA and EMP involve the upgrading of a 3.45 km section of narrow seal road and the realignment of a 0.95 km section of highway to remove a poor standard left hand curve.

The highway upgrade project is summarised in the Key Characteristics Table below:

Table 1 Brookton Highway Widening and Realignment Project Key Characteristics Table

ISSUE DETAIL

Roadworks length 4.4 Km

Widening / Re•alignment 221.60 – 221.65 • widening of RHS (4m clearing of remnant roadside vegetation) 221.65 • 222.60 SLK – Realignment on south of existing alignment (20m clearing of vegetation within vegetated Reserves and cleared pasture land) 222.60 • 226.00 SLK – widening of LHS (4m clearing of remnant roadside vegetation)

Formation width Current – 8 – 9m After widening – 10m

Typical batter slopes 1:3

Seal width Current – 3.7 – 5.4m On re•alignment and after widening existing road – 8m

Side Road Intersection 280m re•alignment of Bullaring – Gorge Rock Road

Clearing Approximately 2.43 ha of vegetation

Table drains 2m wide with 1:4 slope

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 6 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan ISSUE DETAIL

Land acquisition Water Reserve Reserve 9425 – 1.4 ha Hall Site and Recreation Reserve 18 318 • 2.8 ha Private property 8.4 ha

The project area occurs entirely within the Shire of Corrigin and traverses an undulating landscape of low relief, which rises very gently to the east. The 0.95 km re•alignment traverses the vegetated Water Reserve 9425 and Hall and Recreation Reserve 18 318 that are vested within the Department of Environment (formerly Water and Rivers Commission) and the Shire of Corrigin respectively. The proposed re•alignment and reserve areas are shown at Figure 3.

The project site does not occur within an area identified by the Department of the Environment as an ‘Environmentally Sensitive Area’ (ESA), although a creekline identified as an ESA occurs nearby to the south.

It is expected that 1.6 ha of remnant roadside vegetation will be directly impacted by the proposed works and 0.82ha of remnant vegetation within Reserves 18 318 and 9425. The clearing of vegetation for roadworks is recognised as the significant environmental impact of the project and may be considered to contravene the Environmental Protection Authority’s Position Statement No. 2 (2000).

As a part of the overall Brookton Highway (Corrgin to Hyden) Upgrade Strategy, Main Roads is expected to acquire some 228 ha of land for road reserve widening and that at least 90 ha of this land will be revegetated. Main Roads will also consider the purchase of severed portions of farmland adjacent to the highway for revegetation and inclusion into the road reserve or adjacent reserves as appropriate. At the site of this realignment the redundant sections of Brookton Highway will be revegetated and vested into the adjacent reserve area.

Overall the land acquisition and revegetation which has previously occurred and will continue occur as sections of roadworks are completed, is expected to offset the clearing impacts of the project and in the long term result in no net loss of vegetation, in line with the Environmental Protection Authority’s Position Statement No. 2 (2000). Due to the requirement to clear poorly regionally represented vegetation, the WA Environmental Protection Authority may wish to formally assess this project. Main Roads should refer this project to the EPA under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act (1986).

2.3 Alternative Options Considered Main Roads considered an alternative alignment to the proposed works as shown in Figure 4. This alternative route south of the reserve areas was considered unacceptable for the following reasons:

» The alternative re•alignment would cross a watercourse located to the south twice. This watercourse is identified by DoE as an Environmentally Sensitive Area and would require the construction of two floodways at the crossing point

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 7 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan » The alternative option would result in significant land acquisition and severance impacts on private property. Land owners are expected not to agree to the land acquisition. Land acquisition and compensation costs are expected to be in the vicinity of $200 000

» The alternative alignment would require 3.7 km of additional road to be constructed

» Estimated additional costs of $470 000 for roadworks and intersections, and $400 00 for floodways The additional cost of constructing 3.7 km of new road required for the alternative option meant the project would be unlikely to proceed due to the additional funding required; and Main Roads also considered the option of widening the existing highway on its current alignment rather than a re•alignment. This option was considered unacceptable due to the roads’ poor horizontal alignment (i.e. sharp curve), which would not improve road safety at the site.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 8 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 3. Environmental Impacts and Management

The following sections identify and discusses those environmental and social aspects considered relevant to the project and those issues considered necessary to describe the project site. This section also details actions necessary to adequately manage the impacts of roadworks. An Environmental Aspects Table detailing potential environmental impacts of the works is included at Appendix A. Relevant environmental management measures and responsibilities are summarised in an Environmental Management Responsibilities and Actions Table included at Appendix B. Appendix B is designed to be used as a ‘stand alone’ EMP during the design and implementation of the project.

3.1 Natural Environment

3.1.1 Climate The climate of the project area is best described as one of mild winters and hot summers. The closest Bureau of Meteorology weather•recording station to the project site is Corrigin. The recorded climate data at Corrigin is summarised below:

Corrigin Weather Station Mean Annual Maximum Temperature Range 32.5°C (January) to 15.2°C (July) Mean Annual Minimum Temperature Range 15.9°C (February) to 4.7°C (August) Mean Annual Rainfall 375.5 mm Mean Annual Raindays per year 85.1

(Source: Bureau of Meteorology – Climatic Averages for Australian Sites, 2005)

3.1.2 Geomorphology, Landform and Soils The project area occurs in the southwestern province of the Yilgarn Plateau (Beard, 1980). The Yilgarn Plateau is composed mainly of Archaean granite and gneiss with some altered volcanics and sediments. The project area occurs east of Corrigin where it is underlain by granitic rock, covered by alluvia in the major valleys. The granitic rocks vary considerably from relatively homogeneous granite to strongly foliated heterogeneous rocks including migmatite and gneiss, which are gradational in texture and composition (Beard, 1980). The Yilgarn Plateau has been eroded over time resulting in the soil profiles that are visible today.

The landscape today is gently undulating and of low relief except for the occasional granite outcrops which protrude above the surrounding landscape. Where these outcrops are absent, the country rock is deeply weathered and covered with a thick overburden of kaolinised material known as the ‘pallid zone’ which is capped either by soil or massive laterite, ironstone gravels and sand (Beard, 1980).

The soils of the Corrigin area are associated each with a particular position on the slope. The high ground is covered with yellow sands and ironstone gravels, middle and lower slopes with red earthy soils, and lower slopes and valley floors with alluvium and salt lake systems. Where granite outcrops

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 9 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan occur, such as at Gorge Rock, there may be much bare rock surrounded by shallow stony and gritty sandy soils (Beard, 1980).

The soils of the project area were mapped and described by Northcote et al. (1967) as being hard•setting loamy soils with mottled yellow clayey subsoils. These soils occur on gently undulating to rolling terrain with some ridges and uneven slopes with lateritic mesas and butts. The soils are most commonly hard alkaline yellow or red mottled soils, either of which can be locally dominant. Less common are hard• setting loamy soils with mottled yellow or red clayey subsoils (Northcote et al., 1967).

3.1.3 Rivers, Wetlands and Drainage The Corrigin area is characterised by a tendency for main drainage lines to become disorganised into chains of salt lakes (Beard, 1980). This occurs as a result of small vague channels that only flow after heavy rains, and lead into salt lakes which are located along the lines of ancient watercourses. The project area is west of one such dominant line that includes the Lakes Jilakin, Kondinin and Kurrenkutten (Beard, 1980). The project area drains northeast, through a minor drainage channel, towards the salt lake chain, some 11 km northeast of the site.

Main Roads should design the works to maintain existing surface water drainage patterns by maintaining all existing cross road culverts and extend or replace when required. Several new culverts will also need to be constructed as part of the road works.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Designer / Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.1.4 Reserve Areas The proposed roadworks traverse and also require land from two reserve areas south of Gorge Rock. Both of these reserves support remnant native vegetation which will be impacted by roadworks as detailed below. The existing Brookton Highway road reserve traverses the Gorge Rock Nature Reserve where roadworks will be limited to within the existing road reserve. As such there will be no impact on the nature reserve area itself.

Water Reserve 9425 Reserve 9425 is a Class C Reserve of 32.7 ha, vested with the Department of Environment (formerly Water and Rivers Commission) for the purpose of water. The land requirement for the new road reserve is 1.4 ha.

Reserve 18 318 Reserve 18 318 is a Class C Reserve of approximately 31.5 ha, vested within the Shire of Corrigin for the purposes of a Hall Site and Recreation. This Reserve is the site of the Gorge Rock Hall, which is listed by the WA Heritage Council and the Shire of Corrigin’s Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places. The hall is approximately 100m from the road, and is not expected to be impacted by the proposed roadworks. Main Roads land requirement for the new road reserve is 2.8 ha.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 10 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan In order to offset the required clearing impact Main Roads will revegetate the combined 720 m long redundant sections of Brookton Highway and Bullaring Gorge Rock Road. Once rehabilitated these areas of redundant land will be revested into the adjacent reserves.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Designer / Main Roads Construction Manager

3.1.5 Vegetation, Rare Flora, Threatened Ecological Communities and Vegetation Clearing

Vegetation The project area traverses a small section of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. The Vegetation Survey of Western Australia: The Vegetation of the Corrigin Area by Beard (1980) delineates three vegetation communities crossed by the project area as detailed at Table 2. These communities occur within the Hyden vegetation system as delineated by Beard and exhibit a mosaic character • where the vegetation changes quite rapidly within a few hundred metres depending upon soil type and topographic location.

Table 2 Vegetation Communities intersected by the Brookton Highway• Corrigin Upgrade (After Beard, 1980).

Vegetation Community Beard Code Brief Description

Eucalypt Woodlands e6,8 Mi Medium woodland: York gum and Salmon gum

Scrub•heath and thicket xSZc/c3Sc Mosaic: Shrublands: scrub•heath / Shrublands: Allocasuarina campestris thicket

Mallee with Woodland e10,27Si/e8,34Mi Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum & Patches gimlet / Shrublands; mallee scrub, redwood & black marlock

The vegetation of the project area was assessed according to the State Government of Western Australia (2000) vegetation condition rating during a site visit on 10th and 11th of September 2001 and again on the 18th of November 2004. The State Government of Western Australia (2000) Vegetation Condition Rating and assessment of the site vegetation is described in Appendix C. The condition and vegetation description over the project area is detailed below while photographs of the project area are included in Appendix D.

