27 November 2017 Mineral Resources Summary of Changes In
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M.J. & A.R. Bamford CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS 23 Plover Way, Kingsley, WA, 6026 ph: 08 9309 3671 fx: 08 9409 2710 email: [email protected] ABN 84 926 103 081 27th November 2017 Mineral Resources Summary of changes in conservation statuses of conservation significant species in the TSF4 project area at the Wodgina mine (as of 12th November 2017) N. Huang and M. Bamford Mineral resources operates the Wodgina mine in the Pilbara region and is proposing to expand a tailings storage facility. This facility lies within an area that was assessed for fauna values in 2008 (Turpin and Bamford 2008, Fauna Assessment of the Wodgina Tailings Storage Facility 3, unpubl. report to Enviroworks and Talison Minerals Pty Ltd). As nearly a decade has elapsed since that assessment was carried out, Mineral Resources has commissioned Bamford Consulting to review the status of the fauna assemblage of the project area to ensure that current listings of conservation significance are recognised. This document therefore presents the updated conservation statuses of conservation significant species considered likely to occur in or utilise habitat within the proposed disturbance area, or in habitats adjacent to the project. The number of conservation significant species in 2017 is as follows: 23 (compared with 25 in 2008) species of conservation significance are considered likely to occur within the vicinity of the project. Of these, 14 (12 in 2008) are of high significance (Conservation Significance Level 1), being listed under legislation, 2 (compared with 5 in 2008) are of moderate conservation significance (Conservation Significance Level 2), being listed as priority species by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and 7 (6 in 2008) are of local significance (Conservation Significance Level 3), because they have restricted distributions. The Grey Falcon is an additional CS1 species recognised in 2017 as a result of up- listing of the species from a DPaW priority species to Schedule 3 of the WA Act. It is considered unlikely to be impacted as it is restricted to drainage lines which will not be disturbed by the project. The Northern Brush-tail Possum is another additional CS1 species recognised in 2017, but is considered unlikely to occur in the project. The Australian Bustard and Bush Stone-curlew have been delisted from the DBCA priority species list. The Bush Stone-curlew has been listed here as CS3 (local significance) as it has declined over about 50% of its range and is vulnerable to roadkill, feral fauna and habitat degradation. Other changes are a result of changes to the terminology used for Schedules in the WA Act rather than any real changes in conservation status (e.g. Schedule 1 in the 2008 Act is equivalent to Schedules 1 to 3 in the 2017 Act). Migratory birds have since been listed on the WA Act to reflect international agreements and to be consistent with the EPBC Act. Some migratory species (Rainbow Bee-eater, Eastern Great Egret) have been de-listed as migratory under the EPBC Act, but remain as migratory under the WA Act. They may be de- listed under the WA Act in line with their change under the EPBC Act. Overall, changes in conservation listings have little if any effect on impact significance of the proposed works. Species of high conservation significance that remain of concern are the Pilbara Olive Python (still CS1), and Northern Quoll (still CS1). Species of lower conservation significance that could suffer local impacts due to habitat loss include the Bush Stone-curlew (significance reduced from CS2 to CS3), Striated Grass-wren (still CS3), Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (still CS3), and possibly the Long-tailed Dunnart and Ngadji (both still CS2). TABLE 6. Updated conservation status of significant fauna species expected to occur in the TSF3 project area, showing 2008 and 2017 statuses, including implications for any status changes. Status changes are highlighted in bold and italics. See Appendix 1 for explanation of status codes, including changes to the WA Act Schedule nomenclature. Migratory species listed on the Bonn, JAMBA, CAMBA, and ROKAMBA acts are recognised in the EPBC Act. Note many of the migratory waterbirds expected in the area would only be associated with the tailings dam itself and are not expected in habitats within the proposed disturbance area. COMMON NAME LATIN NAME CONSERVATION STATUS Implication of any Likely to Occur in CS1 CS1 CS2 CS3 change in CS level Disturbance area EPBC WA Act DPaW Priority AMPHIBIANS 2008 2017 2008 2017 2008 2017 200 201 8 7 Glandular Toadlet Uperoleia glandulosa No change May occur seasonally, + + associated with rock pools REPTILES Olive Python Liasis olivaceus Terminology change only Yes – associated with (Pilbara subsp.) barroni VUL VUL S1 S3 rocky ridges and waterholes BIRDS Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Terminology change only Yes - rocky ridges S4 S7 Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos Uplisted from CS2 to Yes – woodland along CS1; Project will not drainage lines S3 P4 None disturb drainage lines so unlikely to impact species Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Delisted Yes- open areas P4 None Recorded Nearby COMMON NAME LATIN NAME CONSERVATION STATUS Implication of any Likely to Occur in CS1 CS1 CS2 CS3 change in CS level Disturbance area EPBC WA Act DPaW Priority Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius Delisted from Priority but Yes- Acacia Woodland,, P4 None + proposed as a CS3 species Creeklines (local significance). Recorded Nearby Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus No real change – now Yes- seasonal MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus No real change – now RECORDED MIG None S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatalis No real change – now No – tailings dam MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Common Tringa nebularia No real change – now No – tailings dam Greenshank MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola No real change – now No – tailings dam MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos No real change – now No – tailings dam MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum No real change – now No – tailings dam MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Great Egret, White Ardea modesta No real change – now No but may occur Egret MIG None S5 included as migratory nearby species under WA Act COMMON NAME LATIN NAME CONSERVATION STATUS Implication of any Likely to Occur in CS1 CS1 CS2 CS3 change in CS level Disturbance area EPBC WA Act DPaW Priority Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus No real change – now No MIG MIG S5 included as migratory species under WA Act Grey Honeyeater Conopophila whitei + + No change RECORDED Striated Grass-wren Amytornis striatus + + No change RECORDED Rufous-crowned Stipiturus ruficeps No change Yes + + Emu-wren MAMMALS Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus END END S1 S2 Terminology change only RECORDED Long-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis No change Yes –rocky hills P4 P4 longicaudata Ngadji/Western Pseudomys chapmani No change RECORDED Pebble-mound P4 P4 Mouse Rothschild’s Rock- Petrogale rothschildi No change RECORDED + + Wallaby Northern Brush-tail Trichosurus vulpecula Listed on WA Act due to No Possum arnhemensis restricted range and S3 + + decline. Impact unlikely as not expected in project area Appendix 1. Categories used in the assessment of conservation status, including updates to the WA Wildlife Conservation Act schedules as of 2017. IUCN categories (based on review by Mace and Stuart 1994) as used for the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and the WA Wildlife Conservation Act. Extinct. Taxa not definitely located in the wild during the past 50 years. Extinct in the Wild. Taxa known to survive only in captivity. Critically Endangered. Taxa facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. Endangered. Taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Vulnerable. Taxa facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. Near Threatened. Taxa that risk becoming Vulnerable in the wild. Conservation Dependent. Taxa whose survival depends upon ongoing conservation measures. Without these measures, a conservation dependent taxon would be classed as Vulnerable or more severely threatened. Data Deficient (Insufficiently Known). Taxa suspected of being Rare, Vulnerable or Endangered, but whose true status cannot be determined without more information. Least Concern. Taxa that are not Threatened. Schedules used in the WA Wildlife Conservation Act (2008) Schedule 1. Rare and Likely to become Extinct. Schedule 2. Extinct. Schedule 3. Migratory species listed under international treaties. Schedule 4. Other Specially Protected Fauna. Schedules used in the WA Wildlife Conservation Act (2017) Schedule 1. Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct as critically endangered fauna. Schedule 2. Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct as endangered fauna. Schedule 3. Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct as vulnerable fauna. Schedule 4. Fauna presumed to be extinct. Schedule 5. Migratory birds protected under an international agreement. Schedule 6. Fauna that is of special conservation need as conservation dependent fauna. Schedule 7. Other specially protected fauna. WA Department of Parks and Wildlife Priority species (species not listed under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act, but for which there is some concern). Priority 1. Taxa with few, poorly known populations on threatened lands. Priority 2. Taxa with few, poorly known populations on conservation lands; or taxa with several, poorly known populations not on conservation lands. Priority 3. Taxa with several, poorly known populations, some on conservation lands. Priority 4. Taxa in need of monitoring. Taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and which are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change.