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GOGO STATION
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES DESKTOP ASSESSMENT
August 2017
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DOCUMENT CONTROL Environmental Values Desktop Assessment for “Gogo Project Name Station” Proponent Gogo Station Pty Ltd
Project Reference 17/69 Desktop Environmental Assessment
Report Number 17/69 Desktop Environmental Assessment Gogo Station Pty Ltd “Gogo Station” PO Box 57 Prepared for Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765 Contact: Malcolm Harris Ph: 0408 448 142 SMK Consultants PO Box 774 Prepared by 39 Frome Street Moree NSW 2400 Peter Taylor Contact Ph: (02) 6752 1021 E: [email protected]
Author
Name Natasha Livingstone B. Sc. (Hons) Position Environment and Resource Consultant Company SMK Consultants
Reviewed By Peter Taylor
Name Peter Taylor B.Sc. MEIANZ, CIAg Position Director Company SMK Consultants
Revision History Version Number Date Authority Details 0 August 2017 Peter Taylor Initial Issue
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose of Project The overall aim of the Gogo Station agricultural project is to establish an agricultural enterprise of sufficient size to generate a viable and self-supporting agricultural export industry on Gogo Station. This could then support similar opportunities in other parts of the Fitzroy basin. Project Description The Gogo Station project involves conversion of selected pastoral land to cropping land to produce a mosaic of crops. These crops are intended to supply major export and regional markets and have the competitive advantage of proximity to Asian markets and favourable seasonal conditions available in the Fitzroy River region. Land selection is based on soil types identified on Gogo Station that have the potential to support both dry-land and irrigated cropping. Environmental Assessment Gogo Station is located in the Dampierland bioregion of the West Kimberley, Western Australia. A desktop assessment is presented which assesses ecological assemblages and protected/threatened flora and fauna which are likely to be available on the development site. The risk posed by the development to the identified communities and species is then assessed.
Vegetation varies from grassland to low open woodland. Dominant grass species would include Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass), Chrysopogon spp. (ribbon grass) and Dichanthium fecundum (bluegrass), whilst dominant tree species would include Bauhinia cunninghamii, E. papuana (ghost gum) and E. microtheca (coolibah). It is considered that large areas of equivalent remnant vegetation are present within the region.
A total of sixteen protected fauna species and two protected flora species were identified as having the potential to be present on the subject site. Of the fauna species identified, only one species (a land snail, Westraltrachia recta) is considered to have the potential to be significantly impacted by the proposed development. One flora species, Cullen candidum, also has the potential to utilise the subject site as important habitat. It is recommended that field surveys be undertaken to assess the presence of these species on site and to further assess the risk posed by the development to these species.
Within the Dampierland bioregion, Devonian limestone outcrops are recognised as significant biodiversity hotspots and important habitat refuge sites for rare and/or threatened species. By comparison, woodland and grassland pastures are less likely to serve as refuge habitat for rare and/or threatened species, as such sites are typically disturbed by grazing practices and altered fire regimes.
The development site has been utilised for grazing cattle for over 100 years, and therefore is likely to be moderately degraded. To preserve regional biodiversity, it is considered a greater
iv priority that limestone outcrop habitat is protected over degraded grassland and woodland habitat. Limestone outcrop habitat within the region will not be impacted by the proposed development. The impact of the development on rare and/or threatened species is therefore likely to be minimal, as valuable refuge habitat for threatened species within the wider region will be maintained.
Cultural values of the subject site have also been assessed. The site is listed as a National Heritage Place under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The development has been considered with regards to identified heritage values of the West Kimberley National Heritage Site; the assessment concluded that development of the subject site will not impact upon heritage values of the National Heritage Site. The Proponent will continue to work closely with indigenous groups within the region to ensure protection of indigenous heritage values which may be present on site. Overall, the development is not considered to pose a risk to cultural and heritage values of the region.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Project Overview ...... 1 1.2 Regional Setting ...... 1 2 Environmental Assessment ...... 4 2.1 Ecological Assemblages Present on Site ...... 4 2.1.1 Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia ...... 4 2.1.2 CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 ...... 5 2.1.3 Land Systems Information ...... 7 2.1.4 NatureMap ...... 9 2.1.5 Great Northern Highway – Fitzroy Crossing to Gogo Upgrade ...... 10 2.1.6 Ecological Assemblages Summary ...... 12 2.2 Species Present on Site ...... 13 2.2.1 Fauna Species ...... 13 2.2.2 Flora Species ...... 16 2.3 Cultural Environment ...... 18 2.3.1 National Heritage ...... 18 2.3.2 Indigenous Heritage ...... 18 3 Conclusions ...... 20 4 References ...... 21 Appendix 1: CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 – Soil Family and Vegetation Code Definitions 22 Appendix 2: Ecological Assemblages Identified by GHD Near Gogo Station ...... 28 Appendix 3: Assessment of All Species Identified by NatureMap and Protected Matters Search Tool 33 Appendix 4: West Kimberley National Heritage Assessment ...... 55 Appendix 5: Letter of Support from Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation ...... 62
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Gogo Station Environmental Values Desktop Assessment
1 Introduction 1.1 Project Overview The Gogo Station project involves conversion of selected pastoral land to cropping land to produce a mosaic of crops. These crops are intended to supply major export and regional markets and have the competitive advantage of proximity to Asian markets and favourable seasonal conditions available in the Fitzroy River region. Land selection is based on soil types identified on Gogo Station that have the potential to support both dryland and irrigated cropping.
Gogo Station includes an area of approximately 57,000 hectares of clay based soils that have been identified by the Western Australian Government as suitable to produce a mosaic of crops. The potential area identified for cropping includes areas that are considered suitable for irrigated cropping as well as dryland cropping. The cropping program would include a fodder production program to maximise the potential quality of cattle available for export throughout the year in addition to grain and other crops which can be marketed from Gogo Station.
The overall aim of the agricultural project would be to establish an agricultural enterprise of sufficient size to generate a viable and self-supporting agricultural export industry on Gogo Station. This could then support similar opportunities in other parts of the Fitzroy basin.
1.2 Regional Setting Gogo Station is located to the South-East of Fitzroy Crossing, which is in Northern WA, about 400km East of Broome, as shown in Figure 1. The Station is located approximately within the centre of the Fitzroy Catchment (Figure 2).
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Figure 1: Locality of Proposed Development
Figure 2: Location of Fitzroy Crossing within the Fitzroy River Catchment.
The Fitzroy Catchment covers over 95,000 km2 within the Canning Basin. The catchment has a semi-arid/monsoonal climate, with rain falling in the wet season between November and April. Analysis taken by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology as part of their Australian climate variability and change analysis has identified predicted increases of rainfall in the Kimberley by up to 30-40mm per annum as a result of climate change.
The land included as Gogo Station extends from the Margaret River in the north. Figure 3 presents an aerial image showing the boundary of Gogo Station. The property extends along the left bank floodplain of both the Margaret and Fitzroy Rivers.
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Figure 3: Outline of Proposed Development Site
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2 Environmental Assessment 2.1 Ecological Assemblages Present on Site Gogo Station is located within the Fitzroy Trough subregion of the Dampierland IBRA Region of Western Australia. The Dampierland bioregion is characterized by extensive plains, ranges and gorges. Its native vegetation is considered to be intact, with 100% of pre-European vegetation remaining (Shepherd et al 2002). Whilst many vegetation types are poorly represented within conservation areas in the region, Dampierland ecological assemblages are not considered to be at risk of extensive clearing due to the remoteness of the area and extent of remaining vegetation.
A review has been conducted of available resources to assess the ecological assemblages present on site. The review has considered a range of information sources, including government databases, published regional survey findings and the results of a recent detailed field survey carried out in close proximity to the proposed development as part of upgrades to the Great Northern Highway.
A brief outline of the information from each resource examined is presented below. This is followed by an overall summary of the dominant vegetation types within the region and an assessment of likely vegetation assemblages present within the development area.
Resources examined include: • A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions (2002) • CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 (1964) • Land Systems Information provided by Western Australia Agriculture Authority (2014) • Data obtained from the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s NatureMap Search Tool (searched 2017) • Great Northern Highway – Fitzroy Crossing to Gogo Upgrade EIA & EMP (2007)
2.1.1 Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia In 2001-2002, the (then) Department of Conservation and Land Management undertook an extensive audit of the State’s terrestrial biodiversity. From this, an assessment of the Fitzroy Trough subregion of the Dampierland IBRA region was published (Graham 2002). The results of the assessment are detailed below.
The Fitzroy Trough subregion consists of four basic components: • Sandplain vegetation • Coastal vegetation • Alluvial plains • Reef limestones
The proposed development is located upon alluvial plains. Graham (2002) describes the alluvial plains as:
“Quaternary alluvial plains associated with the Permian and Mesozoic sediments of Fitzroy Trough support tree savannahs of ribbon grass
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(Chrysopogon spp.), bluegrass (Dichanthium spp.) and Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) scattered coolibah (Eucalyptus microtheca) - Bauhinia cunninghamii. There are riparian forests of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Cadjeput (Melaleuca spp.) fringe drainages.”
The Fitzroy Trough subregion was found to have an average Continental Stress Class rating of 4 (a class rating system ranging from 1 to 6, with 1 being highly stressed land systems and 6 being non-stressed systems). The main threatening processes within the sub-region include grazing pressures and alterations to the natural fire regime.
2.1.2 CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Since the mid-1940’s, CSIRO has been conducting extensive surveys of regions within Australia, to identify and assess areas with potential for future development. As part of this program, the West Kimberley region was thoroughly assessed, with results published in the 9th Land Research Series Report in 1964.
The Land Series Report divided the region into land systems based on regional similarities in soil, climate, landforms and vegetation assemblages. Each land system is then further divided into sub-categories based on local similarities in soil, landforms and vegetation assemblages.
These land system divisions are still used today. Data provided by the Western Australian Agriculture Authority (WAAA) (discussed in Section 2.1.3) indicated that the proposed development will primarily be situated within Fossil and Gogo Land Systems. The development site is located on clay soils; therefore, only sub-categories within Fossil and Gogo Land Systems which occur on clay soils will be considered.
Table 1 and Table 2 provide brief outlines of the landform, soil and vegetation assemblages of clay-based Fossil and Gogo Land Systems. Further detail, including soil family definitions and numeric vegetation code definitions, are provided in Appendix 1.
Overall, the ecological assemblages of clay-based Gogo and Fossil Land Systems range from grasslands to open woodland. Groundcover species typically include Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass), Chrysopogon spp. (ribbon grass) and Dichanthium fecundum (bluegrass), whilst dominant tree species include Bauhinia cunninghamii, E. papuana (ghost gum) and E. microtheca (coolibah).
SMK P a g e | 5 CONSULTANTS Gogo Station Environmental Values Desktop Assessment Table 1: Description of Clay-Based Units Within the Fossil Land System. Adapted from CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Unit Approx. Landforms Soils Vegetation Area (ha) 1 258,000 Cracking clay plains, gradients Dark grey and brown, strongly self-mulching Mitchell grass, ribbon grass-bluegrass and ribbon grass generally less than 1 in 500 but up heavy clay; Cununurra and Wonardo families, grasslands and very open grassy woodlands. Astrebla to 1 in 100; locally with marginal commonly with gilgais. spp., Chrysopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum, and dissection up to 6m; hummocky Chrysopogon spp. communities (47, 48, 49) and surfaces with gilgais. Bauhinia cunninghamii alliance (37a, 38c); locally 20b. 4 37,000 Drainage zone; up to 800m wide, Dark grey and brown, strongly self-mulching Open grassy woodland with Chrysopogon spp. – with numerous channels up to heavy cracking clay; Cununurra and Wonardo Dichanthium fecundum, front-age grasses, and 18m wide and 4.5m deep; families. Chrysopogon spp. ground storeys. Bauhinia gradients 1 in 200 to 1 in 2000. cunninghamii alliances (37a, 37b, 39); locally 43.
Table 2: Description of Clay-Based Units Within the Gogo Land System. Adapted from CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Unit Approx. Landforms Soils Vegetation Area (ha) 3 73,000 Levee back slopes; up to 0.5% but Brownish juvenile cracking clays. Open grassy woodlands with bare scalded areas. E. attaining 1% locally, and up to papuana and E. microtheca alliances (20a, 21, 22a, 1.5km long; hummocky, scalded 22b); also locally 48. Highest rainfall parts also 24. surfaces. 4 17,000 Back plains; up to 1.5km wide, with Mainly dark self-mulching heavy clays; Mitchell grass and ribbon grass-blue grass grassland slopes less than 0.1% but attaining Cununurra family. With dark brown self- with scattered trees and shrubs; also large areas of 0.5% at margins; with linear mulching clays; Wonardo family. Gilgais annual grasses and forbs. Astrebla spp. and depressions up to 400m wide and common. Chrysopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum 1m deep; hummocky, sealed communities (47, 48); locally 37b. surfaces with gilgais locally.
5 9,000 Depressions; up to 1km wide and Dark grey crusty heavy clay; Myroodah family, Tall to medium-height perennial grassland, or annual 1m deep; short marginal slopes up commonly showing recent alluvial influence. grasses and forbs, varying according to conditions of to 1%. flooding. Chrysopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum and Chrysopogon spp. (48, 49).
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2.1.3 Land Systems Information A map of land systems found on Gogo Station was provided by the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food on behalf of the Western Australian Agriculture Authority (WAAA) in March 2014. Figure 4 outlines the land system data for Gogo Station, overlaid with an outline of the proposed development layout. This figure indicates that the primary land systems to be targeted by the development proposal are the Gogo System and the Fossil2 System. Table 3 outlines a description of these land systems, as provided by the WAAA. Table 3: Land Systems Descriptions. Source: WAAA Land System System Description Fossil2 Cracking clay plains supporting Mitchell grass and ribbon grass-blue grass grasslands with sparse trees and shrubs, and minor limestone outcrop slopes with patches of hard spinifex. Gogo Active flood-plains with broad levee zones supporting ghost gum and coolibah woodlands with frontage grasses, and cracking clay back plains supporting Mitchell grass and ribbon grass-blue grass grasslands.