The vegetation of the Reserves 9425, 16 714 and 18 318 has also been described by CALM (Durell, 2001) as:

» Open woodland (trees 15– 30m) of Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) over open low woodland (trees < 5m) of Acacia acuminata;

» Low forest (trees < 5m) of Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba (York Gum);

» Heath (Shrubs 1.5 – 2.0m) of Allocasuarina campestris (Sheoak); and

» Open low woodland (trees < 5m) of Acacia acuminata (Jam).

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 11 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan During the vegetation and flora survey conducted in November 2004, the vegetation within these Reserves was described as being of good quality, and even though it is a small area, it is rare that such vegetation with intact understorey generally unifested by weeds.

Declared Rare and Priority Flora Main Roads Special Environmental Areas Register and Main Roads ground markers indicate the presence of two Priority Flora populations within the project area. A survey for Declared Rare and Priority Flora within the reserve areas was conducted by CALM in November 2000 (Durell, 2001). The survey considered an area 100m either side of the re•alignment and was also timed to provide for all previously recorded species to be located whether in flower or not.

During the survey none of the expected DRF or Priority Flora species were located within the survey corridor, although CALM noted that due to poor rainfall during September and October 2000 conditions were not optimal for efficient surveying of the Priority 2 species Thysanotus brachyanthera. However this species had only been previously identified in Kalgarin Nature Reserve and is not expected to occur within the project area. This species was not observed in the project area during the 2004 flora survey.

During the 2000 CALM survey two Priority 4 Flora populations were located within the project area. Both had been previously known and marked by Main Roads. Both of these species, Daviesia purpurascens and Eremophila veneta ms., and their locations, are discussed below.

Daviesia purpurascens Daviesia purpurascens is listed as a Priority 4 species (CALM, 2004). A population of ten individual plants occurs some 700m east of Brookton Highway / Bullaring Gorge Rock Road intersection, over an 80m section of the current roadside. Nine of the individual plants occur on the southern road verge (RHS) and the remaining individual plant on the northern verge (LHS). The proposed roadworks are expected to take two individuals of this species.

Metallic Flowered Eremophila (Eremophila veneta ms.) At the time of the CALM survey, 2000, this species was listed as being Declared Rare Flora. Since that time this species has been re•classsified as a Priority 4 species (CALM, 2004).

The previously recorded population of five individual Eremophila veneta plants occurs some 500m west of the Brookton Highway / Lake Grace Road intersection at 225.70 – 225.83 SLK on the northern side (LHS) of the highway. It is expected that these five plants will be taken through roadworks.

2004 Flora Survey

Prior to the 2004 flora survey GHD obtained a Declared Rare and Priority Flora list for the project area from CALM. This listing determined that five (5) Declared Rare Flora species and twelve (12) Priority Flora species have been recorded, or are thought to occur, in the vicinity of the project area. A list of these species has been included as Appendix E.

During the 2004 survey, populations of the two previously identified priority species, Daviesia purpurascens and Eremophila veneta ms., were not observed. However, two Daviesia purpurascens plants were noted in shrubland on gravely sand at 226. 00 SLK. It is expected that these two plants will

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 12 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan be lost through the proposed clearing for road works. Of the remaining species listed in the 2004 Declared Rare and Priority Flora database search, none were observed during the November 2004 survey.

Threatened Ecological Communities The Department of Conservation and Land Management also undertook a search of the Threatened Ecological Communities database. The search identified that no Threatened Ecological Communities within the project area.

Vegetation Clearing It is anticipated that some 2.43 ha of native vegetation will be cleared to provide for the proposed roadworks. Of the expected clearing impact approximately 34% (0.82 ha) is of vegetation of good condition(Bush Forever Condition 3), 36 % (0.88 ha) is of moderate condition (Bush Forever Condition 4) while the remaining 30% (0.73 ha) of vegetation could be described as degraded to severely degraded (cleared) (Bush Forever Condition 5•6). The remainder of the roadworks footprint is 0.6 ha which is currently cleared land.

Regional Significance of the Vegetation The vegetation of the general area is represented throughout the Wheatbelt. A vegetation type is considered to be under•represented if there is less than 30 percent of its original pre•European distribution remaining. Table 4 details the expected clearing impact on native vegetation within the study area, their pre•European and current extent as determined by current Department of Agriculture remnant vegetation mapping.

Table 3 Vegetation Type, Extent and Conservation Status

Vegetation Proposed Pre•European Current Association Description % Remaining Clearing Extent (Ha) Extent (Ha) Number (ha)

Medium woodland; Salmon Gum 8 6325 574 9.1 0.82 and Gimlet

Mosaic: Shrublands; scrub• heath (South East Avon) / 955 30 926 3193 10.3 0.88 Shrublands; Allocasuarina campestris thicket

Shrublands; bowgada and jam 1023 61 857 2432 3.9 0.732 scrub with scattered York Gum

From this table it can be seen that all of the communities are under some level of threat, with all associations technically ‘endangered’ as they have less than 10% remaining.

It should be recognised that it is difficult to precisely match the vegetation communities within the project area, and the clearing impact, with the vegetation communities as defined by Shepherd et al. (2002) and the accuracy of the data above cannot be guaranteed. However, many vegetation communities in the Wheatbelt have been heavily cleared and can be considered to be threatened. The proposed clearing for roadworks may be considered to be contrary to the Environmental Protection Authority’s Position Statement No. 2 – Clearing of Native Vegetation (EPA, 2000). Regardless, the EPA recognises that the

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 13 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan clearing of small areas of vegetation may be acceptable where alternative mechanisms for protecting biodiversity are addressed. In the case of this project, Main Roads did consider an alternative re• alignment, as shown at Figure 2, which was considered unacceptable on severence and economic grounds.

To offset the expected clearing impact, Main Roads proposes to widen the road reserve over much of the project area and revegetate the widened road reserve with native species as discussed in Section 3.1.6 below. It is estimated that over the Brookton Highway (Corrigin to Kalgarin) Upgrade some 90 ha of currently cleared land will be rehabilitated in the longer term to replace the 23 ha lost by clearing for roadworks. In this project area it is estimated that some 6 ha will be rehabilitated to replace the 2.43 ha lost by the proposed highway widening and realignment. The proposed revegetation of the widened road reserve can be considered congruent with the requirements and spirit of the Environmental Protection Authority’s Position Statement Number 2, (2000).

Main Roads has recently been granted an exemption to the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004, until January 2006 for minor road widening and re•alignment works where such clearing occurs outside an area identified as an ‘Environmentally Sensitive Area’. As noted above the project site does not occur within an Environmentally Sensitive Area. As such a ‘Clearing Permit’ is not required for this project if the clearing is completed before this date. It should also be noted that Main Roads is currently undertaking consultation with the DoE regarding a long term state wide Purpose Permit for road re•alignment and minor improvement works and it is likely this will be in place prior to the current exemption expiring.

Clearing for roadworks should be conducted as detailed below.

During roadworks, damage to existing remnant vegetation should be avoided as far as is practicable. Clearing should be restricted to 2 m from the edge of roadworks, or 6 m from the edge of the road seal, whichever is greater.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Prior to the start of clearing operations the clearing line should be marked on the ground and checked by the Construction Manager to ensure that the clearing areas are correctly defined. Trees, of particular significance, to be conserved are to be clearly marked prior to the commencement of clearing.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Trees to be removed should be felled in a manner that ensures they fall within the approved clearing area.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Mature trees especially should be conserved as far as practicable and should not be disturbed for temporary works such as access tracks, spoil areas or site offices. Vehicles and equipment should not be parked or driven over tree roots.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Any damage caused by the Construction Contractor to the vegetation, landforms or fauna habitat outside of the works area should be rehabilitated at the contractor’s cost. If environmental damage beyond the

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 14 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan works area is identified Main Roads WA should withhold the payment of monies due to the contractor, where the extent of the damage exceeds $5000, determined at the following rates:

» For damaged trees greater than 3 m in height • $1000 each;

» For damaged trees and shrubs up to 3 m in height • $500 each; and

» For damaged grassland, open soil areas, rock faces and landforms, and habitats in general • $10 per square metre.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor All cleared timber should be disposed of off•site in private property. Cleared vegetation should not be disposed of in Reserves 18 318, 9425 or 16 714, or vegetated private property. No burning of cleared vegetation should be permitted within the road reserve.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.1.6 Revegetation and Rehabilitation It is expected that some 6 ha of road reserve will be available for revegetation at the completion of roadworks and land acquisition for this project including the redundant sections of Brookton Highway and Bullaring Gorge Rock Road, and some of the currently cleared private propoerty

Main Roads should prepare and implement a specific Rehabilitation and Landscape Plan for the project.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Revegetation will include both direct seeding and hand planting of seedlings. Seed and seedlings should be ‘provenance true’ and sourced from local seed stock. Revegetation of these areas will be initiated and funded by Main Roads.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Species used in revegetation should be locally occurring indigenous plant species, and include Salmon Gum, Wandoo and proteaceous species including Banksia, Hakea, Callistemon, Dryandra and Lambertia.

3.1.7 Weed Management The biological survey completed by Hart Simpson (1992) noted that for much of the road reserve within the project area, oats were dominant and ranged from 20 to 80% of the ground cover. At one site (SLK 222.2 – 222.5) the weed species African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) was identified with ground coverage of 0 to 20%. Within the reserves it was generally noted that no particular species dominated but Avena sp. and annual grasses were common in disturbed areas.

During the 2004 site survey none of the weed species observed are listed on the Department of Agriculture’s Declared Plant List (2004) regulated under the provisions of the WA Agriculture and Related Resources Control Act (1960).

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 15 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan As the farmland sections of the project area are surrounded by pasture, weed invasion is expected to continue to occur long term. Machinery and vehicle hygiene measures described below will avoid the inadvertent spread of weeds within and beyond the project area.

Environmental management measures to be adopted during roadworks for weed management should include:

» All site employees should be advised of the hygiene measures as part of their induction

» All clearing, topsoil stripping/spreading and gravel cartage activities should be conducted under dry soil conditions

» Dust adhering to the sides of vehicles does not need to be removed

» All road construction plant and machinery should be cleaned free of all soil and vegetative material prior to arrival and prior to departing the project site

» All road construction plant and machinery should be cleaned free of all soil and vegetative material when entering the section 221 650 • 222 220 SLK for the first time or moving from the farmland sections to this section; and

» Clean down should comprise of the use of a brush and/or compressed air to remove clods of soil and/or soil water slurry. A metal bar or spade should be used to remove compacted soil where necessary. These vehicle and machinery hygiene measures will ensure that no soil pathogens or additional weed species are transported to, or from, each section of construction works.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor To minimise the risk of the spreading of weeds within the reserves it is suggested that clearing of vegetation within the reserves (section 221 650 • 222 220 SLK) occurs before any clearing of roadside vegetation in the adjacent road reserve.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Longer•term management of weeds within the project area will be conducted during the annual herbicide and weed management program conducted by Main Roads Term Network Contractor.

