Ecological Survey
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Central Eyre Iron Project Mining Lease Proposal APPENDIX J ECOLOGICAL SURVEY COPYRIGHT Copyright © IRD Mining Operations Pty Ltd and Iron Road Limited, 2015 All rights reserved This document and any related documentation is protected by copyright owned by IRD Mining Operations Pty Ltd and Iron Road Limited. The content of this document and any related documentation may only be copied and distributed for purposes of section 35A of the Mining Act, 1971 (SA) and otherwise with the prior written consent of IRD Mining Operations Pty Ltd and Iron Road Limited. DISCLAIMER A declaration has been made on behalf of IRD Mining Operations Pty Ltd by its Managing Director that he has taken reasonable steps to review the information contained in this document and to ensure its accuracy as at 5 November 2015. Subject to that declaration: (a) in writing this document, Iron Road Limited has relied on information provided by specialist consultants, government agencies, and other third parties. Iron Road Limited has reviewed all information to the best of its ability but does not take responsibility for the accuracy or completeness; and (b) this document has been prepared for information purposes only and, to the full extent permitted by law, Iron Road Limited, in respect of all persons other than the relevant government departments, makes no representation and gives no warranty or undertaking, express or implied, in respect to the information contained herein, and does not accept responsibility and is not liable for any loss or liability whatsoever arising as a result of any person acting or refraining from acting on any information contained within it.. ABN: 51 128 698 108 REPORT CENTRAL EYRE IRON PROJECT: MINE SITE ECOLOGICAL SURVEY E-F-34-RPT-0003 Revision Issue Date Revision Description Document Author Checked By Authorised By A 21/02/2012 Final Draft K Fels N Bull 0 13/05/2014 Approved K Fels / Z Bull N Bull Lachlan Wilkinson 1 31/07/2014 Approved – minor Z Bull N Bull amendment to section 6. ABN: 51 128 698 108 Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 List of Plates .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Iron Road deposits ....................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Iron Road Limited and EL3699/ EL4849....................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Waramboo CEIP infrastructure requirements............................................................................................. 8 1.4 Study area .................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Bioregion .............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.4.2 Historical landuse ...............................................................................................................................11 1.4.3 Landscape, geology and soils .............................................................................................................11 1.4.4 Watercourses and wetlands ...............................................................................................................11 1.4.5 Climate ................................................................................................................................................11 1.5 Study objectives.........................................................................................................................................12 2 Legislation .......................................................................................................................................................13 2.1 Commonwealth legislation ........................................................................................................................13 2.2 Commonwealth policy ...............................................................................................................................14 2.3 South Australian Legislation ......................................................................................................................14 2.4 South Australian policy ..............................................................................................................................15 3 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................16 3.1 Ecological desktop review .........................................................................................................................16 3.2 Flora and fauna field survey ......................................................................................................................17 3.3 Survey site selection ..................................................................................................................................18 3.3.1 Flora survey and landscape description .............................................................................................21 3.3.2 Fauna survey .......................................................................................................................................21 3.3.3 Evaluation of conservation significance .............................................................................................25 4 Results of desktop flora and fauna study .......................................................................................................26 4.1 Eyre Yorke Block bioregion ........................................................................................................................26 4.1.1 Eyre Mallee (EYB5) sub-region ...........................................................................................................26 4.2 Biodiversity and conservation context ......................................................................................................26 4.3 Regional Vegetation Association ...............................................................................................................27 4.4 Listed flora and ecological communities ...................................................................................................27 4.5 Weeds ........................................................................................................................................................28 E-F-34-RPT-0003_1 (Mine Site Ecological Survey).docx 31 July 2014 2 ABN: 51 128 698 108 4.6 Listed fauna ...............................................................................................................................................31 5 Results of field survey .....................................................................................................................................35 5.1 Weather conditions ...................................................................................................................................35 5.2 Vegetation communities ...........................................................................................................................35 5.3 Survey site vegetation descriptions ...........................................................................................................38 5.3.1 Species richness ..................................................................................................................................41 5.4 Vegetation condition assessment .............................................................................................................41 5.4.1 Disturbance levels ..............................................................................................................................44 5.4.2 Weeds .................................................................................................................................................45 5.4.3 Environmental offset ratios ................................................................................................................47 5.5 Fauna survey ..............................................................................................................................................50 5.5.1 Fauna ..................................................................................................................................................50 5.5.2 Fauna diversity across broad habitat types ........................................................................................58 5.5.3 Fauna species richness .......................................................................................................................59