Fauna Assessment of the proposed Anglosaxon Project transport corridor, Hawthorn Resources Prepared for: Sustainability Suite 3, 118 Flora Terrace, North Beach, WA 6920 Prepared by: Brenden Metcalf M.J. & A.R. Bamford, CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS. 23 Plover Way, Kingsley, WA, 6026 13 th December 2013 Fauna Assessment of the Anglosaxon Project’s proposed transport corridor EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Hawthorn Resources proposes to develop the Anglosaxon Project near Pinjin Station, approximately 140km north-east of Kalgoorlie, in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. As part of the project they propose to construct a transport corridor linking the Anglosaxon project area with an existing haul road and the Carosue Dam Mill, both operated by Saracen Mineral Holdings. This study assessed the fauna values of the proposed transport corridor route. As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Project, Bamford Consulting Ecologists (BCE) was commissioned by Sustainability Pty Ltd (Sustainability), on behalf of Hawthorn Resources, to conduct a Level 1 fauna investigation (desktop review and site inspection) of the Anglosaxon project’s proposed transport corridor - termed the “survey area”. A level 1 Fauna Assessment is required to identify the fauna values of a site so that impacts upon these from any proposed development can be assessed and, where possible, minimised. The assessment process involved the following components: • The identification of fauna values: Assemblage characteristics: uniqueness, completeness and richness; Recognition of vegetation and soil associations (VSAs) that provide habitat for fauna; Species of conservation significance; and Ecological processes upon which the fauna depend. • The review of impacting ecological processes such as: Habitat loss leading to population decline; Habitat loss leading to population fragmentation; Ongoing mortality from operations; Species interactions including feral and overabundant native species; Hydrological change; Altered fire regimes; and Disturbance (dust, light, noise). • The recommendation of actions to mitigate impacts. The identification of fauna values involved a desktop assessment and a site reconnaissance field survey in November (4 th – 7th ) 2013. The desktop survey identified 268 fauna species potentially occurring in the Anglosaxon survey area. This comprised seven frog, 82 reptile, 144 bird, 25 native mammal and ten introduced mammal species. A total of 55 fauna species was recorded during the field survey. These comprised four reptile, 45 bird, three native mammal and three introduced mammal species. Two conservation significant fauna species were recorded during the field survey. Significant species – Twenty (20) conservation significant fauna species are expected to occur within the study area, with 11 of these species considered likely/possible to have resident populations within the survey area (at least on a seasonal basis). This includes two reptile, six bird and three mammal species. Vegetation and Substrate Associations - Five major VSAs were identified; Bamford CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS 2 Fauna Assessment of the Anglosaxon Project’s proposed transport corridor ⋅ Undulating plains supporting chenopod shrubland with the occasional Casuarina pauper on gravely calcareous loam; ⋅ Larger watercourses with loamy soils, supporting tall Mulga woodland with scattered understorey; ⋅ Mixed Acacia woodland/shrubland on loamy sands; ⋅ Mallee Eucalyptus Woodland over mixed understorey on loamy sands; ⋅ Mallee Eucalyptus Woodland over Triodia grassland on red sands; The larger watercourses supporting Mulga woodlands were the most restricted VSA and although they may act as corridors aiding the movement of fauna through the landscape, the proposed transport corridor is unlikely to significantly impact on their ability to retain this function. In addition, hollow-bearing Eucalypts through the central and eastern portions of the study area may be a limited resource within the region; as nesting habitat for a range of fauna species. Impacts upon fauna due to the construction and operation of the project may include: fauna mortality, loss of habitat, habitat degradation and impacts of dust, noise, light and disturbance. Impacts upon fauna values are generally considered to be only minor, although there is potential for cumulative effects of mortality from vehicle strikes and increased access for exotic predators to impact on local Woma (if present) and Malleefowl populations. A number of management measures are recommended to minimise potential impacts. These include minimising impacts on hollow-bearing Eucalypts and larger watercourses supporting Mulga woodlands, and taking a precautionary approach to minimise impacts through changes