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Figure 4: Gogo Land Systems Map. Source: WAAA
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2.1.4 NatureMap NatureMap represents the most comprehensive database currently available on the distribution of Western Australia's flora and fauna. It contains information from the State's two premier collections at the WA Herbarium and the WA Museum, alongside a range of other databases.
NatureMap searches indicate that no Reserves, Conservation Areas or known Threatened Ecological Communities exist within the boundaries of the proposed development. The nearest Environmentally Sensitive Area is located at Geikie Gorge National Park (to the north-east of Fitzroy Crossing). Geikie Gorge is also listed on the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
NatureMap contains a mapped database outlining the extent and form of pre-European vegetation in Western Australia, which was accessed in 2017. The results of the database search are outlined in Figure 5 and Table 4. Table 4 further identifies the ecological assemblages likely to be impacted by the proposed development.
Figure 5: Pre-European Vegetation Near Fitzroy Crossing. Source: NatureMap Table 4: Description of Vegetation Codes Identified Within Figure 5 Colour Code Description Light green* be17Lb cdGc Chrysopogon spp., Dichanthium fecundum tussock grassland sparsely wooded with Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Acacia bidwillii,
and Eucalyptus microtheca low trees aGc/cdGc Astrebla spp./Chrysopogon spp., Dichanthium fecundum tussock grassland
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Colour Code Description Dark green* e17Mr cGc Grasslands, tall bunch grass savannah woodland, coolabah over ribbon grass (Chrysopogon spp.) Orange** xLb t3Hr Triodia wiseana sparse hummock grassland sparsely wooded with Adansonia gregorii and other mixed species low trees Light red** e24,53Lr a28S c t1, Shrublands, pindan; Acacia eriopoda shrubland with scattered low 11 Hi bloodwood (Eucalyptus dichromophloia) and E. setosa over soft & curly spinifex Dark red^ e16, 24Lr ep3 Gc Open low woodland with Eucalyptus brevifolia, Corymbia dichromophloia over bunch grassland with curly spinifex and Enneapogon spp. Light blue^ a5, 30Sr t4Hi Hummock grasslands, shrub steppe; Acacia impressa over Triodia intermedia Dark blue^ e24Lr t1, 3Hi Hummock grasslands, low tree steppe; bloodwood over soft spinifex and Triodia wiseana *These vegetation assemblages cover the majority of the proposed development site. **These vegetation assemblages cover small portions of the proposed development site. ^These assemblages are not expected to be found within the development site.
2.1.5 Great Northern Highway – Fitzroy Crossing to Gogo Upgrade In 2007, extensive field surveys were conducted by GHD on either side of the Great Northern Highway immediately to the west of the proposed development site, as part of the environmental assessment process for an upgrade to the Highway. The extent of the survey area is outlined in Figure 6.
The vegetation recorded within the survey area was found to be relatively uniform, consisting predominantly of open woodland over hummock grasslands. Twelve vegetation types were identified, the most common of which were ‘Floodplain mixed open woodland’ and ‘Hummock grassland with scattered trees and shrubs’. Species recorded within these two assemblages are outlined in Table 5. A full list of species identified within each ecological assemblage, and maps indicating the location of each assemblage, are included in Appendix 2.
Table 5: Primary Vegetation Assemblages Recorded by GHD Near Gogo Station Vegetation Vegetation Type Vegetation Type Description Type Classification Number 5 Floodplain Mixed Eucalyptus microtheca, Corymbia opaca, Bauhinia cunninghamii over Open Woodland Atalaya hemiglauca, Carissa lanceolata, Vachellia farnesiana, Aerva javanica, Tinospora smilacina, Cleome viscosa, Calotropis procera, Portulaca pilosa, Buchnera linearis and mixed grasses, including Cenchrus ciliaris. 6 Hummock Predominantly hummock grasses, including Cenchrus ciliaris, Grassland with Chrysopogon fallax, Heteropogon contortus, Eriachne obtusa, Eragrotis Scattered Trees setifolia, Aristida spp, Astrebla spp., Sorghum spp. with occasional and Shrubs Eucalyptus microtheca, Bauhinia cunninghamii, Vachellia farnesiana, Carissa lanceolata and herb species.
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Figure 6: Extent of GHD Survey Area
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Overall, vegetation within the survey area was considered to be moderately diverse, with a total of 236 species (208 native species) from 54 families recorded within the survey area. No Declared Rare Flora or Priority Listed Flora Species were recorded during the assessment.
The survey area was also assessed with regards to the Condition Rating developed by Bush Forever, which considers the condition of an ecosystem based on: • The completeness of structural levels • The extent of weed invasion • Historical disturbance from tracks and other clearance • Potential for natural or assisted regeneration.
Under this scheme, the majority of vegetation within the survey area was classified as being Very Good to Good. These classes are defined as follows: • Very Good: Vegetation structure altered, obvious signs of disturbance • Good: Vegetation structure significantly altered by very obvious signs of multiple disturbances, retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it
It was noted that some areas of the survey site appeared to be heavily grazed with few mid- and under-storey species present. Pastoral practices were recorded as one of the dominant influences on vegetation quality on site.
2.1.6 Ecological Assemblages Summary Each resource shows consistent consensus in the identification of ecological assemblages present on site. Therefore, the sources are considered to be broadly reliable, and thus can be used to provide a general overview of the assemblages that are likely to be present within the proposed development area on Gogo Station.
Overall, vegetation on site is likely to vary from grassland to low open woodland. Dominant grass species would include Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass), Chrysopogon spp. (ribbon grass) and Dichanthium fecundum (bluegrass), whilst dominant tree species would include Bauhinia cunninghamii, E. papuana (ghost gum) and E. microtheca (coolibah). The site is not expected to contain any Threatened Ecological Communities.
The subject site is expected to have moderate floral diversity and a moderate degree of degradation associated with grazing practices and altered fire regimes. Floral diversity is expected to comprise partially of introduced species.
The land systems present on the subject site cover extensive areas of land (see Table 1 and Table 2 of Section 2.1.2). 100% of these land systems retain intact, pre-European native vegetation within the Dampierland bioregion (Shepherd et al 2002). The area to be cleared is small in comparison to the extent of the remnant vegetation in the region, which is not considered to be at risk of extensive clearing in the future due to the remoteness of the region. Therefore, the proposed development is not considered to place the identified ecological assemblages at risk.
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2.2 Species Present on Site The Department of Parks and Wildlife’s NatureMap Search Tool and the Department of Environment and Energy’s Protected Matters Search Tool were both accessed in 2017 to assess the occurrence of protected species within the proposed development site. The searches examined species records and predicted distributions within a 20km radius of the proposed development site.
A total of forty protected species were identified by these searches. Each species was assessed with regards to known distribution and habitat requirements. The list was then refined to only include the species which are likely to utilise habitat available within the proposed development area. A full list of identified species and associated species assessments is included in Appendix 3.
A total of eighteen identified protected species are considered likely to utilise habitat within the proposed development site; sixteen fauna species and two flora species. Fauna species are considered in Section 2.2.1, whilst flora species are considered in Section 2.2.2.
2.2.1 Fauna Species A list of identified protected fauna species is presented in Table 6:
Table 6: List of Protected Fauna Species Likely to Utilise Development Site Habitat Scientific Name WA Common Commonwealth Conservation Species Range Name Conservation Status Status Merops ornatus Protected Under Species found across Rainbow Bee- International Marine most of mainland eater Agreement Australia. Westraltrachia Fitzroy Crossing and Land Snail Priority 1 recta surrounding region. Kimboraga Fitzroy Crossing to Derby, Land Snail Priority 2 micromphala WA. Ninox connivens Species found across subsp. connivens Barking Owl Priority 2 most of mainland Australia. Vespadelus Yellow-lipped Priority 2 Kimberley region, WA. douglasorum Cave Bat Prymnbriareus Kununurra to Fitzroy Land Snail Priority 3 nimberlinus Crossing, WA. Polytelis Princess Arid regions of WA, NT Priority 4 Vulnerable alexandrae Parrot and SA. Rhinonicteris Orange Leaf- Across northern Australia Priority 4 aurantia nosed Bat from WA to QLD. Erythrura Gouldian Across northern Australia Endangered gouldiae Finch from WA to QLD. Pezoporus Critically Night Parrot Endangered WA, NT, SA, QLD. occidentalis Endangered Dasyurus Northern Endangered Endangered WA, NT, QLD. hallucatus Quoll; Digul Macroderma Ghost Bat Vulnerable Vulnerable WA, NT, QLD. gigas
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Scientific Name WA Common Commonwealth Conservation Species Range Name Conservation Status Status Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilby Vulnerable Vulnerable WA, NT, QLD. Hirundo rustica Protected Under Migratory (CAMBA, Across northern Australia Barn Swallow International JAMBA, ROKAMBA), from WA to QLD. Agreement Marine Charadrius Protected Under Migratory (Bonn, Oriental Across northern Australia veredus International CAMBA, JAMBA, Plover from WA to QLD. Agreement ROKAMBA), Marine Glareola Protected Under Migratory (CAMBA, Species found across Oriental maldivarum International JAMBA, ROKAMBA), most of mainland Pratincole Agreement Marine Australia. CAMBA = China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; JAMBA = Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; ROKAMBA = Republic of Korea Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; Bonn = Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
The alluvial plains of the development site are not considered to represent high quality refuge habitat for protected fauna species. The site supports grassland and low open woodland habitat, which is moderately degraded as a result of grazing practices and changed fire regimes. In contrast, the Devonian reefs of the west Kimberley are recognised as being regionally significant areas supporting significant species richness and endemism, and providing refugia for species impacted by human-induced environmental changes. Devonian reef outcrops are known to occur within close proximity to the proposed development (e.g. Geikie Gorge National Park and Limestone Billy Hills). These areas tend to be subjected to less intensive management in terms of clearing and grazing, and rock scree slopes can impede fires. Many protected species (such as land snails and the northern quoll) are therefore more likely to reside primarily within regions of limestone outcrops. The development site is therefore not considered to provide important refuge habitat for identified species.
In addition, the range of almost all identified species extends far beyond the proposed development site. Whilst the proposed development may have some minor impact upon the extent of available habitat for these species, there are extensive areas of equivalent remnant open woodland and grassland within the region within which affected species may seek refuge. The proposed development is further not considered to impact upon habitat connectivity, as remaining remnant vegetation within the region has a high degree of connectivity with minimal clearing.
The only species which may have potential to be significantly impacted by the development is the land snail Westraltrachia recta. The only known records of W. recta are from the region immediately surrounding the proposed development site. As W. recta has a small known distribution, it is therefore important to consider its habitat requirements to adequately assess the likelihood that the proposed development will impact the species. Seven W. recta records were retrieved by NatureMap. Details of these records are provided in
Table 7.
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Table 7: Details of Westraltrachia recta Records Record ID Record Source Year Site Description ID Certainty Number Seen Collected 6390 WA Threatened 1943 Fossil Downs Very Certain 8 Fauna Database 6389 WA Threatened 1976 Limestone Billy Very Certain 116 Fauna Database Hills 11500 WA Threatened 1986 Gogo Station Very Certain Not Recorded Fauna Database 11497 WA Threatened 1986 Gogo Station Very Certain Not Recorded Fauna Database 6392 WA Threatened 1986 St Georges Very Certain Not Recorded Fauna Database Ranges 6391 WA Threatened 2000 Limestone Billy Very Certain Not Recorded Fauna Database Hills NO83| Kimberley 2016 Not Recorded Not 1 Westraltrachia Limestone Range Recorded recta (Vu) Survey
The Kimberley has been identified as a significant region of land snail endemism and species richness. Alan Solem (1931-1990) was a biologist who extensively studied molluscs and is known for his work on land snails from Australasia. Of the genus Westraltrachia, he wrote (1984):
“Westraltrachia extends from the north-west tip of the Napier Range, near Hawkstone Creek, south-east along the chain of limestone exposures that form the Napiers, continues through the Oscar Ranges and Brooking Gorge past Fitzroy Crossing, Giekie Gorge, Pillara Range, Home Range, Virgin Hills, Emanuel, Laidlaw and through the Lawford Ranges. The southernmost record is from The Pinnacles at Pinnacles Creek. There are no records east of the Lawford Ranges, nor from the many sandstone hills and ridges that lie north of this limestone belt (although sampling for land snails in this region has been minimal). Westraltrachia has not been taken in the King Leopold Ranges, nor in areas such as Kongorow Pool of the Barker River and the Van Emmerick Ranges adjacent to the Napier Range. It thus has a very narrow curved strip-like range, about 245 km long … Collecting effort within much of the range of Westraltrachia has been fairly intensive. It seems probable that a majority of the species are known. Isolated bits of limestone unmarked on maps are the most likely places for additional species to be found.”
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It is likely that land snails do not utilise alluvial plains and instead rely upon rocky limestone outcrops as primary habitat (Slatyer et al 2007). Solem (1984) noted that the genus Westraltrachia show a coherent ecological pattern of association with exposed limestone. In support of this hypothesis, it should be noted that four of the seven known records provided by NatureMap of W. recta were collected from limestone hills, whilst the remaining three records do not indicate the habitat features in which the snails were collected. Solem (1984) described sampling efforts to collect W. recta:
“Two trips were made into the Limestone Billy Hills in an effort to obtain some live material of Westraltrachia recta. The result was one live adult and two live juveniles after about eight person-hours on nearly barren slopes in mid-day sunlight. The area is without tree cover and only scattered low brush provided minimum shade for snails. This station (WA-254) presented as inhospitable a 'positive' snail locality as we have sampled in the entire Kimberley.”