Action: Main Roads Term Network Contractor

3.1.8 Dieback Disease Dieback disease (Phytopthora cinnamomi) is not considered to be an issue on this project as the site occurs in a rainfall zone of less than 400 mm annual rainfall (Dieback Consultative Council, 2000). As noted in Section 3.1.1 above Corrigin has a mean annual rainfall of 375.5 mm per annum, and consequently dieback is not considered an issue for this project.

3.1.9 Topsoil Management After the completion of clearing activities topsoil should be stripped to a depth of 100 mm from the works area and be stored in stockpiles of less than 1 m in height. At the completion of roadworks the topsoil should then be respread evenly to a depth of at least 100 mm over disturbed soil surfaces.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 16 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Topsoil should be respread within the section from which it was stripped. Topsoil from the farmland section of the site (223.50 – 226.00 SLK) should not be respread anywhere throughout the vegetated reserves (221.65 – 223.50 SLK).

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Unsuitable material and spoil removed from the site should be disposed of appropriately and not within the reserve areas.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.1.10 Rare Fauna Hart Simpson (1992) conducted an intensive fauna survey of the road reserve of Brookton Highway, between Corrigin and Karlgarin, in 1992. However, the results of the opportunistic fauna surveys at five sites and along the existing road alignment did not target the current project area. Over the entire survey of 95.6 km, 10 species of reptiles, 48 species of birds, 3 species of native mammals and 3 species of introduced mammals were identified.

A search of CALM’s Threatened and Priority Fauna species database (CALM, 2004) identified the following species of conservation significance as possibly occurring within the project area:

Schedule 1 – Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) Once widely distributed across southern Australia the Malleefowl has suffered from habitat loss and predation by exotic species. The Malleefowl is generally rare in southern Australia preferring mallee woodlands and shrublands with abundant litter layer, which provides essential material for the construction of its nest mound. Malleefowl breed during the September to April period. The CALM database search indicated an old record near to the project area for this species. No mallefowl or mallefowl nests were identified during the 2004 site surveynor an additional search in May 2005 within the expected disturbance area.

Schedule 4 – Other Specially Protected Fauna

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Although identified as likely to occur within the project area this species is uncommon with a preference for rocky ledges, cliffs, watercourses or open woodland. This species requires abundant prey; secure nest sites and lack of human interference (Morcombe, 2003).

Priority Four – Taxa in need of monitoring

Australian bustard (Ardeotis australis) This species is uncommon and may occur in open or lightly wooded grasslands; open dry woodlands of mulga, mallee, heath (Morcombe, 2003). There is an old record near to the project area for this species.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 17 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan White•browed babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) This species of bird lives in Eucalypt forests and woodlands; forages on or near the ground for insects and seeds. Four individuals of this species were sighted in 1988 during the day, within Gorge Rock Nature Reserve.

Although not identified by this search of CALM’s Threatened and Priority Fauna species database (CALM, 2004) the Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) has been identified numerous times within the WA Wheatbelt, in the forests, woodlands, heathlands and nearby farms. As such this report will also consider this Schedule 1 species.

Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) Carnaby’s Cockatoo is scarce to patchily distributed within the Wheatbelt where it feeds on the seeds of proteaceous shrubs and eucalypts. In the non•breeding season it wanders in flocks to coastal areas but relies on the hollows of mature Salmon Gums and other eucalyptus for nesting – laying eggs on wood dust or chips with the hollows. The availability of suitable nesting sites is considered essential for the conservation of this species. Field observations, in conjunction with the vegetation and flora survey conducted in 2004, identified 21 potential nesting trees (Salmon Gum, Wandoo, Flooded Gum or Morrell >600 mm diametre), 18 with hollows or potential hollows within the clearing area. The clearing of these trees is not expected to threaten the survival of this species within the general area.

Roads are widely recognised as acting as artificial barriers to fauna movements (Andrews, 1990) in addition to the potential for injury and/or mortality as a result of vehicle / fauna collisions. However as the Brookton Highway currently exists through the project length the disturbance to fauna dispersal, and risk of death or injury from vehicle impacts is an existing scenario unlikely to be increased by road upgrading. The proposed realignment through Reserves 18 318 and 9425 will undoubtedly relocate the severance impact on the fauna movement/dispersal pathways, particularly for non•avian species from the current road location. However, the realignment brings the road further south in Reserve 18318 and in part, removes the road barrier from Reserve 9425, placing it into the adjacent cleared paddock.

Clearing required for the proposed roadworks, particularly the realignments through the Reserves, will result in a loss of approximately 2.43 ha of potential fauna habitat. Potential fauna impacts have been reduced by restricting clearing to the minimum necessary for the safe operation of the road.

Of the fauna species of conservation significance identified in the project area Carnaby’s Cockatoo, which relies on suitable nesting hollows in Eucalypts (especially Salmon Gums), is the most likely of these species to be impacted by the clearing required for the works. This impact will likely be over the long term until revegetated plantings reach adequate maturity to provide an alternative food source and nesting hollows.

The loss of Carnaby’s Cockatoo eggs or young should be avoided by conducting the required clearing during the non•breeding season – late October till late June.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor After consideration of the fauna habitat to be impacted by roadworks, fauna species mobility and habitat preferences it is considered unlikely that any of the local populations of threatened or specially protected

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 18 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan fauna populations identified by CALM will suffer major impact, or their populations put at threat by the proposed works.

3.2 Social Environment

3.2.1 Landuse Landuse adjacent to the project area consists of broad acre agriculture. This includes sheep, wheat and canola and reserves managed for differing purposes. The reserves occur alongside each other and comprise a large area of remnant vegetation. The impacts of the proposed roadworks upon these reserves have been discussed previously in Section 3.1.4.

Impacts on adjacent private property landuse should be kept to a practicable minimum during roadworks.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.2.2 Aboriginal Heritage

Archeaology Quartermaine Consultants conducted an Archaeological investigation of Aboriginal Sites along the Corrigin to Hyden section of Brookton Highway, in December 2000. Within the project area one previously recorded archaeological site was identified.

Site 5444 (S810) Gorge Rock / Marluk This site is a previously recorded artifact scatter on the south side of the road opposite Gorge Rock within three disused sand pits south of the Brookton Highway and east of Bullaring – Gorge Rock Road. The site contains five visable artifacts of quartz, dolerite and silcrete and is considered to be of low archaeological significance because of its small size, low number of artifacts, lack of lithic variety, large amount of disturbance and low stratigraphic potential. This site will not be impacted by proposed roadworks as the highway is proposed to be realigned to the south into the private property over the section that traverses this site. The recommendations of the archaeological survey, pertaining to this site, were that “no further archaeological work is recommended for this site as it is of low archaeological significance and located in a disturbed area” (Quartermaine, 2000).

Ethnography The Corrigin to Hyden section of Brookton Highway was also subjected to an Ethnographic Survey by Consulting Anthropologist Brad Goode in November 2000. The survey considered a corridor 100m either side of the existing Brookton Highway, the proposed re•alignment sections and the Gorge Rock Hall site.

The ethnographic survey included a search of the Department of Indigenous Affairs Heritage Sites Register and a site visit with seventeen persons who are representatives of the following local Aboriginal community groups:

» Mallee Aboriginal Corporation

» Noongar Native Title Claimant group (WC 96/070);

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 19 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan » Ballardong Native Title Claimant group (WC 97/056);

» Wom•Ber Native Title Claimant group (WC 96/105);

» Tjorlian Aboriginal Corporation;

» Tarrin Dorakin Aboriginal Corporation; and

» Choorilj Aboriginal Corporation. During the course of the ethnographic site survey the Gorge Rock Camp and Hunting Ground was identified as a previously unrecorded site of significance to the Aboriginal community. This site comprises the area of Reserve 18 318 to the west of Gorge Rock (including the Gorge Rock Hall) excluding a strip 100m wide along the existing Brookton Highway alignment. The site was used as a camp and hunting ground during the 1950•1970 period by Noongar families during their seasonal travels pursuing work.

Overall the Aboriginal community representatives consented to the proposed roadworks and the possible use of the Gorge Rock reserve as a temporary construction campsite. The following requests and recommendations were outcomes of the ethnographic survey:

» That MRWA consult further with representatives of the Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Native Title Claim and Ballardong Native Title Claim groups in respect to the use of Gorge Rock Hall site as a construction campsite; and that vegetation and ground disturbance in developing the camp be avoided; and

» The Ballardong Native Title Claimant group requested that Main Roads initiate archaeological monitoring of roadworks, in the vicinity of Site S810 ‘Gorge Rock’, including the re•alignment of the road south into the adjacent private property. Congruent with the recommendations of the Aboriginal heritage surveys of the Brookton Highway (Corrgin to Hyden) Main Roads should initiate archaeological monitoring by an appropriately qualified archaeologist during ground disturbing activities for roadworks in the vicinity of Site S810 ‘Gorge Rock’ ie over the section 221 650 – 222 900 SLK.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Main Roads will consult further with representatives of the Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Native Title Claim and Ballardong Native Title Claim groups in respect to the use of Gorge Rock Hall site as a construction campsite.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Main Roads will design and construct the works to avoid impact on the newly identified Aboriginal Site and previously recorded site S810 ‘Gorge Rock’.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Designer Should works impact the identified Aboriginal Heritage sites, including vegetation clearing or ground disturbance at the Gorge Rock Camp and Hunting Ground, Main Roads should seek approval from the Minister for Indigenous Affairs to disturb the site under the provisions of Section 18 of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972).

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 20 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Action: Main Roads Project Manager If during roadworks materials likely to be of interest to the Aboriginal community are uncovered then works should immediately cease within 50 m of the material and the Department of Indigenous Affairs advised immediately. If skeletal material is uncovered during works then the WA Police Service should also be advised immediately.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.2.3 European Heritage A review of the Australian Heritage Commission online database and the Australian Heritage Places Inventory online database shows that no Commonwealth listed heritage sites will be impacted by proposed roadworks.