in hydrology, light pollution, the inadvertent (or deliberate) encouragement of feral species and the spread of weeds. All these should be best practice for mine sites. Bamford CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS 3 Fauna Assessment of the Anglosaxon Project’s proposed transport corridor CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Introduction 7 1.2 General Approach to Fauna Impact Assessment 7 2 BACKGROUND 10 2.1 Regional Description 10 3 METHODS 12 3.1 Overview 12 3.2 Desktop Assessment 13 3.2.1 Sources of information 13 3.2.2 Nomenclature and taxonomy 13 3.2.3 Interpretation of species lists 14 3.3 Field survey 15 3.3.1 Overview 15 3.3.2 Dates and Personnel 15 3.3.3 Vegetation and Substrate Associations 15 3.3.4 Targeted searching for conservation significant species 15 3.3.5 Opportunistic observations 16 3.4 Limitations 16 3.5 Impact Assessment 17 3.5.1 Fauna values and ecological processes 17 3.5.2 Criteria for impact assessment 17 4 RESULTS 18 4.1 Vegetation and Substrate Associations 18 4.2 Vertebrate Fauna 21 4.2.1 Overview of fauna assemblage 21 4.2.2 Amphibians 24 4.2.3 Reptiles 24 4.2.4 Birds 25 4.2.5 Mammals 28 4.3 Significant Invertebrates 29 5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT 30 5.1 Overview of Impacts 30 5.2 Vegetation and Substrate Associations 30 5.3 Conservation Significant Species 32 5.4 Ecological Processes 35 5.4.1 Increased mortality 36 5.4.2 Loss of habitat affecting population survival 36 5.4.3 Loss of habitat affecting population movements and gene flow 36 5.4.4 Species interactions, including predators and other feral species 36 5.4.5 Hydroecology 37 5.4.6 Changes in fire regime 37 5.4.7 Dust, light, noise and disturbance 37 5.5 Summary of impacts 37 5.6 Summary by EPA Guidance 40 6 MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS 41 7 REFERENCES 43 8 APPENDICES 46 Bamford CONSULTING ECOLOGISTS 4 Fauna Assessment of the Anglosaxon Project’s proposed transport corridor Table 1. Sources of information used for desktop assessment ................................. 13 Table 2. Survey limitations as per EPA Guidance Statement 56 (EPA 2004) .......... 16 Table 3. Criteria for Impact Assessment ................................................................... 17 Table 4. Composition of vertebrate fauna expected to occur and recorded in the survey area. ................................................................................................. 21 Table 5. Conservation status and habitat of conservation significant species expected to occur in the survey area. Conservation status as described in Appendix 3. ..................................................................................................................... 22 Table 6. Potential impacts upon conservation significant species that are expected to occur in the survey area .............................................................................. 33 Table 7. Summary of potential impacts upon ecological processes .......................... 38 Table 8. Summary of possible impacts upon key fauna values. ................................ 39 Table 9. Potential impacts to fauna of the proposal as assessed following the guidance of the EPA’s Guidance Statement No. 56. .................................. 40 Table 10. Frogs expected to occur and recorded in the Anglosaxon Survey Area. .. 55 Table 11. Reptiles expected to occur and recorded in the Anglosaxon Survey Area.56 Table 12. Birds expected or recorded in the Anglosaxon survey area. ...................... 59 Table 13. Mammals expected or recorded in the Anglosaxon survey area. ............. 65 Figure 1. Location of Hawthorn Resources' Anglosaxon Project. ........................... 8 Figure 2. Proposed Transport Corridor Route for Hawthorn Resources' Anglosaxon Project. ...................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. IBRA Subregions in Western Australia. Note the project lies in MUR1: Eastern Murchison Subregion. ................................................................ 10 Plate 1. VSA #1 Undulating plains supporting chenopod shrubland with the occasional Casuarina pauper on gravely calcareous loam. .......................... 18 Plate 2. VSA #2 Larger watercourses with loamy soils, supporting tall Mulga woodland with scattered understorey. ........................................................... 19 Plate 3. VSA #3 Mixed Acacia woodland/shrubland on loamy sands. ..................... 19 Plate 4. VSA #4 Mallee Eucalyptus Woodland over mixed understorey on loamy sands. ............................................................................................................. 20 Plate 5. VSA #5 Mallee Eucalyptus Woodland over Triodia grassland on red sands. ......................................................................................................................