However, Westraltrachia distribution is not solely confined to limestone outcrops. Solem (1984) notes Westraltrachia may also be found sheltering under spinifex or scattered rocks a fair distance downslope from actual rock exposures. Slatyer et al (2007) noted a small number of instances in which arid/semi-arid land snails have been observed on rangelands within Australia. However, Slatyer et al (2007) suggested that such areas were likely to represent marginal habitat for land snails, especially in instances in which grazing practices have led to habitat simplification. However, limited data means that the association between W. recta and limestone outcrops cannot be proven, and the full distribution of the species is not known.
Overall, it is unlikely that the proposed development will significantly impact upon W. recta as the snail is likely to reside primarily within limestone outcrops, which will not be impacted by the development. However, it is recommended that attention be given to W. recta in future field survey efforts to further assess the species’ distribution on site.
2.2.2 Flora Species Identified protected flora species are listed in Table 8: Table 8: List of Protected Flora Species Likely to Utilise Development Site Habitat Scientific Name WA Species Description Species Range Conservation Status Heliotropium Priority 1 Ascending spreading annual herb to Northern WA and NT. foveolatum 0.3m high. Flowers from February to Majority of records from July. NT. Cullen candidum Priority 1 Shrub to 3m high. Flowers are white; East of Fitzroy Crossing flowers from September to October. to west of Derby, WA. Majority of records from Fitzroy Crossing.
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Flora species are unlike fauna species in that they cannot seek refuge from impacts of a development involving clearing. However, the loss of individual plants may be justified given the preservation of viable populations elsewhere of identified flora species, and if it is considered that suitable habitat remains elsewhere within the vicinity of Fitzroy Crossing for the species.
Whilst few records of Heliotropium foveolatum exist within Western Australia, a number of records of the species are known from the Northern Territory. The species appears to be most common along the north-east border of Western Australia and north-west Northern Territory (Figure 7). One record of H. foveolatum exists within the vicinity of Fitzroy Crossing, which is the southernmost and westernmost record of the species (the next closest record is located over 200km to the north-east of Fitzroy Crossing, near Ord River). The proposed development is therefore considered to be located on the south-western edge of the species’ range, and therefore is unlikely to constitute prime habitat for the species. The development is not considered to place the species at risk, as viable populations of the species is expected to continue over a large area beyond the development envelope.
Figure 7: Location of Heliotropium foveolatum Records (Source: Atlas of Living Australia)
Cullen candidum has been recorded within the Fitzroy Trough subregion of the Dampierland Bioregion. Poor survey data exists for the species. The species has been recorded from the east of Fitzroy Crossing to the coastline west of Derby, with the majority of its records occurring within the vicinity of Fitzroy Crossing (Figure 8). Whilst the distance between records indicates the species may have a considerable range, the small number of records means the edges of its range cannot be definitely established, and its distribution within its range is unknown.
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Figure 8: Location of Cullen candidum Records (Source: NatureMap) Therefore, the presence or absence of viable populations of Cullen candidum cannot be established in regions removed from Fitzroy Crossing based on available data. It is therefore important that field surveys are undertaken on site to establish the presence of the species on the development site, and to avoid impacting the species where possible. It is recommended that a field survey is undertaken between September and October to assess species presence to coincide with the flowering period of this species which will aid in species’ identification.
2.3 Cultural Environment 2.3.1 National Heritage The West Kimberley is listed as a National Heritage Place under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. As part of the listing process under the Act, the Australian Heritage Council (AHC) completed a thorough assessment of heritage values of the region (2011). The AHC’s report was assessed with regards to the proposed development, to ascertain the likelihood of the development impacting upon the region’s heritage. A copy of this assessment is presented in Appendix 4. Overall, the proposed development is not considered to place national heritage values of the West Kimberley at risk.
2.3.2 Indigenous Heritage There is potential that material of significance to Aboriginal people is discovered or uncovered during the project. Requirements for such items are bound by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 as follows:
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• If any human skeletal material is uncovered, work shall cease within 20m of the material and it shall be reported to Police as soon as possible, and • If any artefacts or material of apparent Aboriginal origin is discovered, work shall cease within 20m of the material and the Project Manager shall acquire the services of a qualified archaeologist to investigate the material and take appropriate actions.
There are seven aboriginal communities currently living on Gogo Station comprising predominantly of the Gooniyandi people. The community on Gogo Station includes three schools. The schools are prominent in providing local education in local languages in addition to providing a strong and relevant base for local students. These schools provide the basis for potential development of local enterprises and involvement with this project and any project that may take advantage of the model developed from this project.
The Proponent is working with local Indigenous Groups in relation to any potential Native Title issues. This work is progressing as a result of a long history of cooperation between the owners of Gogo Station and the local communities. Discussions with the Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Council in Fitzroy Crossing have occurred in relation to the potential for employment and development of general community support for the proposed agricultural development. A letter of support from this Local Indigenous Corporation is attached in Appendix 5.
Furthermore, as a result of seven months of negotiation, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Gogo and the Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC). This memorandum of understanding has committed both parties to monthly meetings to develop a partnership model to account for compensation. These meetings are on-going and ultimately will result in the creation of “many jobs and opportunities for Gooniyandi people including employment and business opportunities”. The outcome of this partnership will be the signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
Several similar discussions have been undertaken with the local Indigenous family groups who have verbally offered their support for local agriculture. The vision for local support is that the local Aboriginal Communities will have local opportunities to enter the workforce and remove themselves from welfare programs. This would be a significant benefit to the community.
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3 Conclusions The proposed development site is characterized by extensive tracts of moderately degraded grassland and low open woodland. The subject site is unlikely to constitute significant habitat for rare and/or threatened species which may be within the region; instead, such species are more likely to utilise Devonian limestone outcrops as important refuge habitat. Limestone outcrop habitat within the region will not be impacted by the proposed development; the impact of the development on rare and/or threatened species is therefore likely to be minimal. It is recommended that site surveys be conducted to ground-truth the findings of this assessment.
The proposed development is not considered to pose a risk to either local or National heritage values. The Proponent will continue to work closely with local indigenous communities to ensure protection of any places or artefacts of cultural significance which may be present on the development site.
This document supports a clearing application for 9,000ha of woodland and grassland on Gogo Station, to the south east of Fitzroy Crossing, WA. This document is considered as a preliminary assessment of the impacts of clearing on the region. Further information regarding the proposed development is available from SMK Consultants as required, who will continue to work closely with the Harris family throughout the course of the development application and approvals process.
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4 References Atlas of Living Australia online database (searched 2017), Database supported by National Research Infrastructure for Australia and hosted by CSIRO,
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Appendix 1: CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 – Soil Family and Vegetation Code Definitions
Table A1.1: Soil Families. Adapted from CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Soil Family Description Cununurra Dark grey to black heavy clays with strongly self-mulching surface horizons with deep wide cracks when dry. Carbonate and manganiferous concretions occur throughout some profiles but gypsum is comparatively rare or absent. Some of the deeper horizons are diffusely mottled and some have strong linear gilgai microrelief. Wonardo Grey-brown, brown, olive, yellow-brown and reddish brown strongly self-mulching and moderately cracking clays. Fine carbonate and manganiferous concretions occur throughout some profiles. The surface structure is strongly developed granular to subangular blocky which becomes massive with depth. Where gilgais are present the puff is commonly better structured than the depression and has lime concretions to the surface. Myroodah Dark grey to black and grey-brown heavy clays but with crusty non-mulching and weakly cracking surface horizons which are commonly severely scalded. These overlie moist, dark grey to black and olive, commonly mottled horizons. Manganiferous concretions occur throughout the profile whilst calcium carbonate concretions are rare and gypsum is usually absent. Incipient low gilgais have formed in some places. Brownish juvenile These are soils which do not preserve enough of the characteristics of alluvial soils to include them in that group, but which have not developed cracking clays the mulching and cracking properties of the grumosols. They have silty loam to silty clay loam surface horizons which are commonly micaceous and which become finer textured with depth although sandy lenses are common. The surface is incipiently self-mulching and exhibits strong tendencies to seal hard. In some places the surface layers show evidence of stratification whilst in some the middle horizons exhibit reasonably well-developed structural units. Broad, irregular shallow cracking patterns occur. These soils occupy extensive areas of the floodplain of the Fitzroy River.
Table A1.2: Upper Storey Vegetation. Adapted from CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Vegetation Code Vegetation Description Primary Groundcover Community Variation 20 E. microtheca community. The tree layer (20-35 ft high) of this open grassy woodland is monospecific. The rounded crowns and widely- spaced trees give the community a distinctive appearance. Shrubs (Melaleuca sp., Carissa lanceolata, Acacia victoriae, Bauhinia
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Vegetation Code Vegetation Description Primary Groundcover Community Variation cunninghamii) occur in patches or are extremely sparse. Three different groundcovers responding to slight differences in habitat have been described. 20a E. microtheca with Chrysopogon spp. (49) ground storey occurs as an open woodland, distinguished by a well-developed, almost pure stand of Chrysopogon spp. Short grasses are sparse and forbs are few. 20b E. microtheca with Chrysopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum (48) ground storey. This community differs from 20a mainly in that dominance of the tall grass layer is shared by Chrysopogon spp. and Dichanthium fecundum, with a rich assortment of other perennials. The tree layer is very open and the community grades into grassland. 21 E. microtheca – E. papuana community. The tree layer (20-35 ft high) of these woodlands comprises E. microtheca and E. papuana. The tall shrub layer is variable but dense in patches, and consists mainly of Acacia spp. of the adjoining pindan. The tall grass layer also represents pindan and consists of a complex of Plectrachne pungens and Chrysopogon spp. (56). Short grasses are sparse or absent. 22 E. papuana community. E. papuana characterises the upper tree layer (30-40 ft) of this grassy woodland and except for occasional Adansonia gregorii or E. polycarpa forms almost pure stands. Bauhinia cunninghamii commonly occurs as a smaller tree. The shrub layer (Bauhinia cunninghamii, Carissa lanceolata, Grevillia striata and Acacia spp.) is patchy or sparse. Two ground storeys have been described. 22a E. papuana with ground story of frontage grass (50) is extremely varied from place to place but typically consists of a rich assortment of tall perennial frontage grasses including Chrysopogon spp., Heteropogon contortus and Dichanthium fecundum. 22b E. papuana with Aristida hygrometrica and other short grasses (62) ground storey occurs as a grassy woodland very closely resembling 22a but lacks the tall perennial grass layer. It is characterised by A. hydrometrica and other short grasses (62). 24 E. alba and E. microtheca community. The tree layer (30-40 ft high) of this grassy woodland is characterised by E. alba and E. microtheca. In other respects it also resembles 22a. 37 Bauhinia cunninghamii community. The tree layer (15-25 ft) of these low woodlands is characterised by Bauhinia cunninghamii. It occurs over a range of habitats and the associated trees, shrubs and grasses vary accordingly. 37a Bauhinia cunninghamii community with Chrysopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum (48) ground storey is characteristic of the minor stream lines of the cracking clay plains and becomes very open where they extend onto the plains. Other trees (Atalaya hemiclauca, Dolichandrone heretophylla, Terminalia volucris and Ventilago viminalis) are patchy and sparse. The sparse shrub layer is common characterised by Acacia suberosa, Carissa laneolata and bushes of the tree species. The ground storey is characterised by Chryosopogon and Dichamthium spp., and is floristically rich, tall and dense.
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Vegetation Code Vegetation Description Primary Groundcover Community Variation 37b Bauhinia cunninghamii community with Chrysopogon spp. (49) ground storey occurs on scalded cracking clay plains where the shrub layers resemble 37a. The ground storey is characterised by Chrysopogon spp, which in places is quite dense although scalding is extensive. 38 Bauhinia cunninghamii – Ventilago viminalis community. The tree layer (15-25 ft) of this low open woodland is characterised by Bauhinia cunninghamii and Ventilago viminalis and several other small trees (Dolichandrone heretophylla, Atalaya hemiclauca and Acacia spp.) are commonly present. Shrubs are scattered. Three different ground storeys were observed with this community, with little or no change in the upper layers. 38c Bauhinia cunninghamii – Ventilago viminalis with Astridia browniana ground storey is pindan-form vegetation (63). It differs from other pindan communities in that the stunted eucalypts are absent. As with other pindan communities the prominent tall shrub layer is distinguished by Acacia spp. (mainly Acacia tumida). Other shrubs include Acacia impressa, Hakea arborescens, H. macrocarpa, H lorea, Dolichandrone heterophylla, Ehretia sp., Capparis sp. And Atalaya hemiclauca. 39 Bauhinia cunninghamii – Tristania suaveolens community. Bauhinia cunninghamii and Tristania suaveolens characterise the upper layer (15-30 ft) of a community that fringes small, non-permanent streams. Sparse Adansonia gregorii and Terminalia platyphylla trees are locally present. The community is open and the perennial frontage grasses (50) are patchy. 42 E. camaldulensis – Terminalia platyphylla community. E camaldulensis and Terminalia platyphylla characterise the tree layer (40-60 ft) of the fringing forests and woodlands along the main rivers of the area. Other trees (Ficus coronulata, F. racemose, Tristania suavolens, Nauclea orientalis, Adansonia gregorii and E. polycarpa) are commonly present. Many smaller trees (Melaleuca spp., Bauhinia cunninghamii, Acacia spp., Brachychiton spp., Planchonia careya and Pandanus sp.) assist in forming a more or less dense fringe to the channel. The ground storey is characterised by patches of perennial frontage grasses (50) and pockets of coarse grasses (Coelorhachis rottboellioides, Arundinella nepalensis and Imperata cylindrica var. major) (51) occur in pockets or as fringes at the water’s edge. 43 Terminalia platyphylla community. Associated with the smaller permanent or near-permanent streams in the higher rainfall (25-40 in) parts is a fringing community characterised by Terminalia platyphylla, and E. camaldulensis is absent. Other associated trees and grasses are similar to 42.