The WA Heritage Council and the Shire of Corrigin’s Municipal inventories of Heritage Places list several sites located within the project area. These sites are liable to be impacted by land acquisition and/or, or the construction of a temporary construction camp at Gorge Rock. These sites are listed below:

» Gorge Rock Pool (Site No. 8242) – potential temporary impact;

» Gorge Rock Precinct (Site No. 8241) – potential temporary impact;

» Gorge Rock Hall (Site No. 592) – potential temporary impact; and

» Site of Gorge Rock Recreation Ground (Site No. 8243) – potential temporary impact. Due to its location, currently cleared areas and the availability of power the Gorge Rock Hall site is a potential site for a future temporary road construction camp. The use of the site for a temporary camp is not considered likely to impact in the long term on the Hall or nearby heritage sites.

Any development of the temporary campsite at Gorge Rock Hall Site should comply with the requirements of the Heritage of Western Australia Act (1990) and also be discussed with the Shire of Corrigin.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.2.4 Land Acquisition and Fencing Main Roads proposes to widen the existing nominal 20m wide road reserve to 60m and will endeavor to achieve the land acquirement through negotiation and agreement with individual landowners rather than through compulsory acquisition.

Main Roads has acquired 15 ha of private property for this project. Land for the widened reserve (based on a 60m road reserve) should be acquired under the provisions of the WA Land Administration Act (1997), which provides for financial compensation to affected landowners based on the current local market value and the area of land required.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 21 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Land Management Section Where additional land is required from private property the existing road reserve fence should be replaced by Main Roads with the type of fence to be determined in consultation with the individual landowners and be appropriate to the rural setting of the site.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Th acquisition of 4.2 ha from the Reserves 9425 and 18 318 required for the construction of the proposed realignment is currently in progress. Main Roads land requirement from these reserves should be the minimum necessary for the safe construction and operation of the road.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Acquisition of land from the reserve areas should take account of the Commonwealth Native Title Act (1993) requirements.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Land Management Section Once the roadworks are completed the redundant section of Brookton Highway, as well the corresponding road reserve will be ripped and rehabilitated according to Section 3.1.6. The rehabilitated area will then be vested back into the adjacent reserve.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Land Management Section

3.2.5 Visual Amenity With the Brookton Highway being an important tourist route between Perth and Hyden the visual character of the road is an important issue for tourists and tour operators. Through the project area the viewshed from the road varies from that of a cleared landscape with low hills, wide shallow valleys and low ridgelines to Gorge Rock, a granite outcrop, and remnant vegetation within the adjacent reserves.

The proposed roadworks, while improving road safety for tourist traffic, will result in the loss of some of its visual character through vegetation clearing. This impact will occur over the short to medium term until the replanted vegetation becomes suitably established. Revegetation methods are addressed in Section 3.1.6.

Main Roads should consider the visual impact of works during their design.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Designer Main Roads should constrain the extent of clearing required for roadworks to the minimum necessary for safe and efficient construction and operation of the road.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Designer / Main Roads Construction Manager

3.2.6 Contaminated Sites A brief investigation of the types of current land use and recent history of the project area indicates no likelihood of a contaminated site occurring within the project area. No evidence of industrial use or fuel storage centers / service stations were identified within the project area.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 22 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 3.3 Pre•construction Phase Service relocations such as power and communications lines may be required prior to the highway upgrade. These pre•construction works will be carried out by other agencies prior to commencement of roadworks. Environmental management measures detailed in this EIA and EMP that are applicable for the works relating to the service re•locations should be complied with by the relevant service provider.

Action/Responsibility: Main Roads Project Manager / Service Providers A copy of the EMP (Appendix B) should be provided to the various agencies and contractors responsible for the service relocations with a requirement to fulfill the specific environmental management measures during service re•location works.

Action/Responsibility: Main Roads Project Manager / Service Providers

3.4 Construction Phase The project area traverses a sparsely populated rural landscape. Within the project area there is a number of farmhouses set back from the highway, ranging in distances from approximately 150m up to 300m. As well as these private residences, the WA Heritage listed site, Gorge Rock Hall may be the site of a temporary construction campsite.

The impact of the proposed roadworks to adjacent landowners and through traffic will be minimised by the management of temporary environmental and social impacts that are likely to occur during the road construction phase. The following issues will need to be considered:

» Damage to Public property, noise and vibration

» The Gorge Rock Hall site

» Dust

» Traffic safety and access

» Fire management

» Fuel and chemical storage, and

» Rubbish disposal.

3.4.1 Damage to Public property, noise and vibration The Construction Contractor should nominate a person responsible for reviewing and monitoring all operations in order to prevent or minimise the impact of vibration, noise, dust and other forms of pollution on property and the public.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manage / Construction Contractor No private residences or buildings occur within 100m of the project area with the closest residence being within 150m. As such impacts on private property, vibration impacts and / or noise impacts from construction works are not expected to impact on adjacent landholders.

Regardless, the Construction Contractor is required to observe its obligations under the Environmental Protection Act (1986), the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations (1997) and Section 6 of

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 23 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Australian Standard 2436 – 1981 “Guide to Noise Control on Construction, Maintenance and Demolition Sites”.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manage / Construction Contractor

3.4.2 Gorge Rock Hall Site The Gorge Rock Hall site has the potential to be utilised as a temporary road construction campsite during the construction period. Prior to the development of the site Main Roads should consult with:

» The Shire of Corrigin

» Representatives of the Mallee Aboriginal Corporation

» Representatives of the Noongar Native Title Claim group

» Representatives of the Ballardong Native Title Claim groups, and

» Officers from the Heritage Council of Western Australia.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager Any development of the temporary campsite at Gorge Rock Hall Site should comply with the requirements of the Heritage of Western Australia Act (1990).

Action: Main Roads Project Manager

3.4.3 Dust The Construction Contractor should employ construction methods that will keep dust lift to a minimum. The Construction Contractor should provide for the management of dust by means such as watering of the works area and of roads, streets and other areas immediately adjacent to the works.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Where it is found that vehicles leaving the site have dropped excessive soil material onto adjacent sections of Brookton Highway these sections should be inspected and swept if necessary to reduce the potential for dust generation and maintain traffic safety.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.4.4 Traffic Access and Safety To ensure the safe access of traffic through the construction site the Construction Contractor should develop and implement a Traffic Management Plan congruent with Australian Standard Manual 1742.3 of Uniform Traffic Control Devices: Part 3 Traffic Control Devices for Works On•Road (Standards Australia, 2002).

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor The Traffic Management Plan should conform to the Main Roads Traffic Management Requirements for Works on Roads (2002). The TMP should be submitted to Main Roads for approval within twenty•eight days of Award of Contract, ten days within of Possession of Site being granted or prior to the commencement of works, whichever is the earlier.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 24 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor The Construction Contractor must submit with the Plan a Certificate of Compliance certifying that the Traffic Management Plan has been prepared and/or reviewed by an appropriately qualified person as defined in the Main Roads publication Traffic Management Requirements for Works on Roads (2002).

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor All traffic control measures will be in place and fully operational before the Construction Contractor commences any work activity that affects existing roadways.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.4.5 Fire Management The risk of igniting a fire during roadworks will be minimised and managed by compliance with the management measures detailed below.

No burning should be permitted within the project area.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Machines and vehicles should be restricted to designated cleared areas.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor The Construction Contractor should confirm with any specific requirements for fire prevention requested by the Shire of Corrigin, Department of Conservation and Land Management and/or the Fire and Emergency Services Authority.

Action: Main Roads Construction Contractor / Construction Contractor During road construction activities the following fire management requirements should be complied with:

» All plant and vehicles operating over vegetation should have exhaust systems in good working order

» All machinery should be shut down during periods of extreme fire hazard as advised by CALM and / or Shire of Corrigin

» The Construction Contractor should provide a site based portable fire fighting unit. A minimum standard being a 450 litre tank with a petrol driven water pump connected to a 20m hose with a nozzle attached; and

» All machinery to be fitted with fire extinguishers.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.4.6 Fuel and Chemical Storage No on•site storage of fuel, oils and other contaminant materials should be permitted during road construction.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor Major vehicle and plant servicing should not be conducted on the project site.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 25 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.4.7 Rubbish Disposal Domestic site rubbish should not be disposed of by burning. All domestic rubbish, campsite effluent, and other rubbish should be disposed of at an authorised waste disposal site, or a site agreed upon with the Shire of Corrigin.

Action: Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 26 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 4. Consultation

No formal public consultation program has been conducted for the Brookton Highway Upgrading Project.

It is recommended that Main Roads prepare and distribute a press release advising the local community of the proposed roadworks and project timing. Suitable publications for distribution of the press release include the Narrogin Observer, The Windmill (Corrigin) and Waveline News (Hyden).

Action / Responsibility: Main Roads Project Manager

During the development of the larger Brookton Highway (Corrigin to Karlgarin) Upgrade project Main Roads and/or GHD discussed the project (including the project area subject to this EIA and EMP) with the following agencies as discussed below.

4.1 Adjacent Landowners Most landowners adjacent to the proposed works have been contacted in the past to discuss the project with the Main Roads Project Manager. On•going liaison with these property owners will occur as required.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager

4.2 Environmental Protection Authority The overall Brookton Highway Corrigin to Hyden project, including the current project, was the focus of a site visit with Mrs Melinda McLeod of the Environmental Protection Authority’s Service Unit on July 23rd and 24th, 2002.

It was confirmed during this site assessment that the project did warrant referral to the EPA, due to the clearing impact and the fact that the vegetation to be cleared is regionally below the 30% ‘threshold criteria’ of the EPA.

As noted above, the Brookton Highway (Corrgin to Kalgarin) project, which includes the works subject to this EIA and EMP, was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority by Main Roads in May 2003 and the EPA determined that the project be assessed at the level of Not Assessed – Public Advice Given. As a result of two appeals to the level of assessment, the timing of the appeals resolution process and road construction timing the proposal was subsequently withdrawn from the assessment process by Main Roads.

4.3 Department of Conservation and Land Management CALM has conducted a number of database searches and field surveys within the project area. These include: » Declared Rare and Priority Flora database;

» WA Herbarium Specimens database;

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 27 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan » Threatened and Priority Fauna database;

» Threatened Ecological Communities database; and

» A survey for Declared Rare and Priority Flora occurring on vegetated areas and other observations associated with the proposed road alignments between Corrigin and Hyde, January 2001, Greg Durell. In addition there have been a number of discussions regarding the highway upgrade project with CALM officers over recent years.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 28 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 5. Environmental Approvals

5.1 Commonwealth Government A review of the Environment Australia online database was conducted as part of preparing this EIA and EMP. No environmental impacts or issues considered being of national environmental significance that would ‘trigger’ the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) were identified for the project. As such formal referral of the Brookton Highway (219 – 226 SLK) Upgrade Project to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment is not considered warranted.

