SJ Roadworks Sand Extraction Project Annex 7 Supporting Document May 2015 Table of contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Project description ........................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Project location ................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Project background ......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Assumptions and limitations ............................................................................................ 3 2. Proposed clearing action and impact assessment details........................................................... 0 2.1 Proposed clearing action ................................................................................................. 0 2.2 Surveys reports and methodologies, of the matter/s of NES prescribed through the EPBC Act controlled action decision .......................................................................... 0 2.3 The likely relevant impacts of the action on matters of NES prescribed through the EPBC Act controlled action ........................................................................................ 1 2.4 Feasible alternatives to the proposed action .................................................................... 1 2.5 Description and cost details of possible mitigation measures ........................................... 2 GHD | Report for SJ Roadworks - Sand Extraction Project, 61/30514 | i 1. Introduction 1.1 Project description SJ Roadworks (SJR) propose to clear up to 10.7 hectares (ha) of Lot 1 (29.45 ha) Southwest Highway, North Boyanup in the Shire of Capel for the purpose of sand extraction (subject to licensing). The Project consists of the staged extraction of sand by SJR at intervals at a maximum of 2 ha per stage over six stages. The life of the sand pit is expected to be 20 years. The Project Area will be progressively rehabilitated as areas are decommissioned. The Project Area is 13.20 ha of which 10.7 ha will be cleared for the Project (clearing area). The clearing area includes 9.5 ha of native vegetation and 1.2 ha of a previously cleared and disturbed area (Ekologica 2012b).This native vegetation supports habitat for the following Matters of National Environmental Significance (matters of NES) listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed: y Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) - Endangered y Baudin’s Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) - Vulnerable y Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) - Vulnerable. y Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) – Vulnerable. 1.1 Project location The Project is within Lot 1, Southwest Highway, Boyanup. The Project is located within the Shire of Capel and is approximately 4 kilometres (km) north of the Boyanup township. 1.2 Project background An application for an area permit was made in 2012 by SJR to the then Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC - permit application number 5051/1). The application was refused under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. SJR has since amended its clearing impact area and undertaken several environmental assessments for the proposed clearing impact area in 2012 and 2013. A number of reports have been completed since 2012. These are: y Department of Environment and Conservation, 2012b, Site Inspection report, Native Vegetation Conservation CPS 5051/1. y Ekologica, 2012a, A Level 1 Flora Survey of Lot 1 Southeast Highway Boyanup, Unpublished report for SJ Roadworks. y Ekologica, 2012b, A Vegetation and Dieback Survey of part Lot 1650, North Boyanup, Unpublished report for GHD Pty Ltd. y Harewood, G, 2013, Western Ringtail Possum and Black Cockatoo Assessment of Lot 1 South Western Highway Boyanup, Unpublished report prepared for SJ Roadworks On the 27th March 2015, SJR submitted a referral of the proposed sand extraction Project to the Department of the Environment (DotE). On the 1st May 2015, the DotE determined that the Project was a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and will therefore require an assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed. The relevant controlling provisions were concerning listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 and 18A). SJR submitted an application for a clearing GHD | Report for SJ Roadworks – Sand Extraction Project, 6130514 permit (CPS6554/1) under Part V Division 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, to be assessed by the Department of Environmental and Regulation as a bilateral agreement. This report provides the supporting documentation to the assessment bilateral agreement - form Annex C7 form. 1.3 Assumptions and limitations This report has been prepared by GHD for SJR and may only be used and relied on by SJR for the purpose of supporting documentation to a bilateral agreement (form Annex C7 form) application in relation to clearing permit (CPS6554/1) at Lot 1 Southwest Highway, North Boyanup. GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than SJR arising in connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent legally permissible. The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report were limited to those specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations set out in the report. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions encountered and information reviewed at the date of preparation of the report. GHD has no responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring subsequent to the date that the report was prepared. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on assumptions made by GHD described in this report. GHD disclaims liability arising from any of the assumptions being incorrect. GHD has prepared this report on the basis of information provided by SJR and others who provided information to GHD (including Government authorities), which GHD has not independently verified or checked beyond the agreed scope of work. GHD does not accept liability in connection with such unverified information, including errors and omissions in the report which were caused by errors or omissions in that information. GHD | Report for SJ Roadworks - Sand Extraction Project, 61/30514 | 3 2. Proposed clearing action and impact assessment details 2.1 Proposed clearing action SJR propose to clear up to 10.7 hectares (ha) of Lot 1 (29.45 ha) Southwest Highway, North Boyanup in the Shire of Capel for the purpose of sand extraction (subject to licensing). The Project is expected to provide sand for a number of projects as required over the next 20 years. y The Project Area is 13.20 ha of which 10.7 ha will be cleared for the project (clearing impact area). The clearing area includes 9.5 ha of native vegetation and 1.2 ha of a previously cleared and disturbed area (Ekologica 2012b). The 9.5 ha of native vegetation to be cleared includes: 21 potential Black Cockatoo breeding trees (> 50 cm diameter at breast height) – none with suitable breeding hollows (Harewood 2013) y 7.5 ha of moderate quality foraging habitat for Black Cockatoos (Harewood 2013) y 9.5 ha of habitat for the Western Ringtail Possum consisting of predominantly poor habitat (approximately 7.5 ha), very poor habitat (approximately 2 ha) and four old dreys (Harewood 2013). There will be a 40 m native vegetation buffer retained along the northern boundary, a 20 m buffer on the eastern boundary, a 50 m buffer from the edge of the ‘sumpland’ on the southern boundary and at least a 40 m buffer on the eastern boundary adjacent to the South West Highway. 2.2 Surveys reports and methodologies, of the matter/s of NES prescribed through the EPBC Act controlled action decision A search of the EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool (DotE 2015) identified, without assessment, six EPBC listed fauna species that could potentially occur within 5 km of the Project Area. In February 2013, Harewood (2013) conducted a Western Ringtail Possum and Black Cockatoo Assessment within the Project Area. This assessment included a daytime survey of the site searching for dreys, obvious tree hollows, scats and individual Western Ringtail Possums and one night time survey to locate and record the distribution and abundance of Western Ringtail Possums within the Project Area (Harewood 2013). Harewood also surveyed for Black Cockatoos, which included a habitat tree survey (identifying trees with diameter breast height of over 50 centimetres (cm), Black Cockatoo foraging assessment (identifying chewed fruits) and a roosting habitat survey. During the field survey, evidence was recorded for four of the EPBC listed fauna species from the Protected Matters Search, which included: y Carnaby’s Cockatoo Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) Baudin’s Cockatoo y Western Ringtail Possum. The two remaining species (Chuditch Dasyurus geoffroii and Quokka Setonix) identified from the Protected Matters Search were not recorded during the field survey and considered unlikely to occur within the Project Area because of the lack of suitable habitat and presence