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Table A1.3: Ground Storey Vegetation. Adapted from CSIRO Land Research Series No. 9 Vegetation Vegetation Description Code 47 Astrebla spp. (Mitchell Grass) ground storey – this is characteristic of the extensive cracking clay plains through the area. The soils typically have gilgai microrelief and this influences the structure of the community. Tussocky perennial grasses, 2-4 ft high, form a moderately dense, tall grass layer distinguished by Astrebla squarrosa (bull Mitchell), A. pectinate (barley Mitchell) and A. elymoides (weeping Mitchell) and occupy the inter-gilgai areas. Chrysopogon spp., Sehima nervosum and Astridia latifolia are commonly present and in places Chrysopogon spp. are locally dominant. The shorter grasses (Dichanthium fecundum, Brachyachne convergens, Panicum decompositum, P. whitei and Iseilema spp.) characterise the gilgais. The community is further enriched by annuals and forbs including leguminous species of Moghania, Rhynchosia and Neptunia. It commonly occurs as a grassland with, locally, sparse trees (Bauhinia cunninghamii and Eucalyptus microtheca) and shrubs (Acacia suberosa, A. farnesiana, Carissa laneolata, Atalaya hemiglauca and Dolichandrone heterophylla), commonly scattered, are in places quite numerous. 48 Chrusopogon spp. – Dichanthium fecundum (Ribbon Grass-Blue Grass) ground storey. Structurally and floristically this closely resembles 47, except for the absence of Astrebla spp. and the presence locally of a greater range of tall to medium-height tussocky perennial grasses (Eulalia fulva, Sorghum plumosum, Dichanthium superciliatum, Bothriochloa ewartiana and Heteropogon contortus). There is also a greater variety of species in the lower layer. Of its numerous components Dichanthium fecundum and Chrysopogon spp. are predominant. The lower layer (12-18 in. high) commonly is well developed and comprises shorter perennial and annual grasses and a wide selection of plants of varied habit and life form. Representative species in this layer include Iseilema spp., Brachyachne convergens, Eriachne glauca, Eragrostis setifolia, Echinochloa colonum, Paspalidium rarum, Xerochloa laniflora, Dactyloctenium radulans, Polycarpaea spp., Ipomoea spp., Desmodium spp., Bethania diffusa and many others including succulents Calandrina and Portulaca spp. This community occurs extensively as a grassland with sparse trees and shrubs (Bauhinia cunninghamii, Terminalia volucris, Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia farnesiana, A. suberosa, A. victoriae and Carissa lanceolata) and as a ground storye to woodlands of Bauhinia cunninghamii (37) and Eucalyptus microtheca (20). 49 Chrysopogon spp. (ribbon grass) ground storey – This is characterised by species which are extremely widespread throughout the area and are represented in most ground-storey communities. The communities characterised by Chrysopogon spp. are also extensive and widespread. The tall perennial grass layer (3-5 ft) is distinguished by Chrysopogon latifolius (ribbon grass) and C. fallax (golden spear grass). The community structurally and floristically resembles 48 but lacks Dichanthium fecundum and many of the short grasses (Brachyachne convergens, Iseilema spp.) typical of that community. Other tall to medium-height perennial grasses (Aristida latifolia, A. inaequiglumis, Sehima nervosum and annual sorghum) are locally important and clumps of spinifex are present in places. The community is quite dense or open according to the varied environmental factors or grazing practices. As a pasture type this community where it occurs on the floodplains resembles 48. The dominant Chrysopogon species are hardy perennial grasses forming small tussocks of basal vegetative tillers and elongated flowering clums up to 5 ft high. They have vigorous, fibrous root systems which rapidly regenerate after rainfall. The community is important on the less mature cracking clay areas. In these areas it commonly occurs as a grassland or grassland with sparse trees and shrubs and has a similar land system distribution to community 48. It is also extensive and widespread on red and yellow earths on the central and southern
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Vegetation Vegetation Description Code parts of the area, where it characteristically occurs as a ground storey to low open woodlands of Grevillea striata, Bauhinina cunninghamii, Melaleuca acacioides and a number of eucalypts. 50 Frontage grass ground storey. This characterises the levees of the major rivers and commonly occurs associated with watercourses throughout the area. Characteristic plants comprise coarse, perennial, tall to medium-height tussock grasses amongst which Dichanthium spp. and Chrysopogon spp. are predominant and Sorghum plumosum, Themeda australis, Bothriochloa intermedia and Heteropogon contortus are of local importance. Although variable in floristics and structure, the community is on of the richest of the area and contains many of the elements of the floodplain which it commonly adjoins. In the structure the ground storeys comprise two well-defined layers of plants consisting of perennial grasses and under-shrubs up to over 5.5 ft high in one, and numerous perennial, annual and ephemeral grasses and forbs up to 2 ft high in the other. Associated vegetation comprises Eucalyptus papuana woodland (22-24) and other communities. A variant of this ground storey is found as an under storey to the channel fringing communities (39-43), where it is commonly more open and discontinuous and contains species not common in the rest of its distribution. It is bounded on the channel side by fringing grass. 51 Fringing grass ground storey. This is associated with the E. camaldulensis alliance. It is restricted to channel margins and consists of very tall, coarse perennial grasses (Coelorhachis rottboellioides, Arundinella nepalensis and Imperata cylindrica var. major) in dense stands forming a discontinuous fringe at the water’s edge. The favourable water relations existing in these situations are conductive in places to the growth of robust perennial grasses. They are often shrubby in habit with cane-like clums and rank foliage and may produce tussocks up to 6 ft high and almost as wide. 56 Plectrachne pungens – Chrysopogon spp. (Curly Spinifex – Ribbon Grass) ground storey. This is associated with low scrubby woodland vegetation locally referred to as pindan. This formation is characteristic of the sand plane and dune fields which are extensive in the western and south-western parts of the West Kimberley area. The ground storeys comprise of a mix of sclerophyllous and herbaceous plants characterised by Plectrachne pungens (curly spinifex) and Chrysopogon pallidus (ribbon grass) which occur as a complex. Annual sorghums (Sorghum australiense and S. stipoideum) are commonly associated constituents and in many parts are seasonally dominant. A poorly defined lower layer carries sparse Aristida browniana, A. hygrometrica, Eriachne ciliata, E. obtusa, Eragrostis eripoda, Pancium spp. and a seasonal abundance of annual grasses and forbs, including sedges and succulents, among them Perotis rara, Portulaca spp., Fimbristylis dichotoma, and Polycarpaea spp. This ground storey is described with six different upper tree layers, but the most characteristic and widespread of these is the E. dichromopholia – E. zygophylla – Acacia spp. community. The shrub layers of this community are commonly dense but patchy, and richness and density of the ground storey elements are inversely proportional to that of the upper layers. 62 Aristida hygrometrica (Kerosene Grass) ground storey. Commonly this occurs on the more sandy levee soils over a wide range of environments as a very mixed, short to medium height, ground storey community. The chief components are ephemeral, annual, or short-lived perennial grasses. It is commonly characterised by Aristida hygrometrica, a slender wiry annual, which rapidly dries out, producing spear-like seeds. Also represented are species of Setaria,
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Vegetation Vegetation Description Code Schizachyrium, Eriachne, Thaumastochloa, Eragrostis, Pancium, Fimbristylis, Ectrosia and Perotis. Forbs, including Gomphrena spp. and Polycarpaea spp. are commonly present. Taller perennials such as Chrysopogon sp., Astridia spp., Heteropogon contortus and Eulalia fulva are sparse. Associated upper stories are characterised by E. papuana (22b), E. polycarpa and less commonly E. tectifica. 63 Aristida browniana ground storey. This is associated with sandy crests of dunes and resembles 62. It differs in that Aristida browniana is the characteristic species and the associated species are not so numerous and varied. Other species commonly present include Aristida hygrometrica, Eriachne obtuse, Perotis rara and Enneapogon polyphyllus. Forbs and shrubs resemble those of the adjacent pindan. The associated upper storey is characterised by Bauhinia cunninghamii and Ventilago viminalis (38c).
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Appendix 2: Ecological Assemblages Identified by GHD Near Gogo Station
Vegetation Vegetation Type Vegetation Type Description Type Classification Number 1 River Riparian Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus microtheca, Adansonia gregorii, Woodland Melaleuca leucadendra, Melaleuca argentea, Terminalia platyphylla over Atalaya hemiglauca, Operculina aequisepala, Passiflora foetida, Commelina ciliata, Cyanotis axillaris, Cyperus macrostachyos, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Ocimum basilicum and mixed grasses, including Cynodon dactylon, Echinochloa colona. Some Parkinsonia aculeata present. 2 Degraded/Altered Vegetation in degraded areas, mainly cleared with introduced species, Vegetation some disturbance specialist native species: Calotropis procera, Aerva javanica, Vachellia farnesiana, Cleome viscosa, Euphorbia spp., Trichodesma zeylanicum. 3 Wetland Riparian Eucalyptus microtheca over wetland herbs and grasses including Low Woodland Sesbania cannabina, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Alternanthera nodiflora, Ocimum basilicum, Ipomoea aquatica, Cyperus macrostachyos, Pennisetum basedowii, Panicum sp., Echinochloa colona, Chloris barbata and Dactyloctenium radulans. 4 Altered Drainage Vegetation adjacent to the highway has been altered in some areas due Line to altered drainage off the road. Vegetation is predominantly wetland herbs and grasses including: Sesbania cannabina, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Ocimum basilicum, Ipomoea aquatica, Cyperus macrostachyos, Echinochloa colona, Sorghum sp., Chloris barbata. 5 Floodplain Mixed Eucalyptus microtheca, Corymbia opaca, Bauhinia cunninghamii over Open Woodland Atalaya hemiglauca, Carissa lanceolata, Vachellia farnesiana, Aerva javanica, Tinospora smilacina, Cleome viscosa, Calotropis procera, Portulaca pilosa, Buchnera linearis and mixed grasses, including Cenchrus ciliaris. 6 Hummock Predominantly hummock grasses, including Cenchrus ciliaris, Grassland with Chrysopogon fallax, Heteropogon contortus, Eriachne obtusa, Eragrotis Scattered Trees setifolia, Aristida spp, Astrebla spp., Sorghum spp. with occasional and Shrubs Eucalyptus microtheca, Bauhinia cunninghamii, Vachellia farnesiana, Carissa lanceolata and herb species. 7 Mixed Woodland Corymbia opaca, Eucalyptus brevifolia, Eucalyptus pruinosa Bauhinia cunninghamii, Gyrocarpus americanus, Owenia varicose, Terminalia spp. over Hakea arborescens, Ehretia saligna, Grevillea striata, Vachellia farnesiana, Carissa lanceolata, Aerva javanica, Acacia spp., Aerva javanica, Tinospora smilacina over hummock grasslands, including Triodia pungens, Heteropogon contortus, Eriachne obtusa, Eragrotis setifolia, Aristida spp, Astrebla spp., Sorghum spp. and herbs, including Corchorus sidoides, Gomphrena spp. 8 Acacia Low Acacia elachantha, Acacia eriopoda, Acacia monticola and other Acacia Woodland species over Aerva javanica, Corchorus sidoides,
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Vegetation Vegetation Type Vegetation Type Description Type Classification Number mixed grasses and herbs, including Sorghum spp., Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon fallax. 9 Rocky Breakaway Eucalyptus cadophora, Corymbia flavescens, Eucalyptus brevifolia over herbs and grasses, particularly Triodia spp. 10 Uncoordinated Eucalyptus microtheca, Corymbia opaca, Bauhinia cunninghamii over Drainage Line Hakea arborescens, Carissa lanceolata, Vachellia farnesiana, Tinospora Open Woodland smilacina and mixed grasses. 11 Limestone Flueggea virosa, Gossypium spp., Tinospora smilacina, Ficus opposita, Breakaway Rynchosia spp., Tephrosia spp., Triodia spp. (Devonian Reef) 12 Hummock Grasses include Aristida pruinosa, Cenchrus ciliaris, Panicum sp., Grassland on clay Echinochloa colona, Chloris barbata and Dactyloctenium radulans, with plain (Plum Plain) Stylosanthes hamata, Neptunia dimorphotheca, Gossypium australe, with isolated Portulaca spp. and Buchnera spp. in disturbed areas. trees.
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Figure A2.1: Location of Ecological Assemblages Identified by GHD
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Figure A2.2: Location of Ecological Assemblages Identified by GHD
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Figure A2.3: Location of Ecological Assemblages Identified by GHD
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Appendix 3: Assessment of All Species Identified by NatureMap and Protected Matters Search Tool
Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment?