5.2 Western Australian Government

5.2.1 Environmental Protection Authority / Department of Environment Due to the clearing of poorly regionally represented vegetation and the fact that two appeals were made to the previously determined level of environmental assessment for the Corrigin to Hyden project the Environmental Protection Authority may wish to consider this widening and re•alignment project. As such Main Roads should refer the project to the WA Environmental protection Authority under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (1986).

Action: Main Roads Project Manager

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 29 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 6. Environmental Compliance and Monitoring

Main Roads Wheatbelt South Region is responsible for construction of the Brookton Highway Upgrade (219.6 – 226.0 SLK) Project in line with the environmental management measures detailed in this EIA and EMP. Action: Main Roads Project Manager

Environmental management measures detailed in this EMP should be included in the Technical Specifications prepared for the project.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager

During the project construction phase compliance with environmental management measures should be regularly monitored. Any non•conformances should be addressed at the first opportunity, while the non• conformance and any improvement actions implemented should be detailed in appropriate construction superintendance documentation.

Action: Main Roads Project Manager / Main Roads Construction Manager The preparation and implementation of the Rehabilitation and Landscape Plan for the project is the responsibility of the Project Manager and the Main Roads Regional Manager Wheatbelt South. Details on the progress of the landscaping works should be provided to the EPA and Main Roads Manager Environment on request.

Action: Main Roads Regional Manager Wheatbelt South / Main Roads Project Manager Monitoring the success of the Rehabilitation and Landscape Plan should be conducted for a minimum period of three years from the time of implementation. Additional works and/or remedial action should be taken to ensure the success of the landscaping works.

Action: Main Roads Regional Manager Wheatbelt South / Main Roads Project Manager

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 30 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan 7. References

Andrews, A. (1990). Fragmentation of Habitat by Roads and Utility Corridors: A Review. Australian Zoologist, V26 (3&4). pp 130•141.

Australian Heritage Commission on•line website, www.ahc.gov.au. September 2004.

Australian Heritage Places Inventory on•line website, www.heritage.gov.au September 2004.

Beard, J.S. (1980). Vegetation Survey of Western Australia. The Vegetation of the Corrigin area. 1:250,000 series. Vegmap Publication, Perth.

Bureau of Meteorology Australia. (2004). Climatic Averages for Australian Sites: Corrigin Weather Station. Bureau of Meteorology online database.

Commonwealth Government of Western Australia (1993). Commonwealth Native Title, 1993. Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Commonwealth Government of Western Australia (1999). Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act No. 91, 1999 Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Department of Agriculture (2005). Native Vegetation in Western Australia Remnant Vegetation Mapping. Unpublished Report. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Department of Agriculture WA. (2004). Declared Plants List.

Department of Conservation and Land Management. (2004), Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004. State Law Publisher, Perth Western Australia.

Department of Conservation and Land Management (2004). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List 2004. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Woodvale, Western Australia.

Dieback Consultative Council (2000). Draft Protect the Protectables Protocol. Perth, Western Australia.

Durell, G. (2001). Brookton Highway. Corrigin•Hyden Project. Survey for Declared Rare and Priority Flora occuring on vegetated areas and other observations associated with the proposed road alignments between Corrigin and Hyden. Department of Conservation And Land Management, January 2001.

Dieback Consultative Council. (2000). Draft Protect the Protectables Protocol. Perth, Western Australia

Environmental Protection Authority. (2000). Environmental Protection of Native Vegetation in Western Australia. Position Statement No. 2. Environmental Protection Authority. Perth, Western Australia.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 31 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Protection Authority. (2004). Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations. Environmental Protection Authority. Perth, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (1950). Wildlife Conservation Act (WA), State Law Publisher, Perth Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (1960). WA Agriculture and Related Resources Control Act 1960. State Law Publisher, Perth, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (1972). Aboriginal Heritage Act (WA). State Law Publisher, Perth Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (1986). Environmental Protection Act (WA). State Law Publisher. Perth, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (1997). Land Administration Act (WA). State Law Publisher. Perth, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia, (1997). Environmental Protection Noise Regulations. State Law Publisher, Perth Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (2000). Bush Forever. State Law Publisher. Perth, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia. (2000). Heritage of Western Australia Act (WA). State Law Publisher. Perth, Western Australia.

Hart, Simpson and Associates. (1992). Main Roads Department. Biological Survey. Armadale• Ravensthorpe Road, SLK 113•313. Report to Main Roads Department, March 1992.

Hart, Simpson and Associates (2001) Main Roads Department. Brookton Highway. Corrigin to Hyden Section. Vegetation Management of Proposed Works. Report to GHD, June 2001.

Keighery, B.J. (1994). Bushland Plant Survey. Wildflower Society of WA. Perth, Western Australia.

Northcote, K.H., Bettenay, E., McArthur, W.M. & Churchward, J.M. (1967). Dominant soils of the Perth• Albany•Esperance Area. In: Atlas of Australian Soils, Sheet 5. C.S.I.R.O., Melbourne.

Main Roads Western Australia. (2002). Traffic Management Requirements for Works on Roads. Perth, Western Australia.

Morcombe, M. (2003). Field Guide to Australian Birds Revised Edition. Steve Parish Publishing, Australia.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 32 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Shepherd, D.P., Beeston, G.R. and Hopkins, A.J.M. (2002). Native Vegetation in Western Australia: Extent Type and Status. Resource Management Technical Report 249. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Standards Australia, (1981). Australian Standard AS2436•1981 Guide to Noise Control on Construction, Maintenance and Demolition Sites. Homebush, New South Wales.

Western Australian Heritage Council website, www.heritage.wa.gov.au. September 2004 Yeomans Consulting (2002) Brookton Highway Corrigin to Hyden Road Community Prioritisation Workshop No. 2 6th November 2002. Yeomans Consulting. Safety Bay, Western Australia.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) 33 Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Figure 1 Project Locality Plan

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan LEGEND

Project Area Towns Major Roads Major Railways WONGAN HILLS

SOUTHERN CROSS

NORTHAM GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY

BRUCE ROCK

INDIAN PERTH

BEVERLY ARMADALE

OCEAN GREAT SOUTHERN HIGHWAY BROOKTON HIGHWAY CORRIGIN

ALBANY HIGHWAY HYDEN MANDURAH NOT TO SCALE

LOCALITY MAP

CORRIGIN

SOUTH WESTERN HIGHWAY WESTERN SOUTH BODDINGTON KONDININ

KULIN

NARROGIN Western Australia COPYRIGHT WILLIAMS THIS DOCUMENT IS AND SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF GHD PTY LTD THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE LAKE GRACE FOR WHICH IS WAS COMMISSIONED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMISSION GHD DOES NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY CHECKED APPROVED JW

WAGIN HORIZONTAL DATUM: GDA94 PROJECTION: MGA ZONE 50 BUNBURY COLLIE HEIGHT DATUM: METADATA RECORDED: DATE FILE LOCATION 16/06/05 N:\61\16298\GIS\MXD\6116298•F1.mxd

REVISION DRAWING NO N 0 6116298•F1 Brookton Highway • Corrigin (SLK 221.6 • 226.0) Upgrade KATANNING EIA and EMP

Figure 1 Locality Plan Figure 2 Reserve Boundaries

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan LEGEND

Cadastre

Res 9425 Res 18318 Res 16714

Res 16714

Res 18318 SCALE 0 50 100 200 300 m 1:7500 at A3 LOCALITY MAP

CORRIGIN

KONDININ

KULIN

Western Australia COPYRIGHT THIS DOCUMENT IS AND SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF GHD PTY LTD THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IS WAS COMMISSIONED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMISSION GHD DOES NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY CHECKED APPROVED JW

HORIZONTAL DATUM: GDA94 PROJECTION: MGA ZONE 50

HEIGHT DATUM: METADATA RECORDED: DATE FILE LOCATION 16/06/05 N:\61\16298\GIS\MXD\6116298•F2.mxd

REVISION DRAWING NO N 0 6116298•F2 Brookton Highway • Corrigin (SLK 221.6 • 226) Upgrade EIA and EMP

Figure 2 Reserve Boundaries Figure 3 Project Design and Aerial

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan LEGEND

Start and End of Project Area

ROGERS ROAD

START OF PROJECT AREA SLK 221.6

BULLARING GORGE LANGE ROAD SCALE ROCK ROAD 0 50100 200 300 400 m 1:10000 at A3 LOCALITY MAP

PROPOSED RE•ALIGNMENT CORRIGIN KONDININ

KULIN

Western Australia COPYRIGHT THIS DOCUMENT IS AND SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF GHD PTY LTD THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IS WAS COMMISSIONED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMISSION GHD DOES NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY CHECKED APPROVED JW

HORIZONTAL DATUM: GDA94 PROJECTION: MGA ZONE 50

HEIGHT DATUM: METADATA RECORDED: DATE FILE LOCATION 16/06/05 N:\61\16298\GIS\MXD\6116298•F3.mxd

REVISION DRAWING NO N 0 6116298•F3 Brookton Highway • Corrigin (SLK 221.6 • 226.0) Upgrade EIA and EMP

Figure 3 (Map 1 of 2) Project Design over Aerial LEGEND

Start and End of Project Area REED ROAD REED

END OF PROJECT AREA SLK 226

BROOKTON HIGHWAY

SCALE 0 50100 200 300 400 m 1:10000 at A3 LOCALITY MAP

CORRIGIN

KONDININ

KULIN CORRIGIN KULIN ROAD CORRIGIN Western Australia COPYRIGHT THIS DOCUMENT IS AND SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF GHD PTY LTD THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IS WAS COMMISSIONED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMISSION GHD DOES NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY CHECKED APPROVED JW

HORIZONTAL DATUM: GDA94 PROJECTION: MGA ZONE 50

HEIGHT DATUM: METADATA RECORDED: DATE FILE LOCATION 16/06/05 N:\61\16298\GIS\MXD\6116298•F3.mxd

REVISION DRAWING NO N 0 6116298•F3 Brookton Highway • Corrigin (SLK 221.6 • 226.0) Upgrade EIA and EMP

Figure 3 (Map 2 of 2) Project Design over Aerial Figure 4 Gorge Rock Re•alignment Option

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan LEGEND 593000 594000 595000 596000 597000

Alternative Alignment 0000 641 6410000 9000 640 6409000

ROGERS ROAD

BROOKTON HIGHWAY

SCALE 0 100 200 400 600 m 8000 1:15000 at A3 640 6408000 LOCALITY MAP

CORRIGIN

KONDININ

KULIN

Western Australia COPYRIGHT THIS DOCUMENT IS AND SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF GHD PTY LTD THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IS WAS COMMISSIONED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE COMMISSION GHD DOES NOT HOLD ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THE MISUSE OF THIS DOCUMENT CREATED BY CHECKED APPROVED JW

HORIZONTAL DATUM: GDA94 PROJECTION: MGA ZONE 50

HEIGHT DATUM: METADATA RECORDED: 7000 DATE FILE LOCATION 24/12/04 N:\61\15386\GIS\MXD\6116298•F4.mxd 640 6407000

REVISION DRAWING NO 0 6116298•F4 N Brookton Highway • Corrigin (SLK 221.6 • 226.0) Upgrade EIA and EMP

Figure 4 593000 594000 595000 596000 597000 Alternative Re•alignment Appendix A Project Environmental Aspects Table

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Aspect Potential Impact Management Measure Phase Rivers, Wetlands and Maintain existing surface water Replace and/or extend existing cross road culverts. Design and Drainage drainage patterns and groundwater Construction regime Reserve area Three reserves occur within or Minimise land requirement for safe construction and Pre•construction and adjacent to project area – Water operation of the highway Construction Reserve (9425), Gorge Rock Hall Site (18 318) and Gorge Rock Nature Reserve (16 714). Land requirement from Water Reserve (9425), Gorge Rock Hall Site (18 318) Rare Flora Impact expected on Prioirty 4 flora Minimise and manage clearing Construction populations Threatened Ecological N/A N/A N/A Communities Vegetation Clearing » Approx. 2.43 ha of clearing » Refer project to EPA Pre•construction

» Clearing of vegetation that is poorly » Dependent of EPA decision a Clearing Permit represented in the region. may need to be sought from DoE

» Clearing impact requires EPA » Minimise and manage clearing Construction referral

Revegetation and Revegetation of widened road reserve » Develop and implement a Revegetation and Design and post Rehabilitation and redundant sections of road. Landscape Plan. construction

» Species used in revegetation should be locally occurring indigenous plant species.

» Monitor success of revegetation and take Post•Construction corrective action if necessary.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Aspect Potential Impact Management Measure Phase

Weed Management The project area contains a variety of » Implement machinery hygiene measures Construction weed species in some sections with » Topsoil management will ensure that weed Construction elatively weed free section through infested soil is not respread within the Reserve reserve areas – potential to import, areas. export or spreading of weeds within, and beyond, the project area. » Ongoing management by TNC Contractor Post•construction No Declared Weeds present Topsoil Management Strip and respread of topsoil as a » Manage topsoil stripping and respread. Construction component of roadworks. » Ensure topsoil from adjacent farmland clearing is not respread within the Reserves.

Fauna One species of conservation » Minimise and manage clearing. Construction significance and a number of other » Time clearing to avoid Carnaby’s Cockatoo Construction specially protected species were nesting period identified as being within or possibly within the vicinity of the project area. » Prepare and implemement Rehabilitation and Overall Landscape Plan

Landuse • Reserves Land acquisition and vegetation » Minimise land requirement. Design clearing from Reserve 18 318, 9425 » Revegetate and vest redundant sections of road and Gorge Rock NR (16714) into adjacent reserves. Overall

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Aspect Potential Impact Management Measure Phase

Landuse – Private property Potential impact on adjacent landuse » Manage works to minimise impact and maintain Construction adjacent landuse

Aboriginal Heritage Disturbance of registered Aboriginal » Road design should avoid impact registered site Design archaeological sites unlikely except for 5444 (Gorge Rock / Marluk). possible temporary camp at Gorge » Consult with local Aboriginal community Pre•construction Rock Hall site (camp and hunting representatives re use of Gorge Rock Hall as ground site) construction camp.

» Arrange archaeological monitoring when Pre•construction conducting ground disturbing works in section 221.65 • 222.90 SLK)

» Should new site be unearthed, the cause of Construction disturbance is to cease and advise Department of Indigenous Affairs advised immediately.

» If skeletal material is uncovered during works Construction then the WA Police Service should also be advised immediately.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Aspect Potential Impact Management Measure Phase

European Heritage Potential temporary disturbance » Avoid vegetation impact and ground disturbance Pre•construction impacts upon Heritage listed site • for construction of temporary campsite. Gorge Rock Hall » Consult with the Shire of Corrigin

» Comply with Heritage of WA Act (1990) requirements.

Land Acquisition Land will need to be acquired from a » Acquire private property by negotiation and Pre•construction number of private landowners as well agreement. as from the Reserves 9 425 and » Comply with Land Administration Act (1997) and 18 318. Comply with Commonwealth Native Title Act (1993). Fencing Road reserve through private property MRWA to fence the widened road reserve in Pre•construction is currently fenced. Re•alignment to be consultation with the various landowners. fenced. Visual amenity Loss of visual amenity from the road » Consider visual impact during road design. Design through vegetation clearing. » Revegetate widened road reserve. Construction Contaminated Sites No contaminated sites identified within N/A N/A the project area. Pre•construction activities Service re•locations Comply with environmental management measures Pre•construction during pre•construction activities Construction Various impacts as a result of Manage impacts of roadworks according to the Construction roadworks EMP

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Environmental Aspect Potential Impact Management Measure Phase

Monitoring Monitor compliance with management » MRWA should regularly monitor compliances Construction measures with environmental management measures outlined in the EMP.

» Monitoring of the Rehabilitation and Landscaping Plan should be conducted for a Post•Construction minimum period of three years from the time of implementation.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan

Appendix B Environmental Management Responsibilities and Actions Table (Environmental Management Plan)

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

1.0 Overall Project

Project Environmental Management

1.1 Main Roads Wheatbelt South Region is responsible for the Brookton Implement Brookton Highway upgrade and re• Main Roads Project Highway( 219.6 –226.0 SLK) Upgrade Project in line with the alignment as detailed in this EMP Manager environmental management measures detailed in this EMP.

1.2 Relevant pre•construction phase management measures should be Prepare design in line with design constraints Main Roads Project followed during the design of the upgrade and re•alignment works. identified in this EMP Manager / Service Authorities

1.3 Environmental management measures detailed in this EMP should Document in contract documentation / Main Roads Project be included in the Technical Specifications prepared for project specification environmental management Manager measures

2.0 Pre•Construction \ Design Phase

Environmental Approvals

2.1 Due to the clearing of poorly regionally represented vegetation and Refer project to EPA Main Roads Project the fact that two appeals were made to the previously determined Manager klevel of environmental assessment for the Corrigin to Hyden project the WA Environmental Protection Authority may wish to consider this widening and re•alignment project. As such Main Roads should refer the project to the WA Environmental protection Authority under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (1986).

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Rivers, Wetlands and Drainage

2.2 Main Roads should design and implement the works to maintain Existing surface water drainage patterns will Main Roads Project existing surface water drainage patterns by maintaining all existing be maintained. Manager / Main Roads cross road culverts and extend or replace them when required. Project Designer / Several new culverts will need to be constructed as part of the Main Roads roadworks. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

Land Acquisition and Fencing

2.3 Land for the widened reserve (based on a 60m road reserve) should Land to be acquired in consultation with Main Roads Project be acquired under the provisions of the WA Land Administration Act landowners and in accordance with the WA Manager / Main Roads (1997), which provides for financial compensation to affected Land Administration Act 1997. Land Management landowners based on the current local market value and the area of Section land required.

2.4 Where additional land is required from private property the existing Replace Road Reserve Fences Main Roads Project road reserve fence should be replaced by Main Roads with the type Manager / Main Roads of fence to be determined in consultation with the individual Project Manager landowners and be appropriate to the rural setting of the site. (Land)

2.5 Main Roads land acquisition from the reserves should be the Minimum land acquired from Reserves. Main Roads Project minimum necessary for the safe construction and operation of the Manager road.

2.6 Acquisition of land from the reserve areas should take account of the Land acquired from Reserves in accordance Main Roads Project Commonwealth Native Title Act (1993) requirements. with Commonwealth Native Title Act (1993) Manager / Main Roads Land Management section

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Revegetation and Rehabilitation

2.7 In order to offset the required clearing impact Main Roads will Revegetate the widened road reserve and off• Main Roads Project revegetate the combined 720m long redundant sections of Brookton set clearing impacts Manager / Main Roads Highway and Bullaring Gorge Rock Road. Once rehabilitated these Designer / Main Roads sections will be vested into the adjacent Reserves. Construction Manager

2.8 Main Roads should prepare a project specific Rehabilitation and Rehabilitate and revegetate the widened road Main Roads Project Landscape Plan for the project area. reserve and off•set clearing impacts Manager

2.9 Revegetation will include both direct seeding and hand planting of Rehabilitate and revegetate with locally Main Roads Project seedlings. Seed and seedlings should be ‘provenance true’ and occuring seedthe widened road reserve and Manager sourced from local seed stock. Revegetation of these areas will be off•set clearing impacts initiated and funded by Main Roads.

Visual Amenity

2.10 Main Roads should consider the visual impact of works during Minimise the visual impact of works. Main Roads Project design. Manager / Main Roads Designer

2.11 Main Roads should constrain the extent of clearing required for Minimise the visual impact of works. Main Roads Project roadworks to the minimum necessary for safe and efficient operation Manager / Main Roads of the road. Designer

Traffic Access and Safety

2.12 All traffic control measures will be in place and fully operational Maintain safe access for through traffic and Main Roads before the Construction Contractor commences any work activity that local traffic movements. Construction Manager affects existing roadways. / Construction Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Service Relocations

2.13 Environmental management measures detailed in this EIA and EMP Implement Environmental Management Main Roads Project that are applicable for the works relating to the service re•locations measures during service relocations. Manager / Service should be complied with by the relevant service provider. Providers 2.14 A copy of the EMP should be provided to the various agencies and Implement Environmental Management Main Roads Project contractors responsible for the service relocations with a requirement measures during service relocations. Manager / Service to fulfill the specific environmental management measures during Providers service re•location works.

Aboriginal Heritage

2.15 Main Roads should design the works to avoid impact on the newly Minimise disturbance impacts upon identified Main Roads Project identified Aboriginal site and previously recorded site S810 ‘Gorge significant Aboriginal Heritage sites. Manager / Main Roads Rock’. Designer

2.16 Main Roads should consult further with representatives of the Mallee Consult with local Aboriginal community Main Roads Project Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Native Title Claim and Ballardong representatives. Manager Native Title Claim groups in respect to the use of Gorge Rock Hall site as a construction campsite.