Malurus Purple-crowned Range: Occurs along waterways in the Kimberley Division of Western Endangered Endangered No. Potential coronatus Fairy-wren Australia, and east to the Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory. Its habitat distribution includes parts of the Fitzroy River, Drysdale River, Durack River unavailable. and Ord River systems in Western Australia. The distribution of the Purple- crowned Fairy-wren (western) has been severely reduced since the subspecies was first discovered 140 years ago. Declines have occurred along the lower reaches of the Fitzroy River, where the fairy-wren is now locally extinct, and along the upper Fitzroy River and Ord River systems where only small, relict populations persist. Habitat: The Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (western) inhabits dense, riparian vegetation in the wet-dry tropics of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is found near permanent rivers and springs (or associated billabongs and swamps), where it occupies dense thickets of Pandanus aquaticus or canegrass and also occurs, less frequently, in rushes and shrubs. Diet: Predominantly feeds on insects, yet may also feed on leaves and seeds. Breeding: Dome-shaped nests built of rootlets, grass stems, leaves and bark are built close to the ground in thickets of Pandanus aquaticus and canegrass (especially Chionachne cyathopoda). Breeding activity occurs during most months. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be present due to absence of dense riparian vegetation within the development area. Actitis Common Range: Found along all coastlines of Australia and in many areas inland, the Protected Migratory (Bonn, No. Potential hypoleucos Sandpiper Common Sandpiper is widespread in small numbers. The population when in Under CAMBA, JAMBA), habitat Australia is concentrated in northern and western Australia. International Marine as Actitis unavailable. Habitat: The species utilises a wide range of coastal wetlands and some inland Agreement hypoleucos wetlands, with varying levels of salinity, and is mostly found around muddy margins or rocky shores and rarely on mudflats. The Common Sandpiper has Migratory been recorded in estuaries and deltas of streams, as well as on banks farther (ROKAMBA) as upstream; around lakes, pools, billabongs, reservoirs, dams and claypans, and Tringa hypoleucos
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? occasionally piers and jetties. The muddy margins utilised by the species are often narrow, and may be steep. The species is often associated with mangroves, and sometimes found in areas of mud littered with rocks or snags. Diet: Molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Breeding: Breeds in Eurasia. Northward migration, pre-breeding, is from February-May or early June. Post breeding, the southward migration usually begins July–November, with individuals arriving from July onwards. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within study area due to absence of wetlands and other similar waterbodies. The species primarily resides in coastal habitats. Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Range: The Fork-tailed Swift is a non-breeding visitor to all states and Protected Migratory No. Species Swift, Pacific territories of Australia. In Western Australia, there are sparsely scattered Under (CAMBA, JAMBA, occupies aerial Swift records of the Fork-tailed Swift along the south coast, ranging from near the International ROKAMBA), habitat. Eyre Bird Observatory and west to Denmark. They are widespread in coastal Agreement Marine and subcoastal areas between Augusta and Carnarvon, including some on nearshore and offshore islands. They are scattered along the coast from south- west Pilbara to the north and east Kimberley region, near Wyndham. There are sparsely scattered inland records, especially in the Wheatbelt, from Lake Annean and Wittenoom. They are found in the north and north-west Gascoyne Region, north through much of the Pilbara Region, and the south and east Kimberley. They are also recorded in the Timor Sea, both at sea and around islands such as the Ashmore Reef. Isolated records occur at Neale Junction in the Great Victoria Desert and on the Nullarbor Plain. Habitat: The Fork-tailed Swift is almost exclusively aerial, flying from less then 1 m to at least 300 m above ground and probably much higher. They occur over a wide variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, ranging from cliffs to urban areas to treeless grassland and sandplain to rainforests. Swifts feed and probably roost aerially, only occasionally being observed to land. Diet: Insects Breeding: Breed in Siberia. Usually arrives in Australia in October and departs during April.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Comment: This species may be present above the study area. However, as the species almost solely occupies an aerial habitat, the ground surface of the study area is not considered to be utilised by the species. Ardea modesta Eastern Great Range: Eastern Great Egrets are widespread in Australia. They occur in all Protected Marine No. Potential Egret states/territories of mainland Australia and in Tasmania. Under habitat Habitat: The Eastern Great Egret has been reported in a wide range of wetland International unavailable. habitats (for example inland and coastal, freshwater and saline, permanent Agreement and ephemeral, open and vegetated, large and small, natural and artificial). These include swamps and marshes; margins of rivers and lakes; damp or flooded grasslands, pastures or agricultural lands; reservoirs; sewage treatment ponds; drainage channels; salt pans and salt lakes; salt marshes; estuarine mudflats, tidal streams; mangrove swamps; coastal lagoons; and offshore reefs. The species usually frequents shallow waters. Diet: Fish, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, lizards, snakes and small birds and mammals. Breeding: Breeding generally occurs from November to April. In Australia, breeding sites are located in wooded and shrubby swamps including mangrove forests (the main habitat of the species in the Top End), Melaleuca swamps (on the eastern coast of Australia and south-western Western Australia) and mixed eucalypt/acacia/lignum swamps. Pairs construct a shallow platform-like nest of loosely woven sticks in the upper strata of trees or shrubs standing in or near water or sometimes in inundated reed beds. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Calidris Long-Toed Stint Range: The Long-toed Stint is a regular summer visitor to Australia, but Protected Migratory (Bonn, No. Potential subminuta uncommon in the east. In Western Australia, the species is found mainly along Under CAMBA, JAMBA, habitat the coast, with a few scattered inland records. International ROKAMBA), unavailable. Habitat: In Australia, the Long-toed Stint occurs in a variety of terrestrial Agreement Marine wetlands. They prefer shallow freshwater or brackish wetlands including lakes, swamps, river floodplains, streams, lagoons and sewage ponds. The species is also fond of areas of muddy shoreline, growths of short grass, weeds, sedges, low or floating aquatic vegetation, reeds, rushes and occasionally stunted
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? samphire. It has also been observed at open, less vegetated shores of larger lakes and ponds and is common on muddy fringes of drying ephemeral lakes and swamps. The Long-toed Stint also frequents permanent wetlands such as reservoirs and artificial lakes. They are uncommon, but not unknown, at tidal estuaries, saline lakes, saltponds and bore swamps. Diet: Seeds, molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Breeding: Limited information available. Likely to breed in Siberia. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee- Range: The Rainbow Bee-eater is distributed across much of mainland Protected Marine Yes. Species to eater Australia, and occurs on several near-shore islands. It is not found in Tasmania, Under be considered and is thinly distributed in the most arid regions of central and Western International for assessment. Australia. Agreement Habitat: The Rainbow Bee-eater occurs mainly in open forests and woodlands, shrublands, and in various cleared or semi-cleared habitats, including farmland and areas of human habitation. It usually occurs in open, cleared or lightly- timbered areas that are often, but not always, located in close proximity to permanent water. It also occurs in inland and coastal sand dune systems, and in mangroves in northern Australia, and has been recorded in various other habitat types including heathland, sedgeland, vine forest and vine thicket, and on beaches. On migration, the Rainbow Bee-eater may also fly over the top of non-preferred habitats such as rainforest or treeless plains. Diet: Insects Breeding: August to January. The nest is located in an enlarged chamber at the end of long burrow or tunnel in flat or sloping ground, in the banks of rivers, creeks or dams, in roadside cuttings, in the walls of gravel pits or quarries, in mounds of gravel, or in cliff-faces. Nesting areas are often re-used, and banding studies indicate that at least some migrant birds return to the same nesting area each year. Comment: Potential habitat may be present within the study area as it may utilise open woodlands.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Plegadis Glossy Ibis Range: Within Australia, the Glossy Ibis is generally located east of the Protected Migratory (Bonn), No. Potential falcinellus Kimberley in Western Australia and Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The Under Marine habitat species is also known to be patchily distributed in the rest of Western International unavailable. Australia. The species is rare or a vagrant in Tasmania. Agreement Habitat: The Glossy Ibis' preferred habitat for foraging and breeding are fresh water marshes at the edges of lakes and rivers, lagoons, flood-plains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, rice-fields and cultivated areas under irrigation. The species is occasionally found in coastal locations such as estuaries, deltas, saltmarshes and coastal lagoons. Within Australia, the largest contiguous areas of prime habitat are inland and northern floodplains. The Glossy Ibis is commonly in largest numbers in drying Top End grass/sedge swamps and Channel Country grass/forb meadows. The species is sometimes recorded in wooded swamps, artificial wetlands (such as irrigated fields), and in mangroves for breeding. The species may retreat to permanent wetlands and/or coastal areas (including tidal wetlands) during drought. Glossy Ibis roost in trees or shrubs usually near, but sometimes far, from water bodies. Diet: Feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates/insects such as freshwater snails, mussels, crabs and crayfish. Breeding: Breed from mid spring to the end of summer in Australia. The nest is a platform of twigs and vegetation usually positioned less than one metre above water (occasionally up to 7 m) in tall dense stands of emergent vegetation (e.g. reeds or rushes), low trees or bushes. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Tringa glareola Wood Range: The species occurs throughout Australia, with its largest numbers Protected Migratory (Bonn, No. Potential Sandpiper recorded in north-west Australia. In Western Australia, the species is Under CAMBA, JAMBA, habitat widespread but scattered in most regions. International ROKAMBA), unavailable. Habitat: The Wood Sandpiper uses well-vegetated, shallow, freshwater Agreement Marine wetlands, such as swamps, billabongs, lakes, pools and waterholes. They are typically associated with emergent, aquatic plants or grass, and dominated by taller fringing vegetation, such as dense stands of rushes or reeds, shrubs, or dead or live trees, especially Melaleuca and River Red Gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis and often with fallen timber. They also frequent inundated
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? grasslands, short herbage or wooded floodplains, where floodwaters are temporary or receding, and irrigated crops. They are also found at some small wetlands only when they are drying. They are rarely found using brackish wetlands, or dry stunted saltmarsh. Typically, they do not use coastal flats, but are occasionally recorded in stony wetlands. This species uses artificial wetlands, including open sewage ponds, reservoirs, large farm dams, and bore drains. In Western Australia, within wetlands, birds often occur within a few metres of one another and are concentrated at a few sites in a wetland. Diet: Insects and molluscs. Breeding: Species does not breed in Australia. Most records of the species in Australia occur between August and April. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Crocodylus Freshwater Range: The species occurs along all but the near coastal reaches of the rivers, Other Marine No. Potential johnstoni Crocodile streams and creeks that flow into the waters off northern Australia between Specially habitat King Sound in the south-western Kimberley, Western Australia and the Protected unavailable. northern part of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. They occasionally occur in Fauna near coastal areas where Saltwater Crocodiles are absent, but are much more common in inland areas. Habitat: Freshwater Crocodiles inhabit various freshwater environments, including rivers, creeks, pools, billabongs, lagoons, and swamps. During the wet season, these habitats become inundated with flood waters which allow the crocodiles to move throughout the flood plains. As the water levels drop the crocodiles tend to congregate in the larger and deeper water bodies, where they prefer to inhabit the shallower waters at the pool edges. Diet: Crustaceans, insects, spiders, fishes, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, birds and mammals. Breeding: Egg-laying occurs August-September. Eggs are buried within sandbanks near the water’s edge. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Heliotropium Range: Occurs in northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Priority 1 Yes. Species to foveolatum Habitat: Limited information available. Species occurs in grasslands and open be considered woodlands. for assessment. Breeding: Flowers February to July. Comment: Incomplete information is available regarding this species’ habitat requirements. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment under the precautionary principle. Cullen Range: Occurs in northern Western Australia. Records exist from west of Priority 1 Yes. Species to candidum Derby on the coast to east of Fitzroy Crossing. be considered Habitat: Limited information available. Has been recorded growing in flat for assessment. woodland as a coloniser on road sides in dense stands, and on disturbed floodplains. Records exist on clayey sand and sandy clay soils. Has been recorded growing in association with Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Atalaya hemiglauca. Breeding: Flowers from September to October. Flowers are white. Comment: Incomplete information is available regarding this species’ habitat requirements. Existing records indicate that Gogo Station provides suitable habitat for this species. Three records (of eight total known records) of the species occur within the vicinity of Fitzroy Crossing. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment. Westraltrachia Land Snail Range: Endemic snail only known to occur within the region of Gogo Station Priority 1 Yes. Species to recta (within 20km radius of proposed development); however, a lack of survey be considered efforts may mean the range of the species is larger than that which has been for assessment. formally recorded by surveys in the past. Habitat: Limited information available. Species likely to favour areas of rocky limestone outcrops. Diet: Limited information available. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Species is endemic to the region surrounding Fitzroy Crossing and has not been recorded elsewhere. Whilst the species is likely to favour rocky areas over clay plains, limited information is available regarding this species’
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? habitat requirements and its distribution. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment under the precautionary principle. Cayratia Range: Endemic to Australia, occurs in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Priority 2 No. Potential cardiophylla Cape York Peninsula and North East Queensland. habitat Habitat: Altitudinal range from near sea level to 650 m. Grows in vine thicket, unavailable. beach forest, monsoon forest and some of the drier more seasonal types of rain forest. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be present within the study area due to absence of suitable dense vegetation. Craterocephalus Prince Regent Range: The Prince Regent Hardyhead is restricted to a number of rivers in the Priority 2 No. Potential lentiginosus Hardyhead Kimberley, but is generally common in these rivers. habitat Habitat: This freshwater fish species occurs in still or flowing streams and unavailable. occasionally from isolated brackish pools. Diet: Omnivore. Limited information available. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Kimboraga Land Snail Range: Species recorded from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby within the Kimberley, Priority 2 Yes. Species to micromphala WA. be considered Habitat: Limited information available. for assessment. Diet: Limited information available. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Incomplete information is available regarding this species’ habitat requirements. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment under the precautionary principle. Ninox connivens Barking Owl Region: Found throughout continental Australia except for in the central arid Priority 2 Yes. Species to subsp. regions. be considered connivens Habitat: Barking Owls are most common in savannah woodland, although they for assessment. also inhabit well-forested hill and riverine woodlands. Is flexible in its habitat use, and can inhabit including fragmented remnants and partly cleared farmland. Can hunt in closed forest and more open areas. Sometimes able to
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? successfully breed along timbered watercourses in heavily cleared habitats due to higher prey density on fertile soil. Preferred Food: Small arboreal mammals such as squirrel gliders and ringtail possums, birds, invertebrates, terrestrial mammals such as rodents and rabbits. Breeding: Two or three eggs laid in hollows of large, old trees. Nesting occurs during mid-winter and spring but is variable between pairs and among years. Comment: Potential habitat likely to be present within study area as the study area includes areas of savannah woodland. Vespadelus Yellow-lipped Range: Very little is known about Yellow-lipped Bats. They are mostly caught Priority 2 Yes. Species to douglasorum Cave Bat in areas of the Kimberley region that receive more than 800 mm of rainfall per be considered year. for assessment. Habitat: Yellow-lipped Bats roost in sandstone and limestone caves. Diet: Insects. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Incomplete information is available regarding this species’ foraging habitat requirements. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment under the precautionary principle. Prymnbriareus Land Snail Range: Most species recordings located to the south and west of Kununurra Priority 3 Yes. Species to nimberlinus in northern WA, with one outlier record to the immediate north-east of be considered Fitzroy Crossing. for assessment. Habitat: Limited information available. Diet: Limited information available. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Incomplete information is available regarding this species’ habitat requirements. Therefore, the species will be considered for assessment under the precautionary principle. Polytelis Princess Parrot; Range: The Princess Parrot occurs in arid regions of Western Australia, Priority 4 Vulnerable Yes. Species to alexandrae Alexandra’s Northern Territory and South Australia. The species has been recorded at low be considered Parrot densities in the Great Sandy, Gibson, Tanami and Great Victoria Deserts. At for assessment. least part of the population appears to be highly dispersive, and many records are ephemeral.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Habitat: The Princess Parrot is typically recorded from shrublands and savannah woodlands amongst sand dunes, with occupied sites typically consisting of spinifex and shrubs, such as Acacia spp., Cassia spp., Eremophila spp., Grevillea spp., Hakea spp., Senna spp., with scattered emergent trees including Eucalyptus spp., Casuarina spp., and Allocasuarina spp. The species also occurs and breeds in vegetated riverine and littoral areas. Diet: Seeds and some flowers, nectar and leaves. Breeding: Breeding occurs from September to January. The Princess Parrot nests in hollows or holes in Eucalyptus trees (including E. camaldulensis) close to watercourses, or occasionally in Allocasuarina decaisneana trees away from water. The nest consists of a pile of decaying wood dust, upon which it lays a clutch of three to six white eggs. Comment: Potential ephemeral habitat likely to be present within the study area. Rhinonicteris Orange Leaf- Range: This species is found across the top end of Australia, from the Priority 4 Yes. Species to aurantia nosed Bat Kimberleys to north-west Queensland, and has an isolated population in the be considered Pilbara region of Western Australia. for assessment. Habitat: It roosts by day in caves and mines with a narrow band of high temperature and humidity (28-32oC and 85-100% humidity). This narrow range may limit their distribution. The bat forages in a range of habitats including grassland, open woodland, savannah woodland, and spinifex covered hills. Diet: Moths, beetles, weevils, bugs, wasps and ants. Breeding: Limited information available. Comment: Foraging habitat is likely to be present within the study area. Calidris Curlew Region: The Curlew Sandpiper is distributed around most of the Australian Vulnerable; Critically No. Potential furruginea Sandpiper coastline (including Tasmania). In Western Australia, they are widespread Protected Endangered, habitat around coastal and subcoastal plains from Cape Arid to south-west Kimberley Under Migratory (Bonn, unavailable. Division, but are more sparsely distributed between Carnarvon and Dampier International CAMBA, JAMBA, Archipelago. Inland records are probably mainly of birds pausing for a few Agreement ROKAMBA), days during migration. The Curlew Sandpiper breeds in Siberia and migrates to Marine Australia (as well as Africa and Asia) for the non-breeding period, arriving in Australia between August and November, and departing between March and
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? mid-April. Habitat: Curlew Sandpipers mainly occur on intertidal mudflats in sheltered coastal areas, such as estuaries, bays, inlets and lagoons, and also around non- tidal swamps, lakes and lagoons near the coast, and ponds in saltworks and sewage farms. They are also recorded inland, though less often, including around ephemeral and permanent lakes, dams, waterholes and bore drains, usually with bare edges of mud or sand. They occur in both fresh and brackish waters. Occasionally they are recorded around floodwaters. Curlew Sandpipers forage on mudflats and nearby shallow water. In non-tidal wetlands, they usually wade, mostly in water 15–30 mm, but up to 60 mm, deep. They forage at the edges of shallow pools and drains of intertidal mudflats and sandy shores. At high tide, they forage among low sparse emergent vegetation, such as saltmarsh, and sometimes forage in flooded paddocks or inundated salt flats. Preferred Food: Worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects and some seeds. Breeding: Breeds in Siberia. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Erythrura Gouldian Finch Range: Sparsely distributed across northern Australia between the Kimberley Endangered Yes. Species to gouldiae and north-central Queensland. be considered Habitat: It inhabits open woodlands that are dominated by Eucalyptus trees for assessment. and support a ground cover of Sorghum and other grasses. The critical components of suitable core habitat for the Gouldian finch appear to be the presence of favoured annual and perennial grasses (especially Sorghum), a nearby source of surface water and, in the breeding season, unburnt hollow- bearing Eucalyptus trees. Diet: Almost exclusively feeds on grass seeds. Breeding: Nest in tree hollows between April-July. Lay an average clutch of five eggs. May raise several clutches per season. When breeding they use small patches of open woodland, usually on ridges dominated by cavity bearing trees such as white northern gum (Eucalyptus brevifolia) in the west, with an understory of grasses such as sorghum (Sarga spp.), Schizachyrium spp. and spinifex (Trodia spp.), and usually within 2-4 km of perennial
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? waterholes or springs. After breeding they tend to flock and move across the broader landscape, following grass seed resources. Comment: Potential habitat likely to be present within study area due to presence of open woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus and native grasses. Pezoporus Night Parrot Range: A highly cryptic species; its current distribution is not known. There are Critically Endangered Yes. Species to occidentalis accepted historical records from remote arid and semi-arid inland regions of Endangered be considered Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland. It is for assessment. possible that the night parrot may continue to occur throughout much of this range. Habitat: In the arid and semi-arid zones, most habitat records are of Triodia (Spinifex) grasslands and/or chenopod shrublands. Astrebla spp. (Mitchell grass), shrubby samphire and chenopod associations, scattered trees and shrubs, Acacia aneura (Mulga) woodland, treeless areas and bare gibber have also been associated with sightings of the species. Similar habitat has been recorded as being used in Queensland. Diet: Seeds. Limited information available. Breeding: Roosting and nesting sites are consistently reported as within clumps of dense vegetation, primarily old and large Spinifex clumps, but sometimes other vegetation types. Comment: Potential habitat may be available within the study area. Rostratula Australian Region: The Australian Painted Snipe has been recorded at wetlands in all Endangered Endangered as No. Potential australis Painted Snipe states of Australia. It is most common in eastern Australia, where it has been Rostratula habitat recorded at scattered locations throughout much of Queensland, NSW, australis unavailable. Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. It has been recorded less frequently at a smaller number of more scattered locations farther west in Marine as South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It has also been Rostratula recorded on single occasions in south-eastern Tasmania and at Lord Howe benghalensis Island. (sensu lato) Habitat: Prefers fringes of swamps, dams and nearby marshy areas where there is a cover of grasses, lignum, low scrub or open timber. Forages on mud flats and in shallow water. Preferred Food: Worms, molluscs, insects, some plant matter.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Breeding: Often in response to local conditions, generally occurs from September to December. Nests consists of a scrape in the ground lined with grasses and leaves. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Dasyurus Northern Quoll; Range: The Northern Quoll was historically common across northern Australia, Endangered Endangered Yes. Species to hallucatus Digul occurring almost continuously from the Pilbara, Western Australia, to near be considered Brisbane, Queensland. The Northern Quoll now occurs in five regional for assessment. populations across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia both on the mainland and on offshore islands. Habitat: Habitat in the Top End and Kimberley comprises rocky areas and tall open coastal eucalypt forests. Prime habitat in these northern regions is sandstone escarpment. Northern Quoll habitat in Kakadu National Park includes open forest and woodlands on plains dominated by Eucalyptus tetrodonta, E. minata and E.tectifita, open woodland on low rocky hills dominated by E. setosa and E.bleeseri and riparian areas with flowing water dominated by Melaleuca virdiflora and Pandanus spiralis. On the Mitchell plateau of the Kimberley in Western Australia, Northern Quolls have been recorded in a variety of habitats including low open eucalypt woodland and hummock grass (Plechtrachne spp.) on sandstone, deciduous vine thicket and open eucalypt woodland over dense grasses, a rocky creek containing large boulders and deciduous vine thicket of dense low forest between a beach and volcanic cliff. Diet: Northern Quolls are opportunistic omnivores, consuming a wide range of prey including beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, scorpions and centipedes. Breeding: Females den in tree hollows, hollow logs and rock crevices; they raise a litter of up to eight young. Species is short-lived (oldest recorded female in the wild being three years old). Quolls breed once each year. Comment: Potential habitat likely to be present within the study area due to presence of low open Eucalypt woodland.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Macroderma Ghost Bat Range: The species’ range has been contracting northward as a result of Vulnerable Vulnerable Yes. Species to gigas human disturbance. The species’ current range is discontinuous, with be considered geographically disjunct colonies occurring in the Pilbara, Kimberley, northern for assessment. Northern Territory, the Gulf of Carpentaria, coastal and near coastal eastern Queensland from Cape York to near Rockhampton and western Queensland. The Kimberley colonies (containing approximately two-thirds of the state’s ghost bat population) are likely to be relatively stable, as little mining or habitat destruction occurs in the region. Habitat: They currently occupy habitats ranging from the arid Pilbara to tropical savanna woodlands and rainforests. During the daytime they roost in caves, rock crevices and old mines. Abandoned mine adits (horizontal tunnels) comprise a significant proportion of the known roost sites in the Kimberley. Diet: Ghost bats are carnivores, with a broad diet comprising small mammals including other bats, birds, reptiles, frogs and large insects. Breeding: Females give birth to a single young in late spring. Comment: Potential foraging habitat likely to be present within the study area. Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilby Range: Before European settlement the greater bilby occurred over 70 Vulnerable Vulnerable Yes. Species to percent of the Australian mainland. Since the late 1800s, greater bilbies have be considered disappeared from at least 80 percent of their former range. Wild populations for assessment. are restricted predominantly to the following locations: • Northern Territory: The Tanami Desert • Western Australia: The Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Great Sandy Desert and parts of the Pilbara and Southern Kimberley • Queensland: One isolated population in South-west Queensland, approximately in the area between Boulia and Birdsville Habitat: The remaining populations of the greater bilby occupy three main habitats: open tussock grassland on uplands and hills, Acacia aneura (mulga) woodland/shrubland growing on ridges and rises, and hummock grassland in plains and alluvial areas. For daytime shelter, the bilby constructs a deep and long burrow system. Being a powerful digger, it is able to make spiral-shaped
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? burrows up to 3 metres long and up to 2 metres deep. The opening is often against a termite mound or a tussock of grass and is always open. Diet: Insects, seeds, fungi, bulbs and fruit. Water is not crucial to their diet as they are able to obtain enough moisture from their food. Breeding: Breeding season is usually between March and May but in captivity they will breed all year round. Comment: Potential habitat likely to be available within the study area due to presence of hummock grassland on an alluvial plain. Pristis pristis Freshwater Range: Largetooth sawfish have been recorded in river and estuarine Vulnerable, No. Potential Sawfish; environments, as well as up to 100 km offshore. Within Australia, largetooth Migratory (Bonn) habitat Largetooth sawfish have been recorded in numerous drainage systems in the country’s unavailable. Sawfish north in fresh and saline water, including: the Fitzroy, Durack, Robinson and Ord Rivers (Western Australia); the Adelaide, Victoria, Daly, East and South Alligator, Goomadeer, Roper, McArthur, Wearyan and Robinson Rivers (Northern Territory); and, the Gilbert, Mitchell, Normanby, Wenlock, Mission, Embley and Leichhardt Rivers (Queensland). Habitat: They inhabit the sandy or muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths, as well as the central and upper reaches of freshwater rivers and isolated water holes, with records of largetooth sawfish up to 400 km inland. Diet: Fishes and benthic invertebrates. Breeding: The generally accepted model of movement and migration of largetooth sawfish in Australian waters is that young are born at the mouths of rivers and in estuaries and then migrate up river where they spend the first several years of life. As they reach maturity they move out of the rivers and into the marine environment. The Fitzroy River has been identified as a likely important nursery site for the Freshwater Sawfish. Pupping likely occurs during the wet season. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow Range: The Barn Swallow usually occurs in northern Australia, on Cocos- Protected Migratory Yes. Species to Keeling Island, Christmas Island, Ashmore Reef, and patchily along the north Under (CAMBA, JAMBA, be considered coast of the mainland from the Pilbara region, Western Australia, to Fraser International ROKAMBA), for assessment. Island in Queensland. The species has been recorded irregularly further south Agreement Marine in Western Australia, in areas such as Derby and Carnarvon, and in South Australia near Koolunga, Roxby Downs, Nantawarra and south of Innamincka. Vagrants have also been recorded as far south as Sydney. Habitat: In Australia, the Barn Swallow is recorded in open country in coastal lowlands, often near water, towns and cities. Birds are often sighted perched on overhead wires, and also in or over freshwater wetlands, paperbark Melaleuca woodland, mesophyll shrub thickets and tussock grassland. Diet: Insects. Breeding: The Barn Swallow breeds in the boreal spring and summer almost throughout the temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere, south to the Tropic of Cancer, and then migrates to the southern hemisphere. Comment: Potential grassland habitat may be available within the study area. Motacilla Grey Wagtail Range: Species has a wide range, occurring in multiple locations including Protected Migratory No. Any cinerea Europe, Asia and Africa. The species is considered to be a vagrant in Australia Under (CAMBA, JAMBA, individuals and North America. International ROKAMBA), present likely to Comment: Study area occurs outside species’ regular distribution. Individuals Agreement Marine be vagrants. present are likely to be vagrants. Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail Range: The species has an extremely large range, extending from Europe, east Protected Migratory No. Any through Siberia to west Asia and northwestern China; and south through the Under (CAMBA, JAMBA, individuals Arabian Peninsula to Egypt. The species is considered to be a vagrant in International ROKAMBA), present likely to Australia. Agreement Marine be vagrants. Comment: Study area occurs outside species’ regular distribution. Individuals present are likely to be vagrants. Calidris Sharp-tailed Range: The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper spends the non-breeding season in Protected Migratory (Bonn, No. Potential acuminata Sandpiper Australia with small numbers occurring regularly in New Zealand. Most of the Under CAMBA, JAMBA, habitat population migrates to Australia, mostly to the south-east and are widespread unavailable.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? in both inland and coastal locations and in both freshwater and saline habitats. International ROKAMBA), Many inland records are of birds on passage. Agreement Marine Habitat: In Australasia, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper prefers muddy edges of shallow fresh or brackish wetlands, with inundated or emergent sedges, grass, saltmarsh or other low vegetation. This includes lagoons, swamps, lakes and pools near the coast, and dams, waterholes, soaks, bore drains and bore swamps, saltpans and hypersaline saltlakes inland. They also occur in saltworks and sewage farms. They use flooded paddocks, sedgelands and other ephemeral wetlands, but leave when they dry. They use intertidal mudflats in sheltered bays, inlets, estuaries or seashores, and also swamps and creeks lined with mangroves. They tend to occupy coastal mudflats mainly after ephemeral terrestrial wetlands have dried out, moving back during the wet season. They may be attracted to mats of algae and water weed either floating or washed up around terrestrial wetlands, and coastal areas with much beachcast seaweed. Sometimes they occur on rocky shores and rarely on exposed reefs. Diet: Seeds, worms, molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Breeding: Breeds in northern Siberia. Birds arrive in Australia around August- September, and leave by April. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Calidris Pectoral Range: In Western Australia (WA), the species is rarely recorded. It has been Protected Migratory (Bonn, No. Potential melanotos Sandpiper observed at the Nullarbor Plain, Reid, Stoke's Inlet, Grassmere Lake, Warden Under JAMBA, habitat Lake, Dalyup and Yellilup Swamp, Swan River, Benger Swamp, Guraga Lake, International ROKAMBA), unavailable. Wittecarra, Harding River, coastal Gascoyne, the Pilbara and the Kimberley. Agreement Marine Habitat: In Australasia, the Pectoral Sandpiper prefers shallow fresh to saline wetlands. The species is found at coastal lagoons, estuaries, bays, swamps, lakes, inundated grasslands, saltmarshes, river pools, creeks, floodplains and artificial wetlands. The species is usually found in coastal or near coastal habitat but occasionally found further inland. It prefers wetlands that have open fringing mudflats and low, emergent or fringing vegetation, such as grass or samphire. The species has also been recorded in swamp overgrown with lignum. They forage in shallow water or soft mud at the edge of wetlands.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Diet: Algae, seeds, crustaceans, arachnids, insects. Breeding: The Pectoral Sandpiper breeds in northern Russia and North America. Found in Australia from September to June. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Charadrius Oriental Plover, Range: The Oriental Plover is a non-breeding visitor to Australia, where the Protected Migratory (Bonn, Yes. Species to veredus Oriental species occurs in both coastal and inland areas, mostly in northern Australia. Under CAMBA, JAMBA, be considered Dotterel Most records are along the north-western coast, between Exmouth Gulf and International ROKAMBA), for assessment. Derby in Western Australia, and there are records at a few scattered sites Agreement Marine elsewhere, mainly along the northern coast, such as in the Top End, the Gulf of Carpentaria and on Cape York Peninsula. The species also often occurs further inland on the 'black soil' plains of northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and north-western Queensland ('the Gulf Country'). Habitat: Immediately after arriving in non-breeding grounds in northern Australia, Oriental Plovers spend a few weeks in coastal habitats such as estuarine mudflats and sandbanks, on sandy or rocky ocean beaches or nearby reefs, or in near-coastal grasslands, before dispersing further inland. Thereafter they usually inhabit flat, open, semi-arid or arid grasslands, where the grass is short and sparse, and interspersed with hard, bare ground, such as claypans, dry paddocks, playing fields, lawns and cattle camps, or open areas that have been recently burnt. At the onset of the Wet Season, some may move into lightly wooded grasslands. Some remain in estuarine and littoral environments, and a few are occasionally recorded around terrestrial wetlands or flooded paddocks. Diet: Insects. Breeding: The species breeds in western, northern and eastern Mongolia. Species arrives in Australia around September, and departs by March/early April. Comment: Potential grassland/woodland habitat may be available within the study area.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Glareola Oriental Range: Within Australia the Oriental Pratincole is widespread in northern Protected Migratory Yes. Species to maldivarum Pratincole areas, especially along the coasts of the Pilbara Region and the Kimberley Under (CAMBA, JAMBA, be considered Division in Western Australia, the Top End of the Northern Territory, and parts International ROKAMBA), for assessment. of the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is also widespread but scattered inland, mostly Agreement Marine north of 20° S. There are occasional records in southern Australia, at sparsely scattered sites, with records in all states, including an unconfirmed report in Tasmania. Habitat: In non-breeding grounds in Australia, the Oriental Pratincole usually inhabits open plains, floodplains or short grassland (including farmland or airstrips), often with extensive bare areas. They often occur near terrestrial wetlands, such as billabongs, lakes or creeks, and artificial wetlands such as reservoirs, saltworks and sewage farms, especially around the margins. The species also occurs along the coast, inhabiting beaches, mudflats and islands, or around coastal lagoons. Diet: Insects. Breeding: Species breeds in Asia. Species arrives in Australia in October- November, and leaves at the end of the wet season (mid-March to early April). Comment: Potential floodplain grassland habitat may be available within the study area. Pandion Eastern Osprey Range: The Eastern Osprey occurs in Indonesia, Philippines, Palau Islands, New Protected Migratory (Bonn), No. Potential haliaetus Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Australia. The Eastern Osprey is Under Marine habitat considered to be moderately common in Australia. The species is most International unavailable. abundant in northern Australia, where high population densities occur in Agreement remote areas. The species is rare to uncommon in southern Western Australia and occurs in low numbers in South Australia and NSW. Habitat: Eastern Ospreys occur in littoral and coastal habitats and terrestrial wetlands of tropical and temperate Australia and offshore islands. They are mostly found in coastal areas but occasionally travel inland along major rivers, particularly in northern Australia. They require extensive areas of open fresh, brackish or saline water for foraging. They frequent a variety of wetland habitats including inshore waters, reefs, bays, coastal cliffs, beaches, estuaries, mangrove swamps, broad rivers, reservoirs and large lakes and waterholes. They exhibit a preference for coastal cliffs and elevated islands in some parts
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? of their range, but may also occur on low sandy, muddy or rocky shores and over coral cays. They may occur over atypical habitats such as heath, woodland or forest when travelling to and from foraging sites. Diet: Eastern Ospreys mainly feed on fish, especially mullet where available, and rarely take molluscs, crustaceans, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. Breeding: The Eastern Osprey breeds from April to February in Australia. Nests vary in size and shape but they are generally large and are mostly composed of sticks. They are constructed in a variety of natural and artificial sites including in dead or partly dead trees or bushes; on cliffs, rocks, rock stacks or islets; on the ground on rocky headlands, coral cays, deserted beaches, sandhills or saltmarshes; and on artificial nest platforms, pylons, jetties, lighthouses, navigation towers, cranes, exposed shipwrecks and offshore drilling rigs. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be present within the study area due to absence of extensive, open waterbodies. Individuals present likely to be recorded on passage to and from foraging sites. Ardea modesta Eastern Great Range: Eastern Great Egrets are widespread in Australia. They occur in all Protected Marine as Ardea No. Potential Egret, White states/territories of mainland Australia and in Tasmania. They have also been Under alba habitat Egret recorded as vagrants on Lord Howe, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands. International unavailable. Habitat: The Eastern Great Egret has been reported in a wide range of wetland Agreement habitats (for example inland and coastal, freshwater and saline, permanent and ephemeral, open and vegetated, large and small, natural and artificial). These include swamps and marshes; margins of rivers and lakes; damp or flooded grasslands, pastures or agricultural lands; reservoirs; sewage treatment ponds; drainage channels; salt pans and salt lakes; salt marshes; estuarine mudflats, tidal streams; mangrove swamps; coastal lagoons; and offshore reefs. The species usually frequents shallow waters. The Eastern Great Egret may retreat to permanent wetlands or coastal areas when other wetlands are dry (for example, during drought). This may occur annually in some regions with regular wet and dry seasons or erratically where the availability of wetland habitat is also erratic. Diet: The Eastern Great Egret has a diverse diet that includes fish, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, lizards, snakes and small birds and mammals.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Breeding: In Australia, the breeding season of the Eastern Great Egret is variable, depending to some extent on rainfall, but generally extends from November to April. Pairs construct a shallow platform-like nest of loosely woven sticks in the upper strata of trees or shrubs standing in or near water or sometimes in inundated reed beds. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be available within the study area due to absence of suitable water-based habitat. Ardea ibis Cattle Egret Range: The Cattle Egret is widespread and common according to migration Protected Marine No. Any movements and breeding localities surveys. Two major distributions have Under individuals been located; from north-east Western Australia to the Top End of the International present likely to Northern Territory and around south-east Australia. In Western Australia and Agreement be vagrants. the Northern Territory, the Cattle Egret is located from Wyndham to Arnhem Land. In Australia the principal breeding sites are the central east coast from about Newcastle to Bundaberg. It also breeds in major inland wetlands in north NSW (notably the Macquarie Marshes). Habitat: The Cattle Egret occurs in tropical and temperate grasslands, wooded lands and terrestrial wetlands. It has occasionally been seen in arid and semi- arid regions however this is extremely rare. High numbers have been observed in moist, low-lying poorly drained pastures with an abundance of high grass; it avoids low grass pastures. It has been recorded on earthen dam walls and ploughed fields. It is commonly associated with the habitats of farm animals, particularly cattle, but also pigs, sheep, horses and deer. The Cattle Egret is known to follow earth-moving machinery and has been located at rubbish tips. It uses predominately shallow, open and fresh wetlands including meadows and swamps with low emergent vegetation and abundant aquatic flora. They have sometimes been observed in swamps with tall emergent vegetation. Diet: Insects, frogs, lizards and small mammals. Breeding: The Cattle Egret breeds in colonies in wooded swamps such as mangrove forests (e.g. the lower Adelaide River, Northern Territory), Melaleuca swamps (e.g. Shortland, NSW) and the eucalypt/lignum swamps of the Murray-Darling Basin. They may breed in artificial situations or close to urban areas; generally the nesting trees are inundated except where breeding on small islands. Nests are sited usually in middle to upper branches.
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Scientific Name Common Name Species Description WA Commonwealth Species Conservation Conservation Considered for Status Status Assessment? Comment: This species is most common in tropical and temperate grasslands, with extremely rare sightings in semi-arid regions. Therefore, the study area is not considered to be prime habitat for this species, and individuals present are likely to be vagrants. Haliaeetus White-bellied Region: The White-bellied Sea-Eagle is distributed along the coastline Protected Marine No. Potential leucogaster Sea-eagle (including offshore islands) of mainland Australia and Tasmania. It also extends Under habitat inland along some of the larger waterways, especially in eastern Australia. The International unavailable. inland limits of the species are most restricted in south-central and south- Agreement western Australia, where it is confined to a narrow band along the coast. Habitat: The White-bellied Sea-Eagle is found in coastal habitats (especially those close to the sea-shore) and around terrestrial wetlands in tropical and temperate regions of mainland Australia and its offshore islands. The habitats occupied by the sea-eagle are characterised by the presence of large areas of open water (larger rivers, swamps, lakes, the sea). Birds have been recorded in (or flying over) a variety of terrestrial habitats. Birds have been recorded at or in the vicinity of freshwater swamps, lakes, reservoirs, billabongs, saltmarsh and sewage ponds. Preferred Food: Fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, crustaceans, carrion and offal Breeding: Breeding season from June to January. The nest is a large structure composed of sticks and lined with leaves, grass or seaweed. Nests may be built in a variety of sites including tall trees (especially Eucalyptus species), bushes, mangroves, cliffs, rocky outcrops, caves, crevices, on the ground or even on artificial structures. Comment: Potential habitat unlikely to be present within the study area due to semi-arid climate and absence of extensive, open waterbodies. Individuals present likely to be recorded on passage. CAMBA = China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; JAMBA = Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; ROKAMBA = Republic of Korea Australia Migratory Bird Agreement; Bonn = Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
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Appendix 4: West Kimberley National Heritage Assessment Criterion Category Value Comment A Assembling a King Leopold orogen Not applicable. Proposed The place has continent The King Leopold orogen of the west Kimberley has outstanding heritage value to the nation under development site is outstanding criterion (a) for recording pre-Rodinian and Proterozoic plate tectonic processes, key events in the located on a floodplain heritage value to evolution of the Australian continent. with no rock outcrops. the nation because Ecology, Devonian reef Not applicable. Proposed of the place's biogeography The Devonian Reef of the Kimberley has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) development site is importance in the and evolution because it is a continuous record of 20 million years of reef deposition and shows the response of a located on a floodplain course, or pattern Late Devonian reef to a mass extinction event. with no rock outcrops. of Australia's Gogo fossil sites Not applicable. Identified natural and cultural The Gogo fossil sites have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) for important sites will not be impacted history. transitional fossils that document the evolution of early tetrapodomorph fish. by proposed development. The biological significance of the west Kimberley Not applicable. Whilst The northern Kimberley coast and islands, the Kimberley Plateau and the west Kimberley Devonian protected species may reefs have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) for plant, mammal, reptile, occur within the subject frog and invertebrate species richness and endemism; and as refugia protecting against human- site, the identified induced environmental changes. significant refuge sites will not be impacted by proposed development. The biological significance of the west Kimberley Not applicable. Whilst Vine thickets of the northern Kimberley coast and islands and the Kimberley Plateau, and the protected species may Devonian reefs of the west Kimberley, are of outstanding heritage value to the nation under occur within the subject criterion (a) for their evolutionary refugial role that has resulted in high invertebrate richness and site, the identified endemism. significant refuge sites will not be impacted by proposed development. The biological significance of the west Kimberley Not applicable. Identified The Drysdale, Prince Regent, Roe, Moran, Carson, Isdell, Mitchell and King Edward Rivers are of sites will not be impacted outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) as areas of evolutionary refugia by proposed development. demonstrated by nationally high values for freshwater fish and turtle endemism. Wealth of land Movement of material (marine shell beads) by Aboriginal people Not applicable. Identified and sea Carpenter's Gap 1 and Riwi rock shelters have outstanding heritage value to the nation under sites will not be impacted criterion (a) as they demonstrate the operation of Aboriginal social and economic networks 30,000 by proposed development. years ago over distances of 500 kilometres.
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Criterion Category Value Comment Symbolic use of ochre Not applicable. Identified Carpenter's Gap 1 rock shelter has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) as it site will not be impacted provides evidence of the antiquity of the symbolic use of ochre on a rock surface, the earliest 'art' in by proposed development. Australia's cultural history. Aboriginal trade in pearl shell Not applicable. Identified Pearl shell beds at a number of identified sites from Bidyadanga to Cape Londonderry, where in sites will not be impacted Aboriginal law and culture, the shell is believed to have been created by Dreamtime Beings and is by proposed development. collected by Traditional Owners, have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) as the source of the item most widely distributed by Aboriginal people in the course of Australia's cultural history. Contact, European explorers Not applicable. change and The Kimberley coast is recognised for its association with early European exploration of the Development site is not continuity continent. The William Dampier (Cygnet) (1688) landing place, around Pender Bay, Karrakatta Bay, located near the coast. King Sound, the 5 Buccaneer Archipelago and nearby coast, has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) for its association with William Dampier and the influence of his published observations. The environment observed by Dampier is substantially unmodified since his 1688 landing and can be seen today. Fossil Downs station Not applicable. Identified The place where the tree marked F136 once stood has outstanding heritage value to the nation site will not be impacted under criterion (a) for its association with the pioneering overlanding journey undertaken by the by proposed development. MacDonald brothers in 1883-1886. Bunuba resistance to the rolling frontier of European settlement Not applicable. Proposed The limestone ranges of the Devonian Reef have outstanding heritage value to the nation under development site is criterion (a) as the place where Bunuba resistance held back the advance of European settlement located on a floodplain for 13 years, an unusual achievement by Aboriginal people in the history of Australian frontier with no rock outcrops. conflict. Treatment of Aboriginal people after European settlement Not applicable. Identified Bungarun (Derby Leprosarium) has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (a) as site will not be impacted the only extant facility to tell the national story of leprosy treatment of Aboriginal people in by proposed development. Australia's cultural history. Aboriginal rights to practice law and culture Not applicable. Identified The areas of Noonkanbah station encompassing the station gates, the crossing at Mickey’s Pool, sites will not be impacted Pea Hill and the unsuccessful exploration well have outstanding heritage value to the nation under by proposed development. criterion (a) as the site of the Noonkanbah dispute, an important event in the national struggle of
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Criterion Category Value Comment Aboriginal people to have their rights to practice traditional law and culture recognised, and to protect their heritage for future generations. B Ecology, Gogo fossil sites Not applicable. Identified The place has biogeography The late Devonian Gogo fish fossil sites have outstanding heritage value to the nation under sites will not be impacted outstanding and evolution criterion (b) for remarkable preservation of a diverse fauna of entire fossil fish skeletons complete by proposed development. heritage value to with the rare preservation of extensive soft tissue. the nation because Dampier Coast Not applicable. of the place's The Dampier Coast dinosaur tracks have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion Development site is not possession of (b) as the best and most extensive evidence of dinosaurs from the western half of the continent, located near the coast. uncommon, rare or some of which are unknown from body fossils; for the diversity and exceptional sizes of the endangered sauropod prints; and the unique census of the dinosaur community that they provide. aspects of Dampier Coast Not applicable. Australia's natural The fossil human footprint sites of the Dampier Coast have outstanding heritage value to the nation Development site is not and cultural under criterion (b) as one of only three documented human track sites in Australia and the only located near the coast. history. documented evidence of human tracks from the west coast of Australia. Wealth of land Botanical remains and Aboriginal plant procurement strategies Not applicable. Identified and sea Carpenter's Gap 1 rock shelter has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (b) for site will not be impacted its rare archaeological sequence of micro and macro-botanical remains spanning 40,000 years that by proposed development. contributes to our understanding of the impacts of climate change on flora composition though time, and the rare evidence it provides of plant procurement strategies used by Aboriginal people from the Pleistocene, through the last glacial maximum, a period when many occupation sites were abandoned across Australia, and into the Holocene. Contact, Careening Bay and the Mermaid tree Not applicable. Identified change and The Mermaid tree within Careening Bay has outstanding heritage value to the nation under site will not be impacted continuity criterion (b) as rare, in situ, physical evidence of nineteenth century hydrographers and in particular by proposed development. the survey work of Phillip Parker King, one of Australia's most important early marine surveyors. C Ecology, Devonian coral reef Not applicable. Proposed The place has biogeography, The Devonian reef outcrops of the Lennard Shelf have outstanding heritage value to the nation development site is outstanding climate and under criterion (c) because of their potential to yield information that will contribute to an located on a floodplain heritage value to evolution understanding of the climatological and biological processes that affect major reef systems. with no rock outcrops. the nation because Gogo fossil sites Not applicable. Identified of the place's The Gogo fish fossils have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (c) as they have site will not be impacted potential to yield significant potential to yield new information about the natural history of Australia, the evolution of by proposed development. information that Australian vertebrates and about new technologies that can be used to study fossils.
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Criterion Category Value Comment will contribute to Human ecology and adaptation Not applicable. an understanding The coastline from Cape Londonderry to Cape Leveque and the Devonian reef complex have Development site is not of Australia's outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (c) for their potential to yield significant located near the coast. natural and cultural new archaeological information contributing to an understanding of Australia's natural and cultural history. history. Rock paintings as a source of information about climate, ecology and technology Not applicable. Identified The rock paintings of the Wanjina-Wunggurr homeland and the Balanggarra native title claim area sites will not be impacted have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (c) for their potential to yield by proposed development. information that will contribute to an understanding of climate change and species extinction; early Aboriginal material culture and technology development; and the interactions between Aboriginal people and outsiders. Natural disasters in the late Holocene Not applicable. The west Kimberley coast between Cape Londonderry and Cape Leveque has outstanding heritage Development site is not value to the nation under criterion (c) for its potential to yield information that will contribute to an located near the coast. understanding of the nature and the effect of mega-tsunami events. Contact, Asian–Australian interaction Not applicable. change and The west Kimberley coast from Cape Londonderry to the Lacepede Islands has outstanding heritage Development site is not continuity value to the nation under criterion (c) for its potential to yield information that will contribute to an located near the coast. understanding of Indonesian-Aboriginal interaction in Australia's cultural history. D Ancient The Kimberley ria coast Not applicable. The place has landscapes, The west Kimberley coast from Helpman Islands in King Sound to the western shore of Cambridge Development site is not outstanding geological Gulf, including islands, peninsulas, inlets and inundated features, has outstanding heritage value to located near the coast. heritage value to processes the nation under criterion (d) for demonstrating the principal characteristics of a major coastal the nation because landform type, in an extensive region without significant modification by coastal infrastructure. of the place's Lennard Shelf Not applicable. Identified importance in The Devonian carbonate complexes of the Lennard Shelf have outstanding heritage value to the site will not be impacted demonstrating the nation under criterion (d) for demonstrating the principal characteristics of a very well preserved by proposed development. principal proto-Australian carbonate ramp environment on an ancient continental shelf. characteristics of: Ecology, Dampier Coast Cretaceous landscape Not applicable. Identified (i) a class of biogeography The dinosaur tracks and associated ichnofossils, plant macrofossils and Cretaceous depositional sites will not be impacted Australia's natural and evolution environments of the Broome Sandstone exposed in the intertidal zone of the Dampier Coast have by proposed development. and cultural places; outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (d) for preserving snapshots of the ecology or of the Mesozoic.
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Criterion Category Value Comment (ii) a class of Roebuck Bay migratory hub Not applicable. Identified Australia's natural Roebuck Bay has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (d) due to the place's sites will not be impacted and cultural importance as a class of avian habitat (a migratory hub or staging post), and for the regular by proposed development. environments. presence of migratory, protected or endangered avifauna. Rainbow Serpent traditions tied to Indigenous interpretations of the different way in which water Whilst localised flow flows within the catchment patterns may change as a The Fitzroy River and a number of its tributaries, together with their floodplains and the jila sites of result of the development, Kurrpurrngu, Mangunampi, Paliyarra and Kurungal, demonstrate four distinct expressions of the the proposed clearing is Rainbow Serpent tradition associated with Indigenous interpretations of the different ways in which unlikely to significantly water flows within the catchment and are of outstanding heritage value to the nation under impact flow patterns criterion (d) for their exceptional ability to convey the diversity of the Rainbow Serpent tradition within the Fitzroy within a single freshwater hydrological system. catchment. Therefore, the proposed development is not considered to impact upon Indigenous interpretations of water movement within the catchment. E Wealth of land Kimberley coast from the Buccaneer Archipelago to King George River Not applicable. The place has and sea The Kimberley coast from the Buccaneer Archipelago to King George River has outstanding heritage Development site is not outstanding value to the nation under criterion (e) for its aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian located near the coast. heritage value to community., including its rugged sandstone coast with rocky headlands and prominent peaks and the nation because striking landforms, sandy beaches, pristine rivers, waterfalls and drowned river valleys with rich of the place's flora and fauna, offshore reefs and numerous islands in extensive seascapes in a sea supporting importance in diverse marine life. The unusual effect of tidal movement is also part of the aesthetic appreciation exhibiting of some areas like the Horizontal Waterfall. particular aesthetic Mitchell River National Park Not applicable. Identified characteristics The Mitchell River National Park has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (e) for site will not be impacted valued by a its aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian community. by proposed development. community or King George Falls and King George River Not applicable. Identified cultural group. King George Falls and King George River have outstanding heritage value to the nation under sites will not be impacted criterion (e) for their aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian community by proposed development. Geikie Gorge Conservation Park and Geikie Gorge National Park Not applicable. Identified Geikie Gorge Conservation Park and Geikie Gorge National Park have outstanding heritage value to sites will not be impacted the nation under criterion (e) for their aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian community by proposed development.
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Criterion Category Value Comment Windjana Gorge National Park Not applicable. Identified Windjana Gorge National Park has outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (e) for site will not be impacted its aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian community. by proposed development. King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park Not applicable. Identified The King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park has outstanding heritage value to the nation under site will not be impacted criterion (e) for its aesthetic characteristics valued by the Australian community. by proposed development. The aesthetic value of rock art Not applicable. Identified Aboriginal rock art paintings in the west Kimberley, particularly in the Wanjina-Wunggurr homeland sites will not be impacted the Balanggarra native title claim area and the Devonian reef, are both powerful and of deep by proposed development. religious significance to Kimberley Aboriginal people and have outstanding heritage value to the nation under criterion (e) as they represent a stunning visual record of an ongoing Aboriginal painting tradition in a substantially unmodified landscape. F Design and Painted rock images Not applicable. Identified The place has innovation Considered one of the longest and most complex painted 'rock art' sequences anywhere in the sites will not be impacted outstanding world, (Morwood 2002, 143) the west Kimberley complex of painted images is a creative by proposed development. heritage value to achievement by Kimberley Aboriginal people that has outstanding heritage value to the nation the nation because under criterion (f). of the place's Sacred Heart church, Beagle Bay mission Not applicable. Identified importance in The Sacred Heart Church at Beagle Bay mission has outstanding heritage value to the nation under site will not be impacted demonstrating a criterion (f) for the high degree of creative and technical achievement in the use of pearl shell and by proposed development. high degree of other locally sourced media to decorate the interior, combining western religious and Aboriginal creative or motifs. technical Technical Double log raft Not applicable. achievement at a response to The manufacture of the double log raft from mangrove logs (particularly Rhizophora stylosa) is a Development site is not particular period. environmental unique adaptation to the massive tidal variation of the west Kimberley and has outstanding located near the constraints heritage value to the nation under criterion (f) for demonstrating a high degree of technical coast/mangrove forests. achievement by Aboriginal people in the course of Australia's cultural history. G Wealth of the European pearling Not applicable. The place has Land and Sea Broome and the nearby region has outstanding (intangible) heritage value to the nation under Development site is not outstanding criterion (g) as a place which has a special association with the Australian community because of located near Broome. heritage value to the romance of Broome, its pearling history, its remote and beautiful location at the gateway to the the nation because Kimberley's outback and pearling coast, its association with pearls and the town's stories associated of the place's with the development of a unique Australian community with a distinctive cultural diversity. strong or special association with a
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Criterion Category Value Comment particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. H Contact, William Dampier (Cygnet) 1688 landing place Not applicable. Identified The place has Change and The William Dampier (Cygnet) 1688 landing place has outstanding heritage value to the nation site will not be impacted outstanding continuity under criterion (h) for its special association with the life and work of William Dampier. by proposed development. heritage value to the nation because Indigenous resistance: Jandamarra Not applicable. Identified of the place's The limestone ranges of the Devonian Reef, known to the Bunuba as Barlil, has outstanding value to sites will not be impacted special association the nation under criterion (h) for its association with Jandamarra, whose campaign of resistance by proposed development. with the life or was unprecedented in Australian history, as was the ferocity of the police and settler response. works of a person, Jandamarra's death in 1897 ended the last large-scale organised violent resistance by Aboriginal or group of people in Australia's cultural history. persons, of importance in Australia's natural or cultural history. I Wanjina– The Wanjina-Wunggurr homeland, where the painted images on rock and other features in the The proposed The place has Wunggurr land, sea and sky, including natural rock formations and man-made stone arrangements, are development will take outstanding Tradition manifestations of the Wanjina and the Wunggurr Snake, are of outstanding heritage value to the place in accordance with heritage value to nation under criterion (i) because of their importance as part of Indigenous tradition. relevant legislation to the nation because survey, identify and of the place's protect any items or places importance as part of Indigenous significance of Indigenous which may be identified tradition. during the course of the development. This is considered to protect cultural values of Indigenous heritage on site.
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Appendix 5: Letter of Support from Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation
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