2.17 Should works impact the identified Aboriginal heritage sites, including Minimise disturbance impacts upon identified Main Roads Project vegetation clearing or ground disturbance at Gorge Rock camp and significant Aboriginal Heritage sites. Manager hunting ground, Main Roads should seek approval from the Minister of Indigenous Affairs to disturb the site under the provisions of Section 18 of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972).

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2.18 The impact of the proposed roadworks to adjacent landowners and through traffic will be minimised by the management of temporary environmental and social impacts that are likely to occur during the road construction phase. The following issues will need to be considered: » Damage to Public property, noise and vibration

» The Gorge Rock Hall site

» Dust

» Traffic safety and access

» Fire management

» Fuel and chemical storage, and

» Rubbish disposal.

Community Consultation

2.19 Main Roads Project Manager should continue on•going liaison with Maintain consultation with nearby landowners Main Roads Project directly impacted and adjacent property owners will occur as throughout the project. Manager required.

2.20 It is recommended that Main Roads prepare and distribute a press Advise the local community of the proposed Main Roads Project release advising the local community of the proposed roadworks and works Manager project timing. Suitable publications for distribution of the press release include the Narrogin Observer, The Windmill (Corrigin) and Waveline News (Hyden).

3.0 Construction Phase

Aboriginal Heritage

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

3.1 Congruent with the recommendations of the Aboriginal heritage Initiate archaeological monitoring of the Main Roads Project surveys of the Brookton Highway (Corrgin to Hyden) Main Roads registred Aboriginal heritage site S810 Manager should initiate archaeological monitoring by an appropriately qualified archaeologist during ground disturbing activities for roadworks in the vicinity of Site S810 ‘Gorge Rock’ ie over the section 221 650 – 222 900 SLK.

3.2 If during roadworks materials likely to be of interest to the Aboriginal Ensure that previously unidentified Aboriginal Main Roads community are uncovered then works should immediately cease heritage sites are not disturbed without Construction Manager within 50m of the material and Department of Indigenous Affairs appropriate approvals. / Construction advised immediately. Contractor If skeletal material is uncovered during works then the WA Police Service should also be advised immediately.

3.0 Construction Phase

European Heritage

3.3 Any development of the temporary campsite at Gorge Rock Hall Site Minimise disturbance impacts upon a Main Roads Project should comply with the requirements of the Heritage of Western registered WA Heritage Site. Manager / Main Roads Australia Act (1990) and also be discussed with the Shire of Corrigin. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

Vegetation and Clearing

3.4 The loss of Carnaby’s Cockatoo eggs or young should be avoided by Minimise clearing impact on Carnaby’s Main Roads conducting the required clearing during the non•breeding season – Cockatoo. Construction Manager late October till late June. / Construction Contractor

3.5 During roadworks, damage to existing remnant vegetation should be Ensure clearing is kept to the minimum Main Roads avoided as far as is practicable. Clearing should be restricted to 2 m necessary for the safe and efficient Construction Manager from the edge of roadworks, or 6m from the edge of the road seal, construction and operation of the road. / Construction whichever is greater. Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

3.6 Prior to the start of clearing operations the clearing line should be Ensure clearing is kept to the minimum Main Roads marked on the ground and checked by the Construction Manager to necessary for the safe and efficient Construction Manager ensure that the clearing areas are correctly defined. Trees, of construction and operation of the road. / Construction particular significance, to be conserved are to be clearly marked prior Contractor to the commencement of clearing.

3.7 Trees to be removed should be felled in a manner that ensures they Minimise clearing impact Main Roads fall within the approved clearing area. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.8 Mature trees especially should be conserved as far as practicable Minimise clearing impact Main Roads and should not be disturbed for temporary works such as access Construction Manager tracks, spoil areas or site offices. Vehicles and equipment should not / Construction be parked or driven over tree roots. Contractor

3.9 Any damage caused by the Construction Contractor to the Minimise clearing impact Main Roads vegetation, landforms or fauna habitat outside of the works area Construction Manager should be rehabilitated at the contractor’s cost. If environmental / Construction damage beyond the works area is identified Main Roads WA should Contractor withhold the payment of monies due to the contractor, where the extent of damage exceeds $5000, determined at the following rates:

» For damaged trees greater than 3m in height • $1000 each;

» For damaged trees and shrub up to 3m in height $500 each; and

» For damaged grassland, open soil areas, rock faces and landforms, and habitats in general • $10 per square metre.

3.10 All cleared timber should be disposed of off•site in private property. Minimise clearing impact Main Roads Cleared vegetation should not be disposed of in the Reserve 18 318, Construction Manager 9425 or 16 714, or vegetated private property. No burning of cleared / Construction vegetation should be permitted within the road reserve. Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Revegetation

3.11 Main Roads should implement a specific Rehabilitation and Revegetate the project site to off•set the Main Roads Project Landscape Plan for the project. clearing impact

3.11 Main Roads should implement a specific Rehabilitation and Revegetate the project site to off•set the Main Roads Project Landscape Plan for the project. clearing impact

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Weed Management

3.12 Environmental management measures to be adopted at during Minimise the introduction and spread of Main Roads roadworks should include: weeds. Construction Manager » All site employees should be advised of dieback hygiene / Construction measures Contractor

» All clearing, topsoil stripping/spreading and gravel cartage activities should be conducted under dry soil conditions

» Dust adhering to the sides of vehicles does not need to be removed

» All road construction plant and machinery should be cleaned free of all soil and vegetative material prior to arrival and prior to departing the project site

» All road construction plant and machinery should be cleaned free of all soil and vegetative material when entering the section 221 650 • 222 220 SLK for the first time or moving from the farmland sections to this section; and

» Cleandown should comprise of the use of a brush and/or compressed air to remove clods of soil and/or soil water slurry. A metal bar or spade should be used to remove compacted soil where necessary.

3.13 To minimise the risk of the spreading of weeds within the reserves it Minimise the introduction and spread of Main Roads is suggested that clearing of vegetation within the reserves (section weeds. Construction Manager 221 650 • 222 220 SLK) occurs before any clearing of roadside / Construction vegetation in the adjacent road reserve. Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Topsoil Management

3.14 After the completion of clearing activities topsoil should be stripped to Manage topsoil during works. Main Roads a depth of 100 mm from the works area and be stored in stockpiles of Construction Manager less than 1 m in height. / Construction Contractor

3.15 Topsoil should be respread within the section from which it was Manage topsoil during works. Main Roads stripped. Topsoil from the farmland sections of the site (219.00 – Construction Manager 221.65 SLK and 223.50 – 226.00 SLK) should not be respread / Construction anywhere throughout the vegetated reserves (221.65 – 223.50 SLK). Contractor

3.16 Unsuitable material and spoil removed from the site should be Manage topsoil during works. Main Roads disposed of appropriately and not within the Reserves. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

Landuse

3.17 Impacts upon adjacent Private property should be kept to a Minimise impacts of works on adjacent Private Main Roads practicable minimum. property landowners. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

Damage to Public Property, Noise and Vibration

3.18 The Construction Contractor should nominate a person responsible Minimise impacts of roadworks on property Main Roads for reviewing and monitoring all operations in order to prevent or and the public. Construction Manager minimise the impact of vibration, noise, dust and other forms of / Construction pollution on property and the public. Contractor

3.19 The Construction Contractor is required to observe its obligations Minimise the impacts of noise on property and Main Roads under the Environmental Protection Act (1986), the Environmental the public. Construction Manager Protection (Noise) Regulations (1997) and Section 6 of AS2436 – / Construction 1981 “Guide to Noise Control on Construction, Maintenance and Contractor Demolition Sites”.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

3.20 The Construction Contractor should employ construction methods Minimise dust lift and impacts of dust on Main Roads that will keep dust lift to a minimum, and as required provide for the public. Construction Manager management of dust such as by watering of the works area and of / Construction roads, streets and other areas immediately adjacent to the works.. Contractor

3.21 Where it is found that vehicles leaving the site have dropped Minimise dust lift and impacts of dust and Main Roads excessive soil material onto adjacent sections of Brookton Highway safety on public. Construction Manager these sections should be swept to reduce the potential for dust / Construction generation and maintain traffic safety. Contractor

Traffic Access and Safety

3.22 To ensure the safe access of traffic through the construction site the Maintain safe access for through traffic and Main Roads Construction Contractor should develop and implement a Traffic local traffic movements. Construction Manager Management Plan congruent with AS Manual 1742.3 of Uniform / Construction Traffic Control Devices: Part 3 Traffic Control Devices for Works On• Contractor Road (Standards Australia, 2002).

3.23 The Traffic Management Plan should conform to the MRWA Traffic Maintain safe access for through traffic and Main Roads Management Requirements for Works on Roads (2002). The TMP local traffic movements. Construction Manager should be submitted to Main Roads for approval within twenty•eight / Construction days of Award of Contract, within ten days of Possession of Site Contractor being granted or prior to the commencement of works, whichever is the earlier.

3.24 The Construction Contractor must submit with the Plan a Certificate Maintain safe access for through traffic and Main Roads of Compliance certifying that the Traffic Management Plan has been local traffic movements. Construction Manager prepared and/or reviewed by an appropriately qualified person as / Construction defined in the Main Roads publication Traffic Management Contractor Requirements for Works on Roads (2002).

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3.25 All traffic control measures will be in place and fully operational Maintain safe access for through traffic and Main Roads before the Construction Contractor commences any work activity that local traffic movements. Construction Manager affects existing roadways. / Construction Contractor

Fire Management

3.27 No burning should be permitted within the project area. Reduce the fire risk as a result of roadworks. Main Roads Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.28 Machines and vehicles should be restricted to designated cleared Reduce the fire risk as a result of roadworks. Main Roads areas. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

3.29 The Construction Contractor should confirm with any specific Comply with local fire management Main Roads requirements for fire prevention requested by the Shire of Corrigin, requirements Construction Manager Department of Conservation and Land Management and/or the Fire / Construction and Emergency Services Authority. Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

3.30 During road construction activities the following fire management Reduce the fire risk as a result of roadworks. Main Roads requirements should be complied with: Construction Manager » All plant and vehicles operating over vegetation should have / Construction exhaust systems in good working order; Contractor

» All machinery should be shut down during periods of extreme fire hazard as advised by CALM or Shire of Williams;

» The Construction Contractor should provide a site based portable fire fighting unit. A minimum standard being a 450 litre tank with a petrol driven water pump connected to a 20m hose with a nozzle attached; and

» All machinery to be fitted with a fire extinguisher

Fuel and Chemical Storage

3.31 No on•site storage of fuel, oils and other contaminant materials Avoid hazardous chemical storage on the Main Roads should be permitted during road construction. project site and maintain chemicals required Construction Manager for the clean up of any accidental spillage. / Construction Contractor

3.32 Major vehicle and plant servicing should not be conducted on the Avoid the occurrences of oil spillage from Main Roads project site. vehicle servicing on the site. Construction Manager / Construction Contractor

Rubbish Disposal

3.33 Domestic site rubbish should not be disposed of by burning. All Ensure that rubbish is disposed of Main Roads domestic rubbish, campsite effluent, and other rubbish should be appropriately. Construction Manger / disposed of at an authorised waste disposal site, or a site agreed Construction upon with the Shire of Corrigin. Contractor

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Monitoring

3.34 During the project construction phase compliance with environmental Monitor compliance with environmental Main Roads project management measures should be regularly monitored. Any non• management measures Manager / Main Roads conformances should be addressed at the first opportunity, while the Construction Manger non•conformance and any improvement actions implemented should be detailed in appropriate construction superintendance documentation.

4.0 Post Construction

Weed Management

4.1 Longer•term management of weeds within the project area will be On•going weed management within the project Main Roads Term conducted during the annual herbicide and weed management area. Network Contractor program conducted by Main Roads Term Network Contractor.

Disposal of Surplus Land

4.2 Once the roadworks is completed the redundant existing length of Vest surplus land into adjacent reserve areas. Main Roads Project Brookton Highway, as well the corresponding road reserve will be Manager ripped and rehabilitated according to Rehabilitation and Landscape Plan. The Rehabilitated area will then be vested back into the adjacent reserve.

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Management Measure Expected Outcome Responsibility

Monitoring

4.3 The preparation and implementation of the Landscape Plan for the Monitor and report on the success of the Main Roads Regional project is the responsibility of the Project Manager and the Main revegetation works according to the Wheatbelt South / Roads regional Manager Wheatbelt South. Details on the progress of Landscaping Plan. Main Roads Project the landscaping works should be provided to the EPA and Main Manager Roads Manager Environment on request.

4.4 Monitoring the success of the Landscape Plan should be conducted Monitor and improve if necessary the success Main Roads Regional for a minimum period of three years from the time of implementation. of the Landscaping Plan. Wheatbelt South / Additional works and/or remedial action should be taken to ensure Main Roads Project the success of the landscaping works. Manager

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Appendix C Bush Forever (2000) Vegetation Condition Rating of Site Vegetation

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Bush Forever (2000) Vegetation Condition Rating System

Rating Vegetation Description

1 Pristine or nearly so.

2 Vegetation structure intact, disturbance affecting individual species, and weeds are non•aggressive species.

3 Vegetation structure altered, obvious signs of disturbance

4 Vegetation structure significantly altered by very obvious signs of multiple disturbance, retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it.

5 Basic vegetation structure severely impacted by disturbance. Scope for regeneration but not to a state approaching good condition without intensive management.

6 The structure of the vegetation is no longer intact and the area is completely or almost without native species.

The vegetation of the project area was assessed against the Keighery Vegetation Condition rating and is described below.

Start End Comment Vegetation Description Condition Estimated Area (Ha) and Chainage Chainage % of total

221.60 222.89 Realignment into Reserve 18 318 Tamma / mixed species 3 0.116 (3.8%) Good quality vegetation shrubland. Some weedy patches

221.89 222.25 Realignmen Salmon Gum woodland/ York 3 0.704 (23.2%) Gum woodland over Jam and native grasses

222.250 222.25 Realignmen through paddock Cleared 6 0.6 (19.8%)

222.25 224.00 ~4m wide road verge vegetation York Gum woodland over Jam, 4 0.88 (29%) Very little native understorey, mostly with a wedy understorey introduced grasses 224.00 226.00 ~4m verge Salmon Gum York Gum / Acacia 5 / 6 0.732 (24.2%) Some mature trees • Mixed acuminata woodland eucalypts with scattered Salmon gums (16) and Yoprk Gums

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Appendix D Photographs of the Project Area

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Appendix E List of Declared Rare and Priority Flora Potentially Occuring in the Project Area

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan The following Declared Rare and Priority Flora were identified by CALM through a search of their Declared rare and prioirty flora database as potentially occuring in the vicinity of the project site.

Taxon (species Conservation Description Preferred Known Localities or subspecies) Code (CALM) Habitat

Acacia deflexa P3 Prostrate to straggling or Yellow & Toolibin, erect shrub, 0.15–2 m gravelly lateritic Bendering, high. Fl. yellow, Aug– sand, gravelly Wickepin, Sep. sandy loam. Wongan Hills, Plains. Corrigin

Beaufortia sp. P3 Semi•prostrate shrub, to Lateritic gravel. Brookton, Corrigin column (JS Beard 0.5 m high. Fl. red, Oct. Slopes. 8119) [aff. heterophylla]

Calothamnus P4 Erect, spreading shrub, White/grey or Marchagee, brevifolius 0.3–0.6(–0.8) m high. Fl. yellow sand. Tammin, Dowerin, red, Jan–Apr. Piawaning, Quairading, Pingelly, Corrigin

Darwinia sp. P4 Erect, rounded shrub, Sand, clay, Chiddarcooping Chiddarcooping 0.3–0.7 m high. loam, granite. Hill, Billyacatting (SD Hopper 6944) Rock outcrops. Hill, Corrigin, [aff. purpurea] Nungarin

Daviesia P4 Erect shrub, 0.2–1 m Sandy or loamy Great Victoria purpurascens high. Fl. yellow, red, soils over Desert, Kondinin, brown, Oct. laterite. Flats, Hyden, ridges. Bendering, Dragon Rocks

Dryandra P3 Columnar, non• Lateritic clay, Nyabing, fasciculata lignotuberous shrub, 1– sand over Yealering, 2.5 m high. Fl. cream, laterite. Corrigin, Lake yellow, May–Aug. Grace, Harrismith, Birdwhistle, Yilliminning

Dryandra P3 Ascending, lignotuberous Gravelly loam. Corrigin, Dudinin, ferruginea ssp. shrub, to 1 m high. Fl. Bendering obliquiloba yellow, Sep–Oct.

Dryandra horrida P3 Upright, lignotuberous Sand, Tammin, Corrigin, shrub, 0.6–1.6 m high. Fl. sometimes with Narembeen, yellow, orange, Apr–Aug. gravel. Goomalling, Bruce Rock, Quairading

Dryandra P2 Prostrate, lignotuberous Sandy loam or Jubuck, Traysurin, lindleyana ssp. shrub. Fl. yellow, Sep– sand over Brookton, agricola Oct. laterite Corrigin, Pingelly

Eremophila nivea DRF White/grey, tomentose Sandy clay, clay W of Three shrub, 1–2 m high. Fl. loam. Springs blue, purple, violet, Aug– Undulating Oct. plains, roadverges.

Eremophila P4 Spreading or straggly Clay to loam, NW of veneta ms shrub, 0.3–1.2 m high, to white/grey sand. Newdegate, Kulin, 1.8 m wide. Fl. green, Plains & flats, Lake Lockhart, yellow, purple, Oct–Nov. slopes. Ongerup, Pingrup, Bendering

Grevillea P4 Divaricately branched Gravelly or Narembeen, asteriscosa shrub, 0.3–2.6 m high. Fl. granitic soils. Bendering, Kulin,

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan Taxon (species Conservation Description Preferred Known Localities or subspecies) Code (CALM) Habitat asteriscosa shrub, 0.3–2.6 m high. Fl. granitic soils. Bendering, Kulin, red, May–Nov. Gravel rises, Lake Grace, granite outcrops. Bullaring, Kondinin

Grevillea DRF Prostrate, vigorously White or yellow Cadoux • Corrigin, dryandroides ssp. suckering shrub, 0.05– sand, laterite. Dowerin hirsuta 0.3 m high. Fl. red, pink, May/Sep–Nov.

Grevillea DRF Suckering, prostrate to Sandy or Brookton•Hyden scapigera weakly ascending shrub, gravelly lateritic 0.15–0.4 m high, up to soils. 1.8 m wide. Fl. white, yellow, green, Feb/Oct– Nov.

Guichenotia DRF Multi•stemmed shrub, to Sandy clay with Youndegin, seorsiflora ms 0.6 m high. Fl. pink, lateritic gravel. Corrigin cream, Jul–Sep. Breakaways.

Synaphea P3 Shrub. Fl. yellow, Jul– Sand over Wagin, Narrogin, drummondii Sep. laterite. Yealering, Dumbleyung, Corrigin

Thelymitra stellata DRF Tuberous, perennial, Sand, gravel, Perth•Three herb, 0.15–0.25 m high. lateritic loam. Springs, Pinjarra, Fl. yellow, brown, Oct– Dumbleyung, Nov. Corrigin, Boonanarring, Bungendore Park, Unnamed Shire Reserve 34155.

These taxa are assigned a code of conservation significance by CALM, described below: Conservation Code Description

R: Declared Rare Flora – Extant Taxa Taxa which have been adequately searched for and are deemed to be in the wild either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection, and have been gazetted as such.

1: Priority One – Poorly Known Taxa Taxa which are known from one or a few (generally <5) populations which are under threat, either due to small population size, or being on lands under immediate threat, e.g. road verges, urban areas, farmland, active mineral leases, etc., or the plants are under threat, e.g. from disease, grazing by feral animals etc. May include taxa with threatened populations on protected lands. Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’, but are in urgent need of further survey.

2: Priority Two – Poorly Known Taxa Taxa which are known from one or a few (generally<5) populations, at least some of which are not believed to be under immediate threat (i.e. not currently endangered). Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’, but are in urgent need of further survey.

3: Priority Three – Poorly Known Taxa Taxa which are known from several populations, and the taxa are not believed to be under immediate threat (i.e. not currently endangered), either due to the number of known populations (generally >5), or known populations being large, and either widespread or protected. Such taxa are under consideration for declaration as ‘rare flora’ but are in need of further survey.

4: Priority Four – Rare Taxa Taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed and which, whilst being rare (in Australia), are not currently threatened by any identifiable factors. These taxa require monitoring every 5 – 10 years. (Department of Conservation and Land Management, 2001).

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Document Status

Reviewer Approved for Issue Rev No. Author Name Signature Name Signature Date

0 N McCarthy A Nagle R Pearson

61/16298/8571 Brookton Highway Upgrade (219•226 SLK) Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan