EIS 642

ABO1 9325

Environmental impact statement for proposed sandstone quarry

at Tomerong, south of Nowra in the City of Shoalhaven EIS £42 I I I ABU I

I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT I for proposed Sandstone Quarry at Toinerong I south of Nowra in the City of Shoalhaven I

I prepared for I Normans Plant Hire Pty.Ltd. by I D . P . JAMES I August 1990 I I I I

I NORMANS PLANT HIRE PTY.LTD., D.P.JANES & COMPANY, P.O.Box 808, P.O.Box 170, NOWRA, 2541. KOG.ARAH, 2217. I (044) 21.7200 (02) 588.2614. I I I I I I I

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Form 4. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT, I 1979(Section 77(3)(d)) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT This Statement has been prepared on behalf of Normans Plant Hire Pty.Ltd. P.O.Box 808, NOWRA, 2541. being the applicant making the development application referred to below. This Statement accompanies the development application made in respect of the development described as follows: Extraction and processing of sandstone and ridge gravel. The development application relates to land described as follows: Portions 45, 58, 66, 102, 105, 108, and 159 parish of Tomerong, county of St.Vincent, City of Shoalhaven. The contents of this Statement, as required by Clause 34 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, 1980, are set forth in the accompanying pages. I, Derek Patrick JAMES, of Kogarah, hereby certify that I have prepared the contents of this statement in accordance with Clauses 34 and 35 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, 1980. Dated: 29 August 1990.

D.P.James, ARMIT, FIQ, MEIA. 11/62 Warialda Street, KOGARAH, 2217.

EIS 642 page 3

INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Introduction 1.2 Summary of Proposed Development I 1.3 Development Objectives EXISTING ENVIRONMENT I 2.1 Zoning 2.2 Planning Documents 2.3 Planning Proposals 2.4 Landform I 2.5 Land Use 26 Climate 2.7 Air Quality I 2.8 Water Quality 2.9 Noise 2.10 Flora & Fauna I 2.11 Traffic 2.11.1 Road Network 2.11.2 Traffic Movements. 2.11.3 Traffic Noise. I 2.11.4 Road Damage. 2.12 Economic Matters 2.13 Social & Cultural Matters I 2.14 Visual Impact 2.15 Archaeology 2.16 Soil & Water Conservation Matters 2.17 Forestry Matters I 2.18 Electricity Commission Matters. 2.19 Bushfire Risk 2.20 Legislative Control

Introduction 3.13.2 Extraction Sequence 3.3 Winning & Processing Hours of Operation 3.5 Employment 3.63.4 Services 3.7 Drainage & Erosion Control 3.8 Pollution Control 3.8.1 Air 3.8.2 Water 3.8.3Noise 3.9 Traffic 3.10 Reserves 3.11 Rehabilitation I I . page4 I

I ENVIRONMENTAl1 IMPACTS & PROTECTION MEASURES 4.1 Land Use 4.2 Climate I 4.3 Air Quality 4.5 Water Quality 4.6 Noise I 4.7 Flora 4.8 Fauna 4.9 Traffic 4.10 Economic Matters I 4.11 Social & Cultural Matters 4.12 Visual Impact 4.13 Soil & Water Conservation Matters I 4.14 Energy Requirements

ALTERNATIVES 5.1 Development Alternatives 5.2 "No Development" Alternative

6. JUSTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT & CONCLUSIONS I REFERENCES

CONSULTATIONS

APPENDICES 1 The Land 2 Noise Impact Statement I 3 Geology of Hellhole. 4 Soil and Water Management 5 Reconnaissance Survey of Native Flora and Fauna prepared by Peter Barrer, May 1990. I 6 Archaeological Survey prepared by Paul Packard

Figure 1 Location of the Land. Table 1 Summary of Weather Data. Table Parma Creek Water Quality I Table Peak particle velocity and air overpressure.

ATTACIIED PLANS PLAN 1 Existing Landform PLAN 2 Final Landform: Site 1 I PLAN 3 Final Landform: Site 2 I I . page5 I I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Introduction. The City of Shoalhaven is a developing region. This is shown in population changes of: 4.50% growth for the period 1976 to 1981 and I 5.01% growth for the period 1981 to 1985. Council predicts that the population will continue to grow at similar strong growth rates, ie 4% to 5%, for the foreseeable I future (1). The increase in population will result in an increase in demand for a full range of goods and services including quarry products. Private sector and public sector developments which require quarry products include land sub-divisions, building & I construction, new roadways and upgrading of existing roadways. The proponent, trading as Normans Quarries, is active in the I earthmoving and quarrying industry in the Shoalhaven area. In order to maintain its position as a supplier of quarry products and to meet the demand for these products Norinans Quarries is I undertaking this present development. The subject land is known locally as "Hellhole" and has been the site of sporadic quarrying. The land is surrounded by vacant Crown I land to the west, noxth and east and by state forest to the south and is sparsely populated. The land is centred about grid I reference 733213 on CMA map Huskisson (2), see Figure 1 1.2 Summary of Proposed Development The land is freehold land with a total area of 274.56 ha and adjoins the northern extremity of Yerriyong State Forest (State I Forest No.920). The proposed development is restricted to two sites in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the land and equals about 16.5 ha, some 6% of the total. The land falls and drains to Parrna I Creek which bisects the land. Access to the land is via Blackbutt Range Road (also known as Blackbutt Ridge Fire Trail) off the Princes Highway. I The proposal is to extract and process sandstone into a number of quarry products. Extraction will be by drill and blast to form broken stone. This material will be loaded by front-end loader I either directly into a mobile crushing plant or into boot trucks for transport to the crushing plant. The crushing plant incorporates primary and secondary crushers, transfer conveyors and I screens. Water sprays on the plant will dampen the products as they pass to stockpiles to reduce dust. Sandstone byproducts from the crushing operation will also be I produced. The land also contains ridge gravel; this will be extracted by front-end loader and crushed and screened to form I uniform products. I I page6 I Quarry products will be removed by trucks. The truck traffic route will be along Blackbutt Range Road to the Princes Highway. The estimated initial annual production is 100,000 tonnes. This average production will require 18 truck loads per day based on 50 I weeks per year at 5.5 days per week and loads of 20 tonnes. The 18 loads (36 truck movements) per day can be expected to increase as the operation develops; an annual growth of about 3% to 5% is I likely. Partof portions 102 and 159 have been disturbed by previous quarrying. The development includes the removal and processing of the overburden dumps, mullock heaps and broken stone from this previous quarrying and the rehabilitation of the land. p The reserves to be extracted on the land are estimated to be 3,000,000cubic metres. At an initial extraction rate of 100,000 tonnes p.a. and an annual growth of 5% the reserves a sufficient for 25 to 30 years. The land will be rehabilitated progressively. The development will employ 7 persons directly and about 14 others indirectly.The development will supply quarry products locally and regionally to local council, state government bodies and private industry.

The development will make an important contribution to the local economy by supplying quarry products at competitive prices, providing direct and indirect employment and by providing income to the landowner and proponent. 1.3 Development Objectives. The objectives of the development are: to extract from the land some 3,000,000 cubic metres of I material, namely sandstone and ridge gravel, to process this material into a range of quarry products, I to supply these products to the local and regional markets, to rehabilitate those parts of the land disturbed by I previous quarrying, and to carry out the development in an environmentally sensitive manner, particularly with respect to the flora I and fauna on the land. I n I I I

NOWRA 14km PI7INCES HIGHWAY 2kg,, — 15030 40 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 230 81 82 83 34 85 86 87 88 89 00 24 - j iir i2___ I I I Bid Crii f' 7 / 173 H 'H I (! / I) : I CeHala Oeac \ \ t 6 \ , (I I / — - I —2. •4 I ) li ( J ( •: • i22 ( Woollamia \\ • M y 1ç i\ - — -) • 21 ;-T-1 '- All ;; •7'! 041 T,TVl 1, I / ,, • i - - / ) 2arnIirou0 1 I TnpniI ndo //d

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Fiqure 1. Location of the land. Scale 1:100,000. Derived from Natmap Jervis Bay 9027.

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I page 7 2. EXISTING ENVIRONMLENT

2.1 Zoning. The land is zoned Rural 1(a) under Local Environmental Plan 1985 I (Amendment No.14) made on 29 January 1990 (vide Govt. Gaz. No.18, folio 893, 2 Feb.1990. Local Environmental Plan 1985, originally was gazetted on 17 May 1985.) The objectives of this zone are to I protect the agricultural potential of rural land and to prevent the fragmentation of viable rural holdings. Under this zoning extractive industry is permitted with the consent of Council. I 2.2 Planning Documents. The Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No.1 (3) published in 1986, includes the land. The Plan which has been amended by Local I Environmental Plan 1985 (Amendment No.14) includes 17 sheets of Policy maps which have been examined to determine their effect on the land. I Sheet 2: Land of Prime Crop and Pasture Potential. The land is not identified on the map. Sheet 8: Wildlife Corridors. The land is identified in as a wildlife corridor. This was noted in the advice received from the Director of the Dept.of Planning. Sheet 10: Land containing Extractive Material The land is not identified on the map. The closest quarry deposits are given as Conjola, Milton and Ilarôo on the Shoalhaven River. Sheet 13: Airport Buffer Zone The land is outside the Nowra airport buffer zone. Sheet 15: Land with Landscape or Environmental Attributes The land is not identified on the map. Council has prepared a number of planning documents as part of the overall planning control of the City. The Shoalhaven Draft Rural Environmental Study (1) has been adopted by Council and forms the basis for rural development in the City. This Study also addresses extractive industry matters both resources and existing operations. [Extractive industry resources of the Shoalhaven area are detailed in a Dept. of Mineral Resources & Energy report. An abstract of this report and others are included in Appendix 3.1

Local Environmental Plan 1985 (Amendment No.14), also known as the Nowra Hill LEP, is the current planning instrument for the subject land. Sheet 2 of this instrument amended Sheet 16 the Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No.1. Sheet 16 in both the original and amended forms does not affect the land. Prior to the Nowra Hill LEP Council prepared an Environmental Plan Report for Nowra Hill (4). The Illawarra Region Wetlands Study, 1983, (5) includes the land in that the study covers Jervis Bay and the catchment of Jervis Bay. This catchment is given as being 267 square kilometres. Parma Creek is neither mentioned in the text or shown in Map 5.3 of the Study as being part of the Jervis Bay catchment. The master copy of Map 5.3 does show Parma Creek as being part of the Jervis Bay catchment.

page 8 I The land is not covered by the Illawarra Region Landscape and Environmental Study, 1981, (6). 2.3 Planning Proposals. I The Australian ConservationFoundation has recently published a proposal for a Jervis Bay Marine Park (7). This proposal covers the Jervis Bay area plus part of the catchment flowing into Jervis I Bay. The proposal states that "the entire catchment - including the catchinents of ... Parma Creek - needs a management regime that ensures the bushland and wildlife continue to flourish" (7). Parma I Creek is part of the land, see Figure 1 and Appendix 1. More recently the N.S.W.Environinent Minister announced that legislation to create a new marine park system would be introduced I in the next few months (8). The marine parks would include the waters around Jervis Bay (8) and, it is assumed, be similar to the I A.C.F. proposal. 2.4 Landform. The land collectively is known locally as "Hellhole" and is bisected by Parma Creek. The land is at two elevations: a plateau r at about 170 m.AHD surrounding a valley containing the Creek at about 120 m.AHD (2). The land contains vertical to near vertical cliffs. The cliffs are only a small part of the land and they act I as boundaries between the plateau which is generally flat and the valley floor. The valley floor has a range of gradients which vary I from flat to slopes in excess of 18 2.5 Land Use. The land is unused at present. The land has been used as a quarry for ridge gravel and for sandstone. Evidence of this previous use I remains in the form of overburden dumps, mullock heaps, raw material stockpiles and broken rock. I Quarrying, for the removal of gravel over an area of 2.4 ha, was carried out on the Crown land adjoining portions 102 and 159 (9) originally by a local contractor and now by Shoalhaven City Council I under P0 86/17. Portion 66 is subject to a mining lease for clay I Portion 102 is affected by a transmission line easement 45 metres wide on the southeast corner of the land, see Appendix 1. I Timber has been taken from the land. Improvements on the land are access tracks, a dam, culverts, bridges over creeks, quarry faces, some fences and power line structures. I The land conforms to Class VIII of the Soil Conservation Service rural land capability classification being land not suitable for agricultural or pastoral production because of severe physical I limitations to the land. The land conforms to Class 5 of the Department of Agriculture agricultural suitability classes being I land unsuitable for agriculture. I page 7 I 2. EXISTINGENVIRONMENT 2.1 Zoning. The land is zoned Rural 1(a) under Local Environmental Plan 1985 I (Amendment No.14) made on 29 January 1990 (vide Govt. Gaz. No.18, folio 893, 2 Feb.1990. Local Environmental Plan 1985, originally was gazetted on 17 May 1985.) The objectives of this zone are to I protect the agricultural potential of rural land and to prevent the fragmentation of viable rural holdings. Under this zoning extractive industry is permitted with the consent of Council.

I 2.2 Planning Documents. The Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No.1 (3) published in 1986, includes the land. The Plan which has been amended by Local U Environmental Plan 1985 (Amendment No.14) includes 17 sheets of Policy maps which have been examined to determine their effect on theland. Sheet 2: Land of Prime Crop and Pasture Potential. The land is not identified on the map. Sheet 8: Wildlife Corridors. The land is identified in as a wildlife corridor. This was noted in the advice received from the Director of the Dept.of Planning. I Sheet 10: Land containing Extractive Material The land is not identified on the map. The closest quarry deposits are given as Conjola, Milton and Ilarbo on the Shoalhaven River. I Sheet 13: Airport Buffer Zone The land is outside the Nowra airport buffer zone. I Sheet 15: Land with Landscape or Environmental Attributes The land is not identified on the map. I Council has prepared a number of planning documents as part of the overall planning control of the City. The Shoalhaven Draft Rural Environmental Study (1) has been adopted by Council and forms the basis for rural development in the City. This Study also addresses I extractive industry matters both resources and existing operations. [Extractive industry resources of the Shoalhaven area are detailed in a Dept. of Mineral Resources & Energy report. An abstract of I this report and others are included in Appendix 3.1 Local Environmental Plan 1985 (Amendment No.14), also known as the I Nowra Hill LEP, is the current planning instrument for the subject land. Sheet 2 of this instrument amended Sheet 16 the Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No.1. Sheet 16 in both the original and amended forms does not affect the land. Prior to, the Nowra I Hill LEP Council prepared an Environmental Plan Report for Nowra - Hill (4). The Illawarra Region Wetlands Study, 1983, (5) includes the land in that the study covers Jervis Bay and the catchment of Jervis Bay. This catchment is given as being 267 square kilometres. Parma Creek is neither mentioned in the text or shown in Map 5.3 of the I Study as being part of the Jervis Bay catchment. The master copy of Map 5.3 does show Parma Creek as being part of the Jervis Bay I catchment.

page 8 I The land is not covered by the Illawarra Region Landscape and Environmental Study, 1981, (6). 2.3 Planning Proposals. I The Australian ConservationFoundation has recently published a proposal for a Jervis Bay Marine Park (7). This proposal covers the Jervis Bay area plus part of the catchment flowing into Jervis I Bay. The proposal states that "the entire catcbment - including the catchments of ... Parma Creek - needs a management regime that ensures the bushland and wildlife continue to flourish" (7). Parma I Creek is part of the land, see Figure 1 and Appendix 1. More recently the N.S.W.Environment Minister announced that legislation to create a new marine park system would be introduced I in the next few months (8). The marine parks would include the waters around Jervis Bay (8) and, it is assumed, be similar to the I A.C.F. proposal. 2.4 Landforin. The land collectively is known locally as "Hellhole" and is r bisected by Parma Creek. The land is at two elevations: a plateau at about 170 m.AHD surrounding a valley containing the Creek at about 120 m.AHD (2). The land contains vertical to near vertical cliffs. The cliffs are only a small part of the land and they act I as boundaries between the plateau which is generally flat and the valley floor. The valley floor has a range of gradients which vary r from flat to slopes in excess of 18 2.5 Land Use. The land is unused at present. The land has been used as a quarry for ridge gravel and for sandstone. Evidence of this previous use I remains in the form of overburden dumps, mullock heaps, raw material stockpiles and broken rock. I Quarrying, for the removal of gravel over an area of 2.4 ha, was carried out on the Crown land adjoining portions 102 and 159 (9) originally by a local contractor and now by Shoalhaven City Council I under P0 86/17. Portion 66 is subject to a mining lease for clay I Portion 102 is affected by a transmission line easement 45 metres wide on the southeast corner of the land, see Appendix 1. I Timber has been taken from the land. Improvements on the land are access tracks, a dam, culverts, bridges over creeks, quarry faces, I some fences and power line structures. The land conforms to Class VIII of the Soil Conservation Service rural land capability classification being land not suitable for agricultural or pastoral production because of severe physical I limitations to the land. The land conforms to Class 5 of the Department of Agriculture agricultural suitability classes being I land unsuitable for agriculture. I page9 I 2.6 Climate. The land is located about 20 km from the coast and hence has a coastal weather pattern. Climatic data for the nearest weather station are summarised in Table 1. From Table 1 it can be seen I that the land has an annual rainfall of about 1100 mm and that mean temperatures vary between 6 and 26 degrees celcius. Rainfall data,ie intensity-frequency--duration, was obtained .I directly from the Bureau of Meteorology for the specific location and was used for drainage calculations in Appendix 4. Specific temperature inversion data for the land are not available.

I Meteorological reports for Jervis Bay and Sydney (10,11) give the following frequency of inversions expressed as a percentage of nights per season. Jervis Bay Sydney I summer 30% 50% autumn 50% winter 50% 100% I spring 50% Since the land is only about 20 km from Jervis Bay the inversion data for Jervis Bay may be applied to the land. Thus it may be I assumed that temperature inversions would occur on about 50 % of the nights per year. Such temperature inversions should disperse within about 1 hour of sunrise. I Wind data are available for Nowra RAN Air Station for 9 am and 3 pm observations and are given in Table 1. Morning winds are from the

I west/northwest in autumn and winter and from the south to northwest in the warmer months. Afternoon winds show a similar pattern being from the west in the cold months and from the east in the warm months. Air drainage on the land should follow Parma Creek, that I is to the north-northeast.

2.7 Air Ouality. I The land is remotely located in natural bushland and has an adequate vegetation cover of grass and shrubs and trees. Generally dust is not a problem and air quality is high. Some of the land

I has been extracted and imperfectly rehabilitated so that unvegetated sand and clay remains exposed. This comment also applies to the Council quarry on Crown land adjoining the eastern boundary of portions 103 and 159 held under P0 86/17. Under dry I windy conditions these unvegetated lands may pose a dust hazard. The access roads Blackbutt Range Road, Parma Fire Road and Hell Hole Road are made but unsealed Crown roads. Vehicles passing over

I these roads are potential sources of dust. 2.8 Water quality The land is within the Clyde River Basin, Basin No.21.6. Parma I Creek flows into Currambene Creek which in turn flows into Jervis Bay at Huskisson.

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page 10 I rainfall in mm: mean (row 1) and median (row 2) (a) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC YEAR I 96 131 155 91 95 110 52 68 59 129 99 64 1149 52 1030 I 71 85 83 51 71 65 40 43 39 102 56 mean number of raindays (a) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC YEAR I 13 12 12 9 10 11 7 9 10 13 13 11 130

mean daily temperature in degrees celsius: maximum & minimum (b) I JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 25.8 25.8 24.6 22.2 19.0 16.3 15.7 17.1 19.3 21.3 23.4 23.5 I 15.9 16.4 14.9 12.1 9.5 7.6 6.1 6.7 8.3 10.7 12.5 14.5

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC I Predominant wind direction at 0900 hours (C) S S S/NW NW W/NW W/NW W/NW W/NW W/NW W/NW S/NW S/NW Predominant wind direction at 1500 hours (c) I E/SEE E SE W W W W W E E E for the period 1942 to 1983 k for the period 1955 to 1984 (C) for the period 1955 to 1986 Table 1. Weather data for Nowra R.A.N. Air Station, I Met. station No.068076. U No. Name N Mean Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum i Cond-Lab 19 242.10 37.40 135.00 300.00 I 2 Cond-RO 13 266.46 92.01 174.00 534.00 3 pH 18 6.77 0.33 6.30 7.46 4 Cl 17 61.18 6.56 48.92 73.03 5 SO4 16 5.68 3.08 0.96 11.04 I 6 HCO3 17 16.47 8.57 7.93 45.15 7 Ca 17 5.60 3.20 2.40 16.03 8 Mg 17 6.33 2.30 3.52 13.61 I 9 Na 17 29.84 4.31 22.07 36.09 10 K 17 1.10 0.54 0.78 2.73 I notes Cond-Lab = laboratory determination of conductivity and Cond-RO = regional office determination of conductivity both expressed in micro siemens I Items 4 to 10 expressed as mg/litre Table 2. Parma Creek Water Quality Results for the period I 1969 to 1986, Station No. 216003. Data from the Department of Water Resources. I

page 11 I The local creek system consists of Currainbene Creek which rises at H.M.A.S. Albertros and is joined by Yerriyong Gully and Parma Creek. The confluence of Parma Creek with Curranthene Creek is at Falls Creek. Two stream gauging stations, details below, are I located at the confluence of the two Creeks. The Parma ,Creek Station has a catchment of 65 sq.km. and was in use between 1969 to I 1977. No. Stream Location Catchment Comments 216004 Currambene Cr. Falls Creek 95 sq.km operational I 216003 Parma Cr Falls Creek 65 sq.km discontinued Water quality data from the Department of Water Resources have been analysed in order to give an overall idea of the water quality. I The results are given in Table 2. From Table 2 with respect to the physical and inorganic analyses the water in Parma Creek has a quality well within the limits for Australian drinking water (12). I Parma Creek is a prescribed creek under the provisions of Section 26D of the Soil Conservation Act. Parma Creek is not classified under the Clean Waters Act. I Drainage from the land is to Parma Creek. The vegetative cover of most of the land ensures that the sediment pick-up by surface run- of f water is minimal. Those area of the land which have been I cleared for quarrying, see Section 2.3 above, are likely sources of sediment pick-up and subsequent contamination of the surface run- I off water. 2.9 Noise. The land is remote and isolated with only one nearby residence and has a noise quality consistent with such a rural location. A Noise I Impact Statement has been prepared and is included here as Appendix 2. The nearest residence to the land is located about 1.9 km south I - southeast from the southeast corner of the land. The land is about 3.5 km east of the southern arm of the airport buffer area of Nowra Airport and H.M.A.S. Albertros (R.A.N. air I station) (3). 2.10 Flora and Fauna. The existing flora and fauna has been surveyed and is fully I described in Appendix 5: Reconnaissance Survey of Native Flora and Fauna. The land supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and I has high to very high habitat values. The flora includes at least six rare plant species and one vulnerable specie. In broad summary the flora may be described as follows: I on the plateau, mainly open forest with smaller areas of woodland, open woodland, scrub, heath and wetlands in the northeast and southwest I within the valley, open forest, tall open forest and closed forest (warm temperate rainforests). The land is r!ch in fauna. The Reconnaissance Survey detected 15 I species of native mammals, 3 introduced species of mammals, 47 species of birds and 8 species of reptiles. Of particular note is I the presence of vulnerable mouse-sized White-footed Dunnart I I . page 12

(Smiinthopsis leucopus) and almost certain presence of the Brush- I tailed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). The rare Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) is thought to be present in the area. Uncommon or rare species such as the Southern Emu Wren (Stipiturus I malachurus) and Beautiful Firetail (Emblema belluin) are present in and about heathy habitats. I 2.11 Traffic 2.11.1 Road Network The local traffic network consists of the Princes Highway which is I the main traffic route for north south traffic. Various side roads cater for local traffic. Access to the land from the Highway is via Blackbutt Range Road (also known as Blackbutt Ridge Fire Trail) on the western side of the Highway about 18 km south of Nowra. I Blackbutt Range Road is a Crown road maintained by the Forestry Commission to the standard of a two lane Class B forestry road. The intersection of Blackbutt Range Road and the Highway is a I slightly elevated, 90 , "T" intersection. At the intersection the Highway is straight and even in both directions and sight distances are about 700 metres north and 300 metres south. These sight I distances are within the guidelines for rural roads (13). 2.11.2 Traffic Movements. The Roads & Traffic Authority maintains two traffic counting I stations on the Princes Highway near Blackbutt Range Road. The latest available data in AADT for the these stations are: I Station Year Number 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 07053* 6990 7860 8960 9800 10163 11467 13000e I 07055** 3840 4730 6024 6800e 7700e * Princes Highway at Klimpton, north of MR 312, Huskisson Road. I ** Princes Highway at Tomerong, north of TR 92, Thrpentine Road. e estimated I 2.11.3 Traffic Noise. The route from the land to the Highway along Blackbutt Range Road passes within 300 metres of one residence at grid reference 786218 on the Huskisson sheet (2). The same residence is about 450 metres I from the Highway. The D.M.R., now the R.T.A. has published guidelines for the prediction and measurement of road traffic noise (14). These guidelines have been used in the Noise Impact I Statement, Appendix 2, to calculate the noise traffic levels. 2.11.4 Road Damage. The Princes Highway is State Highway No.1 and National Route No.1, I is maintained by the Roads & Traffic Authority and is designed as an all weather, all traffic roadway. I Blackbutt Range Road is a formed but unsealed Crown road under the care and maintenance of the Forestry Commission. Heavy traffic passing over this road, particularly in wet weather can be expected I to damage the road. At present (Feb.1990) the road is in poor repair and needs to be graded and its drainage improved. I I I . page 13 I 2.12 Economic Matters. At present the land is unused although previously some quarrying has occurred. The proposed development will provide income and employment to the landowner, the proponent and it's employees and I also indirect employment to others in the transport industry. The regional market area for the majority of the quarry's products I is from about Berry in the north to Milton and Ulladulla in the south. Some products, such as stabilised roadbase, may have an extended market. The quarry supplies materials to consumers within I the region at competitive prices to the benefit of both producer and consumer.

2.13 Social & Cultural Matters. Although the land has considerable environmental value because of the flora and fauna it contains it has no particular social or I cultural value. The surrounding land is vacant Crown land and State Forest. The archaeology of the land is described below in Section 2.14 and in detail in Appendix 6. I A Development Application (DA89/2448) is before Council for an off- road racing circuit on Crown land near the intersection of Blackbutt Range Road and Parma Fire Road. This proposal would I probably increase both the traffic along Blackbutt Range Road and .background noise level when race meetings are held. I 2.14 Visual Impact The land consists of seven parish portions surrounded by vacant Crown land to the north, east and west and Yerriyong State Forest to the south. The land is at two elevations: a plateau at about I 170 m.AHD surrounding a valley containing Parma Creek at about 120 in.A[TD. Because the land is private freehold land public access is limited consequently the visual amenity is undeveloped. The I existing visual amenity of the land described as foreground, middleground and farground (distant) views is as follows. I FOREGROUND VIEWS. on the plateau views are mainly of unaltered Dry Sclerophyll Forest with some wetlands in the north. Those parts of the plateau which have been quarried, that is part portions 102 and 152 and part of I the adjoining Crown land, have a greatly disturbed surface from which the vegetation has been removed. The visually amenity of these areas is poor. Within the valley the closed forest restricts I foreground views to the immediate vicinity. MIDDLEGROUND VIEWS. From the cliff line on the edge of the plateau it is possible view I the valley floor. Such views are of unaltered bushland sloping down to the closed forest of the valley. On the southern boundary of the land the bushscape is altered by the transmission line and I it's cleared easement. FARGROUND VIEWS. I Distant views are from the cliff line on the edge of the plateau. These are of unaltered bushland extending to the limit of sight. I page 14 I 2.15 Archaeology. The land is made up of seven parish portions which total 274.56 ha. Surveys of the land were made between 1885 and 1933. The portions I were granted between 1911 and 1934. Portion Date of Survey Date of Grant Area,ha h 45 10 08 1886 22 07 1913 19.93 58 03 07 1895 29 06 1921 16.19 66 20 03 1933 25 01 1934 36.12 k 102 22 10 1885 10 12 1912 80.94 105 21 01 1886 22 07 1913 16.19 108 06 02 1886 11 03 1919 24.25 I 159 17 09 1884 19 09 1911 80.94 The land has as improvements some rural fences, access tracks and quarry workings. The land does not contain any buildings and I except for tree stumps from timber felling there is no evidence of European land use. An archaeological survey of the land has been carried out and is I included here as 1ppendix 6. The survey found that the land had no particular archaeological potential. I 2.16 Soil & Water Conservation Matters The land is within the Jervis Bay catchment which in turn is within the Clyde River Basin, Water Resources Commission Basin No.216. I The land contains Parma Creek which flows to the north and east and joins Currambene Creek [at grid reference 804277, Nowra CMA map (15)] and which in turn flows into Jervis Bay. I The plateau part of the land is generally flat and as the slope is less than 18 it is not protected land under the Soil Conservation Act 1938 nor is approval under Section 21D of the Act required to I remove trees. The valley floor has a range of gradients which vary from flat to slopes in excess of 18 . The land also contains vertical to near vertical cliffs. These cliffs however only make up only a small part of the land and act as boundaries between the H plateau and valley floor. Parma Creek is a prescribed stream under Section 21D of the Soil I Conservation Act, 1938. Under Section 21D of the Act approval is required to remove or destroy trees within 20 metres of a prescribed stream. No extraction is proposed near the Creek hence I approval under this Act is not required. Approval under Section 23A of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement (Amendment) Act 1981 is required to remove extractive material from I within 40 metres of the bank of Parma Creek. As stated above the land conforms to Class VIII of the Soil k Conservation Service rural land capability classification being land not suitable for agricultural or pastoral production because I of severe physical limitations to the land. Soil and Water management details are given in Appendix 4. I I

pagel5 I 2.17 Forestry Matters. The southern boundary of portions 45, 66 and 102 is contiguous with part of Yerriyong State Forest (State Forest No. 920). The most direct access to the land is from the Princes Highway via Blackbutt U Range Road. This road is a Crown road and was specifically excluded from Yerriyong State Forest when the forest was gazetted (16). The road is used as a forestry road and its care and I maintenance is carried out by the Forestry Commission. Yerriyong State Forest would be harvested under a 60 to 80 year I cutting cycle and at peak activity some 4 loads per day, that is 8 timber truck movements per day could pass along Blackbutt Range Road. I 2.18 Electricity Commission Matters. An easement, 45 metres wide, for a transmission line passes through the southeastern corner of Portion 102. The line is Line 98H/1, I the Shoalhaven - Ulladulla 132 kV Transmission line which was commissioned in about 1988. Developments within transmission line easements are of concern to Electricity Commission of New South Wales and to the Illawarra County Council. Control of this line I has been transferred from the Commission to the County Council. Both the Commission and the County Council were consulted and their responses are included in Section 8 of the Statement. The I Electricity Commission's general comments are: CLEARANCE: The maximum permissible height of vehicles (including antenna if I fitted) passing under transmission lines is 4.3 metres. DANGER OF LONG SECTIONS OF METAL CONDUCTORS: Long sections of metal conductors running parallel to overhead conductors may pick up induced currents and consequently give rise I to electric shocks and/or corrosion problems. EXCAVATIONS: Excavations should not be carried out within 16 metres of a I transmission structure base. ACCESS: Electricity Commission plant and personnel to have access to all I parts of the easement at all times. DANGEROUS GOODS: The storage of explosives or inflammable fuels or materials on the easement is not permitted. I DUST GENERATION: The Electricity Commission requests that close attention be paid to dust control as dust can settle on insulators and lead to short I circuit conditions. This is particularly so in dusty conditions followed by light rain when insulator flash-over may occur. BLASTING AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES: The normal upper limit of ground vibration acceptable to the I Commission at the location of a transmission line structure is 4 mm/second peak particle velocity. Discussion with the Commission has revealed that the 4 mm/second value applies to substations and I may be considered a future requirement as a substation is proposed. Under these circumstances a higher value of 25 mm/second or more may be acceptable until a substation is built. The County Council I expressed concern that fly rock from blasting could damage insulators and cause a failure of the line. I page 16 I 2.19 Bushf ire Risk The land is within the Eastern Fire Zone being part of the Illawarra Weather Forecast District and is serviced by the Tomerong I Bush Fire Brigade. The last major fire was 1980/81. The following bushf ire hazard is based on Circular No.74 issued by the Department of Planning (17), topographical data is derived from I the Huskisson map (2). The land is at two elevations: a plateau at about 170 rn.AHD surrounding a valley containing the Creek at about I 120 m.AHD. PLATEAU. The development will be restricted to two sites on the plateau, namely Site 1 (east site) and Site 2 (south site). The vegetation I of both sites corresponds to Dry Sclerophyll Forest; such vegetation has a Vegetation Hazard Index of 2.8. Site 1 slopes to the west and has a fall of 10 metres over 250 metres giving a I gradient of 4% and a Slope Index of 1. Site 2 slopes to the north and east and also has a fall of 10 metres over 250 metres giving a gradient of 4% and a Slope Index of 1. I The Overall Hazard Score equals Vegetation Hazard Index x Slope Index. Since Site 1 and Site 2 have the same gradient, Slope Index and vegetation the Overall Hazard Score for both sites is 2.8. A I 2.8 Overall Hazard Score is considered to be a medium hazard score. Site access and egress is good being served by Blackbutt Range Road I and Parma Creek Fire Trail. The Electricity Commission easement to the south acts as a fire trail and firebreak. Site 1 is partially cleared which further reduces the fire hazard. I VALLEY. The valley has slopes of between 0 - 5% and 5% - 10% which have Slope Indices of 1 and 1.5. The vegetation corresponds to Wet I Sclerophyll Forest (Coastal) with a Vegetation Hazard Index of 1.7. The valley thus has an Overall Hazard Score of between 1.7 and 2.55 which are considered to be medium hazard scores. The valley also I contains some rainforest vegetation which, with a Vegetation Hazard Index of 0.56, has a low Overall Hazard Score of 0.56. Access and egress to the valley is not good with one track from the I Site 1 down to the valley and a second track in portion 108. The proposed development has a low "damage by fire" risk; the nature of extractive industry is to clear land thus removing fuel I and forming firebreaks. The main loss from fire would be damage to stores and ancillary buildings about the development site. The development includes the construction of water dams to act as I settling basins and retention structures for stormwater. These water sources will be available for fire fighting purposes.

I I page 17 I The bush fire history of the area below has been obtained from Council (18). period comments 1951 1952 wildfire, whole of the land I 1956 1957 wildfire, part of SE corner 1980 1981 wildfire, whole of the land 1986 ground hazard reduction, crown land I Comments from Shoalhaven City Council's Fire Control Officer (18) are that the highest fire risk is from the vacant Crown land to the west of the development as typically bushfires start in these areas I and move in an easterly direction. The fire trails around the land are useful in that they give good access to the plateau parts of the land. Access to the valley is limited. The construction of dams on the land would be a useful source of water for fire I fighting.

I 2.20 Legislative Control. Various Acts control the extractive industry. Under these Acts approvals, licences and/or compliance are required to extract or I operate. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT, 1979. Approval under the Act is required to carry out the development. STATE POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION ACT, 1970. This Act coordinates the Pollution Control Acts which are the Clean Air Act, I 1961, the Clean Waters Act, 1970 and the Noise Control Act, 1975. SOIL CONSERVATION ACT, 1938, as amended. Under Section 21D of the Act land within 20 metres of a prescribed stream is "Protected Ij Land" and an "Authority to Destroy or Damage Trees" is required. The Parma Creek is a prescribed river under the Act. I RIVERS & FORESHORES IMPROVEMENT ACT, 1948, as amended. Approval under Section 23A of the Act is required to remove material from "protected river land" which includes the bed, banks or from within E 40 metres of the banks of a river. Material includes soil, sand and gravel. This Act is administered by the Department of Water Resources. I Application for approval under this Act is normally made after the granting of Council consent. The Department inspects such operations to ensure conformance with the conditions of the Section I 23A approval. P MINES INSPECTION ACT 1901. This Act provides for the health and L safety of miners and quarry workers, facilities at mines, safe working practices, etc. I I 11 page 18

I 3. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. 3.1 Introduction. I To maintain the existing demand and to meet the future demand for sandstone quarry products for supply to both the public and private sector there is a need for an efficient, viable quarry operation in U the Nowra region. In recent years there has been a trend towards the use of crushed sandstone materials for use in road construction. These materials I are used as crushed or mixed with lime and/or cement to form stabilised road base. The market area for such products is within a radius of 30 to 40 km from the subject land and extends from I Nowra and Berry in the north to Milton and Ulladulla in the south. The proponent, Normans Plant Hire Pty.Ltd., has been active in the extractive industry in the Shoalhaven region for some time I supplying roadbase materials and other quarry products. Access to the land will be by means of the Crown roads: Blackbutt I Range Road, Parma Fire Road and Hell Hole Road. An application has been made to the Forestry Commission for legal access, by means of an occupation permit, through Yerriyong State Forest to the I southern boundary of Portion 102 to serve Site 2. 3.2 Extraction Sequence. The development consists of two product groups on two extraction I sites. The product groups are surface deposits of ridge gravels and crushed sandstone products. T Extraction from the land will be in the following general sequence. Ridge gravels will be removed first. Sandstone will be extracted once the overlying ridge gravel and overburden has been removed. The fine undersized material from the crushing of sandstone will be I processed to form sandstone byproducts. For the two extraction sites the general sequence will be: I SITE 1: the eastern site located on the existing quarry in portions 102 (northeast part) and 159 (southeast part) to be extracted first followed by Site 2. Much of Site 1 is disturbed from previous quarrying and contains overburden dumps, mullock I heaps and broken stone. Removal and/or processing of these materials will be part of the development of Site 1. For Site 1 I extraction will commence in the south and proceed to the north. SITE 2: the southern site is located in south part of portion 102 will be extracted after Site 1. For Site 2 extraction will I commence in the west and proceed to the east.

3.3 Winning & Processing. 1 For each extraction area the overburden will be stripped and stored in bunds about the land for use in post-extraction rehabilitation. Prior to stripping vegetation will be knocked down and whenever I practical mulched to be used as a seed source in rehabilitation. For ridge gravel a bulldozer will be used to rip and loosen the page 19 I material and to form it into raw material stockpiles. Raw material is then loaded by front-end loader into a diesel powered screen to form a screened product. Oversized material is passed to a I separate stockpile for storage prior to subsequent crushing. Sandstone will be extracted by ripping with a bulldozer and/or drill & blast depending on the strength and hardness of the in situ I material. Although the former is preferable the high strength of the sandstone makes it unlikely. For ripping a wide sloping face will be developed to allow the bulldozer to work safely and to I blend the sandstone. For drill and blast extraction near vertical quarry faces will be developed. These will be about 10 metres high depending on the strength and uniformity of the sandstone with 15 metres as the average maximum face height. Generally blasting will I be carried out at a frequency of 2 blasts per month. Once broken the sandstone will be loaded directly into a mobile I crusher or into boot trucks for transport to a centrally located mobile crusher. The crusher incorporates primary, secondary and tertiary crushing plus screens. Products from the crusher pass via conveyors to stockpiles. Undersized material from the crusher will I be processed to form sandstone byproducts.

Drill & Blast. I The following details on drilling and blasting are derived from the ICI Handbook of Blasting Tables (19). Drill hole diameter, D, is usually used to set the limits on I quarry bench height. Thus for the nominal diameters of 65 mm and 75 mm the range of dimensions is as follows: range D= 65mm D= 75 mm I bench height 60D to 140D 3.1 - 9.1 m 4.5 - 10.5 m stemming 20D to 30D 1.3 - 1.9 m 1.5 - 2.2 m I subgrade 8D to 12D .5 - .8 m .6 - .9 m Standard ANFO explosive has a bulk density of 0.8 g/cu.crn. hole diameter 65mm 75 mm I linear density 2.73 kg/rn 3.63 kg/rn charge: 10 metre hole 25kg 35kg charge: 15 metre hole 40kg 55kg I Using single hole firing the Maximum Instantaneous Charge (MIC) is equal to the hole charge. The calculated environmental effects of peak particle velocity and air overpressure for these charges at I different distances are given in Table 3. In practice the effects may be expected to vary. MIC quantities are based on a "blue metal' type competent rock consequently a smaller charge is likely I for sandstone which is a weaker rock. Other blasting parameters to be considered are burden, spacing and the number of rows per blast. These depend on the strength of the I rock and and for rows the size of the blast. Typically values are: burden 25 D to 40 D spacing 27 D to 55 D I no of rows 3 to 6. I I

I. page 20 I

65 mm dia. 10 metres long, 25 kg MIC I distance ppv Overpressure 200 metres 4.3 mm/sec 120.2 dB(Lin) 300 metres 2.3 mm/sec 116.6 dB(Lin) I 400 metres 1.4 mm/sec 113.6 dB(Lin) 500 metres 1.0 mm/sec 111.3 dB(Lin) 65 mm dia. 15 metres long, 40 kg MIC I distance ppv overpressure 200 metres 6.3 mm/sec 121.8 dB(Lin) 300 metres 3.3 mm/sec 117.6 dB(Lin) I 400 metres 2.1 mm/sec 114.6 dB(Lin) 500 metres 1.5 mm/sec 112.3 dB(Lin) I 75 mm dia. 10 metres long, 35 kg MIC distance ppv overpressure 200 metres 5.7 mm/sec 121.4 dB(Lin) 300 metres 3.0 mm/sec 117.1 dB(Lin) I 400 metres 1.9 mm/sec 114.1 dB(Lin) 500 metres 1.3 mm/sec 111.8 dB(Lin) I 75 mm dia. 15 metres long, 55 kg MIC distance ppv overpressure 200 metres 8.1 mm/sec 122.9 dB(Lin) I 300 metres 4.2 mm/sec 118.7 dB(Lin) 400 metres 2.7 mm/sec 115.7 dB(Lin) I 500 metres 1.9 mm/sec 113.4 dB(Lin) Table 3. Peak particle velocity and air overpressure. For MICs of 25 kg, 35 kg, 40 kg and 55 kg for 65 mm and 75 mm I diameter holes 10 and 15 metres long. I I I I I I page 21 Flyrock, that is rock blasted some tens of metres or more from the quarry face, is related to insufficient burden and too many rows. Flyrock is undesirable because of the risk of injury to persons, plant and the Nowra - Ulladulla power line. Blasting parameters will need to be determined in order to have efficient blasting with minimum overpressure and ground vibration. Mobile Crushing Plant Three stage crushing plant with transfer conveyors and screens. capacity 300 tonnes per hour power source diesel-electric generator rated at 500 kVA fuel consumption 80 litres/hour configuration primary 4230 Portec* jaw crusher, secondary No.3 Kumbee* hammer mill tertiary two No.2 Kumbee* hammer mills in parallel * or other similar plant Drilling Machine Typically drilling is done by contractors, however there is a trend within the industry to do this work in-house in order to have full control. drilling rate 250 linear metres/day fuel consumption 200 litres/day Bulldozer A Caterpilar D8 or equivalent. capacity 300 tonnes per hour fuel consumption 28 litres/hour Secondary Breaker Typically an hydraulic excavator with a rock pick is used to break down over sized material. Typically a Hitachi EX220 machine fitted with a Krupp 950 rock pick would be used to process about 3% to 5% of the production. capacity 300 tonnes per hour fuel consumption 13 litres/hour Front-End Loader Two loaders are required each of 5 cubic metre bucket capacity. One loader at the quarry face loading raw material and one loading finished product and also working at the face. The machines considered are Hanomag 77D. capacity 300 tonnes per hour fuel consumption 13 litres/hour Boot Trucks Two trucks will be used to haul raw material from the quarry face to the processing plant. Typical vehicles are Caterpilar 769 dump trucks. capacity 35 tonne load fuel consumption 13 litres/hour Screens A series of screens either being part of the crushing plant or a separate unit or a combination of both will be used to form the particulate products below. S

page 22 Products it is envisaged that some or all of the following products will be produced at the quarry: armour rock (rip rap) dimension stone road base material of nominal sizes -150 mm -75 mm -40 mm -20 mm sized, crushed sandstone. 3.4 Hours of Operation. The quarry will operate during the following hours: Mondays to Saturdays 6 am to 6 pm Sundays and public holidays no operations. 3.5 Employment. The development is expected to employ 7 persons directly and at least a further 14 persons indirectly, the latter in the transport and vehicle maintenance industries. 3.6 Services. The usual services of electricity, telephone, water and sewer are not available consequently the development will have to supply its own. Mobil plant is diesel powered. Portable plant is diesel- electric or diesel-hydraulic powered and is self-sufficient. Two-way radio will be used for communications within the quarry and between the quarry and quarry vehicles. Telephone services if available will be connected. on site facilities for office, store I rooms, lunchroom, change room, toilets, etc. will be located in a portable buildings. For security reasons these will be grouped together and located within the "compound" areas shown in Plans 1 I and 2. Mobile plant will be parked overnight within the same compound. General office facilities will be located either on site, in the proponents existing office at South Nowra or at other I suitable commercial premises. Process water will be from water stored in dams on the land supplemented as necessary with water drawn from Parma Creek. Sewer is not available and a septic system or other Council approved disposal method will be used. 3.7 Drainage & Erosion Control. Rainfall and drainage matters are dealt with in Appendix 4: Soil and Water Management. Considering the topography of the land drainage and erosion control require particular attention. All drainage lines within the quarry will terminate in detention - retention structures. These structures (dams) will act as settling ponds for any entrained sediments as a water supply for the development. The overflow from these dams is to pass through a geotextile fabric filter before passing off the land. On land outside the active quarry such as the compound and along internal roads diversion drains will direct surface water away from cleared land to uncleared, naturally vegetated land. page 23 I De-silting of the settling ponds will be carried out prior to the pond capacity being reduced due to silt by 20%. This will be done when the water circuit is not operating and has settled-out overnight. For each pond the procedure will be: I 1) the clear, supernatant water will be drawn off, 2) silt will be removed from the pond by hydraulic excavator, 3) silt should be formed into heaps to drain before being I loaded into trucks for disposal, 4) silt disposal by burying or ploughing into the land. I Friable overburden about the quarry excavation will be battered back at 3V:1H from the quarry face. The drainage measures above will also act as erosion control measures.

I 3.8 Pollution Control 3.8.1 Air Within the land air pollution hazards are dust and engine exhausts. I Control measures are: 1) water sprays on the screens to dampen products as they pass to stockpiles, 2) a general speed limit on site of 25 km/hour to reduce I vehicle generated dust, 3) watering of the haul roads during dry windy periods, 4) on site diesel plant to be correctly fitted and I maintained. Outside the land vehicle generated dust is an air pollution hazard on the unsealed access roads. The most practical control method is I for trucks to reduce speed to 60 km/hour along these roads. 3.8.2 Water Water pollution control measures are: 1)mobile plant to be parked overnight in the site compound, 2) other than for immediate use petroleum products to be stored in the site compound and not in the actual quarry, I 3) processing water for the plant to be recycled in a closed circuit water system, 4) surface water to be directed into settling ponds which are part of the closed circuit water system, I the settling ponds to be de-silted prior to the pond capacity being reduced due to silt by 20%. sewage from employee facilities to be disposed of by a I Council approved method, eq septic system.

3.8.3 Noise I Notwithstanding the remote location and absence of close neighbours noise pollution control measures are: i) operations to be restricted to the following hours, Mondays to Saturdays 6 am to 6 pm I Sundays and public holidays no operations. 2) a speed limit on site of 25 km/hour, 3) the on site haul roads to be graded and kept in good I repair to minimise bouncing of trucks and subsequent noise, I 4) diesel plant to be correctly fitted and maintained. I

page 24

3.9 Traffic Products from the quarry are removed and delivered by truck transport. Traffic from the development will pass along Blackbutt Range Road to the Princes Highway and then to the north or south. The truck fleet which serves the quarry is made up of semi-trailers and 6 wheel and 8 wheel rigid vehicles. These vehicles are normal road vehicles subject to the maximum gross loads and axle loads as specified in Ordinance 30C of the Local Government Act, 1919. Truck movements have been estimated on the basis of an initial annual production of 100,000 tonnes of all products. Twenty tonnes per load has been taken as an average load of the fleet vehicles. Operations at 5.5 days per week for 50 weeks per year gives 18 loads per day, thus 36 truck movements per day. The destination of these trucks will depend on regional developments. It should be noted that these are average movements. In practice quarry traffic tends to be mainly before noon and is less during wet weather. Truck movements may be expected to vary between nil and a peak of about 54 per day, ie a 50% increase. Truck movements also vary with sales which in turn depend on development activity in the area. For example a large roadworks or construction project could result increased in quarry sales and lead to the increased truck movements quoted above. 3.10 Reserves. Reserves have been estimated to be 3,154,000 cubic metres based on two quarry sites of about 5.5 ha and 11 ha each and extraction to a depth of 20 metres. These reserved are considered to be indicated, in situ reserves. 3.11 Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is designed to allow the land to achieve a near natural land form. As with much of the existing land the post- extraction landuse of the quarried land is limited to native flora and fauna habitat. Wherever possible rehabilitation is to be progressive, that is as the extraction in an area, a part of an area, quarry face, etc., has been completed it is to be rehabilitated. In this manner the scope of rehabilitation will be kept within reasonable operational and cost limits. Used but unextracted land on the plateau to revert to its pre- extraction vegetation and form. Quarried land will become an extension of the existing valley where the quarry floor will be at approximately the same elevation as the valley floor and the quarry faces will merge in with the present cliff-lines. The various dams and ponds are to remain for use as water reservoirs. The rehabilitated quarry with bare rock, vegetated rock, vertical and angled walls and water holes will have a range of habitats similar to the existing valley habitat. page 25 I QUARRY AREAS: The general procedure for each quarry area is for all plant, machinery and rubbish to be removed. All disused or unwanted stockpiles are to be removed or knocked down and spread out over the land. The quarry faces are to be partly blasted to I give surfaces which range from vertical to angled with coarse broken rock. The quarry floor to be ripped to a depth of about 150 nun and the floor shaped to give an uneven, non-geometrical form. I Overburden and top soil stored in bunds is to be spread out over part of the land and then sown with the seed mixture below. As the development progresses those finished parts of the quarry faces and I benches are to be rehabilitated as they become available. COMPOUND: All buildings, plant, machinery and stockpiled product are to be removed, all rubbish, scrap timber and mullock to be I removed to a central location, rubbish to be burnt and the residue later buried, scrap timber to be burnt and the ash spread over the land, mullock to be spread over the land. Finally the site is to I be ripped to a depth of about 150 nun. Overburden and top soil stored in bunds is to be spread out over the land and then sown with the seed mixture below. I SEED MIXTURE: The following revegetation specification has been supplied by the District Soil Conservationist: Nowra. See document attached to I Section 8, Consultations. Seedmix: kg/ha I Japanese Millet (spring/summer sowing) 35 Ryecorn (autumn/winter sowing) 35 Haifa White Clover 10 Shortstop (Turf) Fescue 5 I Kangaroo Valley Ryegrass 8 Red Creeping Fescue 5 New Zealand Red Clover 5 I Hardenbergia Violacea 1 Kennedia Rubicunda 1 Acacia Longifolia Sophorae 1 P Fertiliser: Microfine lime 1.5 tonnes/ha I Grower 11 0.5 tonnes/ha I I I I I page 26 I 4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & PROTECTION MLEAS1JRES 4.1 Land Use. The development has only a minor impact on land use. The quarry areas are poor quality land not suited for agriculture. Such H land cannot be used for agriculture consequently the development will not impact on lands suitable for agricultural production.

I 4.2 Climate. Hot, dry, windy conditions which favour the formation of dust may cause an impact on air quality. Such an impact can be minimised I by the use of water carts on the haul roads, by water sprays on the crushing and screening plants and by restricting the speed of on site vehicles to 25 km/hour. Considering the remote and isolated location it is unlikely that any temperature inversion I enhanced noise propagation will be offensive.

4.3 Air Ouality. H The major hazard to air quality is dust generated by vehicles passing over the land. This hazard can be minimised by reducing vehicle speed to 25 km/hour. Under hot dry conditions water carts to lay dust along the road should be used. The other air I quality hazard is exhaust emissions from fixed and mobile diesel powered plant. This can be controlled by having such plant correctly fitted and maintained, with the manufacturers' and/or I suppliers' requirements being the minimum standards. Air pollution control measures from Section 3.8.1 above are: H water sprays on the screens to dampen products as they pass to stockpiles, a general speed limit on internal roads of 25 km/hour to reduce vehicle generated dust, I watering of internal roads during dry windy periods, on site diesel plant to be correctly fitted and maintained, FI a speed limit of 60 km/hour on external, unsealed roads. 4.5. Water Quality. Possible impacts on water quality are from runoff from about the I quarry areas and processing plant, from petroleum products used in the fixed and mobile plant and from sewage from employee I facilities. Extraction will be of dry materials and will not be a water quality hazard. Processing will be dry with water sprays to I dampen the materials and reduce dust. The improvements to site drainage and water management detailed TI in Appendix 4 will control surface run-off water from about the plant site and will minimise water quality impacts. Petroleum products, including the diesel fuel supply, are to be I stored in drums and tanks in the one place with an impervious floor (apron), surrounded by a catch drain and oil trap. This I will catch any spillage and prevent pollution. I

page 27

The following measures will minimise and protect against water pollution: petroleum products to be stored at a central petroleum store with an impervious floor (apron), drain and oil trap, the central petroleum store to contain materials and equipment to remove spillages of such products, good housekeeping practices about the plant to contain all used petroleum products and to dispose of these correctly, the same applies to general rubbish, mobile plant to be parked about the processing plant overnight, surface water from about the processing plant to be directed into the plant settling ponds which are part of the closed circuit water system, the settling ponds to be de-silted prior to the pond capacity being reduced due to silt by 20%., processing water for the plant to be recycled in a closed circuit water system with make-up water from Parma Creek. sewage from employee facilities to be disposed of by a Council approved method, eg septic system.

4.6 Noise. The remote, isolated location and absence of nearby residences mean that noise from the development will not be an impact, see I Figure 1 and also Appendix 2: the Noise Impact Statement. The conclusions of the Noise Impact Statement were: Provided that the noise control measures are applied it is I unlikely that the sound from the development will be offensive. The nearest residence to the land is located about 1.9 km S-SE from the southeast corner of the land and at this distance the sound levels from the plant site would be at or below the I background level. 3) The calculated sound level at the nearest residence is below the daytime limit of 45 dB(A) (Acceptable Limit) recommended by the I SPCC for rural land. 4) Road traffic noise along Blackbutt Range Road is unlikely to be a problem however by reducing truck speed to 60 km/hour this I problem will be removed. Notwithstanding the lack of impact, protection measures to minimise noise pollution will be applied and are as follows: I operations to be restricted to the times below, Mondays to Fridays 7am to 5pm Saturdays 7am to noon I Sundays and Public Holidays No operations diesel powered plant to be correctly fitted and maintained with the manufacturers' standards being the minimum standards. Particular attention should be given to diesel engine exhaust I systems and the care and maintenance of mufflers stockpiles should be formed and positioned so as to act as noise control barriers, I 4) on site truck speed to be limited to 25 km/hour, 5 internal roads and Blackbutt Range Road to be graded to prevent bouncing and drumming of empty trucks. I 6) trucks, both empty and loaded, should reduce speed to 60 km/hour when travelling along Blackbutt Range Road. 7) blasting is to be carried out weekdays between the hours of I 9 am to 4 pm and preferably between the hours of noon to 3 pm.

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4.7 Flora & Fauna. The land has a diverse range of flora. The principal means of protecting the flora and minhxnising I loristic impact is to restrict the development to the two sites identified. •Of these sites, Site 1 has already been altered by clearing and quarrying and Site 2 has a common range of flora which is not rare or I endangered. The main impacts on fauna are alienation of habitat and alteration to the noise environment by the effects of blasting, F namely overpressure and ground vibration. Protection measures to minimise these impacts are: provision of setbacks from the cliff edge to allow fauna passage around the sites, and I a limit to the maximum instantaneous charge when blasting to minimise ground vibration and overpressure. rj 4.9 Traffic. Traffic impacts from the development are expected to be slight. A speed limit of 60 km/hour on the access roads plus grading of these roads as necessary will provide for other road users. The I intersection with the Highway is at about 90 and has ample sight distance in both directions and sufficient shoulder width for trucks to enter or leave the traffic flow. Under these conditions I upgrading of the intersection would appear to be unnecessary. The provision of "Truck Entering" signs on the Highway should be I considered as a safety measure. 4.10 Economic Matters. The economic impacts of the development are positive and consist of income to the proponent and landowner, direct and indirect I employment and the provision of alternative supplies of quarry products to the local market.

I 4.11 Social & Cultural Matters. There are no social and cultural impacts. The land has no I aboriginal archaeological significance. 4.12 Visual Impact The visual impacts of the development and the means to minimise I such impacts are as follows. FOREGROUND VIEWS. At Site 1, the existing quarry site, the visual amenity has been I greatly affected by previous and unrehabilitated quarrying. The development provides for the formation of visual control bunds and the planting of screen trees. These two measures will minimise the effects of previous and proposed quarrying. At Site .2 the I provision of setbacks, bunds and tree screens will minimise the visual impact of the development. I Within the active quarry area during the course of quarrying the impact on foreground views will be severe and would be experienced by visitors to Site 1 and Site 2. This impact can be minimised by I restricting the size of the active quarry area and by progressive rehabilitation. I page 29 I MIDDLEGROUND VIEWS. Neither Site 1 nor Site 2 has extensive middleground views consequently the impact on such views is slight. Site 1 is partly visible from Parma Fire Trail however the provision of a bund and I tree screen will ensure that the visual impact is slight. FARGROUND VIEWS. I From vantage points (distant views) the impact of the development is expected to have a low impact. Site 1 is visible from across the valley a distance of about 750 metres. By restricting the I lateral extent of the quarrying at Site 1 to a width of 50 to 100 metres at the cliff edge this impact can be minimised to a field of view of between 3.5 and 7.5 . Site 2 is surrounded by trees and I will remain as such and is not visible from a distance. 4.13 Soil & Water Conservation Matters. Details of soil and water conservation matters are given in I Appendix 4 and are repeated below. Diversion drains to deflect water away from the site towards natural bushland. Water on the site will be directed to a series of dams of I aggregate capacity equal to the volume of a 1 in 10 year return period storm. Water retained in these dams will be used as the water supply I for the development. The quarry floor will slope downto a dam to contain the initial flush of the quarry floor. Water in this dam will be I pumped to a second dam before discharge through a geotextile fabric filter to the valley. 5) As the development proceeds access to the valley as shown in Plans 2 and 3 will be made to allow drainage of the quarry floors. I The top 50 to 100 mm of soil is to be stripped and stored in bunds about the development to act as a seed source in rehabilitation. (It should be noted that the land has a shallow .I depth of soil overlying a layer of infertile ridge gravel.) Friable overburden about the edge of excavations shall be battered at 3H:1V away from the excavation. The faces of quarry excavations may be vertical, with a I average maximum face height of 10 metres. 9) The track leading down to Parma Creek to be regraded to have crossfall drainage and cross bank runoff diversions. I 10) Haul roads on site to have a grade consistent with good quarry practice. I 4.14 Energy Requirements. The development will consume energy in the form of diesel fuel to power the fixed and mobile plant. The annual energy consumption to produce 100,000 tonnes of quarried product is below. A 10% idle I allowance has been added to all plant fuel consumption. 1. Drilling. I At a density of 2 tonnes per cubic metre 100,000 tonnes equates to 50,000 cubic metres. With spacing and burden each of 2 metres every blast hole affects 4 square metres. The total length of hole I to be drilled is 12,500 metres. I I. page 30 length 12,500 metres drilling rate 250 metres/day total days 50 days fuel consumption 200 litres/day fuel used 10000 litres I fuel allowed 10000 litres Secondary Breaking. An allowance of 5% of total production will require secondary I breaking, ie 5000 tonne. capacity 300 tonnes per hour time 17 hours I fuel consumption 13 litres/hour fuel used 221 litres fuel allowed 243 litres I Load into Boot trucks. Front-end loader capacity 300 tonnes per hour time 334 hours I fuel consumption 13 litres/hour fuel used 4342 litres I fuel allowed 4776 litres Boot Haulage, assume a round trip of 500 metres at 25 km/hour. capacity 35 tonnes/load loads 2857 total time 57 hours fuel consumption 13 litres/hour fuel used 741 litres fuel allowed OlD litres Crush and screen capacity 300 tonnes per hour time 334 hours fuel consumption 80 litres/hour fuel used 26720 litres fuel allowed 29390 litres Load out into road vehicles. Front-end loader capacity 300 tonnes per hour time 334 hours fuel consumption 13 litres/hour fuel used 4342 litres fuel allowed 4776 litres Earthmoving using a D8 or equivalent bulldozer. annual quantity 30,000 tonnes capacity 300 tonnes per hour time 100 hours fuel consumption 28 litres/hour I fuel used 2800 litres fuel allowed 3080 litres I Total fuel allowance 53,080 litres Fuel heating value 38.5 megajoules per litre I TOTAL ENERGY 2043 gigajoules S

page 31

5. ALTERNATIVES 5.1 Development Alternatives. Although the land consists of seven parish portions with a total area of 274.56 ha environmental and practical considerations limit the development to about 17 ha over two parish portions. The two locations, Site 1 and Site 2, are all that remain after allowances for accessibility, wetlands, rain forest and endangered flora. Because of these restrictions the alternatives for the development are extremely limited. It is proposed to carry out the development in the sequence Site 1 then Site 2. This sequence could be reversed however since Site 1 has already been partly quarried it is logical to start with it. The plant proposed to be used is either mobile or transportable. A development alternative would be to replace the main processing plant with a fixed plant. This would tend to increase the fuel consumption as the haul route from quarry face to processing plant. Such a replacement would require the dismantling of the plant on completion of Site 1 and it's reconstruction at Site 2. Alternatives in processing could be considered. The development should strive to produce the greatest range of products from the raw materials available. Such products would lead to to a greater utilisation of the resource, expand the market for the resource and because they have more "value added" improve the economics of the development.

I 5.2 "No Development" Alternative. I Should the development not proceed then the land would become available for other purposes and the quarrying activity would need to be located elsewhere. Specifically if development of this site were not to proceed then an alternative quarry site with similar I attributes to Hellhole would need to be developed. The Hellhole site is particularly attractive because of it's isolation, remoteness, good access, market proximity and freehold tenure. The disbenef its of the development with the "No Development" I Alternative would not occur. The main disbenef its are the alteration to habitat by the removal of vegetation, formation of I the quarry and the generation of noise. I I I I I page 32

I 6. JUSTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT & CONCLUSIONS The Hellhole property is well suited for a quarrying operation. The property is located off the Blackbutt Range Road about 7 km I from the Highway. Blackbutt Range Road is a formed but unsealed, two lane, Class B forestry road which for about 1500 metres serves some five properties and thereafter serves as a fire trail. I Traffic on the road is slight being mainly only local residents and Forestry Commission personnel plus visitors to the area. The development will increase the amount of traffic on the road. The use of the road by the proponent will be subject to the Forestry I Commission's conditions, namely 1)any damage caused by Norinans Quarries' vehicles should be repaired by the firm at its own expense as soon as possible I after the damage occurs, to the satisfaction of the District Forester, and 2) the Forestry Commission does not necessarily guarantee I to carry out maintenance or keep the road open. Besides these conditions it is in the Proponents best interests to keep the road in the best possible condition to minimise damage to I its vehicles. Users of the road should experience an improvement in the condition of the road. L The intersection of the access road with the Highway is on a slight rise and has good sight distances in both directions. These conditions allow loaded and unloaded vehicles to enter and exit the I Highway traffic with safety. The development will provide employment for 6 to 8 persons directly and for 20 to 25 persons indirectly. This employment will have I benefical economic and social impact. The absence of near neighbours decreases the environmental impacts I of the quarry particularly for any noise generated. The air, water and noise pollution impacts of the development in general are slight. The protection measures proposed to minimise these impacts I are straightfoward and effective. The main impacts of the development are on the floristic and faunal environments and on the catchment of Parma Creek. The flora I protection measures are to restrict quarrying to two areas, one area where quarrying has already occurred and the second area where the floral impact is least. A second floral protection measure is I to rehabilitate with plant species native to the land and in particular with eucalypts Measures to minimise faunal impacts are twofold. Firstly setbacks I from the cliff line at Site 1 and Site 2 will allow the free passage of fauna around the sites, maintain the habitat value of the cliff line which includes the setback land, the cliffs and associated I caves, crevices, etc. The second measure consists of reducing the noise and vibration effects of blasting. I I page 33 I The measures to protect the catchinent of Parma Creek are to prevent surface water from entering the sites by means of deflection drains and to pass the water within the sites through a series of settling dams and finally through a geotextile filter before it enters the I water courses on the land which eventually feed into Parma Creek. These dams will minimise the amount of entrained sediment and will I also act a water reserves for fauna and for bushf ire fighting. Bushf ire risk can be considered in two ways namely bushfires affecting the development and the development starting bushfires. U The risk of bushfires to the development are slight as quarrying is a clearing operation thus removing ground fuel and providing firebreaks. For the same reasons the risk of the development starting a bushf ire are also slight. The dams used by the I development to settle sediment and to store water can be used in the fighting of wildfires. I The overall impact of the development on on the visual amenity of the locality is slight. Visual control bunds and the planting of screen trees about Site 1 will reduce the foreground visual impact at this site and minimise the effects of previous and proposed I quarrying. The impact of the development on middleground and farground views is slight. H The extractive resources of the Shoalhaven region have been well documented particularly in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy report CS 1974/208 (20). Although the region has a I plentiful supply of resources, the actual resources available for extraction are considerably reduced when the selection criteria are applied. The normal selection criteria for a quarry are below. I Reserves: The reserves of extractive material should be known with a high degree of certainty, thus demonstrated reserves not inferred H reserves. Tenure: The land should be private freehold land. A less desirable I alternative is private land held under a lease. Crown land held under a Permissive Occupancy is possible. Crown land is subject LI to public tender and control of the land is thus uncertain. Available: I The land should be available for purchase. Access: Direct access ideally to a main road remote from neighbours. I Iaul Distance: The land should be within a reasonable distance of the market. I Isolation: The land should be relatively isolated without near neighbours. Environmental Constraints: I Ideally environmental impacts such as the following should be minor: flora, fauna, traffic, visual amenity, air, water and noise I pollution. 1 • page 34

.I Quarry products are simple building and construction materials fundamental to a developing community. Shoalhaven is a developing community as evidenced in an annual population growth of 4% to 5% for the last 15 years. The need for extractive industry resources I has been given in the recent Environmental Impact Statement (21) which Council prepared for the proposed Comberton orange quarry. The Comberton Grange Statement outlined Council's known annual I demand for crushed sandstone and as well as an anticipated demand for sandstone related to proposed Commonwealth and State developments. The known and anticipated uses are for roadbase and I breakwater/armour rock. The Hellhole material has been identified as a resource of breakwater/armour rock (see Appendix 3). The total demand for I sandstone quarry products is made-up of three factors, l) that some of the anticipated developments will proceed, a demand related to growth of the local population, and I a demand for regional roadworks. The Hellhole development is well suited to meet these demands with I respect to location and material properties. Quarries contain a fixed quantity of material and new resources are required to replace these materials as they are consumed. Within the Nowra - Tomerong region of the City of Shoalhaven there are few I approved quarries for construction materials. This development will supplement the quarry resources of the area.

U I I I F I I I F

I page 35 7. REFERENCES Shoalhaven draft Rural Environmental Study. I Shoalhaven City Council, Sep.1984. CMA map Huskisson 9027-4-N scale 1;25000. Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan, No.1. Dept.of Planning, Report 86/12, reprinted 1988. I Environmental Plan Report, Area. 1. Shoalhaven City Council, circa 1987. Illawarra Region Wetland Study, D.E.P. report 83/9, 1983. I Illawarra Region Landscape and Environmental Study 1981. Jervis Bay Marine Park, A.C.F., Jan.1990. Sydney Morning Herald, 20 April 1990. I P0 86/17, Lands Office Nowra, ref NA 82H 522. DEP file 84/3055, SCC file 82/2359. Bureau of Meteorology, Met Note No.48, Canberra June 1981. Bureau of Meteorology, "Climatic Survey: Sydney", AGPS 1979. I "Guidelines for drinking water quality in Australia", National Health and Medical Research Council, AGPS, 1987. NAASPA, "Interim guide to the geometric design of rural roads", I 1980. "Road Traffic Noise", D.M.R, 1987. CMA map Nowra,9028-3-S, scale 1;25000, vide Govt.Gaz. 4 Feb.1983. I "Planning in Fire Prone Areas", D.E.P. Circular No.74, Oct.1984. R.Rose, Bushf ire Control Officer, S.C.C. per.com. h ICI Handbook of Blasting Tables, Jan.1989. Dept.of Mineral Resources and Energy report GS 1974/208. I Comberton Grange Proposed Quarry, Shoalhaven City Council 1988. I I I I I I I I page 36

I 8. CONSULTATIONS Consultations have been had with the following bodies either formally in writing or informally by phone or visit. Where an I existing file or reference is available this is given. reference/file Shoalhaven City Council 76/1665 Dept. of Planning 84/3055 I * Dept.of Mineral Resources * Dept.of Water Resources * Forestry Commission (Nowra Office) A84 I Lands Office Nowra NA90 H 64 * S.P.C.C.(Wollongong office) * N.P.& W..S.(Queanbeyan office) F1881 I re Flora & Fauna re Archaeology * R.T.A. (Illawarra region) * Soil Conservation Service (Nowra) I Electricity Commission of N.S.W. 48075 Illawara County Council I A copy of the letter from the Director of the Department of Planning is attached to this section. Attached also are copies of correspondence from other bodies. The Director required consultation with the organisations above marked with an asterisk. I The matters that the Director required to be specifically addressed are given below together with their location(s) in the Statement. I Location Description of proposal site development details 3.2 I staging details 3.2 rehabilitation details 3.11 assessment of impact transportation impact 2.11, 4.9 truck frequency 2.11.2 truck timing 2.11, 3.9 I access to Princes Highway 2.11.1 bushfire risk 2.19 wildlife habitat Appendix 5 I I I I I I ,.. •. ..,, ..,

- Department of Planning I Remington Centre 175 Liverpool Street, Sydney 2000 r Box 3927 G.P.O. Sydney 2001 DX. 15 Sydney D P James & Company 7260 P0 Box 170 Telephone: (02) 266 7111 Ext. KOGARAH NSW 2217 210 Fax No: 02 ) 266 7599 vincent Contact: 84/3055 Ourreteren ce: j L Your reference:

Dear Sir, ProposedSandstone Quarry Portions 45, 58, 66, 102, 105, 108, and 159 Parish of Tomerong

I Thank you for your letter of 5 January, 1990 indicating that you are consulting with the Director with regard to-the preparationof an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the above development.

As development consent is required for the proposal and it is a designated development within the meaning of Schedule 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, 1980, as amended, an EIS must accompany the development application to the Shoalhaven City Council. The EIS shall be prepared in accordance with clause 34 of the Regulation and shall bear a certificate required by clause 26(l)(b) of the Regulation (see Attachment No. 1).

In addition, pursuant to clause 35 of the Regulation, the Director requires that the following matters be specifically addressed in the EIS:

Description of proposal -

details are to be provided in the EIS of the proposed site development, staging and rehabilitation

Assessment of Impact Transportation impact detailing the frequency and timing of truck movements and access to the Princes Highway

Increase in bushfire risk resulting from development activities

Consideration of impact on wildlife habitat, having regard to the Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No.1 which identifies the site I as within a wildlife corridor in preparing your EIS you should consult with the following authorities and include in the EIS any comment I and advice received: . State Pollution Control Commission Department of Minerals and Energy I Forestry Commission Roads and Traffic Authority . Department of Water Resources Soil Conservation Service I National Parks and Wildlife Service

Attachment No. 2 is a guide to 'the type of information most likely to be relevant to the development you propose; not all of the matters raised therein may be appropriate for consideration in the EIS for your proposal; equally, the I guide is not exhaustive. In preparing your EIS you should approach the Shoalhaven City Council and take into account any comments Council I considers may apply to its determination of the proposal. Should you require any further information regarding this I matter please do not hesitate to contact us again. - Yours faithfully, I

Barbara Adams Manager, Assessments Branch • As Delegate for the Director. I I I I I 11 cWRA. 2541. D.P. James & Company, A84 C.COLLEY/A.W. P.O. Box 170, Our reference: KcGARAH. N.S.W. 2217. Your reference:

Teleprione:( 044) 219965

6 March, 1990.

Dear Sir,

RE: Logging in the Blackbutt Range Road Area Yerriong State Forest

I refer to our telephone conversation of the 22nd of February, 1990, and your letter of 20th February, 1990, I wish to confirm the following;

Forestry Plan of Management - there exists a Plan of Management for the Nowra Management Area prepared in 1982. There is currently a revised plan being prepared which should be available in approximately 6 months.

Culling Cycle - the current hardwood forest rotation is approximately 60 - 80 years. No large scale sawlog operations are envisaged for the above at this time. Minor operations for mining timber, firewood or furnace poles may occur intermittantly

Number of log trucks using Blackbutt Range Road - if a large scale sawlog operation was commenced, based on current operations, 4 log trucks per day could be expected. Miscellaneous minor operations, 1 - 2 trucks would use the road per week.

Yours faithfully,

C.P. dLLEY Acting ste I New South Wales Government National Parks and Wildhfe Service I SOUTH EASTERN REGION Level 1 D 3 Jarnes & Co 34 Lowe Street P0 Box 170 Queanbeyan .I P.O. Box 733 KOGARAH NSW 2217 Queanbeyan N.S.W. 2620

Our referencF:DS:F1381

Your reference: I Telephone: (062) 97 6144 Telex: AA 61582

18 July 1990

I Dear Mr James RE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF "HELLHOLE", PARMA CREEK I The Service has received copies of the report entitled 'Archaeological Assessment of Proposed Quarry Areas at 'Hellhole', Parma Creek Near Nowra, NSW" prepared by Paul I Packard. The report is of a high professional standard and the I recommendations of the consultant are endorsed. No sites were recorded during the survey despite intensive coverage and it is unlikely that any sites will be affected by I the development. There are no objections to the quarry proposal on archaeological grounds I In regard to nature conservation values, the subject area is close to the area proposed for the Parma Creek Nature Reserve. There is some concern therefore, that dust and noise from quarry operations may compromise management objectives for the I Nature Reserve when it is declared in the future.

It would be appreciated if staff in our Nowra District could I have the opportunity to comment on Peter 3arr3r's fauna and flora survey report and on the Environmental Impact Statement when it becomes available. The contact person here is Bruce I Rodgie, P0 Box 72, Ulladulla NSW 2539, (044) 553826. Thank you for your co-operation. I Yours faithfully I Sue Feary I Archaeologist for DIRECTOR I SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, N.S.W. L 61 Mi 1572 Revegetation Specifications for Hellhole Quarry Development. I Seedm ix: Japanese Millet (spring/summer sowing) 35kg/ha Ryecorn (autumn/winter sowing) 35kg/ha Haifa White Clover 1 0kg/ha I Shortstop (Turf) Fescue 5kg/ha Kangaroo Valley Ryegrass 8kg/ha Red Creeping Fescue 5kg/ha I New Zealand Red Clover 5kg/ha

Hardenbergia Violacea 1 kg/ha I Kennedia Rubicunda 1kg/ha Acacia Longifolia Sophorae 1 kg/ha I Ferti 1 iser: Microfine lime 1.5 tonne/ha I Grower 11 .5 tonne/ha The native plant material stripped from the site should be mulched and used as a cover during the rehabilitation I process. The above seedmix contains soft exotic pasture species as well as some native. These soft pasture are temporary vegetation only and will not persist as permanent vegetation or invade surrounding native bushland. This I vegetation is most important in stabilising the disturbed areas from the effects of erosion and providing a sound base d for the establishment of the permanent native vegetation. I Noel Kesby District Soil Conservationist, I Nowra 24.08.90 I I I I I I I. THE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Electricity House / U. . Park and Elizabeth Streets Sydney TS Postal Address: G.P.O. Box 5257 Sydney 2001

Facsimile: (02) 268 6529 Telex: 120454 I D.P. James & Co. Telephone: 268 8111 P.O. Box 170 KOGARAH NSW 2217 Extension: Your Ref: 48075 DM/SP/EA/[MW] I Our Dear Sir I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT QUARRY DEVELOPMENT NEAR TOMERONG Your letter of 18th May, 1990, advising of your preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposquarry development near I Tomerong, is acknowledged.

This proposed development has been examined and the following comments are I forwarded for your consideration. This Commission does not oppose the development. However a major 132 kV electricity transmission line routed from Nowra to Ulladulla traverses the I corner of Portion 102 of the site.

The following points relate to our concerns for this line.

CLEARANCE S I In order to avoid the possibility of dangerous conditions arising the Electricity Commission requires that the standard clearance beneath transmission lines is not reduced. The maximum permissable height of vehicles (including antenna if fitted) passing under transmission lines is I 4.3 m. Special care should be taken with large construction equipment, particularly if ground levels have been altered by construction activities. I DANGER OF LONG SECTIONS OF METAL CONDUCTORS At some locations, sections of transmission line may run parallel to lengths of metallic conductors such as metal crash barriers, pipes, steel I reinforcement, etc. Special earthing may need to be implemented to eliminate the possibility of electric shocks. It may also be necessary to electrically isolate lengths of metal to minimise possible corrosion I problems caused by circulating induced currents. I EXCAVATION NEAR OR UNDER TRANSMISSION STRUCTURES OR EASEMENTS Transmission structures generally have buried conductors attached to them. Excavation should not be carried out within 16 m of a transmission structure base and care should be taken not to undermine the structures or I jeopardise them in any way. Underground extraction of resources which I I I 2. I D.P. James & Co. File 48075 could in any way affect the integrity of the transmission line must not proceed until agreement is reached with the Commission on ways of securing I continued electricity supply.

ACCESS TO THE EASEMENT

I It is important that Electricity Commission plant and personnel have access to all parts of the easement at all times. This should be taken into I account both during construction and in the final operation of the quarry. DANGEROUS GOODS I In order to ensure the integrity of the transmission line, the storage of explosives or inflammable fuels or materials on the easement is not permitted. Extreme care needs to be used when blasting within the easement I as induced currents can cause premature detonation. DUST GENERATION n Dust generation during construction and during the subsequent mining operations can settle on insulators and lead to a short circuit condition occuring during periods of light precipitation. If it is necessary to clean the insulators, considerable expense is involved. The Commission I requests that close attention be paid to dust control. It has been found sometimes necessary, in similar circumstances, to increase the number of insulators used to support the line. Any remedial action of this nature, I or the redirecting of the line to enable the extraction of resources under the existing easement, would not be to the Commission's account. k BLASTING AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES With major transmission lines and installations this Commission would normally specify an upper limit of tolerable ground particle movement of I less than 4 mm per second in regard to any nearby blasting operations. Additionally the Commission would want assurance that the stability of any transmission line structure is not compromised by the blasting and that I excessive dust is not generated. In this case it is suggested that the Proponent should approach Illawarra Electricity if he has not already done so, to find out if there are similar limits and safeguards for their lines. k We trust that this information will assist you with the EIS and to this end we have enclosed brochures on transmission lines easements in Urban and in Rural Areas. Please contact our Mr Watts, phone (02) 268 8111, ext. 8324 I if we can be of further assistance in this matter. U Yours faithfully I P STEWART P FOR SECRETARY I I Head Office: Bridge Street, Coniston All mail to: General Manager, P.O. Box 1249. Wollongong 2500 Telephone: (042) 28 7511 0X5204 Wollongong Facsimile No. (042) 28 2248

Our Ref: MHE : TB E2/142 Contact: Mr M Edwards

Your Ret: Phone: Extension 2294

4 July 1990

Mr D P James D P James & Company P 0 Box 170 KOGARAH 2217 Dear Sir EIS - PROPOSED SANDSTONE QUARRY - TOMERONG In response to your letter of 18 June 1990, we wish to advise as follows: 132kV concrete pole transmission line No 98H/1 was commissioned on 31 July 1988. The line became the responsibility of Ilawarra Electricity from 14 May 1990. The conditions set down in the Electricity Commission's response of 7 June 1990 to your initial query also apply as far as we are concerned, with the one exception that a peak particle velocity ground vibration limit of 25 mm/sec at the structure is acceptable for this type of transmission line construction. We understand that the 4 mm/sec figure quoted by them relates to a future substation development, their site for this being approximately 1 km from Portion 66 in a westerly direction. You should however confirm this with them direct. Illawarra Electricity does have serious concern regarding the effects of dust generation, and the provisos of the statement under this heading in the EC and NSW letter of 7 June 1990 are confirmed in full. We would expect that protection of the line from both this and possible flyrock damage would result in practice to significant limits to the proximity of blasting to the line. It is recommended that the ElS address these concerns in detail. Please do not hesitate to discuss any aspect of this development with us further; we would appreciate being kept fnformed as the project progresses. Yours faithfully

for M -W GREENTREE General Manager SERVING THE SOUTH EASTERN SEABOARD OF NEW SOUTH WALES.. .. ... J Illawarra Electricity is the registered business name of Illawarra County Council

I I . page 37

1 APPKNDIX 1: THE LAND. Title Description. All those pieces or parcels of land being the whole of the land U contained within the Certificates of Title described hereunder. being portions 45, 58, 66, 102, 105, 108, and 159 in the Parish of Tomerong in the County of St.Vincent in the City of Shoalhaven I containing by admeasurement 274.56 ha. Title Details I Current and previous title details are as below. Current Original Portion Certificate Certificate Date Plan Portion of Title of Title of small no. Area I Number Volume Folio Volume Fol Grant 2013 ha 45 a 13520 98 2388 143 22 07 13 1526 19.93 I 58 a 13520 94 3210 111 29 06 21 1845 16.19 66 a 13520 95 4608 172 25 01 34 3354 36.12 102 b 13520 96 3212 4 10 12 12 1423 80.94 I 105 a 13520 99 2388 143 22 07 13 1456 16.19 108 a 13520 97 2923 95 11 03 19 1463 24.25 159 a 13520 100 2187 44 19 09 11 1281 80.94 I total 274.56 a these portions together as C/T Vol.5819 Fol 215, 216 and 217, each Title for a one third equal shares, now cancelled. I b this portion as C/T Vol.5819 Fol 218, 219 and 2.20, each Title for a one third equal shares, now cancelled. Torrens Title Folio Identifier: Portion No./755965 I Physical description The land is freehold land made up of 7 parish portions and is bound to the south by Yerriyong State Forest No. 920 and surrounded on I the three remaining sides by vacant Crown land. The land is bisected by Parma Creek. The land is at two elevations: a plateau at about 170 m.AHD surrounding a valley containing the Creek at I about 120 m.AHD. The land collectively is known locally as "Hellhole". Location I The land can be located on the 1:25000 topo. map Huskisson (9027-4-- N) at grid reference: 733213.

I Access Access to the land from the Princes Highway is via Blackbutt Range Road (also known as Blackbutt Ridge Fire Trail) which passes through Yerriyong State Forest, to Parma Fire Road and then Hell I Hole Road to portion 102. The named roads are Crown roads. Restrictions Portion 66 is subject to Mining Lease 14L321 (73) for clay minerals held by Claude Downes of Nowra Brickworks, valid until 14 Dec.1997. The lease area totals 9.753 ha of which 3.887 ha is within portion I 66 and the remainder is adjoining Crown land to the west. The lease extends from the surface to a depth of 30 metres. I page 38 I Portion 102 is affected by a transmission line easement 45 metres wide on the southeast corner of the land, vide instrument X902688 and DP640784, sheet 3 of DP642387 and Govt.Gaz. 23 Sep.1988 folio 5019. The line is the Shoalhaven - Ulladulla 132 kV Transmission I line being line No.98H/1. Aerial Photography. I The land is covered by the following aerial photographs: Run Date Altitude/Scale/Series 1803/5013 13 18.04.70 3474m Nowra - B.Bay I 2878/154 iT 11.08.80 5791m 1:60489 TJlladulla 3524/111 66 06.07.86 3827m 1:25000 Coastal Wetlands 3592/16 1 02.10.87 1:40000 Jervis Bay I Dimensions of Portions from portion Plans and Dates of Survey. portion links bearing metres survey date 45 N 2000 90.00.00 402.336 10 Aug 1886 I E 2473 180.00.00 497.488 S 2000 270.00.00 402.336 w 2473 360.00.00 497.488 I 58 N 2801 90.00.00 563.472 03 Jul 1895 E 1431 180.00.00 287.871 S 2801 270.05.00 563.472 I W 1427 0.00.00 287.067 66 N 2000 90.00.00 402.336 20 Mar 1933 I E 4473.6 180.00.00 899.945 S 2000 270.00.00 402.336 w 4474.2 00.00.00 900.066 I 102 N 4472 90.00.00 899.623 22 Oct 1885 E 4473 180.00.00 899.824 S 4472 270.00.00 899.623 I W 4473 360.00.00 899.824 105 N 2000 90.00.00 402.336 21 Jan 1886 U E 2000 180.00.00 402.336 S 2000 270.00.00 402.336 w 2000 360 402.336 I 108 N 2800 90.00.00 563.270 06 Feb 1886 E 2144 180.00.00 431.304 S 2800 270.00.00 563.270 I w 2144 360. 431.304 159 N 4427 90.00.00 899.623 17 Sep 1884 E 4473 180.00.00 899.824 U S 4472 270.00.00 899.623 W 4473 360. 899.824 I Notes on Parish Map at Land Titles Office pertaining to these portions Note 71: DP 640784 easement , resumed basement for transmission line Gaz 23.9.1988,fol.5019. This easement is 45 metres wide and I crosses the SE corner of Portion 102 vide Sheet 3 of DP 642387, vide Govt.Gaz. 23.09.88 folio 5019. I Note 82: DP642387, easement unregistered.

page 39 I APPENDIX 2: NOISE IMPACT STATEMENT -

CONTENTS. I Introduction. Sound Level Measurements. Machinery. I Nearest Residences. 5 Blasting. Traffic Noise. I Estimates of Sound Level. Noise Control Measures. Discussion. Conclusions. I References. Declaration. I 1. Introduction This Statement forms part of an Environmental Impact Statement for the extraction of ridge gravel and sandstone at Tomerong. The land is described in Appendix 1 of the Statement and can be located at I grid reference 733213 on the Huskisson map (1), see Figure 1 and Plan 1 of the Statement. The existing noise environment of the land consists of natural noises such as wind and thunder and the I non-natural noises of passing traffic and overf lying aircraft. The land is surrounded on three sides by vacant crown land and on the fourth (southern) side by State forest. These surrounding lands I are extremely effective buffer zones. 2. Sound Level Measurements. Sound level measurements were determined using a B & K instrument I model 2219 with microphone type 4130 and set at fast response. The background sound level was determined as follows: Ambient : 1115 hours EST, 7 June 1990, 16 C. bright and sunny, three eights cloud, no wind, no rain Location : intersection of Hell Hole Fire Trail and I electricity easement, south eastern corner of the land Sound Level : 35 to 36 dB(A) Comments : very slight traffic noise audible in the distance, I the background level is below the daytime limit for rural land of 45dB(A) (Acceptable) recommended I by the SPCC (2). 3. Machinery. The sound levels of machinery proposed to be used are as below. Unless stated to the contrary the sound levels are for "bystanders I at 7 metres according to AS 2012" and were obtained from the machinery suppliers and/or manufacturers. I A Caterpillar D8 bulldozer or equivalent will be used for earthmoving. A D8N bulldozer has sound levels to SAE J88 at 15 metres of 81 dB(A) at low idle, 81.7 dB(A) for hydraulic cycle and I 85.7 dB(A) for drive-by in mid gear. I page 40 I Contractors use various Drill rig configurations. To date the most common has been an pneumatically powered "air track" plus diesel powered air compressor. Recent trends are to hydraulically powered I units. Sound levels of both types of rigs are not available. The sound level for a Hanomag 77D front-end loader is 81 dB(A). I The crushing plant is an in-house design made up of the components detailed in Section 3.3 of the Statement. Sound levels of the crushing plant processing sandstone from the site have not been I made. Sound levels of the order of 82 to 84 db(A) at 20 metres are expected. A diesel powered mobile screen may be used as well as the crushing plant. Typically a Powerscreen mobile screen has a sound level of 75 to 79 dB(A). I Secondary breaker: Hitachi EX220 + Krupp 950 rock pick. An Hitachi EX220 hydraulic excavator is used as a support and power supply for the rock pick. In the power mode these excavators have a sound level of 73 dB(A). A Krupp 950 rock pick has a sound level I of 94 dB(A) when breaking sandstone. This implement can be silenced to give about a 2 dB(A) reduction in sound level. I Sound levels for the Caterpilar 769C dump truck according to SAE J88at 15 metres are 82 dB(A) at high idle and 85 dB(A) for machine I moving. These levels become 88.6 and 91.6 dB(A) at 7 metres. Nearest Residence. The nearest residence is about 1.9 km south east of the land. This residence is located on portion 186 in the parish of Wandrawandian I on the Turpentine Road and can be located at grid reference 746192 on the Huskisson map (1). The surrounding lands are vacant Crown land and State forests which do not contain residences. These I lands act as buffer zones to the development. Blasting. Material will be won by drilling and blasting. Drilling machines I are usually pneumatically actuated "air track" types comprising of a track mounted drill plus an air compressor. Alternatively hydraulically actuated machines are available. As yet a drilling I machine has not been selected, however such machines are fitted with both dust and noise suppression equipment. I The standard S.P.C.C. environmental limits for blasting are: ground vibration 5 mm/second peak particle velocity air overpressure 115 dB(Linear) These limits are as measured at the boundary of the affected I property which in this case is about 1.9 km from the land, see below. The Electricity Commission normally has ground vibration from blasting limits of 4 mm/second at the nearest affected I electricity substation and 25 mm/second at the nearest affected electricity powerline structure. I These limits can be achieved with a maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) of 25 kg in holes 65 inn dia. by 10 metres long. The actual ground vibration should be measured to determine if the MIC can be I altered. page 41 6. Traffic Noise. The route from the quarry to the Highway passes only one residence where traffic noise could be a problem. This residence is located off the Blackbutt Range Road and can be located at grid reference I 786218 on the Huskisson map (1). This residence is some 300 metres from the Road, about 450 metres from the Highway and about 5 km in I direct line from the land. The latest available data in AADT for the two closest stations for 1988 have been used to estimate traffic movements on the Highway in I 1990. For Station No. 075053 at Klimpton (north of MR 312: Huskisson Road) 13,000 movements are estimated. For Station No. 075055 at Toinerong (north of TR 92: Braidwood Road) 7,700 movements are estimated. Of these two stations the Tomerong station best I represents traffic passing the Blackbutt Range Road intersection. A value of 7200 vehicles/18 hours has been assumed from the I Toinerong estimate ( ie 0.94 x AADT). The D.M.R., now the R..T.A., have published guidelines for the prediction and measurement of road traffic noise (3). The guidelines are not directly applicable to this existing rural I situation as they: i. relate to new works and newly completed works, are based on the L10(18 hour) noise level, I relate to urban roadways with traffic in excess of 1000 vehicles per 18 hours. I The existing situation is that the road is a rural, forestry road that has been in use for some years and has a traffic volume of about 20 vehicles per day [far below the 1000 vehicles per 18 hours]. The D.M.R. guidelines do provide a reasonable basis of I traffic noise evaluation in the absence of alternative guidelines. Appendix E of the Road Traffic Noise Guidelines (3) has been used I to calculate the L10(18 hour) sound levels at a distance of 10 metres from the roadway for traffic at different speeds. These sound levels were then converted to sound levels at distances of 300 and 450 metres. For the calculations the following data were I used: Blackbutt Range Road Princes Highway vehicles/day 1000 7200 heavy vehicles (p) 10% 10% I distance 300 metres 450 metres ROAD TRAFFIC L10(18 hour) NOISE LEVELS 10 metres 300 metres 450 metres I 0% p, 75 kph 57.8 dB(A) 28.26 dB(A) 33.54 dB(A) 10% p, 75 kph 66.6 dB(A) 30.66 dB(A) 35.94 dB(A) 10% P 100 kph 69.0 dB(A) 37.84 dB(A) I I is page42 I The SPCC (4) gives the following noise levels as Environmental Goals for Road Traffic Noise: Management Goals (existing situations) L10(18 hour) 65 dB(A) I Intermittent or Low Traffic Flow, Leq 60 dB(A) The Intermittent or Low Traffic Flow situation applies to this I development and the calculated noise levels above are well below the goal level and approximately equal to the assumed background level of 35 dB(A). [Here the L10(18 hour) level has been taken to I equal the Leq level] l. Estimates of Sound Levels. In order to estimate the effect of the development on the noise I environment at the nearest neighbour some 1900 metres to the south noise levels at the development has been calculated which correspond to a background of 35 dB(A) and "background + 5 dB(A)". I BACKGROUND sound level distance 84 dB(A) 7 metres 77 dB(A) 15 metres I 67 dB(A) 50 metres 35 dB(A) 1900 metres I "BACKGROUND + 5 dB(A)" sound level distance 89 dB(A) 7 metres I 82 dB(A) 15 metres 71 dB(A) 50 metres 40 dB(A) 1900 metres I The calculations, based on attenuation due to divergence (5), are without any allowance for intervening topography or vegetation. Such allowances would further reduce the sound levels. Sound I levels of the order of 89 dB(A) within the quarry would not contribute significantly to the local noise environment as the quarry faces would act as noise control structures.. I The sound levels at the nearest neighbour are below the daytime extreme limit for rural land of 50 dB(A) recommended by the SPCC (2). 8. Noise Control Measures. Measures to control the generation of noise are: I operations to be restricted to the times below, Mondays to Saturdays 6 am to 6 pm Sundays and public holidays no operations. diese l powered plant to be correctly fitted and maintained I with the manufacturers' standards being the minimum standards. Particular attention should be given to diesel engine exhaust systems and the care and maintenance of mufflers I stockpiles should be formed and positioned so as to act as noise control barriers, 4. on site truck speed to be limited to 25 km/hour, haul roads to be formed and graded to prevent bouncing and I drumming of empty trucks, the grade on haul roads to be generally about 10%, page 43 I trucks, both empty and loaded, should not exceed 60 km/hour when passing along Blackbutt Range Road. blasting to be carried out between the 9 am and 3 pm Mondays to Fridays I overpressure from blasting not to exceed 115 dB(Linear) ground vibration from blasting not to exceed 5 mm/second at the nearest affected residence, LI ground vibration from blasting not to exceed 4 mm/second at the nearest affected electricity substation, ground vibration from blasting not to exceed 25 mm/second at the I nearest affected electricity powerline structure. 9. Discussion. I The development is remotely located along a formed but unmade road with the nearest residence being about 1.9 km to the south of the land. Calculations of sound levels iidicate that the noise environment at the location of the nearest neighbour would not be I affected by development. Calculations of sound levels at the location of the nearest neighbour are within the range of "background + 5 dB(A)". No allowance for topography has been made in the calculated sound levels. Considering the wooded hilly I terrain a further reduction in the calculated sound levels is likely. The development is surrounded by vacant Crown land and State forests. These lands do not contain residences and would act I as buffer zones to the development. Traffic noise is unlikely to be a problem. Calculation using I available data and formulas indicate that traffic noise is within the levels of the SPCC: Environmental Goals for Road Traffic Noise.

FAUNA. I The effect of noise on fauna has not been widely studied. Available information is sparse and refers to domestic animals and to a limited number of native animals. The noises which would I effect native fauna are those of blasting and machinery. Native fauna would be accustomed to thunder which is similar in intensity to blasting. The climatic conditions which precede thunder are different from those which precede quarry blasting. For safety I reasons quarry blasting is carried out during fine weather and not during weather conducive to thunder. I The effects of noise exposure on poultry was reviewed in 1982 (6). The conclusions reached were: * that a loud noise of 90 dB at any audible frequency was LI observed to produce harmful physiological effects in fowls, * the overall effects of sub and supersonic aircraft and associated sonic booms were found to be minimal * that poultry is adaptive an d can be conditioned to noise I exposure. Aviation noise effects on wild and domestic animals were reviewed I in an American report (7). The report discussed wildlife: birds and fish; domesticated animals: pigs, dairy cattle, poultry and mink and laboratory animals: mice, rats, monkeys and rabbits. This I report concluded "while instances may arise in which aviation noise does create a concern for those protecting wildlife or involved in animal husbandry, in general, aviation noise has a minimal impact I on animals". page 44 I It is not appropriate to directly compare farm animals and American fauna with Australian native fauna. However considering that the existing enviromnent contains the noise elements of thunder, aircraft and some traffic, and provided that the noise level from I the development is kept within the normal environmental limits the impact on native fauna is expected to be slight. With time conditioning of, and adaptation by native fauna may minimise the I impact. These limits can be achieved with a maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) of 25 kg in holes 65 mm dia. by 10 metres long. The actual I ground vibration should be measured to determine if the MIC can be altered.

I 10. Conclusions. Provided that the noise control measures are applied it is unlikely that the sound from the development will be offensive. The nearest residence to the land is about 1.9 km to the south and at such a distance sound levels from the development would be I at or below the background level. Development related road traffic noise at and about the Bla ckbutt Range Road - Princes Highway intersection is unlikely to I be a problem. ii. References. I CMA map Huskisson 9027-4-N scale 1;25000, SPCC, Environmental Noise Control Manual, 1985, Chapter 21-1 DMR, Road Traffic Noise, 1987. I 2. SPCC, Environmental Noise Control Manual, 1985, Chapter 157-2 Handbook of Noise Control, ed: C.M.Harris, 2nd ed.1979 I Sound Advice, G.Poole, in Poultry Notes July 1982, N.S.W. Department of Agriculture. Aviation Noise Effects, by J.S.Newman and K.R.Beattie, I Report No.FAA EE 85-2, March 1985, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Environment and Energy. 12. Declaration. This Statement was prepared by the undersigned to accompany the Environmental Impact Statement for the extraction of sandstone by Normans Plant Hire Pty.Ltd. at Tomerong in the City of Shoalhaven.

I Dated: 29 August 1990

I D.P.James, P.O.Box 170, KOGARAH, 2217 I (02) 588.2614. I I I . page 45

I APPENDIX 3 Geology of Hellhole

I The land collectively is known as "Hellhole". It consists of seven parish portions and is bisected by Parina Creek. The land is at two elevations; a plateau at about 170 metres AIID surrounding a valley I containing Parma Creek at about 120 metres AHD. The land can be located on the IJiladulla 1:250,000 geological map where it is described as being "Nowra Sandstone". Recent geological survey I reports from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy are more specific in the geological identification of the land. These reports are summarised below. I GS 1974/208, "The low cost extractive resources of the Nowra - Jervis Bay area", by I - B - L .Paterson. In this report the plateau is identified as Nowra Sandstone a I shallow marine sediment of the Shoalhaven group and the valley as being Wandrawandian Sandstone a marine, open shelf sediment also of I the Shoalhaven group. GS 1974/520, "Geological notes on the crushed and broken stone and natural road base resources of the Nowra - Jervis Bay area", by I.B.L.Paterson .I This report was extracted from GS 1974/208 by the same author. Plan 7279 of this report shows Hellhole as an area "underlain by sediments of the Wandrawandian Siltstone and Berry Siltstone in I which suitable areas for the extraction of structural clay shale could be located". This is consistent with the existing Mining Lease ML321 (73) over portion 66. The text of the report comments on ridge gravels as being lateric gravels derived from tertiary I laterite (residual and colluvial deposits) usually about 1 metre deep which require large areas to be cleared to produce a reasonable quantity of material and which are difficult to I rehabilitate because the underlying cemented laterite is not readily revegetated. I GS 1977/287, "Potential breakwater stone quarry sites: Jervis Bay Region", by J..M..Hawke. Hellhole is identified as potentially suitable as a location of "sedimentary rock" for breakwaters. The sites identified were I selected on both their geological suitability and closeness to the end-use location. I GS 1980/203, "Jervis Bay Boatharbour, Investigation of potential breakwater quarry sites", by G.H.McNally.. Three locations along the eastern parts of portions 102 and 159 are identified as sandstone quarry sites. These are shown as 11, ha I and lib in Figure 3 of the report. Two of the sites (11 and ha) correspond to the existing quarry location; the third site (lib) is south of these. The local geology is described as lateritised U sandstone gravel 2 to 3 metres deep overlying Nowra sandstone. The sandstone is at least 40 metres thick and consists of "a yellowish fine to medium grained massive quartz arenite with about 3% gravel- U sized fragments". The locality is bounded to the west by 10 metre high cliffs of Nowra sandstone exhibiting widely spaced (3-5 metre) joints. The sites identified were selected on both their geological I suitability and closeness to the end-use location. I page 46 I M'PENDIX 4 SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Contents. I Introduction. Rainfall and Runoff Water Management Requirements. I Design Storm Event. Water Demand. Water Management. I Soil Management. References Introduction. I The management of soil and water is necessary to, inter alia, prevent erosion, retain soil for rehabilitation, prevent siltation and sedimentation of water courses and conserve water resources. F Site location is shown in Figure 1 and site topography is shown in Plan 1. The areas of Site 1 and Site 2 are about 5 ha. and 11 ha. respectively. Mean annual rainfall for the area is 1149 mm spread over 130 rain days. Details of rehabilitation are given I within the body of the Statement.

I Rainfall and Runoff For the locality rainfall intensity - frequency - duration values have been determined by means of Australian Rainfall and Runoff I (1987) data and are attached to this Appendix. Site 1 has a slight slope to the west and has a maximum surface water flow length of about 160 metres. The time of concentration I is about 12 minutes. Site 2 has a slight slope to the north-east and has a maximum surface water flow length of about 375 metres. I The time of concentration is about 25 minutes. Water volumes for both mean annual rainfall and storm events are below. These volumes have been used in I SITE 1 SITE 2

Area 5ha liha r time of concentration 12 minutes 25 minutes intensity 1 in 10 year storm 140 mm/hour 104 mm/hour I 1 in 100 year storm 203 mm/hour 153 mm/hour rain volume 1 in 10 year storm 1,400 cu.m. 4,700 cu.m. I 1 in 100 year storm 2,000 cu.m. 6,900 cu.m. mean annual rainfall 1149 mm 1149 mm mean annual raindays 130 days 130 days I annual rain volume 57,000 cu.m. 126,000 cu.m. I I page 47 I Considering the quarry floor depth of 20 metres below the natural surface the volume of groundwater entering the quarry is expected to be small and resulting from seepage and possibly perched I watertables. By way of comparrison bores in Nowra sandstone typically at depths of 60 to 80 metres deliver some 0.5 to 2 litres/second of water.

3. Water Management Requirements. The requirements of the Department of Water Resources are for I runoff from process tailings and stockpile areas to be contained in a dam to contain runoff from a 1 in 10 year storm. SPCC requirements are for total impoundment of a 1 in 10 year storm of I duration equal to the time of concentration of the catchment.

4. Design Storm Event. The 1 in 10 year storm design criteria are: site duration water volume 1 12 minutes 1400 cubic metres 2 25 minutes 4700 cubic metres. The dams are required to contain these volumes.

5. Water Demand. Water will be required for the development as water sprays on the crushing and screening plant to prevent dust pollution, for addition to some products to obtain the optimum water content, for watering of haul roads to lay dust and in the rehabilitation of the land. The annual water requirement of about 2300 cubic metres consists of: about 2000 cubic metres for dust control and moisture adjustment in road base, 300 cubic metres for dust control on haul roads. The water will be obtained from that impounded and retained on the land and as necessary by pumping from Parma Creek. Considering the annual rainfall pumping from the Creek is unlikely. Rain water will be collected for drinking and washing.

6. Water Management. For each site surface water management to minimise sediment pick-up and erosion and to provide a water supply will be applied. Water management will consist of diversion drains to deflect water away from the site towards natural bushland. Water on the site will be directed to a series of catch dams to detain and retain water. The aggregate capacity of these dams will be equal to the volume of a 1 in 10 year return period storm. Water retained in these dams will be used as the water supply for the development. The quarry floor will slope down to a dam to contain the initial flush of the quarry floor. Water in this dam will pass, by being pumped if necessary, to a second dam before discharge through a geotextile fabric filter to the valley. As the development proceeds access to the valley as shown in Plans 2 and 3 will be made to allow drainage of the quarry floors. page48

I.7. Soil Management. To assist in rehabilitation and to prevent soil erosion the following general measures are to be applied. The top 50 to 100 mm of soil is to be stripped and stored in I bunds about the development to act as a seed source in rehabilitation. (It should be noted that the land has a very shallow depth of soil overlying a layer of infertile ridge gravel. I Friable overburden about the edge of excavations shall be battered at 3H:1V away from the excavation. 3) The faces of quarry excavations may be vertical, with a I average maximum face height of 10 metres. The track leading down to Parma Creek to be regraded to have crossfall drainage and cross bank runoff diversions. I Haul roads on site to have a maximum grade of 10%,

8. References Advice in the preparation of this Appendix has been received from the Department of Water Resources, the Soil Conservation Service of I New South Wales (Nowra office) and the State Pollution Control Commission (Wollongong office). The following documents and sources have been referred to: 1. General Requirements for Environmental Impact Statements I Dept.of Water Resources, 1990. 2. P. Wilkes, SPCC, Wollongong office. N. Kesby, Soil Conservation Service, Nowra office. I Guidelines for the planning, construction and maintenance of trails. Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales, 1985. 5. Guidelines to meet Soil Conservation Service requirements for Environmental Impact Statements - Mining (provisional issue), I Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales. I I I I I I I I

page 49 I Rainfall intensity - Frequency - Duration for Hellhole, near Tonherong. I 2 year, 1 hour intensity: 45.00 mm/hr 2 year, 12 hour intensity: 10.00 mm/hr 2 year, 72 hour intensity: 3.50 mm/hr 50 year, 1 hour intensity: 90.00 mm/hr I 50 year, 12 hour intensity: 22.50 mm/hr 50 year, 72 hour intensity: 7.50 mm/hr Skewness: .01 I Geographical factor for 6 minute, 2 yr storm: 4.27 Geographical factor for 6 minute, 50 yr storm: 15.76 Latitude : 35.0200 I Longitude: 150.5100 Duration Average Storm Recurrence Interval (years) I 1 2 5 10 20 50 100 Sm 110.09 139.66 173.63 190.97 216.12 248.45 272.66 6 103.30 131.18 163.53 180.11 204.07 234.91 258.03 I 10 84.84 108.08 135.87 150.31 170.92 197.56 217.60 12 78.55 100.20 126.37 140.04 159.48 184.62 203.57 15 71.15 90.90 115.13 127.87 145.88 169.23 186.85 18 65.37 83.64 106.31 118.30 135.17 157.09 173.65 I 20 62.16 79.59 101.39 112.94 129.18 150.28 166.24 25 55.68 71.41 91.40 102.07 116.98 136.40 151.12 30 50.72 65.15 83.72 93.69 107.56 125.65 139.39 I 35 46.78 60.16 77.58 86.97 100.00 117.02 129.96 40 43.55 56.08 72.53 81.44 93.76 109.88 122.16 45 40.84 52.65 68.28 76.78 88.50 103.85 115.56 I 50 38.53 49.72 64.64 72.78 83.98 98.68 109.89 55 36.54 47.19 61.49 69.32 80.06 94.17 104.95 60 34.80 44.97 58.72 66.27 76.61 90.21 100.59 75 30.48 39.46 51.74 58.52 67.78 79.97 89.30 I 90 27.32 35.41 46.59 52.79 61.23 72.37 80.91 2.Oh 22.93 29.78 39.40 44.78 52.06 61.70 69.11 3.0 17.86 23.27 31.03 35.41 41.32 49.15 55.19 I 4.0 14.95 19.52 26.18 29.96 35.04 41.80 47.02 5.0 13.02 17.03 22.94 26.31 30.83 36.86 41.53 6.0 11.63 15.23 20.60 23.67 27.78 33.27 37.52 8.0 9.74 12.78 17.38 20.04 23.57 28.31 31.99 I 10.0 8.49 11.16 15.24 17.61 20.76 24.98 28.27 12.0 7.59 9.99 13.69 15.85 18.71 22.56 25.56 14.0 6.98 9.18 12.56 14.53 17.14 20.65 23.38 I 16.0 6.49 8.53 11.66 13.47 15.88 19.12 21.64 18.0 6.08 7.99 10.91 12.60 14.85 17.86 20.21 20.0 5.74 7.54 10.28 11.86 13.97 16.80 19.00 I 22.0 5.45 7.15 9.74 11.23 13.22 15.89 17.97 24.0 5.19 6.81 9.26 10.68 12.57 15.10 17.07 4.12 5.40 7.31 8.41 9.88 11.84 13.36 48.036.0 3.47 4.54 6.13 7.04 8.26 9.88 11.14 60.0 3.02 3.94 5.31 6.09 7.14 8.53 9.61 72.0 2.68 3.50 4.70 5.38 6.30 7.52 8.46

I I I

I APPENDIX 5: RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY OF NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA I I I

REpert ri EL I (DF' NA.mIVE F'LC)RA. ANTI) FA.UNTA. I in t].e 'vicimit Qf HJHcDLE. I ri 4e -~L ir NQwra

I conducted between February and April, 1990 I for D. P. James & Company. I P.O. Box 170, Kogarah, N.S.W. 2217

I by Peter Barrer, I 6 Canton Place, Holt, A.C.T. 2615 I May, 1990. I I I I I I

2

SUMMARY: I Flora, fauna and habitat values of those parts of Portions 66, 105, 45, 102, 159, 108 and 58, Parish of Tomerong, County of St. Vincent, City of Shoalhaven, lying U on and to the east of Parma Creek, were investigated in the course of a reconnaissance survey.

I Habitats:

The Study Area contains an unusually wide range of habitats, plant communities I and plant and animal species. Within the gully formed by Parma Creek are aquatic, riparian, closed forest (warm temperate rainforest), tall open forest and open forest communities. on the edge of the Nowra sandstone plateau above are extensive rock faces with associated communites of petrophytes and rainforest I margin species. The plateau itself accommodates broad areas of open forest, together with smaller areas of woodland, open woodland, mallee scrub, Leptospermum scrub, Banksia scrub and heath, low wet heath, sedgeland-like I heath and Leptocarpus sedgeland in the wetter areas, particularly those to the north-east and south-west. I PaStImpacts: Much of the forested portion of the Study Area has been affected by past timber-getting, sometimes severely so in parts of the Parma Creek Gully, and less severely so on the sandstone plateau. Nevertheless, some areas of mature rainforest and mature tall open forest remain essentially intact, and there is good regeneration in most other areas, although not necessarily towards the original I communities. Ridge-gravel extraction has been accompanied by broad-scale clearing of open forest in one small part of the plateau. Elsewhere, isolated individualtrees have been removed from plateau open forest. The wetter or more poorly drained parts of the plateau, with timber values poor or absent, remain essentially pristine.

Fbra:

At least 11 species of Eucalyptus occur as trees in the Study Area, together with Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine), Angophora floribunda (Rough-barked Apple), I Allocasuarina littoralis (Black She-oak) and Banksia serrata (Saw Banksia). Although it is possible to identify a broad range of tree-dominated associations, most contain one or more of S. gloraulifera, E. gun'unifera (Red Bloodwood) or E. I pilularis (Blackbutt) as dominants, co-dominants or associated species. Approximately 270 species of vascular plants were noted, approximately one third of which are rainforest species, the rest being predominantly sandstone flora. Rare or vulnerable species are localised in several plateau communities. Plateau open forest contains good populations of the pea-flowering shrub, Pultenaea (3RCa). The prostrate Rulingia hermanniifoiia (3RCa) and the small shrub Pseudanthusvillifera divaricatissimus (3RCa) occur very occasionally in moist shallow soils over rock. The wattle Acacia subtilinervis (3RCa) grows along the moist rocky edges of some heath and scrub communities, whereas a small ti-tree Leptospermum epacridoideum (2RC-) is a common species in some areas of low wet heath. The Study Area also contains a significant portion of several previously unknown stands of the vulnerable, locally endemic and as yet undescribed mallee, Eucalyptus'langleyi' (2V). These stands, comprising perhaps a total of 1,000 individuals, are amongst the best of the small number known. I 3

Mammals:

The Study Area proved to possess an unusually rich mammalian fauna. Fifteen species of native mammals were detected either with certainty or with some degree of probability, together with 3 introduced species. A number of other native mammals are expected.

Rare species include probably large populations of the vulnerable, mouse-sized marsupial predator, the White-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus), together with evidence of the threatened Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale peniciliata) and the Eastern Tiger Cat (Dasyurus maculatus). At least one other medium-sized terrestrial mammal, a bandicoot, still survives in parts of the Parma Creek gully despite the presence of introduced predators. This animal appears to be the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, a species for which there has been some concern in recent years.

Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes) and Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuarti) are common small terrestrial mammals found through most of the area. Arboreal species are represented by Common Ring-tailed Possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps), Eastern Pygmy Possums (Cercartetus nanus) and probable signs of Feathertail Gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus). Greater Gliders (Schoinobates volans) were present in gully forests until recently, and are probably still present. The Study Area provides good habitat also for other arboreal species, and Common and Mountain Brushtail Possums are both expected. There is possible habitat also for rarer arboreal species including Koala and Yellow-bellied Glider. Large terrestrial mammals are represenXed through much of the area by Wombat (Vombatus ursinus), Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and Swamp Wallaby (Waliabia bicolor). Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Maci-opus giganteus) occurs in drier, more open plateau sites. Parma Creek provides suitable habitat for Platypus and Eastern Water Rat.

Birds:

The Study Area provides good habitat also for birds, particularly rainforest, wet scierophyll forest, dry scierophyll forest, scrub and heathland species. Forty- seven species were recorded, but many more are likely.

Superb Lyrebird (Men ui-a novaehoilandiae), Satin Bowebird (Ptilinorhynch us violaceus) and Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes oil vaceus) are three of a range of species commonly encountered in wetter gully forest habitats. Gang-gang cockatoos (Cailocephalon fimbriatum) feed in the forest canopy. The rare Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) hunted in gully forests until recently, and may still do so. Rock Warbiers (Origma solitaria) forage on and near the plateau edge, and Boobook Owls (Ninox novaeseelandiae) roost in some of the overhangs there, an unusual behaviour for this species. Numerous honeyeaters feed on Barmksia flowers in plateau open forest, woodland and heath. Uncommon or rare species such as the Southern Emu Wren (Stipiturus rnalach ui-us) and Beautiful Firetail (Embiema bellum) may be seen in or adjacent to heathy habitats.

Study Area habitats are important, not only to resident birds, but also to altitudinal and latidudinal migrants including many species of honeyeaters and occasional trans- equatorialmigrant waders. The Study Area serves an important role as a wildlife corridor. Food, shelter and rest offered by Study Area habitats are important for the survival of migrating and probably dispersing fauna. 4 I . Reptiles and Amphibia: I Reptiles are abundant. The Eastern Water Skink (Sphenomorphus quoyii) is common near water throughout the area, and another small skink, Lampropholis delicata, is abundant throughout all other timbered habitats. A total of 8 diurnal species were recorded, but the area provides good habitats for a much larger I range. In particular, the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau could provide shelter for the endangered Broad-headed Snake, several species of gecko, Diamond Python, Brown and Green Tree Snakes, Small-eyed Snake and Red-naped I Snake amongst others. The area is likely also to accommodate a range of frogs. There is suitable habitat I for the rare Giant Burrowing Frog, a species which is known to occur nearby. Habitat Values andFutureDeye10pmen

I Much of the Study Area possesses high to very high habitat values, despite past impacts. Values in the Study Area are unusually high, partly because of the area's intrinsic qualities and partly because it represents one portion of a much I broader natural area with significant biological attributes. Of particularly high value in the Study Area are: the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau and adjacent forest; the often poorly drained and generally I moist to wet woodland, open woodland, scrub, heath and sedgeland communities in the north-east and south-west of the Study Area; all aquatic and riparian habitats; all gully habitats . with a moderate to deep cover of sandy soil; all I rainforest; and all remaining areas of mature (gully) tall open forest. Of lesser but still high value are: remaining areas of gully open forest and regenerating tall open forest, together with most of the plateau open forest. The high values I of many of these habitats depend upon the qualities of the Nowra sandstone plateau, which functions as a reservoir and channels water through the rock to water-dependent communities such as rainforest and heath or sedgeland.

I Given the distribution of the more valuable habitats, communities and species of the Study Area, two already part-impacted sites with lesser although still significant values are identified within this report. it is recommended that all I proposed future ridge gravel and sandstone quarrying activities be restricted entirely to areas within these two sites. Adherence to safeguards and constraints recommended elsewhere in this document should significantly reduce the avoidable impacts of the development on nearby fauna and flora and on downstream I habitats. Rehabilitation at the end of quarrying operations should be directed at maximising the rare habitat potentials of the abandoned quarries.

I Because residual impacts of development are unavoidable, and because the summed effects of these will inevitably downgrade nearby high habitat values, it is recommended also that strong (counter) measures be taken to ensure the long- term future preservation of remaining Study Area habitats at a level significantly above that operating at present. I I I I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

I thank the following individuals and organisations for invaluable assistance received during the course of this study:

Ian Brooker, John Briggs and John Leigh, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, Canberra. John Calaby and John Wombey, CSIRO Division of Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Staff of the Herbarium, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Barbara Triggs, 'Dead Finish', Genoa, Victoria. Liz Dovey and Andy Spate, NSW NPWS, SE Regional Office, Queanbeyan. Les Mitchell and Gerry Saals, NSW NPWS, Nowra District. Andrew Claridge, ANU Forestry Department, Canberra. Hank Jenkins, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. Mike McGrath, Australian Conservation Foundation, Canberra Branch. 6 I . I CONTENTS OF REPORT: I SUMMARY 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 Li CONTENTS OF REPORT 6 STUDY AREA 7 DURATION OF STUDY 7 STUDY BRIEF 7 I RESULTS 7 Introduction to the Study Area 7 Flora 8 I Rainfore st 8 Tall Open Forest, Open Forest, Woodland & Mallee Scrub 9 Scrub, Heath & Sedgeland 10 Mamma ls 10 I Birds 14 Reptiles 16 Amphibia 16 I Fish 17 HABITAT TYPES AND VALUES 18 Gully Formed by Parma Creek and its Tributaries 18 I Parma Creek 18 Riparian Habitats 19 Other Closed Forest 19 Gully Tall Open (Wet Sclerophyll) Forests 20 I Gully Open (Dry Sclerophyll) Forests 20 Sandstone Plateau 21 The Rocky Edge of the Sandstone Plateau 21 I Plateau Open (Dry Sclerophyll) Forests 22 Periodically or Permanently Moist or Wet Plateau Sites 23 POTENTIAL QUARRY SITES IN THE STUDY AREA 24 I IMPACTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ALLEVIATING IMPACTS 25 Direct Impacts 25 Impacts of Noise and Ground Vibration 26 Impacts of Interruption, Disruption and/or Diversion of Natural Processes 27 I Erosion 28 Localised Pollution 28 Changes in Downslope Water Quality 29 I Bush fire 30 The Summed Effects of Residual Impacts 30 Further Development in the Parma Creek Catchment Area 30 I REHABILITATION 30 Preliminary to Quarrying 31 During Quarrying 31 After Quarrying 31 I RECOMMENDATIONS 32 REFERENCES 35 OTHER SOURCES 35 I APPENDICES 37 I 11 I 7

STUDY AREA: I MAP: C.M.A., Huskisson 9027-4-11,1:25,000, LOCATION: Those parts of Portions 66, 105, 45, 102, 159, 108 and 58, Parish of I Tomerong, County of St. Vincent, City of Shoalhaven, lying immediately adjacent to Parma Creek and to the south and east of Parma Creek. I DURATION OF STUDY:

Nominally 20 days, including the field component of the reconnaissance survey and other activities including research, specimen identifications and report writing. The Study Area was visited on 7, 8 and 14-16 February; 9-14 March; and 24-27 April, 1990.

STTJ..YBRJEF:

To report on terrestrial and aquatic plants, and vertebrates within the area specified, using sightings, signs and traces. To supplement these observations I by defining the major habitats with approximate estimates of habitat quality. To define the major impacts of the proposed development on the flora and fauna of the study area. To suggest methods of alleviating major negative impacts of the I proposed development. H RESULTS: I Introductionto the Study Area:

I The Study Area comprises a gently sloping Nowra Sandstone plateau at between 200 and 150 m AHD, bisected by an extensive and deep gully system formed by Parma Creek and its feeder creeks. Some parts of the gullies probably penetrate I into the underlying Wandrawandian siltstone. Overlying the sandstone plateau are various depths of lateritised sandstone gravel. Sandstone cliffs generally mark the boundary between the plateau and the Parma Creek gully system. Except for limited areas of woodland, scrub, heath and sedgeland in the NE and I SW corners, the whole Study Area is forested.

Parma Creek in the Study Area lies at between 125 and 100 m AHD. It is a permanent, moderately fast—running creek, 2-3 m wide and 30-60 cm deep under normal conditions, flowing approximately north—east between clayey banks over a I predominantly sandy substrate. The permeable sandstone plateau in and around parts of the Study Area functions as a slow release reservoir for rainwater, and impermeable layers of rock divert this water to the surface at various points. Partly as a consequence of this I locally available continuous water supply and partly because of a range of soil I I 8 types, the area supports a wide variety of habitats, communities and plant species.

Flora:

More than 270 species of vascular plant were recorded during the survey (Appendix 1A). These species are associated with a wide range of plant communities. Present are relatively small but important areas of sedgeland, sedgeland-like heath, low open heath (warm temperate wet and dry heath), wet mallee closed scrub, tall closed heath or scrub, and montane closed scrub. There are larger areas of shrubby/heathy open woodland and extensive areas of shrubby/heathy open forest and shrubby tall open forest. Finally, there are significant areas of tall open Syncarpia glomulifera forest with a closed understorey, riparian rainforest and warm temperate rainforest (vine-fern closed forest) (Appendix 1B).

RAINFOREST

Approximately 33% of plant species recorded in the Study Area are found commonly or exclusively in rainforest or rainforest margins. Of these species, 32 grow as trees or shrubs, 24 as climbers or scramblers, 20 as tussocks, ferns or herbs, 6 as petrophytes, and 1 as an epiphyte. These grow in several, quite different situations:

on the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau, petrophytes are common in favourable positions. A wide range of rainforest margin species grow here at scattered, shrubby individuals (Appendix 1), including small specimens of Ficus rubiginosa, medium-sized trees of which occasionally dominate the canopy immediately below.

In the more marginal areas on higher slopes, the rainforest canopy is restricted often to Callicoma serratifolia (Black Wattle), with or without associated species including Livistona australis (Cabbage Tree Palm). In more suitable sites, often lower down on the gully slopes, Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) and Acmena smithii (Lillypilly) become common components of the canopy. Tristaniopsis laurina (Water Laurel) and Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) are sometimes present in these areas, and are generally dominants or co-dominants in riparian habitat alongside Parma Creek and the lower portions of feeder creeks.

Several rainforest species recorded in the Study Area are at the southern limit of their ranges, notably the locally common species Acacia binervata (Two-veined Hickory), and the rarely encountered species Scolopia braunii (Flintwood) and Geijera salicifolia var. latifolia (Brush Wilga).

As a generalisation, the composition of much of the Study Area rainforest appears to have been affected both by timber-getting and by fire. Patches of riparian rainforest on the higher slopes, and a relatively large area of regenerating gully rainforest in the north all show clear evidence of past burning. Large stumps in and adjacent to existing rainforest show where large trees, possibly rainforest species, have been removed. Given the relative rarity of rainforest in NSW and elsewhere, and the high scientific, biological, aesthetic and cultural values attributed to it, it is important that Study Area rainforest be allowed to complete the process of recovering from past impacts of fire and timber-getting.

More detailed information on the composition, structure and location of rainforest in the Study Area is given in Appendices 1A and lB. TALL OPEN FOREST, OPEN FOREST, WOODLAND AND MALLEE SCRUB

I A number of tree species occur in tall open forest, open forest and woodland communities. Ranging approximately from the most common to the least common in the Study Area, canopy tree species are: Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine); I Eucalyptus gummifera (Red Bloodwood); E. pilularis (Blackbutt); E. sieberi (Silvertop Ash); E. punctata (Grey Gum); E. piperita ssp. urceolaris (Sydney Peppermint); E. Sc]erophylla (Scribbly Gum); E. agglomerata (Blue—leaved Stringbark); E. consideniana (Yertchuk); E. saligna x botryoides (Bangalay); I Casuarmna littoralis (Black She—oak); E. maculata (Spotted Gum), E. globoidea (White Stringybark) and Angophora floribunda (Rough—barked Apple).

I In addition, associated with an open woodland community in one part of the Study Area, there are single specimens, small clumps and (mallee scrub) thickets of E. 'langley!, an as yet undescribed (Brooker - pers. comm.) endemic mallee eucalypt I that occurs only in very small numbers over a strictly limited area SW of Nowra. This species is classified as vulnerable (2V) (Briggs & Leigh, 1988). The Study Area stands appear to be as extensive and as undamaged by fire as any stands I currently known (c.f. Mills, 1985), and warrant careful conservation. Both in tall open forest and in open forest, the understorey is sometimes dominated by smaller tree species including Acacia binervata and A. irrorata, I whereas Banksia serrata (Saw Banksia) often dominates the understorey of open forest and woodland. Young individuals of the dominant canopy species are often present also, and may dominate or co—dominate the understorey.

I Much of the forest and, woodland possesses a shrubby or shrubby and heathy understorey. In areas of tall open forest, the number of non—rainforest understorey or ground layer species tends to be relatively small (27 species k recorded), and to increase as the forest approaches a woodland condition (94 species recorded). Sampling bias may have accentuated the differences in these totals, but the tall open forest understorey flora is certainly less diverse than I that on the plateau above. Most of the tall open forest understorey and ground layer species are shared with forest approaching woodland, and only 33% were recorded only in tall open forest.

I Only 1 species on the rare, vulnerable or endangered species list (Briggs & Leigh, 1988) was located in plateau open forest. This is Pultenaea villifera (3RCa), locally common in 2 areas near the plateau edge, including in and near k the existing quarry.

Past and recent timber—getting in the study area have changed Study Area H forests in various ways. Tracks have been blazed to provide access to most parts of the Study Area, and many of these remain open. Harvestable specimens of the more valuable timber species are now rare or absent. Limited areas in the gully and on the plateau appear to have been totally cleared and to be in the I early or middle stages of regeneration, possibly with a changed species composition.

I More detailed information on the composition, structure and location of tall open forest, open forest and woodland in the Study Area is given in Appendices 1A, lB I and 1C. I I 10

SCRUB, HEATH AND SEDGELAND

Approximately 33% of plant species recorded in the study area occur in the relatively wet and generally infertile soils that support scrub, heath and sedgeland communities in the Study Area. Of these species, 34 were recorded only in such communities, and an approximately similar number can be considered typical of such sites.

Twelve species can be considered to grow exclusively in scrub, heath or sedgeland communities. These species are: Rulingia hermanniifolia (3RCa); Drosera spathulata; Sprengelia incarnata; Virninaria juncea; Callisternon rigidus; Leptosperm urn arachnoides; L. epacridoideurn (2RC —); Pseudan thus di varica tissim us (3RCa); Cryptandra ericoide Utricularia dichotoma; Blandfordia nobilis, and Hypoxis hygrornetrica. It is apparent that this list contains an unusually high proportion of rare species, reflecting the relative rarity and importance of scrub, heath and sedgeland habitats in the Study Area.

It is interesting that 1 of the 2 specimens of Pseudan thus divaricatissimus (3RCa) recorded in the Study Area was found adjacent to the plateau edge on the edge of the existing quarry, together with the only recorded specimens of Rulingia hernianniifolia (3RCa) (approximately 20 young and mature plants). The rare open forest species, Pultenaea villifera (3RCa) was found in the quarry nearby. It is probable that the quarry was originally sited in an unusual habitat supporting an unusual concentration of rare species. In this context, it may be significant that another unusual species, Cassia odorata, occurs at the same site. It is fortuitous, presumably, that specimens of these unusual and rare species were not all destroyed during the earlier quarrying operation.

Although most of the natural values of this particular site have been lost through earlier quarrying operations, this is not the case for other scrub, heath and sedgeland communities in the Study Area. In most cases, these communities have not been affected by timber—getting either. They remain intact and, except possibly for the consequences of altered fire regimes, much as they were at the time of European settlement.

More detailed information on the composition, structure and location of the various scrub, heath and sedgeland communities in the Study Area is given in Appendices 1A and lB.

Mammals:

The terrestrial and arboreal mammalian fauna was sampled by sightings, signs and traces, and supplemented by very limited Elliott box—trapping. Fifteen species of native mammal were detected in this way, together with 3 introduced species (Table 1).

Many species recorded in the Study Area could be expected for such sites (e.g. Antechinus stuartii, Rattus fuscipes, Vombatus ursinus, Petaurus breviceps, Pe ta uroides volans, Pseudocheirus volans, Cercarte tus nan us, A croba tes pygmae us, Macropus giganteus, Macropus rufogriseus and Wallabia bicolor (Appendix 2)). Several rare or uncommon species, however, are less expected. These are Sminthopsis leucopus (White—footed Dunnart), Petrogale penicillata (Brush—tailed Rock Wallaby), Dasyurus maculatus (Eastern Quoll) and Isoodon obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot). I 11

I.A single White—footed Dunnart was trapped in scrubby and heathy open forest immediately south of the existing quarry. The forest shows evidence of having been burned a few years ago, and it is likely that this poorly known species exploits an early to middle stage in the post—fire succession of a scrubby/heathy I understorey. This rare species is difficult to detect using box traps (Wombey, pers. comm.), suggesting that Study Area populations may be large. This probability is reinforced by the remains of another individual, identified as I probably of this species (Triggs, pers. comm.) in a dog scat taken from the far south—west of the Study Area. rn Brush—tailed Rock Wallaby is a vulnerable and rare species restricted to a small numberof rocky sites in South—eastern Australia, although it is rather more common in similar areas in North—eastern N.S.W.. The species' range has contracted considerably since the arrival of the European Fox, and concern has been expressed for its survival (e.g. Short, 1989). Seats possibly of this species I (Triggs, pers. comm.) were located during the present study in several widely separated caves and overhangs along the plateau edge to the south of the Study Area.

I Spotted—tailed Quoll is a medium—sized marsupial predator of scierophyll forests and rain—forests. It has become increasingly rare in the last century, and, as for the Brush—tailed Rock Wallaby, considerable concern has been expressed for its survival (e.g. Strahan, 1983). A single small scat resembling that of a quoll was taken from a small rock below an overhang along the plateau edge to the I south of the Study Area, with some probability that it was in fact of this species (Triggs, pers. comm.).

Skulls of I. obesulus were identified from Sooty Owl pellets of unknown age, I although considering the relatively exposed positions of the remains in the cave they were found in, they could be only a few years old. It seems likely that Southern Brown Bandicoot is still present near or in the Study Area, and I extensive bandicoot signs observed in sandy soils in regenerating wet scierophyll environments near Parma Creek may be of this species. In this context, it may be significant that Sooty Owls hunt by preference in wet scierophyll forest and I rainforest, and that no remains of Long—nosed Bandicoot, another possible species, were found in the Sooty Owl pellets. Southern Brown Bandicoot has undergone a major reduction in range and is believed now to be very rare or extinct along I most parts of the coast between Bega and Sydney (Claridge, pers. comm.) Bats were not surveyed. Nevertheless, the area provides numerous roosting sites in the form of loose bark, tree hollows and sandstone caves and crevices. I Rustlings attributed to bats were heard in crevices adjoining caves along the edge of the sandstone plateau. Unidentified flying bats, hunting for insects, I were noted also during spotlighting. A short—term reconnaisance survey such as the present one can only sample from species in the area. Species other than those recorded are likely also (Appendix 2). There is good habitat for other mammals, including Echidna, Platypus, Dusky Antechinus,Common Dunnart, Long—nosed Bandicoot, Common Brushtail Possum, Mountain Brushtail Possum, a range of bat species, Eastern Water Rat and Swamp Rat. In addition, there appears to be possible habitat for rarer species such as I New Holland Mouse, Koala and Long—nosed Potoroo. 12

TABLE 1

Mammalsdetectedby signs traces,sightin......

NATIVE MAMMALS:

DASYURIDAE

Dasyurus maculatus (Spotted-tailed Quoll) - Present? in Parma Creek gully. A single small scat which may have been of this species (Triggs, pers. comm.), was located on a small mossy rock under an overhang along the plateau edge adjacent to rainforest in the southern part of Portion 102. The animal had fed on a burramyid, probably feathertail glider and on numerous moth pupae.

Antechinus stuartii (Brown Antechinus) - Common through much of the study area. Animals were trapped in the gully in Leptospermum scrub near Parma Creek (1 animal/50 trap-nights), in dry scrubby and heathy open forest on the plateau at the southern end of Portion 102 (1 animal/45 trap- nights), and in recently burnt scrubby and heathy open forest immediately to the south of the existing quarry on Portion 102 (3 animals/60 trap- nights). In addition, scats, insect remains and footprints were very common in caves along the plateau edge, and Brown Antechinus remains were present in a fox scat taken from the far south-west of the Study Area.

Sminthopsis leucopus (White-footed Dunnart) - Possibly common in suitable plateau habitat. One animal was trapped in the recently burnt scrubby and heathy open forest immediately to the south of the existing quarry on Portion 102 (1 animal/60 trap-nights). The species normally is difficult to detect using box-traps and could be abundant at this site. The probable remains of another animal were identified from a dog scat found in the far south-west of the Study Area. The Jervis Bay area represents the fairly recently discovered northern limit to the NSW range of this rare and vulnerable species.

PERAMELIDAE

Isoodon obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot) - Was present in the general area until recently, and may still be present. Bandicoot signs were found in deeper sandy soils near gully creeks, and the remains of several individuals of this species were identified from old Sooty Owl pellets found in one of many caves along the edge of the sandstone plateau. The age of these pellets is uncertain, and the creek-side signs might belong to Long- nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), a species that could be expected there also.

VOMBATIDAE

Vombatus ursThus (Common Wombat) - Not uncommon throughout the study area. Scats were observed in all habitats ranging from rainforest to heath. Footprints were noted on several occasions, trails through dense scrub, and periodic burrows in deep soil or under tumbled boulders.

(TABLE 1 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

13

TABLE 1 (CONTINUED) I PETAURIDAE Petaurus breviceps (Sugar Glider) - Locally common and may be widespread in suitable habitat. Seats were located in Portion 45 at several points along U the edge of the sandstone plateau.

Petauroides volans (Greater Glider) - Was present in the area until recently, I and may still be present. The remains of several individuals of this species were identified from old Sooty Owl pellets found in one of many caves along the edge of the sandstone plateau. The age of these pellets is I uncertain. Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Ring—tailed Possum) - Common through most habitats other than low heath and sedgeland. Seats were located frequently and, I one one occasion, a nest noted in a hollow tree—trunk. The remains of this species were present in both fox and dog seats taken from Parma Creek gully, suggesting that it may be a common prey species for these I introduced predators. BURRAMYIDAE

I Cercartetus nanus (Eastern Pygmy Possum) - Probably common through most of the Study Area. Much of the Study Area provides ideal conditions for this species. The remains of an individual of this species (Triggs, pers. comm.), I were found in a dog scat taken from the far south—west of the Study Area.

Acrobates pygmaeus (Feathertail Glider) - Probably common through much of I the Study Area, which provides ideal conditions for this species. The remains of a burramyid, probably this species (Triggs, pers. comm.), were found in a probable Eastern Quoll scat taken from immediately below the I plateau edge in the southern part of Portion 102. MACROPODIDAE

I Petrogale penicillata (Brush—tailed Rock Wallaby) - This threatened species may be present in low numbers in suitable habitats along the plateau edge. Seats resembling those of this species (Triggs, pers. comm.) were located in I 2 widely separated overhangs in the southern part of the Study Area. Macropus giganteus (Eastern Grey Kangaroo) - Common in and near the more open sites on the plateau (e.g. the existing quarry and powerline easement). I Animals were sighted fairly frequently and seats observed in these areas.

Macropus rufogriseus (Red—necked wallaby) - Common through most of the I study area. Animals were sighted occasionally and seats observed frequently, particularly along the edge of the plateau.

Wallabia bicolor (Swamp Wallaby) - Common through most of the study area. I Animals were sighted occasionally and seats observed frequently in all habitats. Swamp Wallaby remains were present in a dog scat taken from I Parma Creek gully. (TABLE 1 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I Li 14

TABLE 1 (CONTINUED) MURIDAE I Rattus fuscipes (Bush rat) - Common in some parts of the study area, and probably occurs throughout. Animals were taken in box traps adjacent to Parma Creek (2 iridividuals/50 trap-nights) and in the recently burnt I scrubby and heathy open forest immediately to the south of the existing quarry on Portion 102 (1 animal/60 trap-nights). However, no animals were taken in the third trap line on the southern part of Portion 102. Judging I by the frequent presence of remains of this species in fox and dog scats taken from the area, Bush Rat provides common prey for these introduced predators. L INTRODUCED MAMMALS:

LEPORIDAE I

Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit) - Uncommon or rare in the Study Area. No animals were sighted and scats were noted only once, along the plateau edge.

Lepus capensis (Brown Hare) - Probably not uncommon in the drier, more open parts of the Study Area. A single animal was sighted adjacent to the existing quarry.

CANIDAE

Canis familiaris (Wild Dog) - Probably rare. A total of only 3 scats were found in Parma Creek and on the plateau above. Animals had fed on Swamp Wallaby, Common Ring-tail Possum, Bush Rat, White-footed Dunnart and Eastern Pygmy Possum.

Vulpes vulpes (Fox) - Not common, but forages in most habitats. A total of 4 scats were located in Parma Creek gully and ion the plateau above. Animals had fed on yabbie (evidently a common prey), Common Ring-tail Possum, Brown Antechinus and Bush Rat. Foot-prints were also observed in a number of caves along the plateau edge. I Bird I Forty-seven species of bird were observed or detected by their calls during visits to the Study Area (Appendix 2). In addition to bird species recorded, several other species, all but one forest birds, were glimpsed briefly but not identified. A wader was glimpsed too briefly to be identified with any certainty, but is reported primarily because it illustrates the importance of the habitat it was observed in. The list in Appendix 3 represents perhaps one third or less of the species that might occur in the study area as residents, visitors or migrants (e.g. Blakers, Davies & Reilly, 1984; Mills, 1985).

The majority of birds recorded are common species associated with various forest or heathy habitats. However, several species are uncommon or rare and others are worthy of note: I I 15

Much of the Study Area, including rainforest and tall open (wet scierophyll) I.forest offers ideal habitat for species such as the Superb Lyrebird and Satin Bowerbird. Although not rare, these species are restricted in their distribution I in Australia by the availability of suitable habitat. The presence of old Sooty Owl pellets in a shallow open cave, exposed to the elements and overlooking rainforest in Portion 66, has been mentioned already. I The pellets comprised the scattered remains of Sugar Gliders, Greater Gliders, Common Ringtail Possums, Southern Brown Bandicoots, Bush Rats and Brown Antechinus. Given their exposed position, the remains seem unlikely to be many I years old, and it is highly likely that Sooty Owls continue to hunt in rainforest and wet scierophyll forest in the Study Area at the present time. Sooty Owl is a rarely recorded species (Blakers, Davies & Reilly, 1984) and its probable I continued presence in the Study Area is a significant attribute. The Rock Warbler is a fairly common species in moister parts of the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau. It is a bird with a strictly limited distribution, found I only on rocky Hawksbury sandstone and adjacent limestone habitats (Blakers, Davies & Reilly, 1984), and approaches the southern limit of its distribution in the Study Area (Nix & Brooker, 1978).

At least 11 species of honeyeaters were feeding in flowering Banksia serrata and B. ericiI'olia during visits to the Study Area. Their presence in very large numbers reflects the very great importance of the local Banksia scrub and the I shrubby/heathy open forest understorey to resident and migrating nectar—feeding birds, as well as to mammals such as the Eastern Pygmy Possum and Feathertailed Glider. Local Banksia species provide an important foodsource for these species I from mid—summer through to early spring, at a time when other food sources are scarce (c.f. George, 1987). I Golden Whistler, Eastern Yellow Robin, Grey Fantail and Rufous Fantail were particularly abundant also in their respective habitats. The Golden Whistler and Eastern Yellow Robin populations might possibly have comprised both residents and some early seasonal altitudinal migrants. Coastal environments provide I important overwintering sites for some species that spend the summer at higher altitudes, and the Study Area may serve an important role in this respect.

I Two uncommon or rare species, the Southern Emu Wren and the Beautiful Firetail, were noted in or adjacent to heath. The presence of these species again points to the important habitat opportunities provided by Study Area heaths and scrubs.

Two other bird species noted in the Study Area are associated with water. A wader was disturbed while feeding in the mosaic of tall and low wet heaths in Portion 58. The bird was seen for only a second or two, flying strongly in a I straight line approximately 2-3 m above the ground whilst uttering a long, harsh and grating alarm call. Excluding the bill, the bird was a little less than 30 cm long, coloured brown/grey with no obvious pattern or markings, and possessing a I slightly but noticeably downturned bill of medium length for a wader. Although not identified with any degree of certainty, it is reported for 2 reasons: it resembled the very rare Little Curlew; and, whatever its identity, it emphasises the significance of the wetter, heathy and sedgiand Study Area habitats as I temporary feeding sites for occasional trans —equatorialmigrant waders. Such migrants, highly vulnerable to the destruction of feeding habitat, are protected in International law by several Agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia I and countries north of the Equator.

The second such species, the Little Pied Cormorant, is unusual only in that it I appeared to be routinely foraging in Parma Creek, a stream at first sight too Iii 16 narrow and shaded by the rainforest and wet scierophyll canopy to offer attractive foraging. Evidently, whatever its disadvantages, Parma Creek offers sufficient food in the form of yabbies and perhaps frogs and fish to warrant at least occasional vists from this species.

One species of bird recorded in Appendix 3, the Black-backed magpie, is typical of more open country. Sighted in and around the existing quarry, it evidently exploits the opportunities offered by intensive tree-clearing in a small part of the Study Area.

Reptiles:

Eight reptiles were recorded during the survey (Appendix 4). These were nearly all common, diurnal species, either small and abundant in their habitats (e.g. Lampropholis delicata, Sphenomorphus quoyii) or relatively large and obvious (e.g. Varanus varius, Pseudonaja textilis). A specimen of Ctenotus robustus (Copper- tailed Skink) was located under a rock adjacent to heath. Almost certainly the Study Area accommodates a very much broader range of species, a range probably including several uncommon and rare reptiles (Appendix 4).

Habitats provided by the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau are expected to be particularly important in the reptile fauna they support. Present along the edge are Ctenotus robustus, Lampropholis delicata and the Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyria cus. Possible or expected here are: Amphibolurus diejriensis (Mountain Dragon); the geckos Diplodactylus vittatus (Stone Gecko), Oedura lesueurii (Lesueur's Velvet Gecko) and Phyllurus platurus (Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko); the skinks Gryptoblepharus virgatus, Ergenia cunninghami (Cunningham's Skink), E. saxa tills (Black Rock Skink), E. whitil (White's Skink) and Sphenomorphus tenuis; Morelia spilota (Diamond Python); and the colubrid snakes Boiga irregularis (Brown Tree Snake) and Dendrelaphis punctulata (Green Tree Snake); and the elapid snakes Gryptophis nigrescens (Eastern Small-eyed Snake), Furina diadema (Red-naped Snake) and Hoplocephalus bungaroides (Broad-headed Snake). Broad-headed Snake is an endangered species that is found nearby and can be expected in these habitats in the Study Area.

The general area is unusually significant also in that it marks the southern coastal limits of the ranges (Wilson & Knowles, 1988) of a relatively large nuitiber of reptiles with typically more northerly distributions, including: Phyllurus platurus, Underwoodisaurus milii (Barking Gecko), Lialis burtonis (Burton's Snake Lizard), Pygopus lepidopodus (Common Scalyfoot), Cryp toblepharus virga tus, Saiphos equalis (Three-toed Skink), Sphenomorphus quoyii (Eastern Water Skink), Boiga irregularis, Den drelaphis punctulata, Cacophis squamulosus (Golden Crowned Snake), Demandsia psammophis (Yellow-faced Whip Snake), Furina diadema, Hemiaspis signata (Black-bellied Swamp Snake) and Hoplocephalus bun garoides. Any of these species might be present in the Study Area. Half of them are likely to be associated with the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau.

Amphibia:

Although several different species were heard calling in different habitats during the survey, and tadpoles were observed in standing water, only 2 mature or semi-mature individuals were observed. These were: an unidentified, green Litoria sp., 6-8 cm long with a greyish ventral surface and red groins but no colour on the hind thighs, noted on the ground in open forest near rainforest

I 17 S I and a waterfall (Packard, pers. comm.); and Ranidella signifera, a species that exploits a wide range of habitats, found on this occasion under a rock beside I permanent water at the site of the existing quarry. Nevertheless, the Study Area is likely to possess a relatively rich frog fauna, and any of at least 22 species of frog could be present (Appendix 5). Specifically:

I Rainforest/tall open forest habitats might accommodate - I Near creeks - Adelotus brevis (Tusked Frog), Mixophyes balbus and possibly M. fasciolatus I (Giant Barred Frog) Often further awayfromcreek.S orstandingWater -

the arboreal Litoria caerulea (Green Tree Frog) and L. phyilochroa (Leaf Green I Tree Frog), and the terrestrial L. lesueuri (Lesueur's Frog).

Tall open forest/open forest and (for some species only) woodland habitats might I accommodate - P.a.n*.p. u a us traliacus (Giant Burrowing Frog)

Nea.rcreek.-

the terrestrial Limnodynastes peronil (Brown—striped Frog), L. tasmaniensis (Spotted Grass Frog) and Litoria verreauxii; the terrestrial/arboreal L. ewingii I (Brown Tree Frog), L. fallax (Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog) and L. jervisiensis (Jervis Bay Tree Frog); and the arboreal L. phyilochroa I Often furthera•wayfromcreek.S orstandingwater - the terrestrial Paracrinia haswelli, Pseudophryne australis (Red—crowned Toadlet), P. bibronii (Brown Toadlet), P. dendyi, Ranidella signifera (Common Eastern Froglet), Uperoleia laevigata (Yellow—spotted Toadlet), Litoria lesueuri, L. freycineti (Freycinet's Frog) and L. verreauxii; the terrestrial/arboreal L. citropa (Blue Mountains Tree Frog); and the arboreal L. caeruiea and L. I peronii (Peron's Tree Frog)

F.sh:

The relatively small size of Parma Creek, the presence of a large waterfall I downstream at the junction of Parma and Currambene Creeks, and possibly the presence of several smaller falls upstream of the Currumbene Creek falls, together impose severe limits on fish species present in the Study Area. I Although looked for, no fish were observed during the survey. The majority of fish species that occur in the general area need to migrate downstream to estuarine or marine environments, and to return at least once in their life cycles (a shortened list, derived from McDowall (1980), is given in Appendix 6). The Currambene Creek waterfall presents a formidable barrier to fish undertaking the upstream journey. Only non—migratory fish, or migratory I species capable of climbing the vertical falls are likely in the creeks above. I iL: S

Given this limitation, species likely in the Study Area (Appendix 6) are restricted to Anguilla australis (Shortf'inned Eel), Anguilla reinhardtii (Longfinned Eel), Galaxias brevipennis (Climbing Galaxias) and Gobiomorphus coxii (Cox's Gudgeon). None are shoaling fish and all but Cox's Gudgeon are highly cryptic in their behaviour. It is apparent that the lack of sightings in the Study Area does not necessarily indicate an absence of fish.

HABITAT TYPES AND VALUES:

formed by Parma Creek and its tributaries:

Parma Creek and its feeder creeks in the Study Area have cut through the Nowra Sandstone plateau and into the underlying Wandrawandian Siltstone. The gully formed in this way ranges from 100 to 1500 m wide, and from 40 to 75 in deep.

The main gully is aligned from west to east, south—west to north—east, or south to north. The major feeder gully is aligned south—east to north—west. Gully slopes in the Study Area face predominantly north through to west and are exposed to much of the full strength of the sun, although small areas facing approximately south—west are more protected.

Within the gully, rocks and boulders occur commonly immediately below the edge of the sandstone plateau, and less commonly below. Surface soils are derived from sandstone, and overly those derived from siltstone. There are several areas of alluvial, sandy soil on the gully floor in its wider parts.

Gully slopes are watered directly by rainfall and indirectly by surface runoff directed into feeder creeks from the plateau above. Several large and small stretches of gully slope are watered by more or less permanent seepage from the sandstone plateau above.

PARMA CREEK

Given the range of physical conditions described above, Parma Creek gully in the Study Area provides for a range of forest, riparian and aquatic habitats.

Parma Creek itself is a narrow stream with predominantly clayey banks and a sandy bed directing a gentle to moderate flow through numerous deeper pools and shallower sections. Fallen timber is common in and sometimes above the creek, providing variation in the rate of flow, trapping sediments and sometimes partially damming the creek to produce deeper upstream pools. Although predominantly and strongly shaded by riparian vegetation, the creek supports numerous extensive patches of 2 aquatic plants, Vallisneria gigan tea and Myriophyllum peduncula turn.

Several species of fish are possible (Appendix 6) in Parma Creek, as well as 1 or more species of yabbie, bivalve and gastropod molluscs and a range of aquatic insect larvae. Aquatic and riparian food supplies are sufficient to support Gyppsland Water Dragon and numerous Eastern Water Skink together, probably, with a range of other reptiles (Appendix 4) and frogs (Appendix 5). Aquatic mammals such as the Eastern Water Rat are likely (Appendix 2), and perhaps the Platypus, a species listed under Schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife I 19 S I Act, 1974, No. 80 as being 'fauna of special concern'. In addition, the creek supports visits by aquatic birds such as the Little Pied Cormorant.

I Other than timber—getters' tracks that cross it and partially block it at several points, Parma Creek has been little impacted by upstream or local development. Given the probable high value of Parma Creek as habitat for a range of species, I any possible future development in or beside Parma Creek should be preceded by a more thorough study of the fauna and flora of the creek itself. I RIPARIAN HABITATS Riparian habitats adjacent to Parma and its larger feeder creeks are more obviously of high value, supporting often extensive stretches of a sometimes well I developed Ceratopetalum apetalum - Acmena smithil - Backhousia myrtifolia riparian rainforest canopy (Appendix 1B), sometimes under a Turpentine or eucalypt overstorey, and generally associated with a sparse groundcover comprising a range of ferns (Appendix 1A) including Todea barbara immediately I adjacent to the creek. In more open areas, rainforest understorey and overstorey species are intermixed with non—rainforest riparian species including Histiopteris ineisa, Ho wittia trilocularis, Ba uera rubioides, Loma tia myricoides, I Mel aleuca hypericifolia, Prostanthera linearis and P. violacea, with an often extensive groundcover of sedges including Gahnia sieberana, Lepidosperma spp. I and Lomandra ion gifolia. These floristically rich riparian habitats s.upport a range of birds typical of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest sites (Appendix 3, and see e.g. Nix & Brooker, 1978). Mammals include a bandicoot (possibly the locally endangered I Southern Brown Bandicoot, a species which the study shows to have been present in the area until recently and which may still be present), and more common and locally widespread mammal species including the Brown Antechinus, Bush Rat, I Swamp Wallaby, Common Ringtail Possum and Common Wombat. Several other mammals are expected in these habitats (Appendix 2) as well as a range of I reptiles (Appendix 4) and amphibia (Appendix 5). In the past, the more valuable timber trees have been removed from these riparian habitats and some areas have been encroached upon by fire, but many have had time to recover from the more extreme damage done. As with Parma I Creek, any possible future development affecting these riparian habitats should be preceded by a more exhaustive fauna and flora study, and most certainly a study that identifies the bandicoot present in riparian habitats located on areas I of sandy soil.

OTHER CLOSED FOREST

I Other extensive warm temperate rainforest habitats of high to very high value are located on west— and north—facing slopes in the narrower parts of the Parma Creek gully, near the north—east and south—west ends of the Study Area. I Continuously available soil moisture in these habitats is provided by widespread seepage from and through the sandstone plateau above. The predominantly P1 Ceratopetalum apetalum - Livistona australis - Callicoma serratifolia rainforest L canopy occurs in some patches without a tall open forest overstorey, and in other areas with a Turpentine overstorey. The rainforest canopy is generally more species rich at the south—west end of the Study Area. As with riparian rainforest, these extensive rainforest patches are floristically diverse with I numerous species other than the nominal dominants (Appendices 1A, 1B). Their floras include 1 locally common species (Acacia binervata) and 2 locally rare species (Scolopia bra unii, Geijera salicifolia var. latifolia) at the southern limits of I their ranges. I 20 . Common mammals in these habitats are Swamp Wallaby and Common Ringtail Possum. Other mammals are likely (Appendix 2), however, including other arboreal possums and gliders and visiting fruit bats of several species. Birds present are typical of rainforest species (Appendix 3; Nix & Brooker, 1978) and might well include visiting or resident rainforest pigeons of several species (c.f. Nix & Brooker, 1978). A wide range of reptiles (Appendix 4) and amphibia (Appendix 5) is possible.

As with riparian rainforest, the more accessible and valuable timber has been removed in the past. The drier parts of the rainforest in the north—east show evidence of fire many years ago, but are regenerating well. Much of the rainforest in the south—west appears to have been less impacted, and is of particularly high value both in its own right and as habitat for other species.

GULLY TALL OPEN (WET SCLEROPHYLL) FORESTS

Surrounding or adjacent to riparian and warm temperate rainforests, near Parma Creek and on the moister or more protected gully slopes, are what is left of once probably more extensive areas of mature wet sclerophyll forest (tall open forest with a shrubby understorey - Appendix 1B). In some areas heavily impacted by past timber—getting, these tall open forests are regenerating with possibly altered compositions of the main canopy species. Mature tall open forests generally remain only in the less accessible parts of the Study Area, for example on moist slopes below the more extensively precipitous portions of the plateau edge.

Tall open forests are now dominated by Syncarpia glomulifera, Eucalyptus pilularis and E. gummifera, associated with E. piperita ssp. urceolaris, E. punctata, F. sieberi (on drier slopes) and sometimes E. saligna x botryoides, F. maculata and F. globoidea. A relatively limited range of shrubby understorey species (Appendices 1A, 1B) is sometimes replaced by a dense groundcover of sedges, particularly Gahnia sieberiana, or ferns.

Although often heavily impacted in the past, the understorey provides good habitat for a characteristic range of forest birds (Appendix 3; Nix & Brooker, 1978) including the Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird and Eastern Whipbird. The unidentified bandicoot referred to above occurs in sandy sites dominated by Gahnia, together with the more widespread Swamp Wallaby, Red—necked Wallaby, Common Wombat and Common Ringtail Possom. A range of other terrestrial, arboreal and aerial mammals are expected or possible (Appendix 2), including Greater Glider (which was present in the area until recently, and may still be present) and Koala (for which E. pilularis, F. punctata, E. maculata, F. saligna and F. botryoides are favoured food trees). There is suitable habitat also for a range of reptiles (Appendix 4: including Diamond Python, Brown Tree Snake and Green Tree Snake) and amphibia (Appendix 5).

Although much of this forest has been affected by timber—getting in the past, it remains of considerable value as habitat for forest fauna. In the absence of further impacts, this value could be expected to return in time to something approaching its pre—colonisation status. Parts of these forests could be expected also to develop (or return to) a closed understorey condition following the long— term absence of fire.

GULLY OPEN (DRY SCLEROPHYLL) FORESTS

Given the past impacts of timber—getting in Study Area forests, the distinctions between tall open forest and open forest in the Parma Creek gully are somewhat blurred. Nevertheless, typical open forest occurs on most of the drier gully I PSI S I slopes, dominated by many of the tall open forest canopy species (Appendix 1B) and characterised by a shrubby and heathy understorey rather than the shrubby understorey of tall open forest. The shrub component may be developed at the I expense of the heathy components in more protected sites. In other sites, the shrubby and heathy understorey species have been replaced largely or completely by grasses and sedges.

I Gully open forest supports a range of terrestrial, arboreal and probably aerial mammals (Appendix 2). For example, Red—necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby and Common Wombat are common large terrestrial species. Common Ringtail Possum I and Sugar Glider are common arboreal mammals, and presumably Eastern Pygmy Possum and Feathertailed Glider. The latter 2 species are listed under Schedule 12 of The National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80 as 'fauna of special I concern'. The Koala should also be considered as a possible arboreal species in these forests. Furthermore, these open forest areas offer good habitat for forest birds (Appendix 3) including the Gang—gang Cockatoo (listed as 'vulnerable and rare' under Schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80), and I a range of possible reptiles (Appendix 4) and amphibia (Appendix 5).

Less severely impacted by timber—getting than the tall open forests of the Study I Area, gully open forests retain high habitat values that can be maintained fairly readily with existing and proposed land uses. I The Sandstone Plateau:

I THE ROCKY EDGE OF THE SANDSTONE PLATEAU

The plateau edge comprises a complex, variable, relatively rare and extremely I valuable habitat or set of habitats. Physically, the plateau edge varies greatly in its properties. In several areas, it comprises wet gently sloping rock platforms such as those at the far north—east I and south—west ends of the study area. These are treated separately below. In other sites, for example around shallow gullies channelling some of the larger feeder creeks into the Parma Creek gully, it consists of sometimes wet more I steeply sloping and occasionally stepped rock platforms. More typically, however, it consists of a 5 to 15 m cliff face, often cracked or fissured, sometimes stepped, and characteristically with large to massive sandstone slabs partially or I completely separated from the main face, standing semi—erect or lying tumbled below except on the steeper slopes, where boulders have come to rest well below.

This plateau edge is characterised not only by numerous cracks and fissures, but I also by extensive sections with overhangs and sometimes complex groups of caves. Caves are generally of distorted semi—spherical shapes, formed apparently by the slow migration of salt in solution outward through the sandstone, and the I accompanying growth of salt crystals which weakens the rock matrix and causes the affected volumes of rock to crumble to an often fine powder. Most of the caves so formed appear to lie along the weathered outer surface of the plateau I edge, forming overhangs of often very complex shape, but there is evidence of others, far less accessible, that penetrate the otherwise solid sandstone further back from the edge and should offer protected cave environments for cave— inhabiting fauna. Caves and overhangs are most evident in areas where water I passes through the sandstone and supplies water—dependent downslope wet scierophyll and rainforest communities. L I 22

These caves and overhangs appear to be fairly fragile in that their outer skins are often formed of thin layers of relatively impermeable rock, their roofs sometimes suspended in a thoroughly precarious manner. For this reason, they are likely to be particularly vulnerable to ground vibration.

In general, the floors of the caves and overhangs slope too steeply to accumulate debris. They are blanketed in an often thick layer of rock-derived dust and sometimes salt crystals that migrate outwards towards the entrance. The dust is heavily pitted by ant-lions, and footprints, trails, scats and other signs show that they are visited or inhabited by Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (a Threatened species listed in Schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80), Spotted-tailed Quail (listed under the same Act as being "Fauna of Special Concern"), Swamp Wallaby, Fox, Brown Antechinus, lizard, snake and Superb Lyre Bird. Wombats burrow in the clayey soils beneath some slabs and boulders. Continual rustling sounds at at least one site suggest that they are used by roosting, cave-inhabiting bats. Southern Boobook Owls regularly roost on ledges in some overhangs, an unusual behaviour for this species. The presence of old Sooty Owl pellets in one cave shows that this Vulnerable and Rare species (Schedule 12, National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80) was present until recently and may still be present. There are the remains of nests of a number of species of birds, some of which appear to be those of raptors, but others which are more puzzling.

The plateau edge provides habitat for a potentially wide range of reptiles, quite possibly including the Broad-headed Snake, a Threatened species listed in Schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80.

Floristically, the plateau edge provides its own values, as well as acting as a physical boundary between the sandstone species of the plateau and the wetter gully communities below. In particular, the rocky edge accommodates 5 species of rock or epiphytic orchids and a number of ferns and other plants more or less specific to such sites. In addition, it supports a wide range of rainforest margin species (Appendix 1A) and adjacent mature eucalypt communities now rare in more accessible sites elsewhere in the Study Area.

The plateau edge comprises very high value habitat that is particularly vulnerable to the direct and indirect affects of quarrying on the adjacent plateau.

PLATEAU OPEN (DRY SCLEROPHYLL) FOREST

Open forest growing on the plateau supports at least 10 tree species (Appendix 1A) in a range of communities (Appendices lB. 1C) probably depending upon soil types and depths, availability of water and the drainage qualities of the substrate. Except in some areas near the plateau edge, the terrain slopes gently or imperceptibly and drainage is often impeded, particularly in lateritised soils. Water rises near to or at the surface according to the highly variable properties of the underlying sandstone as well as the local terrain. As a consequence, communities and associations are arranged in a highly variable patchwork, intergrading with each other in a manner that makes detailed identification and description difficult and perhaps rather arbitrary.

The composition (Appendix 1A) and structure of the rich heath and shrub understorey varies in the same manner, and also according to the frequency of past burning and the time since the last fire. Several broad areas of plateau open forest have burned in recent years and the shrub layer remains patchy and poorly developed. Other areas possess a closed shrub understorey with relatively few heathy individuals, and appear not to have been burned for a long I 23 S I time. The rare low shrub Pultenaea villifera (3RCa) occurs as scattered but locally common populations in open forest relatively near the plateau edge. I The highly variable structure and composition of plateau open forest almost certainly contributes to its value as faunal habitat, particularly for open forest birds (Appendix 3), large and small arboreal and terrestrial manunals (Appendix 2), and reptiles (Appendix 4). A number of amphibia are possible here, also I (Appendix 5). Of particular note, the White-footed Dunnart occurs as a possibly large population in the recently burned forest immediately to the south of the existing quarry. This species is listed as Vulnerable and Rare in Schedule 12 of I the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80 and, locally, is at the northernmost limit of its distribution in N.S.W.. Feathertail Glider and Eastern Pygmy Possum, 2 species almost certainly present in these forests, are listed I under the same Act as "Fauna of Special Concern". Although valuable both in their own right and as vertebrate habitat, these plateau open forests are more widely distributed and perhaps less conservation- I ally significant than many of the other habitats and communities in the Study Area.

I PERIODICALLY OR PERMANENTLY MOIST OR WATERLOGGED PLATEAU SITES

Scattered throughout the Study Area plateau, but concentrated mainly in the I north-east and south-west, are areas in which the generally infertile soils are particularly shallow or virtually absent, and which remain periodically or permanently moist or waterlogged. These often broad areas remain wet apparently because the water table is forced to the surface by the impermeable I underlying strata. The larger areas support a range of habitats, communities and associations, often arranged in a complex patchwork or mosaic presumably depending on past and present conditions within the site. Several of these I communities are associated with unusually high concentrations of rare or vulnerable plant species. I Timber-getting or other activities have rarely impinged on these areas in any noticeable way, and most remain essentially pristine. The destruction of water dependent plateau communities at the site of the existing quarry provides one of I several relatively minor exceptions to this generalisation. Communities range through woodlands and open woodlands, Leptospermum scrubs, heath or scrub, mallee scrub, low open heath, sedgeland-like heath and LeptocarpusBanksia sedgeland (Appendix 1B). The flora is rich (Appendix 1A) and aesthetically attractive. Rare or vulnerable species noted in some of these communities are Eucalyptus 'langleyi' (2V), Acacia subtilinervis (3RCa), Leptospermum epacridoideum (2RC), Rulingia herinanniifolia (3RCa) and I Pseudanthus divaricatissimus (3RCa). Stands of the locally endemic and vulnerable mallee E. 'langleyi comprising many hundreds of individuals, appear to be as good as any known (c.f. Mills, 1985). Present also is a population of an I apparently undescribed, presumably rare and possibly endangered yellow-flowered form of Blandfordia nobilis, a species listed as Protected in Schedule 12 of the I National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, No. 80. The presence of these rare and vulnerable species confers a very high value on these habitats and communities. However, they are valuable for other reasons also. Extensive areas of flowering Banksias makes them very important to I migrating honeyeaters, which require ready access to nectar along their route in order to complete their migrations successfully. Similarly, the sighting of a wader, uncertainly identified as the very rare Little Curlew, indicates that they I also serve a role as temporary resting and feeding areas for occasional trans- I PM S equatorial migrating waders, protected by International Law under agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia and several countries north of the equator. The presence of 2 other uncommon to rare bird species, Southern hmu— wren and Beautiful Firetail (Appendix 3), also points to the high value of these habitats.

In addition to these rarer qualities, a range of more usual mammals (Appendix 2), birds (Appendix 3), reptiles (Appendix 4) and amphibia (Appendix 5) are present or can be expected.

These very valuable, water—dependent communities are unusually vulnerable to indirect as well as to indirect interference. Any activities that interrupt or block their supply of water will lead to their damage or loss, depending upon the degree of interference. The survival of these communities depends upon maintaining existing hydrological regimes.

POTENTIAL QUARRY SITES IN THE STUDY AREA:

Part of the purpose of the present study is to direct proposed future mining operations within the Study Area towards sites where operations will impact least on the more significant natural values of the Study Area and further down Parma Creek.

Given the more valuable habitat types in the Study Area, the distribution of these rainforests, gully forests, woodlands, scrubs, heaths and sedgelands, and the significance of the Parma Creek catchment in maintaining the natural clear— water values of Jervis Bay, the choice of potential quarry sites is narrowed down to two areas:

Site 1. That part of the area of the existing quarry in Portions 102 and 159 being more than 50 m from the edge of the plateau, together with a limited and already heavily impacted area to the north (Portion 159), and extending into a more intact area of open forest to the south (Portion 102). The quarry and related activities would be limited to the east by the eastern boundaries of the 2 Portions. To the west, quarrying and related activities would be restricted to a distance of greater than 50 m from the plateau edge. To the north and south, quarrying and related activities would be restricted strictly as defined in Figure 1.

Site 2. That part of Portion 102 confined to the open forest on the plateau at the southern end of the Study Area and sloping towards the north or east. To the south, quarrying and related activities would be limited by the southern boundary of Portion 102. Elsewhere, quarrying and related activities would be restricted to distances of greater than 100 m from the plateau edge and from the unnamed feeder creek in the southwestern corner of Portion 102, strictly as defined in Figure 1. I 25

I. IMPACTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ALLEVIATING IMPACTS: I Quarrying operations in the area have the potential to impact on natural values in any or all of the following ways:

I * Direct damage to, or destruction of habitat, flora or fauna both through the quarrying operations and through the creation and/or operation of I supporting infrastructure. Indirect damage to, or destruction of habitat values, flora or fauna, within the sphere of influence of the quarrying operation or downslope from it, I through incidental influences such as: a. Noise and/or ground vibration (from e.g. heavy machinery, blasting) b. Interruption, disruption and/or diversion of natural processes (e.g. I movement of water over and/or through the sandstone layer) C. Erosion (of e.g. quarry site, access tracks, plant site) Localised pollution (oils, chemicals, sewage) Changes in downslope water quality (solids or solutes derived from the quarrying process, products of incidental erosion, pollution) I I'. Bushfire Potential impacts are discussed under separate headings below:

I..Directimpacts:

Sites 1 and 2 were selected in part because of their limited natural values, in part because their locations are relatively far removed from most of the more valuable habitats in the Study Area and, in the case of Site 1, because it is proven as a quarry and its natural values already part destroyed. Although I limited, the natural values of the two sites are by no means negligible. The central portion of Site 1 has been heavily impacted by recent quarrying for ridge gravel, comprising extensive areas of bare soil and smaller areas of exposed rock near the plateau edge. The surrounding vegetation is predominantly Eucalyptuspilularis - F. gummifera - Syncarpia glomulifera open forest with a shrub and heath understorey. This part of the site retains the impacted remains of several wet soil communities along the plateau edge, including 2 rare plant species (Rulingia hermanniifolia (3RCa) and Pseudanthus divaricatissimus (3RCa)). Scattered throughout and adjacent to the existing quarry are numerous I individuals of a third rare plant species, Pultenaea villifera (3RCa). Much of the more northerly portion of Site 1 may have been quarried for ridge gravel in the more distant past, and has partly regenerated since that time. The heath/scrub component of the vegetation is unusually diverse, with more than 70 speciesrecorded here and on the plateau edge. However, all are plants that occur elsewhere in the Study Area.

The more southerly portion of Site 1 remains intact, being predominantly a Eucalyptus pilularis - E. gummifera - Syncarpia glomulifera open forest with a I shrub and heath understorey. Much of the understorey in this area was burned a few years ago, and the post—fire succession accommodates a thriving terrestrial small mammal population including Brown Antechinus, Bush Rat and the vulnerable I and rare White—footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus). It seems likely that this I 26 latter species may be locally widespread, occurring at low densities throughout the general area except where it is able to exploit seral stages following fire. Site 1 is used also by Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Red—necked Wallaby and Common Wombat, as well as a range of open forest birds.

Site 2 is in part a drier E. gummiferi - E. sieberi - E. consideniana open forest with associated Syncarpia glomulifera and sometimes E. scierophyila. The understorey is shrubby and heathy, possessing a diverse range of shrub and heath species, only 1 of which was not found elsewhere in the Study Area, together with only sparse populations of small mammals. Downslope, the open forest is dominated by E. gummifera, E. aggiomerata and S. glomulifera, associated with more occasional specimens of E. punctata, E. sieberi and Banksia serrata. Drainage in this lower portion is often poor, and shrub species typical of wetter sites are relatively common and sometimes dominate the understorey. Much of the understorey was burned very recently so that its detailed composition remains unknown. The small mammal fauna of this burned area may resemble that of the burned area immediately to the south of Site 1. Larger mammals are generally as for Site 1. The Site supported little in the way of bird species at the time of the survey.

All the existing natural values of Sites 1 and 2 will be lost during quarrying. On the other side of the balance, however, they will be replaced at the end of the quarrying operation with extensive exposed rock faces and surfaces that could in the medium to long term support rarer communities than those lost. It is recommended that rehabilitation concentrate on maximising habitat opportunities for colonisation by nearby rarer species and communities, rather than attempt to turn the quarries into sunken football stadiums or boating ponds. Rehabilitation with this end int mind is discussed in general terms under a separate heading below.

Impactsof noise and groundvib.ratio

Both noise and ground vibration arising from quarrying, plant activities and particularly from blasting have the potential to disturb wildlife in parts of the Study Area and on adjacent land. The responses of species using nearby high value habitats, particularly those along the rocky edge of the sandstone plateau, must be of particular concern in this regard. In addition, rock falls and the destruction of several overhangs and caves could be expected along the plateau edge adjacent to Site 2.

There is little information to suggest how particular species present or likely in these habitats might respond to disturbance caused by noise and ground vibration. However, several bat species are known to respond adversely to disturbance, including the cave—frequenting bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Appendix 2) which suffers increased mortality as a result of frequent disturbance during its winter hibernation (Strahan, 1983). Responses such as this may not be atypical of some of the more sensitive or mobile species in the area. The possible reactions of Brush—tailed Rock Wallaby along the plateau edge must be of particular concern.

There seems relatively little that can be done to reduce the impacts of normal operating noise and ground vibration, other than to restrict quarrying and related activities to the area outside a buffer zone. Partly for this reason and partly because of its own natural values, a minimum buffer zone in excess of 100 m from the plateau edge is recommended in the more sensitively located

IS 27 southernmost quarry site (Site 2), and the minimum buffer zone of 50 m in the already partly impacted northernmost site (Site 1).

Buffer zones will also help to reduce the impacts of blasting on the plateau edge fauna and fauna in more distant habitats, particularly as the quarry becomes deeper. Although these factors will help reduce the effects of noise from I blasting, they will not eliminate it. It is recommended, therefore, that effective methods be determined of reducing blasting noise and ground vibration to levels well below those legally allowable, and that these methods be used routinely in I the functioning of the quarry.

Impacts of interruptio disruptionad/oryersnth ...ofna.ura1• rocesses:.• •

The majority of the more valuable habitats in the area (e.g. sedgeland, heathland, scrub, rainforest) depend completely on water brought to them by existing channels and processes. Critically important amongst these, the permeable sandstone plateau in and around parts of the Study Area functions as a slow release reservoir for rainwater, and impermeable layers of rock divert this water to or near the surface at places where many of the more valuable plateau, plateau edge and gully communities occur.

There is a real possibility that a quarry could be sited so that it interrupts this process, either in its earlier stages or subsequently, after the water has reached the surface.

SITE 1: I Site 1 is located on a surface drainage line. Soils are waterlogged during wet weather, a small creek flows through the middle of the existing quarry, and the remains of several vegetation communities dependent upon periodically or permanently waterlogged soils are present along the plateau I edge. To the north—east, seepage lines converge on the gully that partially divides the existing quarry site into two.

I Resumed quarrying at Site 1 will completely interrupt seepage and creek lines, and will affect down—slope water dependent gully communities adversely, as well as those more heavily impacted communities that still I survive on the plateau edge. The latter communities include approximately 20 specimens of the rare species Rulingia hermanniifolia (3RCa) and at least i of Pseudanthus divaricatissimus (3RCa), none of which will survive if their water supply is cut off. The creek draining the existing quarry also I supports frequent downslope pockets of Livistona australis - Callicorna serratifolia riparian rainforest, vegetation which similarly will not survive if the creek dries up. The water that currently supports this vegetation will I instead collect in the quarry, leading to drainage difficulties and problems in disposing of sediment—contaminated water. I SITE 2: Surface features are less easy to use in locating areas of porous sandstone plateau that collect and hold water, and areas of permeable rock that I channel the water towards habitats supporting water—dependent communities. Nevertheless, Site 2 vegetation suggests a complex of porous and impermeable substrates, where rainfall is absorbed into the rock in I some areas, and where it is diverted towards the surface in others. Rainwater falling on Site 2 almost certainly contributes to and helps I 28 S maintain the small creek that crosses the plateau edge to the north—east, and perhaps the larger creek that crosses the edge to the west. It is not at all clear whether water travels through the rock from further afield.

The consequences of locating a 10 or 20 m deep quarry in such a situation are difficult to predict. It is possible that water passing through permeable sandstone in the surrounding area would find its way into the quarry rather than into the nearby creeks. Certainly, the quarry site itself would no longer function as a slow—release reservoir to feed these same creeks, and dependent vegetation could suffer to an unknown extent. As in Site 1, there could be drainage problems within the quarry itself, and associated problems in disposing of sediment—laden water.

Ideally, water diverted into each of the quarry sites would be returned, sediment—free, to all the vegetation communities depending upon it. This could be achieved by mechanical means during the life of each quarry, but not afterwards. Options for achieving the same end by non—mechanical means after each quarry is abandoned are limited to gravity—driven movements of water. Given the relatively permeable nature of much of the sandstone in the area, it seems unlikely that quarries at either site would collect enough water to fill up and overflow. Degradation or loss of affected water—dependent communities above the quarry water table, including those communities with rare species on the edge of Site 1, appears to be inevitable.

Although water—dependent plateau communities above each quarry water table are unlikely to survive, dependent riparian communities below the quarry water table could be saved if they were supplied with sufficient water during the working life of the quarry, and if the rock barrier between the quarry and creek was breached subsequently as part of the rehabilitation process. This could be accomplished very easily for the creek in Site 1, but is more difficult for the two creeks in Site 2 because of the greater distances involved. It is likely that the larger creek to the west of Site 2 would continue to collect sufficient water to maintain existing dependent riparian communities within Parma Creek gully, although plateau edge scrub communities to the east of the creek would probably be lost. Riparian vegetation along the small creek to the north—east of Site 2 would probably not survive unless the rock barrier were breached.

Erosion:

Erosion during and after quarrying is not expected to present any serious problems, since soils in the area are generally shallow and not particularly erosion—prone, and since sediment should drain into the quarries rather than away from them. Site 1 is already served by access tracks which can be upgraded if necessary using quarry spoil. Site 2 access should be via the Blackbutt Range Road rather than Farina Fire Road, to avoid compounding existing siltation problems at the creek crossing on the new powerline easement to the east of Portion 102.

Localised nollution: I Pollution from spills of diesel or other oils remains a risk in the working part of the quarry, at the plant site and at points downslope of these. There is a significant probability that the products from such spills would be dispersed into the surrounding area and/or into the Creek system. I

29

The risk can be minimised by restricting oil storage and handling to the area of an impervious apron (e.g. concrete or cold-mix) and installing surface drainage I around the edges to direct spilled oil into an oil trap. Oil traps of several kinds are available from Monier. Fuelling of mobile plant should take place over the impervious apron at the plant site, and not in the extraction part of the quarry.

I Although fuelling of plant should occur over the plant site apron and not in the working part of the quarry, there remains a risk of accidental loss of oil in the extraction area, in transit or elsewhere. Techniques are available to remove oil I spillages before they spread. These should be investigated, perhaps by enquiries to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and materials purchased ready for I immediate use when required. The quarries will provide daytime employment for a number of people. The provision of toilet facilities at each site would be appropriate. Similarly, garbage I bins should be provided, used and serviced to avoid littering the sites. I ha.gsin do.wnslopeWate.rquality: It is to be expected that oils and human waste will be kept out of the natural I drainage system if measures outlined above are followed. Other materials from the quarry could find their way into the drainage system and degrade it, however. In particular, it is likely that considerable quantities I of water will seep or flow into the quarries, probably continually in the case of Site 1, and certainly during or after periods of heavy rain in both sites. In the quarry areas, where surfaces are denuded of vegetation, the water will pick up I clays, silts and rock dust and hold them in suspension for varying periods of time.

Depending on the permeability of the underlying strata, some water may pass I through the sandstone and leave the solids behind. Much of the time, however, it will be necessary to remove sediment-laden water from the extraction areas. In a situation with normal environmental constraints, this water would be pumped I into the first of perhaps a series of settling ponds adjacent to the quarry, where sediments could settle out before water was released into the nearby surface I drainage system. In the present situation, there is a need to restrict all quarry-related activities to within the boundaries of the quarry sites. Settling ponds can be located outside the quarry in the earlier stages of its operatiOn, but must be located I within the quarry during the later stages when extraction activities have expanded to affect the total area of the site. The details of the quarrying I operation at each site must take account of this additional constraint, therefore. Where possible, it could be advantageous to locate the settling ponds down-slope and over porous sandstone, making use of the filtering qualities of the sandstone I and, at the same time, helping maintain downslope vegetation communities. At times or in situations where this is not possible; downslope riparian communities should be supplied directly with sediment-free water pumped from the settling ponds. This should be supplied at a steady, low rate, rather than at more I occasional, higher rates. r I 30

Bushfire:

Bushfire originating from the quarry sites is unlikely considering the lack of vegetation, but accidental fires should be considered because of their destructive impact on wildlife and on property. At the very least, compensation claims could be crippling. Advice on prevention and control should be sought from the Shoalhaven City Council Bushfire Control Officer.

The .summedeffects .ofresidualimpac.

Some residual impacts of development are unavoidable, and the summed effects of these will inevitably downgrade the high to very high habitat values of the surrounding area. However, the nett downgrading effect of these summed impacts could be cancelled out by upgrading the level of protection provided to the surrounding area. It is recommended that appropriate strong measures be taken to upgrade the level of protection provided to the remaining habitats within and adjacent to the Study Area, thereby ensuring the future preservation of their unusually high values. The precise nature of measures to be taken is a matter for the proponent to decide upon, following consultation with the NPWS and perhaps other informed parties.

Eurth.erde.ye10pmen. .tin the Parma Creek .Catch. tarea:

It is possible that development of the 2 quarry sites will open the door to further developments in the general vicinity, leading to a progressive impoverishment of local and downstream habitat values. The generally very high habitat values of local and downstream areas are evidenced by Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan No. 1 which identifies the general area as a Wildlife Corridor, by National Parks and Wildlife Service interest in parts of the Parma Creek area, and by the Australian Conservation Foundation proposal for a Jervis Bay Marine Park that would include the Parma Creek catchment. It would be thoroughly unfortunate if the recognised high natural values of the general area were to be eroded or lost through increasing development within it, or adjacent to it.

REHABILITATION:

Rehabilitation should be undertaken with two major purposes in mind:

To maximise the valuable and rare habitat opportunities offered by the steep rock faces, the bare rock shelves and the limited drainage opportunities of the quarry site.

To maintain or reinstate where possible the quarry—affected supply of water to dependant riparian habitats downslope of the quarry site. 31 S I Preliminary to Qua rying:

I Before quarrying commences, take cuttings and/or other propagating material from a range of individuals of the 3 rare species (Rulingia hermanniifolia, Pseudanthus divaricatissimus, Pultenaea villifera) in Site 1, recording details of the conditions they are growing under. Maintain this material through the life of I the quarry for planting in simHar sites during rehabilitation.

If desired, propagate other (wet heath) rare or vulnerable species and maintain for use during rehabilitation. Alternatively, collect seed and store.

Remove surface vegetation from the site. Mulch and stockpile it separately. I Alternatively, distribute it in 15 cm layers through the stockpiled topsoil to help keep the topsoil aerated.

Remove topsoil from the site. Stockpile it in a dry situation and use as soon as possible (the soil will sour and the soil seedbank may be destroyed on standing). Alternatively and preferably, use topsoil removed directly from a later stage to rehabilitate the prior stage. I Remove subsoil from the site equivalent to at least a 15 cm layer over the rehabilitated quarry floor. Stockpile it separately and use as soon as possible. directly from a later stage to I Alternatively and preferably, use subsoil removed rehabilitate the prior stage.

I DuringQu ar

If possible, quarry the site in stages, allowing for progressive rehabilitation and the rapid use of materials that would otherwise degenerate during storage. This could make the siting of plant and of settlement ponds more difficult, however.

If desired, collect and store seed from the various sedges and colonising species (including tea-tree) in the area. This will provide a rapid cover over parts of the rehabilitated area.

Al'terQuarryin

Remove all building foundations and materials (including oil trap aprons, drains, etc), discarded equipment, rubbish, etc. I Use drilling and explosives to drive through from the Site 1 quarry to the adjacent creek. Ensure that this drains the quarry. Leave one or more large I settlement ponds in the quarry, immediately upslope of this drain. Alternatively, this could be done during the life of the quarry rather than afterwards.

Use drilling and explosives to open up and drain the lowest part of Site 2. Leave one or more settlement ponds immediately upslope of this drain. Alternat- ively, this could be done during the life of the quarry rather than afterwards.

Use explosives to roughen up, create cracks, crevices and ledges in some of the rock faces defining the quarry. Leave boulders and loose rock lying at the bases of some of these faces. Leave loose material (quarry rock, available clay I S and subsoil) on and around level surfaces on the faces Distribute some of stockpiled topsoil on rock face surfaces that will retain it.

Determine which are the wetter and which the drier sites in the quarry.

Leave as much loose rock, and as- many boulders and slabs as possible over the quarry floor. Distibute stockpiled subsoil and then topsoil in random patches and strips over the quarry floor, leaving some areas of exposed loose rock and substrate. Where subsoil is deposited, provide a minimum cover of 15 cm and some areas of much greater depth. Broadcast mulch in the drier sites if the mulch was stored separately.

Plant or broadcast the collected seed of colonising species in appropriate wet or dry sites. Plant the propagated rare species in appropriate wet or dry sites.

Leave the rehabilitated quarry to develop further in its own way.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is believed that the following recommendations, if followed, should significantly modify impacts of the proposed Hell Hole quarrying operations as these influence habitats and species in the vicinity of these quarries. The recommendations are intended both to minimise adverse impacts and to maximise positive opportunities arising from the quarrying operations:

General:

Quarrying and associated activities should be restricted entirely to areas within the 2 sites described as Sites 1 and 2 in this report. The boundaries of these sites in part delimit buffer zones, set up to protect valuable habitats along the edge of the sandstone plateau.

Quarrying and associated activities should be conducted in a manner that minimises adverse impacts on biological communities, associations and species outside these sites.

Quarrying and associated activities should be conducted in a manner consistent with the rehabilitation of the affected sites.

Rehabilitation of the affected sites should follow directly on from the termination of quarrying and associated activities.

Rehabilitation should focus on maximising the valuable and rare habitat opportunities offered by the abandoned quarry sites.

Because residual impacts of development are unavoidable, and because the summed effects of these will inevitably downgrade nearby high habitat values, strong (counter) measures should be taken to ensure the long—term future preservation of remaining Study Area habitats at a level significantly above that operating at present.

I I 33

I.At the Star

Access and the provision of services to Sites 1 and 2 should make use of existing cleared areas, and no vegetation outside the boundaries of Sites I and 2 should be damaged or removed for access or other purposes. I All structures, plant and quarry—related activities should be located within the boundaries of Sites 1 and 2.

If possible, Sites 1 and 2 should be subdivided into discrete areas, and the the quarrying/rehabilitation cycle for each such area be completed sequent- ially.

Propagating material should be taken and maintained from each of the rare plants species located in or adjacent to Site 1, in the manner recommended elsewhere in this report.

The surface vegetation of each site should be taken, mulched and stock- piled for use during rehabilitation.

The topsoil of each site should be taken and stockpiled in a manner that minimises souring and loss of the soil seedbank during storage, for use during rehabilitation.

A volume of subsoil equivalent to a layer of at least 15 cm over the whole of the affected site should be taken and stockpiled separately for use during rehabilitation.

Oils and other liquid chemicals should be stored and handled only in an area of the site set aside specifically for this purpose, and comprising an impervious apron with encircling spoon drains that direct spilled material into an oiltrap below. The oiltrap should be serviced as required.

Trucks and mobile plant should be refuelled only on the impervious apron and not at the quarry site or elsewhere in the quarry area.

Materials and equipment should be made available at the site to remove accidental spillages of oil at the quarry site and elsewhere.

If the plant site is to be located on the existing surface above the extraction area, ensure that surface runoff from above the plant site is diverted to the natural vegetation on either side of the site. Direct surface runoff from the unvegetated surface of the plant site itself into a settling pond.

Toilet and garbage facilities should be installed at the plant site.

DuringQuarrying:

Effective methods should be determined for reducing noise and ground vibration from blasting at the quarry face. These methods should be employed routinely during the quarrying operation to minimise disturbance or damage to nearby rare fauna. 34 S Water from the plant and quarry sites should be free of pollutants and all solid material before it is released into the surrounding environment. Install settling ponds and filters, capable of removing such materials, within the site and not outside.

Where possible, direct unwanted pollutant- and sediment-free water towards downslope creekside habitats that have their water supply interrupted by the quarrying operation. Supply these habitats with continuous water, rather than periodically. Alternatively or in combination with this, use the permeability of underlying strata to dispose of unwanted water.

Where water is required for the quarrying operation, use water that collects in the settling ponds rather than water from adjacent creeks. Where possible, recycle water used at the plant site.

Seek advice on wildfire prevention and control from the City of Shoalhaven Council Bushfire Control Officer.

Rehabilitation:

Where possible, open up the quarry at points adjacent to creeks that have had their water supply interrupted by the quarrying operation, so that water from the quarry floor drains into these creeks and helps maintain existing creekside vegetation.

Remove all building foundations and materials (including oil trap aprons, drains, etc.), discarded equipment and rubbidsh from the site.

Use explosives to create cracks, crevices, ledges and loose rock slabs along rock faces within the quarry. Leave as much rubble and and as many boulders as possible along some (but not all) parts of the base of the rock face. Deposit some of the stockpiled subsoil around some (but not all) parts of the base of the rock face and on any (more or less) level rockface surfaces. Distribute some of the stockpiled topsoil over all subsoil covered level surfaces on the rock face and at the base.

Leave as much loose rock, rubble and boulders as possible over patches of the quarry floor. Distribute the rest of the stockpiled subsoil over parts (but not all) of the quarry floor. Where applied, provide this cover of subsoil to a minimum depth of 15 cm and occasionally much deeper. Leave an irregular uneven surface with areas of quarry floor showing and with rocks and boulders projecting through. Cover all areas of subsoil with the remaining topsoil and its accompanying seedbank.

Plant the previously propagated specimens of Site 1 rare species in appropriate positions.

If it is felt necessary, broadcast the locally collected (and where necessary, pretreated) seed of colonising species (including tea-tree and any understorey heath species) to supplement the seedbank in the topsoil.

Leave the rehabilitated area strictly alone to develop in its own way. Discourage recreational vehicular access by placing effective barriers on vehicular access points. I I• 35 I REFERENCES: Baur, G. N. (ed.)(1965). "Forest Types in New South Wales". 80pp. Forestry Commission of N.S.W. Research Note No. 17. I Blakers, M., Davies, S. J. J. F. & Reilly, P. N. (1984). "The Atlas of Australian Birds". xivi±738pp. Melbourne University Press. Briggs, J. D. & Leigh, J. H. (1988). "Rare or Threatened Australian Plants". revised edn. vi±278pp. ANPWS Special Publication 14. I Kangaroo Press. George, A. S. (1987). "The Banksia Book". 2nd edn. McDowall, R. M. (ed.)(1980). "Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania)". 208pp. Reed. I Mills, K. (1985). "Vegetation Survey of the Proposed Shoalhaven-Moruya No. 2 132kV Transmission Line". vii±205pp. Consultant's Report Prepared for the Electricity Commission of NSW. I Nix, H. A. & Brooker, M. G. (1978). "Birds". in "Land Use on the South Coast of New South Wales. Volume 2: Bio-physical Background Studies" edited by R. H. Gunn, pp74-80. C.S.I.R.O. I Short, J. (1989). "The diet of the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby in New South Wales". Australian Wildlife Research, 16 (1): 11-18. Short, J. & Milkovits, G. (1990). "Distribution and Status of the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby in south-eastern Australia". Australian Wildlife I Research, 17 (2): 169-179. Strahan, R. (editor)(1983). "The Australian Museum Complete Guide to Australian Mammals". xxi+530pp. Angus & Robertson. I Wilson, S. K. & Knowles, D. G. (1988). "Australia's Reptiles. A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia". 447pp. I Collins. I 0THERSOURCES:

Armitage, I. (1977). "Acacias of New South Wales". ii±200pp. Society for Growing Australian Plants, N.S.W. Region. Australian Conservation Foundation, Canberra Branch (1990). "Jervis Bay Marine National Park. A Proposal by the Australian Conservation Foundation". 20pp. A.C.F. Canberra Branch. N. C. W., Evans, 0. D. & Carolin, R. C. (1972). "Flora of the Sydney Region". 2nd edn. 724pp. Reed. Brooker,Beadle, M. I. H. & Kleinig, D. A. (1983). "A Field Guide to Eucalypts. Vol. 1. South-eastern Australia". vi±288pp. Inkata. of Flora and Fauna, Canberra (1988). "Flora of Australia. Vol. 19. Bureau Myrtaceae - Eucalyptus, Angophora". xvi±543pp. A.G.P.S.. Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Canberra (1988). "Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Mammalia". x±274pp. A.G.P.S.. Cogger, H. G. (1975). "Reptiles & Amphibia of Australia". 584pp. Reed. Vol. 5. Cogger, H. G., Cameron, E. E. & Cogger, H. M. (1983). "Zoological Catalogue of Amphibia & Reptilia". vi±313pp. A.G.P.S.. Costermans,L. (1983). "Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia". Australia.Vol.ix+422pp. Weldon. 1. Fairley, A. & Moore, P. (1989). "Native Plants of the Sydney District. An Identification Guide". 432pp. Kangaroo Press. I

36

Fuller, L. & Mills, K. (1985). "Native Trees of Central Illawarra (including the Kiama and Sheliharbour Municipalities)". iii+l8lpp. Weston & Co., Kiama, N.S.W.. Griffiths, K. (1987). "Reptiles of the Sydney Region". 120pp. Three Sisters Productions, N.S.W.. Hyett, J. & Shaw, N. (1980). "Australian Mammals. A Field Guide for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania". x+270pp. Nelson. Jones, D. L. & Clemesha, S. C. (1976). "Australian Ferns and Fern Allies". 294pp. Reed. Lee, A. & Martin, R. (1988). "The Koala. A Natural History". 102pp. New South Wales University Press. Pizzey. G. (1980). "A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia". 460pp. Collins. Schodde, R. & Tidemann, S. C. (1986). "Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds". 2nd edn. 639pp. Reader's Digest. Slater, P., Slater, P. & Slater, R. (1986). "The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds". 343pp. Rigby. Smith, A. & Hume, I (eds.)(1984). "Possums and Gliders". xv+598pp. Surrey Beatty & Sons. Triggs, B. (1984). "Mammal Tracks and Signs. A Field Guide for South—eastern Australia". xii±193pp. Oxford University Press. Williams, J. B. & Harden, G. J. (1980). "Rainforest Climbing Plants". 47pp. Botany Dept., University of New England. Williams, J. B., Harden, G. J. & McDonald, W. J. F. (1984). "Trees & Shrubs in Rainforests of New South Wales & Southern Queensland". iv±141pp. Botany Dept., University of New England. Willis, J. H. (1970). "A Handbook to Plants in Victoria. Volumes 1 and 2.". xvi+481pp, x±832pp. Melbourne University Press.

P. M. Barrer,

radate oa esource Manages:. I I. 37 I I I I I I I APPENDICES:

I I I I I I I I I I I APPENDIX IA:

S Native plant species recorded in different habitats within the Hell—hole Study Area. I

- 9* FAMILY. GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS I

(CLJJB McDSES):

Lycopodiaceae:

Lycopodium deuterodensum TPMi rip 3

Selagin ellaceae: I Sellaginella uliginosa OAMW;fllp 2 3

(F'ERNS):

Osmundaceae:

Todea barbara PCM/W:nlp 9

Schizaeaceae: I Sehizaea bifida OAW;rls 4 Gleicheniaceae:

Dicranopteris linearis PAMB;rls 5 Gleichenia microphylla PAMB;ulp 5 I 9 Gleichenia rupestris CM, W;n1p. Sticherus flabellatus PBM;rls 5 9 I Flymen ophyllaceae: Hymenophyilum cupressiforme PRM1W;rlp 5

Cyatheaceae: I Cyathea australia lUW;nwsip 5 3 9 Dicksoniaceae: I Culcita dubia P;nlp 5 7 8 9 Dennstaedtiaceae:

Ilistiopteris incisa PM;ulp 7 8 9 I Pteridium esculentuin D,MO,P:cwsip 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 Lindsaeaceae: I Lindsaea i'nicrophylla OM;nls 5 9 Adiantaceae:

Adiantuifi aethiopicwn PMC;rlp 9 Adiantum hispidulum PSMB:uws 8 I Cheilanthes lasiophylla OMWR:u1s 5 Cheilanthes seiberi OMR:uls 5 Pellaea falcata var. falcata OMRnlp 5

Davaili aceae: I Davadlia pyxidata OR,nlp 5

Aspleniaceae: I 5 9 Aspleniujn flabellifolium PMB;uls

Polypodiaceae: I Pyrrosia rupestris AMR;ulp 5

quarry: I corny edge to labitats - 3 ire on the sandstone placeSu, and - I are in lleythe va hems: I sedgeland: oeechiscrub: 3 snodiandiopen 3nrest: 4 I rprien raxnforest. plateau: i saohland/open oresr: 7 regenerating: earure tail open forest: I turpentine esergents or overstorey si: raintorest understorey: open: protected shaded: under actor' I on I lits :haracteriatics: A = seepage area: 3 rockyiboulder stress: near creek: try; :evei; I z ioist/huitd: J z patches solet:les extensive: r = rare: a rack tare: S z sloping: I shailoe soil over rock: 4 z set. Abundance sithin habitat: conan: 1 localised: a nor uncruon: p no as single plants; u uncnuon; s sndeapraad.

I (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

I I 2 APPENDIX IA (Continued) I - 9* FAMILY, GENUS & SPECIES S1TE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS 1

Blechnaceae:

Blechnwn cartiLsgineum O/PM;nwp 3 5 7 8 9 Doodia aspera PSMB;nls 9

(ANGIcFE3RMS - GYMNcDS1ER1%4):

Zamiaceae:

Macrozamia cominunis D?C:uls 6

(NGIcF' PQN.

Winteraceae: I Tasmannia insipida PM;uds 9 Eupomatiaceae:

Kupomatia laurina PB;uls 5 I Wilkiea huegeiiana PM:uls 8 Monimiaceae: I Paimeria scandens PMB;nls 9 Cassythaceae: .

Cassytha giabeila O;uls 2 I Cassytha pubescens OD;uls 6 Ranunculacege:

Giematis aristata OiP%f;cls 5 8 9

I Men isperrnaceae:

Sarcopetalum harveyanum Oi PM;nIs 5 I Stephania japonica var. discolor PMB;nls 9 Ulmaceae:

Trema aspers P:nls 5 8 9 I Moraceae: Ficus rubiginosa O,PR;uis 5 8 9 I Casuar inaceae: Ailocasuarina distyla OM:nls/p 2 3 Allocasziarina Iitoloraiis D'M;rilp 3 5 6 7 I Chervop odiaceae: KLnadia hastata OR;rls 5

Portulacaceae:

Calandrinia eremaea OMT;uis 5

Dillereiaceae: I flibbertia dentata O/PMnws 5 8 9 Hibbertia empetrifolia Oi P;cws 2 3 4 5 6 7 ilibbertia riparia O,PAM;nls 2 3 ifibbertia scandens PC,uls 5 8

Iabitsts I - 5 are on te sandstone plateau, and 6 - I are n :e valley oeloa: sedgeland: 2= leat!scrub: 3 eocdlandiopen oresc: 4 3 : :0053 auge to plateau: 6coodiand/open orasc: 7 :eeneratin; lacure :a open :rvsc: I :urpeot:ae elergents or overstorey aith rainforest understorey; 3 r:par:an :ainforest. Site :oaracteristios: veepae area: 3 rocdy!bouider screen: C near oree: I dry; Cevel; ioisz'huaid: 3 open: ? protectedisnaded: under eater: 1 on rock face: 5 = sloping: ahalloc soil over rock; I eec. Anundunce cithit habitat: : :ouofl: 1 Cocaiised: oat inconon: p = in patroes, SOlettids extvns:ve: r rare: I as single plants: o n::IIon: a eliespreed.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

I I 3 APPENDIX IA (Continued)

- 9* I FAMILY,. GENUS & SPECIES S1TE;ABUNDANCE PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS 1

Cl us i ace a e

ifypericum gramineum 0ti1s 5

laeocarpaceae:

Eiaeocarpus reticuiatus 0 PR. CM;nws p 5 8 9

Sterculiaceae

Lasiopetalum terruginewn var. ferrugineum 0 P;nws 2 3 7 9 I Lasiopetalum rnacrophyllum PBM;rls S Rulingia hermannilfoila (3RCa) OR TAM;rlp (4) 5

Malvaceae: I flowittia trilocularis P:nls;p 9

Droseraceae:

Drosera peltata OTMW;uls.p 2 I Drosera spathulata 0PAWT;nws 2 4 5

F)acourtiaceae: I Scolopia braunli PBM;uls 8

Violaceae:

Ilybanthus vernonli OM;uls 3 I Viola hederacea ssp. hederacea 0 PM;nls 3 6

Passifloraceae: -

Passiflora cinnabarina 0/PRM;nls 5 I Passiflora edulis PM:rls 8 Passiflora herbertiana PSBM ;rls S

Epacridaceae: I .Acrotriche divaricata PM/W;uls 5 7 .4sti-oloma humifusum 0M5;uis 2 3 aj5 irticrophylla T?AM,W;nIs 2 3 Sp acris obtusifolia OM/W;rls 2 I fipacris puicheila 'I?;cws 2 3 6 Leucopogon esquainatus M;uis 2 Leucopogon lanceolatus var. lanceolatus PM.:ars 3 4 7 9 Montoca scoparia M;nws 2 3 I Sprengelia incarnata OW;clsp I Myrsinaceae:

Rapanea variabilis PMB R;nls 5 8

I Cunoniaceae

Callicoina serratiklia 0 PM;nIs 5 .3 9 Ceratopetalum apetalum PMCuIs 9 I Ceratopetalum gururniferum PlR BSuls p 5 B a u e race ae:

Bauera rubioides 0 PI;as p 1 9

P us po race ac.

Biiulardiera scandens PI nw s 5 8 9 Sursaria spinosa Pd,uls p 9 I Citriobatus pauciflorus PMuis 9 Pittosporum undulatum P\IR;r?ls 5

i:::::e uey :e:w: see: :r :3 :; :rsc: :::p3n:iiie r::S :r :1 rs:::y 4:::

:at3c:3r:st::S: seepaçe i:: 3 I 4:::a:::1::

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

I I 3 APPENDIX IA (Continued)

FAMILY, GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS I -

I.Rosaceae:

Rubus hillil PM:nlp 3 9 Rubus rosifolius PM,ulp 9 aft. moorei PM;ulp 9

MimosaRubus e ae: sp.

,4eacia binervata PM;nwp 5 7 .3 9 Acacia echinula D;nws 3 Acacia elongata OM:uls 2 Acacia irrorata asp. irrorata O PM?;CWS,P 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Acacia longifolia var. longifolia 0P:u?1s/p 2 6 Acacia rnyrtifolia OP;u?Is 2 3 Acacia obtusifoLia OPC;rils.p 3 4 Acacia suaveolens .. PM?;nls 2 3 Acacia subtiljnervis (3RCa) OMT:uls 2 Acacia termlnalis 0 PM?;nws p 2 3 5 6 7 3 9 AcaciaulIcifolia 0.PM?nws 2 3 4 5

Caesalpiniaceae:

Cassia odorata OCR;rls (4) 5

Fabaceae:

Aotus ericoides 0;uIs 2 4 OP;rtls 2 3 5 Bossiaea heterophylla O'P;nls 2 3 4 Bossiaea obcordata O.P;rtls,p 3 6 DaviesiaBossiaea alataensata OM?;uls 2 Daviesia latifolia ris . 3 ulicifolla OD?;ols, p 3 Desmodium var.ians OR:r.[p 5 OW;cls 1 2 DaviesiaDiliwynia floribunda var. floribunda Diliwynia ramosissima OT°;uls 2 3 Glycine clandestina O;nws 3 Gompholobiumgrandiflorum OP;uws 2 3 5 Gompholobium latifolium O,P:cws 3 6 Gompholobium minus OMW;uls, p 2 ifardeabergia violacea OB.R;uls 3 4 5 Kennedia rubicunda PM;rtis 7 8 9 Oxylobiumcordifolium OTM;uls (4) 5 Oxylobium ilicifolium D?;uls p 3 Platylobium formosum asp. formosum 0 P;cws. p 3 4 6 7 Pultenaea daphnoides 0 PM?;nws 3 4 6 7 Pultenaea elliptica OM?;uls 2 Pultenaealinophylla 0 P;nis 3 5 Pultenaea rosmarinifolia 0 P:uls 3 Pultenaea scabra O;uls 4 6 Pultenaea viscosa 0 P;uls 2 3 tenaea villifera (3RCa> 0;nls 3 4 5 Viminariajuncea 0AMW,rIs 2 Pul P rote ace ae:

Banksiaericifolia 1it.nls, p 2 Banksia paludosa M Wn1s 2 3 Banksia serrata D. Mows p 2 3 4 5 6 Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa D Moo-as, p 2 3 4 6 Conospermum longifolium sap. aiediale OMoo1s 2 Grevilleaparvitiora D?:rls 2 3 flakes d.actyloides M,Wr1s 2 3 Ilakea salicifolla 0.'PM;uls, p 2 3 9 Hakea sericea 3 P:cws 2 3 4 Flakes teretifolia 0 PD,W;nws 1 2 3 4 [sopogonanemonifolius OT?M':nls 2 3 Lambertia formosa 0 P;ows p 2 3 4 6 Lomatia ilicifolia ows 3 4 5 Lomatia myricoides PCM W.nls p 9 Lomatia silaifolia rls 3 Persoonia levis M,W;cls 2 3 Persoonia linearis 0 P;cws,p 2 3 4 5 6 7 Persoonia mollis OM;uls 2

- 1,2 :0 :: ::soo: ;::mu. nai 1 - ire :: :oe ;se ::: : :ea::3'oo er :rry 3:03: :::i) i:;e or 3:3au: 1 eoc:n, :;eo :res:: o3;3:3r3:::. 1atre :3:. :er :rest: 3 ::r;e::::3 ser;m:s or: :s000ey ::rre::::rs: :3:00:033:. ::iri::9r:so::s: .3 33203e erm: 3 00:37 ':::e: sonar: :im rome: 7 307 :3'ie_ 30:3:, 3; 7 ope:. 7 ;rrts::sd. 5:3333: oo3r s:sr: I s:s s.rp:: 1 sna_: 07 20 30 0:05: 43:..uooi::3 a::::: :3:2:3:: 0 :03300: 7 :ase3:::::: :n::er::: p :0 ioo0es. 3:330:2m30S:0e: 0 :5r3: 3 S soo;s p13503: 0 ;:::ia:a'a:3esprsii. Ii: (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I 5 APPENDIX 1A (Continued)

- 9* I FAMILY.. GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS 1

Petrophile pedunculata OPT?:cws 2 3 4 5 Stenocarpus saiignus PMnIs S 9 I Telopea speciosissilna rls .3

Ilaloragaceae:

Gonocarpus teucrioldes PM;nls 7 I Myriophyllurn pedunculatum Q;nip 9

Thytnei)aceae: I Pimelia linifolia ssp. collins nvls 3 6 7

Myrtaceae:

Acmena smithil PM;nls. p 3 9 I Angophora floribunda M?C;ulp 6 Backhousia myrtifoLia PM:nls, p 8 9 Baeckea vjrgata PL,CM?;nls.p Callisteonin linearis QM;uls 2 Callisteinon rlgidus OM, W;uls 2 I Darwinia campostylis OtPM. 'Vc1s p 2 Eucalyptus agglomerata LT?:eI 2 3 Eucalyptus consideniana LTDiM;cl 1 2 3 Eucalyptus globoidea LS,nI 6 7 Eucalyptus gumrnifera L S;cw 2 3 4 5 6 7 I Eucalyptus maculata L S;ul 7 Eucalyptus pilularis L S;cw 3 4 5 6 7 Eucalyptus piperita ssp. urceolaris L. S;nl 3 6 7 Eucalyptus punctata LT?:cl 2 3 6 7 I Eucalyptus saligna x botryoides LCM?;nI 6 7 Eucalyptus scierophylla LT?;cl 2 3 Eucalyptus sieberi L S;nw - 2 3 6 7 Eucalyptus sp. 4 (iangleyi') (2V) LTM W;rtl 1 2 Kunzea ambigua - O P;cws p 2 3 4 6 I Leptospermum arachnoides OTAW;nls p 2 Leptospermum attenuatwn OM?;nlsp 2 3 5 Leptospermum epacridoidewn (2RC-) OTAM. W;nlp 2 Leptospermum juniperinuin OM?;nls 2 3 Leptospermum polygalifolium 0 PM, W:cwp 2 3 4 5 6 7 I Leptospermum rotundlfolium OM;rtlsp 2 Leptospermum scoparium vat. scoparium AM, W;1p (4) 5 Melaleuca hypericifolia PCM;uls 9 Melaleuca Jjnarilfolla OAM,W;fllS,p 1 2 Melaleuca squarrosa OM W;rls 2 I Melaleuca thymifolia OAM W;nls p 1 2 Micromyrtus ciliata OAM, W;nls 2 Rhodamnia rubescens PMB;nls p 8 Syncarpia giomulifera O'PL,S;cw 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 I Tristaniopsis collins OMBR;uls 5 Trista.niopsis laurina PCM.nls, p 9

Santalaceae: I Exocarpos cupressiforinis Is 7 Exocarpos strictus uls 2 3 5 Leptomeria acida. 0.P:nls 3 5 I Stackh ousiaceae: Stackhousia monogyna PM?n1g 3 5

Euphorbiaceae:

I Ainperea xiphociada 0;nws 2 3 4 6 Breynia oblongifolia PM;nls S 9 Claoxylon australe PBM;nis p 3 Poranthera corymbosa 0;nls 3 I Pseudanthus divaricatisslinus (3R("a) OTM?;rls 2 4=) 5 Rhamnaceae: I cryptandra ericoides PT;rls 2

iabi:s:s - S irs : :ho sars:re porssu. ir S - 7 irs n :e vaey se:,: sedqeond: eothiscrb; iaoddcpe :rss:: I puarry: .4 5 :cy odge :o :a:osu: a:;:o :a: :pe: S:ros:: S ::r;en:::e oer;e::s :r I 7 o:se::Oes v o:: :ver ::ck: i ge:. 1: :ui::0 i::: :ac::a:: : ::00u0: ::oec. : ::: ::::su:: p :: ra:: os. 00:0:0:70. : :0:0: 0

(CONTINUED ON r-JEXT PAGE) I 6 I APPENDIX LA (Continued)

I.U FAMILY, GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS 1 Vitaceae: I Cissus hypoglauca PM;nws 8 9

Treinandraceae: rn Tetratheca thymiI'oiia 0.P:cws 3 5 6 Polygalaceae: Comesperma ericinum 0/P;nls 3

Sap indaceae: Dodonaea triquetra OPS;nis p 3 5 6 I Meliaceae: Synown glandulosum OMR;uis, p 5 8 I Rutace ae: Boronia sp. PT?;uls 3 5 Boronia thujona O'P;cws. p 2 3 4 5 6 Correa retlexa T?;uls 5 Geijera sajicjfolia var. latifolia PMB;uls 8 I PheL'allum squameum PM;rls S Zieria pilosa 0 PT B R;cws 5 3 Zieria smith! 0 PB. R:nws 5 I Apiace ae: Actinotus minor M;nlsp '2 Platysace ericoides OT R;uis 3 5 Platysace linearifolia - 0' P;nls. p 3 1 I Xanthosia pilosa 0;nls 2 3 4 5 6 Loganiaceae: I Mitrasacme polymorpha PAM1 W:uls 3 5 A p oc y a a: eae Parsonia straminea PR;uls 5 I Parsonia ap. A PM;uls 9 Asclepiaceae: Marsdenia rostrata PM:nls ' 9 Marsdenia suaveolens OB;rls 5 I 7'ylophora barbata . PM:nls S

So[anaceae: Solanum prinophylluin OR uls 5 I Solanum stelligerum OR,uls 5

Verbenaceae: I C'hloanthes stoechadis 0:nls :3 (4) 5

Plectranthus parviflorus 0 PMR T,ass 5 I Prostanthera Iinearis PM,uis p 3 '3 Prostanthera violacea PM;nls. p 3 7 3

0[eaceae: I .Votelaea longifolia var. longifolia PMB.nls p 8 9

Scrophu[ar)aceae: I Veronica plebela OAMTUlp 5

ire :: :e sens::ne pa:eiu, ind 4 - ire : :e 7e 7 ey e:':ed;eiand: :ee0. scrc:) - 43d3dape3 3:rest: 4 4uarry: 4 5 :::x4 e;e :3 ir :arr7 e': : ::c q e;e :: :a:ei:: I '4::51:3, :;e :res:: ' :e;ere:::;.1e:re :e :pen 5:resc: I :r;e::::e eier;e::e 3: ::ere'::e i::: :3ers::rey: I :(p.er:en :einf:rest i:33er ie:e:. 3 i:e :erec:e::s:::s: 4 3eee4e eree: 3 ::CX7 :uer s::ec; :ear ::eee: :ry: CVe1: i::e: :z.: :;ea: :rc:e::e :ear :::i: I -ie:..::e::i is s::.e a::s:::::acn: a e:espraad.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I 7 APPENDIX 1A (Continued)

FAMILY, GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF hABITATS 1 - 9

Acanthaceae:

Pseuderanthemum variabile 0 M;uls

Bignoniaceae:

Pandorea pandorana 0/PM;nws 5 8 9

Lentibulariaceae:

I Utricularia diehotorna OQ;nls 1 2

Carnpanulaceae:

Wahienbergia coinmunis O;uls 2 I Lobeliaceae:

Isotoma axillaris OR;nls/p 5 Lobelia dentata OiP;nls 3 I Pratia purpurascens O;nls,p 6

Stylidiaceae:

2 I Stylidium graminifolium O;uls Stylidium Iaricifolium PMB,T;ulsip 5 Stylidiun, lineare OM1W;uls 2 IGooden iaceae: Dampiera stricta 0;n1s 2 Goodenia heterophyila P;cws 3 4 6 Goodenia ovata PM;uls 9 Scaevola aemula OiP;cws 2 3 4 6 I Scaevola ramosissima P;riis 3 4 5

Rubiaceae:

Morinda jasminoides PM;nls 9 I Pomax umbellata O;nls 2 3 4 Psychotria loniceroides PM;nwsi p 5 8 9

Asteraceae:

I Cassinia aculeata OM:uis 7 !leiichrysum elatum OM;uls 7 Olearia tomentosa PMB;rls 5

(ANGIDSPE3RMS - QNC'YLD'DNS):

Ihiydroc h an tac e ae: Vallisneria gigantea Q;cwp 9 IArecac eae: Livistona australis PMC;clsp 8 9

Cypenaceae:

I Caustis tiexuosa 0/ PM W;nls p 3 4 Gahnia sieberiana 0 PM W;cws, p 3 4 6 7 8 9 Lepidosperma lateraie 0 P;cws 2 :3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lepidosperma urophorum 0,PM:nws 2 3 6 7 8 9 I Poaceae:

linperata cylindrica 0:n1p 3 4 6

iabicacs I - 5 are on te sandstone pLateau, and a - are in he sailey beloy: :eedqeiand: 2 beach; scrub: I coodland/open brent; 4 auarry; rocky edge to plateau: I coodiand open brent; :egeneretioq;Iature cai open barest: turpentine aler;ents at overstorey cith rainorest understorey: I r ar:anpa ranoforest. Site ;n arac:aristics: I seepage area: 3 rockybouber screen: tear :reek: I fry: evei: 501st auaou; open: ? proteccene snaaeu: z rder ater: I rocs face: S sioctag: 7 soaoe sail over rock: 4 z eec. Abundance aitbin oanitet: ::alao: : :oca:ised: n 'oat ncouon: p ;n pa:aoes, sose::sen exteostle: r rare: I IS aingie plants: u = oncruan: e eodeapread.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

I 8 I APPENDIX 1A (Continued) FAMILY,. GENUS & SPECIES SITE;ABUNDANCE** PRESENCE OF SPECIES IN ANY OF HABITATS 1 - Rae ía odo race ae:

Haemodorum corymbosum OM;nws 2 3 4 I Liltaceae: Arthropodium milleflorum PAM. WT Ruls 5 Blandfordja flotilla OW;cws 1 2 Caesia parviflora OM.uws 2 Diane/Ia caerulea 0 3 6 I Drymophila cyanocarpa P!iR:uls 5 flypoxis hygrometrica OAMW;nls 2 3 Scheihammera undulata PMB;nls 5 8 Thysanotus juncifollus D?;nis 3 I Tricoryne simplex PM';nls 3 6 tridaceae:

Patersonia giabrata 0 P;cws 2 3 4 5 6 I Xanthorrhoeaceae:

Lomandra longifolia sap. lorigilolia B. C;nls 3 8 9 Loinandra obliqua T?;nls 3 6 Xanthorrhoea concava ODIM?:rils;p 2 3 I Xanthorrhoea media OT?;uls 2 Smilacaceae:

I Eustrephus Iatifolius PMnws 5 8 9 Smilax austrahs 0 PB. R;nws - (4=) 5 8 9 Smilax glyciphylia 0PB.R;uls (4) 5 Orchidaceae:

Bulbophyllum exiguum 8M;nlp 5 Caladenia aiba OM?;nls 2 3 Gryptostylis subulata 01),Au1s 3 4 5 Gymbidium suave 0PM;nls 7 8 9 I Dendrobium pugioniforme OR;rlp 5 Dendrobium speciosum var. speciosuin OR;nwp 5 Dendrobium striolatwa OR:ulp 5 Dipodium punctaturn PM?;iils I Liparis reflexa OR:ncwp 5

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I I I I I I 1

APPENDIX lB I I

A) Vine-FernGb.Sed Forests.:Warm.Ternperate ftam.for.ests I Majorsite(s):I. a. Along parts of both banks of Parma Creek, although best develo ped on the left bank. b. Part Portions 45 and 66, being much of the north-facing I slopes of the Parma Creek valley between the creek and the plateau edge.

Habitat: Permanently moist sites on transportational midsiopes, colluvial footsiopes, and/or alluvial toeslopes including creek banks. Soil moisture on n slopes is provided by seepage through the porous sandstone above. The sites show no evidence of recent burning.

I De.scripti on: The canopy is typically 8-20 meters high, sometimes with Syncarpia glomulifera as an emergent on sloping sites. The canopy is dominated by Ceratopetalurn apetalurri, Acmena smithil, Livistona australis and Cailicoma I serratifolia. Tristaniopsis laurina, Backhousia myrtifolia and Cyathea australis are co-dominants most frequently encountered in riparian habitats.

Stenocarpus salignus occurs too infrequently to be considered a co-dominant, but I small numbers of individuals are scattered throughout. Present also are individuals or patches of a range of species also found on rainforest margins (e.g. Elaeocarpus reticulatus, Rhodamnia rubescens, Notelaea longifolia, Synoum LI glandulosum, Tasmannia insipida and Acacia binervata). Ficus rubiginosa occurs similarly on sloping rocky sites, where it sometimes forms part of the canopy. I Scramblers and climbers are always present, with Cissus hypoglauca the most frequently encountered amongst the 24 species recorded (Appendix 1). Shrubby species are largely absent and the ground layer, also largely absent, is I represented by infrequent ferns (Appendix 1) and sometimes mosses.

I B) Wet .Sd erophyllMix.ed .Fores...Ta11Gpen&Qpen .Forests aGb..Sed Und..rs.o.rey

Major site(s): a. Part Portion 108, being much of the west-facing slopes of I the Parma Creek valley between the creek and the plateau edge. b. Along parts of Parma Creek. C. Along tributaries feeding Parma Creek, in patches or more I or less continuous. d. On the margins of Type A sites. I Habitat. As for Type A. However, the site on Portion 108 in particular shows evidence of past burning and may return to mature closed forest if not further impacted in this way.

I Description: The overstorey is dominated by, or more often exclusively confined to Syncarpia glomulifera. Closed understorey and other species are as for Type A, often but not always with fewer co-dominant species. For example, Callicoma 1 serratifolia tends to dominate along creeks and in seepage areas close to the plateau edge, whereas Ceratopetalum apetalurn and Tristaniopsis laurina tend to I I I• 2 dominate along creeks near or on the valley floor. Patches of Acacia irrorata are I present often also, particularly on the margins. Shrubby rainforest species tend to be more in evidence than in Type A, particularly on or near the edges or where the site shows evidence of past fires. I Psychotria loniceroides and Rapanea variabilis are typical of sloping sites, whereas species such as Trerna aspera, Claoxylon australe and Breynia oblongifolia may be encountered periodically throughout. I

Wet .Sclerophyll .Forest:Shru.bby .TallOpen .Forest

Majorsite(s): Generally larger areas surrounding or adjacent to rainforest patches (See Figure 2). I Habitat: Moister and/or more protected transportational midsiopes, colluvial footsiopes, and alluvial toeslopes. I Des.cripti on: The canopy varies in height but is always greater than 30 metres. Broadly, the overstorey is dominated by Syncarpia glornulifera, Eucalyptus gurnrnifera and E. pilularis. These are associated with E. piperita ssp. urceolaris I E. punctata, E. sieberi (a dominant on drier slopes) and sometimes E. saligna x botryoides, E. globoidea and E. maculata.

Locally, the overstorey may be represented by only a portion of these species, I and comprises a mosaic of small or larger areas of various communities summarised in Appendix 1C.

I The forest has been significantly impacted by past and recent timber-getting, with several extreme instances where large stands of presumably valuable timbers have been totally removed. Although there is widespread evidence of I regeneration, the composition of these forests has probably been altered in the process.

The understorey is typified by a relatively limited range of large shrubs or small I trees including Acacia binervata, A. irrorata, A. terminalis, Leptosperm urn polygalifoli urn, Kunzea arnbigua and Persoonia linearis. Tussocks and smaller shrubs are typified by Gahnia sieberana, Hibbertia empetrifolia, Las] opetalurn I ferru gin e urn, Lepidosperrna la terale, Le ucopogon lan ceola tus, Pirnelia linifolia, Platylobiurn forrnosurn and Pultenaea daphnoides. A ground layer of ferns is also sometimes present, mainly Blechn urn cartilagineurn, Cuicita dubia and Pteridi urn I esculen turn

17rySd erophyR .est:Shru.bbyana'Heath...... Open .'orest

Majorsite(s): Widespread.

Habit.t: Plateau adjacent to the plateau edge throughout most of the study area. Also the drier and/or less protected transportational midsiopes and some colluvial footslopes of the Parma Creek Valley. Soils often relatively shallow or I rocky. I I 3

Descriptio: n The canopy varies between 10 and 30 metres in height and I includes a variety of communities and species: The canopy of the dry scierophyll forest in the valley and on the plateau in the vicinity of the plateau edge comprises various proportions of Eucalyptus pilularis, - I Syncarpia glomulifera, E. gummifera, E. punctata, E. piperita ssp. urceolaris and, sometimes E. sieberi and E. agglornerata. I On the plateau, further from the edge, E. pilularis and E. piperita ssp. urceolaris tend to be absent, often being replaced by E. scierophylla and E. consideniana. Other species in these more poorly drained soils are E. gummifera, E. agglomerata, E. sieberi, E. punctata and sometimes stunted or shrubby S. glornulifera. Locally, I one or more of these species may be absent.

The shrubby and heathy understorey is characterised by a broad range of I typical sandstone species. The shrubby layer is dominated by Banksia serrata, Hakea sericea, Acacia obtusifolia, Persoonia linearis, Kunzea ambigua and sometimes Acacia irrorata or Allocasuarina littoralis. I The shrubby layer grades imperceptibly into a heathy layer typified by Proteaceae (Lambertia formosa, Petrophile pedunculata, Banksia spinulosa, Lomatia ilicifolia, Persoonia levis), Mimosaceae (Acacia ulicifolia, sometimes A. terminalis), I Fabaceae (Bossiaea ensata, B. heterophylla, B. obeordata, Gompholobium latifoliurn, Platylobium formosurn, Pultenaea daphnoides, sometimes P. villifera (3RCa)) and Epacridaceae (Epacris puichella, Leucopogon lanceolatus). Other typical heathy I species are Leptomeria acida, Amperea xiphoclada, Cornesperma ericinum, Boronia th ujona and Pla tysa ce linearifolia.

The ground layer is typified by Hibbertia empetrifolia, Viola hederacea, Pimelia I linifolia, Tetratheca thyrnifolia, Goodenia heterophylla and Scaevola aemula, with the tussocks Caustis flexuosa, Lepidosperma laterale and Patersonia glabrata, and I bracken, Pteridiurn esculen turn.

Allocasuarina .Qpen .Forest

Majorsite(s): Portion 159, towards the north east corner immediately below the I edge of the plateau. Other smaller patches scattered in similar sites elsewhere. Ha.bitat: Rocky sites immediately below the plateau edge. I Description: The overstorey predominantly or exclusively Allocasuarina littoralis, sometimes approaching 15-20 m in height but generally smaller. Understorey flora as for Type D.

Shrubbyand .Hea thy Woondla d

Major site(s): a. Portion 45, south-west corner and the adjacent Portion 66, south-east corner. b. Portion 58, a strip along the eastern edge adjacent to I sedgeland. C. Smaller areas along or adjacent to other drainage lines or I seepage areas. I

4

Habitat: In poorly drained, often wet sites on the plateau.

I Description: A very open canopy, 10-30 m high, typically of Eucalyptus scierophylla, E. gummifera, E. consideniana and E. punctata.

Species characteristic of the taller shrubby layer are Banksia serrata, Hakea dactyloides, H. sericea, Leptospermum poligalifollum, L. attenuatum, L. rotundifolium, L. juniperinum, Acacia suaveolens, A. elongata, Exocarpos strictus and Casuarina distyla. These grade into the lower heathy species Banksia I paludosa, B. spinulosa, Persoonia mollis, Petrophile pedunculata, Isopogon anemonifoli us, Epa ens p ulch ella, A ca cia ulicifolia, A otus enicoides, Gomph olobi urn grandiflorum, Daviesia alata, Pultenaea elliptica, Amperea xiphoclada, Boronia I thujona, Dampiera stnicta and Xanthorrhoea media. The ground layer comprises small shrubby species such as Hibbertia nipania, Astroloma humifusum and Actinotus minor, together with grasses and similar species including Lepidosperma I laterale, Haernodorurn corymbosum, Caesia parviflora and Patersonia glabrata.

Leptospermurn .Montane10sedSCrub

Majorsite(s): Numerous small patches associated with tributaries to Parma Creek. I Fairly common in such situations near the plateau edge. Also occurs in Parma Creek gully, possibly as a seral stage following clearing.

Habitat: Seepage areas with a thin soil over clay (mainly Parma Creek I gully) or rock (mainly plateau edge), often but not always associated with creeks.

Description: Dominated by a tall (greater than 2 m) closed overstorey of I Leptospermum species, typically L. polygalifolium, but including and sometimes dominated or co-dominated by L. attenuaturn or L. junipenmnum. Baeckea virgata also sometimes present as a co-dominant. Emergent eucalypts are sometimes I present. The understorey tends to be sparse and generally reflects the nearby understorey species. I Banksia Tall Closed Heath or Scrub

I Major site(s): a. Portion 58, in often extensive patches along the east side and the north-east corner, along the gently sloping edge of the plateau where it faces north. I b. Portion 66, towards the south end, in extensive patches in a long narrow strip along the gently sloping edge of plateau where it faces west. c. Portion 45, on the plateau above the creek draining into Parma Creek. I Portion 108, on the plateau to the east and south-east of the rainforest in Parma Creek gully. Other parts of the plateau, in areas associated with drainage I lines. Habitat: Periodically waterlogged sites over sandstone, generally associated with seepage areas. Soils are not extremely shallow, but are not deep enough to I support better drainage and a more timbered vegetation.

Description: A tall closed heath of around 2 m in height, sometimes taller, I characterised by the presence of (and usually dominated by) Banksia enicit'olia. Eucalypts may be present as emergents (when the heath might be classified also I I Is 5 as heathy open woodland). Hakea teretifolia is always present and may dominate in drier? parts of sites. B. paludosa and B. spinulosa also may be present, I together with Persoonia levis and, in some areas, Allocasuarina distyla and Callistemon rigidus. Little grows in the ground layer, although grasses, Epacris I microphylla and Hibbertia riparia are often present is more open patches.

I) Wet Mallee Closed Scrub

Major site's): Portion 58, in parts of the east side and the north—east corner, along parts of the gently sloping edge of the plateau where it faces I north. Possibly Portion 66, towards the south end, in parts of a long strip along the gently sloping edge of plateau where it faces west.

Habitat: Wet sites with an impermeable? sandstone underlying a relatively thin and possibly peaty soil through which drainage is probably impeded. The sandstone is often exposed nearby. The sites occur in seepage areas near I drainage lines, and surface water runs through periodically.

Pes.criip.ti on: Small dense thickets of mallee eucalypts, including the rare and I endangered E. 'langleyi' (2V—) (located at the northern end of site (a) only) and a mallee form of E. consideniana. I J) e•tThmpe.rateWetand .DryOpen .Hea

I Major .site(s): a. Portion 58, in parts of the east side and the north—east corner, along parts of the gently sloping edge of the plateau where it faces north. I b. Portion 66, towards the south end, in patches in a long strip along the gently sloping edge of plateau where it faces west. c. Portion 159, in a narrow strip along the gently sloping edge of the plateau where it faces west before dropping into a shallow, rocky gully. I d. Other similar sites where water comes to the surface elsewhere along the edge of the plateau.

I Habitat: Frequently wet sites with an impermeable? sandstone underlying a thin peaty soil through which drainage is impeded. The sandstone is often exposed. The areas sometimes occur adjacent to drainage lines, and surface I water runs through periodically. Description Communities are open and generally very much less than 1 m tall. F'loras vary from being fairly rich to impoverished, where floral diversity I probably depends directly upon the frequency with which the areas are waterlogged. Mi cromyrt us cilia ta, Lep tosperrn urn arachn oides and Epa cris rnicrophylla are always present, together with Drosera spa thulata (occasionally D. I peltata). The rare and endangered species Leptospermurn epacridoideum (2RC) occurs commonly in site (a), together with Darwinia campostylis and Diliwynia I I I [:1

Sedge] and-like Heath

I Major site(s): Portion 58, along parts of the east side and the north-east corner.

Habitat: Wet sites with an impermeable? sandstone underlying a thin peaty I soil through which drainage is probably impeded. Surface water runs continually through the area.

Description: Predominantly a range of sedges (unidentified) together with I frequent Sprengelia incarnata and less frequent Melaleuca thymifolia. Hakea teretifolia and sometimes Viminaria juncea and Melaleuca iinariifolia occur as I emergents.

Leptocarpus .SedgeIand

Majorsites): Portion 58, along parts of the east side and the north-east corner.

I Habitat: Wet sites with an impermeable? sandstone underlying a thin peaty soil through which drainage is probably impeded. Surface water runs continually through the area.

Description: Predominantly or exclusively sedges, dominated by Leptocarpus ?tenax. A rare? yellow flowered form of Blandfordia nobilis is restricted primarily to the edge of these sedgelands, although the normal red and yellow flowered I form occurs elsewhere in the Study Area. I M) Gau.niaSedge.land I Major site('s): Portion 159, along the unnamed creek draining the existing quarry, a little above where the creek joins Parma Creek.

Habitat: A permanently moist, almost level site of perhaps several hectares adjacent to the unnamed creek. Possesses a clayey? subsoil.

Description: Exclusively Gahnia sieberana. Possibly a seral stage, but I regeneration of other species would be difficult because of the density of the Gahnia. I I

1-1 I I I

1

APPENDIX 1C

Open Forest and Woodland Communities/Associat...ns Pres,entinthe Study ..ea I E. pilularis (Moist and Dry) (Forestry Types Nos. 36 & 37)

(Comprised 20-100% E. pilularis - forms tall open forest and open forest - occupies parts of Parma Creek gully, the plateau edge and environs)

Associations noted:

E. pilularis - S. glomulifera as dominants, associated with E. piperita and E. I gummifera (on plateau). E. pilularis - S. glomulifera - E. gummifera as dominants, associated with E. maculata and E. sieberi (gully) or E. piperita, E. punctata and I B. agglomerata (plateau, near edge). E. pilularis - S. glomulifera - A. floribunda as dominants, associated with B. I piperita (gully, lower slope). E. pilularis - S. glomulifera - E. saligna x botryoides as dominants, associated with B. gummifera and B. globoidea (gully, lower I slope). E. saligna x botryoides (Forestry Type No. 50?)

(A stand exclusively of regrowth B. saligna x botryoides - forms tall open forest and open forest - occupies lower slope in Parma Creek gully) I S. glomulifera (Forestry Type No. 49)

(Comprised 50-100% S. glomulifera - forms tall open forest - occupies I sheltered gully areas) Associations noted: U S. glomulifera (with closed forest understorey) (gully, riparian sites and permanently moist/wet slopes) I S. glomulifera dominant, associated with B. pilularis and sometimes E. piperita (gully, riparian sites) I K. maculata - S. glomulifera (Forestry Type No. 70) (E. maculata - S. glomulifera as dominants, associated with E. piperita and E. globoidea - forms tall open forest - occupies higher moist gully slopes I adjacent to areas with a closed forest understorey) I (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I I I APPENDIX 1C (Continued) I E. sieberi - (Forestry Type No. 112) (50-100% E. sieberi - forms open forest, sometimes approaching tall open I forest - occupies drier gully and plateau sites) Associations noted: I E. sieberi dominant, associated with E. pilularis and E. gummifera (gully) E. sieberi - E. gummifera dominant, associated with S. glomulifera and E. I consideniana (plateau) E. gummifera - S. glomulifera (Forestry Type No. 116?) I (E. gummifera - S. glomulifera dominant, associated with E. punctata, E. aggiornerata and E. sieberi - forms open forest - occupies sloping plateau sites near edge)

I E. scierophylla - E. gummifera (Forestry Type No. 119)

(Several associations present, involving E. scierophylla, E. gummifera, E. I consideniana, E. agglomerata, E. sieberi, E. punctata and S. glomulifera - forms open forest, woodland, or open woodland associated with mallee forms of some of the above species (when it may be associated also with the undescribed endemic mallee E. 'langleyi') - occupies infertile poorly drained I plateau soils) I Associations noted: E. sclerophylla - E. gummifera - E. sieberi dominant, associated with E. consideniana and S. glomulifera

E. scierophylla - E. gummifera - E. sieberi - E. punctata codominant

E. scierophyila - E. sieberi - E. punctata - E. agglomerata I associated with E. gummifera I. I

I I I 1

APPENDIX 2

I Checklist of Mammals Present or Uk.eyto0ccurinthe He Ho1 StudyArea: I MONOTREMES:

I Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Platypus) - possible in Parma Creek (C)

I Tachyglossus aculeatus (Short-beaked Echidna) - expected through much of the area (FR,F,FD,,H,S( I MARSUPIALS:

I Dasyurus maculatus (Spotted-tailed Quoll( - present? apparently in Parma Creek gully, generally a rare animal (FR,F(

I Dasyurus viverrinus (Eastern Quoll) - suitable habitat, bun extremely rare or possibly extinct on mainland (FD,Sc,H on plateau) I Phascogale tapoatafa (Brush-tailed Phascogale( - suitable habitat, but believed to be regionally extinct (F,FD,)

Antechinus stuartii (Brown Antechinus) - present I common throughout area (R(c),FR,F,FD)

Antechinus swainsonhi (Dusky .kntechinus) - expected I mainly where good groundcover near Parma Creek (F,FD( Sminthopsis murina (Common Dunnart( - possible I could be sympatric with S. leucopus in area (F,FD,,Sc,H( Sminthopsis leucopus (white-footed Dunnart) - present I on plateau near existing quarry and probably elsewhere, could be common (FD,,Sc,H) Isoodon obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot) - was (is?) present I skulls found in Sooty Owl pellets of uncertain age (F,FD,,Sc,H( Perameles nasuta (Long-nosed Bandiccot) - expected I particularly in sandy areas near creek, signs found in such habitats were either of this species or of. I.obesulus Vombatus ursinus (Common ombat( - present I widespread, fairly common (FR,F,FD,)

NOTE:C or (Cl = creek; H = heath: FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest: FR = rainforest; FW = wet scierophyll (tall open) forest; (0) clearings or open spaces in forest or woodland; R z rocky areas, rock faces: R(c) = caves or crevices in rock faces; S sedgeland swamp; Sc = scrub; W = woodland.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I I APPENDIX 2 (Continued)

Phascolarctos cinereus ca.e( - possible I suitable habitat including iavoired mod trees 'cprus puoc:ara( :F:, Pseudocheirus peregrinus Conmon Ring-tail ?cssun) - present I widespread, common where dense myrtaceous understorey FR,Fc) Petauroides volans Greater Glider) - was (is?) present skulls were found in Sooty Owl pellets of uncertain age; suitable habitat (with suitable nature eucaiypts : ssssi:; high I nutrient concentrations in their leaves) probably reduced by timber-getting F, ,

Petaurus australis (Yellow-bellied Glider) - possible I suitable habitat (with year-round range of large -flowered eucalypts) probably reduced by timber-getcin; Petaurus norfolcensis (Squirrel Glider) - possible suitable habitat reduced by timber-getting (F,FD,)

Petaurus brevices (Sugar Glider) - present along plateau edge, may be widespread where tail Acacias and flowering eucalypts occur

Trichosurus vuipecula (Common Brushtail Possum) - expected in drier parts of the area (FD,,Sc(

Trichosurus canina (Mountain Brushtail Possum) - expected in moister parts of the area, particularly those with richer soil (ie gullies) )FR,F(

Cercartetus nanus (Eastern Pygmy-possum) - present probably throughout, could be common with an abundance of flowering Proteaceae and Myrtaceao FRF,FD,Sc,H(

Acrobates pygmaeus (Feathertail Glider) - present? could be common with an abundance of flowering Myrtaceae, would move seasonally between different communities FR , F, PD, Sc ,H)

Potorous tridactylus (Long-nosed Potoroo) - possible in limited numbers in areas with a moister, sandy soil and a dense ground cover (F,FD,H(

Petrogale pennicillata (Brush-tailed Rock wallaby) - present? suitable habitat available centred on extensive sunny caves on plateau edge (FLFD)

Thylogale thetis (Red-necked Pademelon) - possible in areas where wet forest with dense understorey adjoins grassy open areas FR,F)

Macropus parma (Parma wallaby) - possible in areas where wet forest with dense understorey adjoins grassy open areas (FR,F)

Macropus rufogriseus (Red-necked 'wallaby) - present common, occurs in most habitats (F,FD,,H)

NOTE: C or (C( = creek; H = heath; PD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet scierophyll (tall open) forest; (0) clearings or open spaces in forest or woodland; I = rocky areas, rock faces: 1(c) = caves or crevices in rock faces; S sedgeland swamp; Sc = scrub; W = woodland.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 3

APPENDIX 2 (Continued) I Macropus giganteus (Eastern Grey Kangaroo) - present I common in or adjacent to more open, drier areas including existing quarry and powerline easenent (FD)C) •)O)) Wallabia bicolor (Swamp wallaby) - present L common throughout area where there is cover to hide (FR,F',FD,',H) PLACENTAL MAMMALS:

I Pteropus poliocephalus (Grey-headed Fruit Bat) - expected visitor (most southerly breeding camp nearby); feed on blossoms (including Slackbutt) and rainforest it (FR, more open sites) I Pteropus scapulatus (Little Red Fruit Bat) - expected visitor; feed on blossoms (mci. Blackbutt( and rainforest fruit (FR, more open sites)

I Taphozous flaviventris (Yellow-bellied Sheathtaii Bat) - possible roost in hollow limbs; feeds above canopy in forested country, but lower in more open country; winter nigration to warmer I areas (F', more open sites) Rhinolophus magaphylius (Eastern Horseshoe Bat) - possible roost in small, hot, humid caves: feeds on low-flying insects, including aquatic ones (FR, more open sites)

I Tadarina australis (white-striped Freetail Bat) - possible roosts in trees; usually feeds above the tree canopy; more common inland? )FD,, more open sites) h Pipistrelius tasmaniensis (Tasmanian Pipistrelle( - possible roosts mainly in tree hollows, but sometimes in caves; prefers tall open forest in wet sclerophyll gullies, feeds mainly on I moths, may migrate between coast (winter) and nearby mountains (summer) (F') Myotis adversus (Large-Footed Myotis) - possible roosts in caves and dense foliage; feed by 'raking' surface of water with long feet for aquatic insects (FR, more open I sites) Chalinolobus mono (Chocolate Bat) - expected roosts in trees and caves; feeds mainly on small moths (range of habitats)

Chalinobus gouldii (Gould's wattled Bat) - expected roosts in tree hollows: susceptible to disturbance; feeds below tree canopy, often around water and sometimes near the I ground )F,FD( Eptesicus pumilus (Little Brown Bat) - expected I roosts in caves or rock crevices; feeds on small insects between canopy and 2 meters above ground (FR, more open sites) Eptesicus vulturnus (Small Forest Eptesicus) - possible I roosts in tree hollows; feeds on flying insects from just below tree canopy to about 2 meters above ground (FD,)

NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall open) forest; (0) clearings or open spaces in forest or woodland; R = rocky areas, rock faces; R(c) = caves or crevices I in rock faces; S sedgeland swamp; Sc = scrub: W = woodland.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I 4

APPENDIX 2 (Continued) I Eptesicus regulus (King River Bat) - possible roosts in tree hollows (Fi,FD(

I Eptesicus saggitula (Large Forest Eptesicus) - expected roosts in tree hollows (F,FD)

I Nycticeius rueppeilil (Greater Broad-nosed Bat) - possible roosts in trees; prefers wet gullies in tall timber country: feeds 3-6 meters (sometimes 1 meter) above ground or creeks, on slow flying insects (FR, more open sites)

I Miniopterus schreibersii (Common Bent-wing Bat) - expected roosts in caves; prefers well timbered valleys; generally feeds above canopy (F,FD)

I Nyctophilus geoffroyi (Lesser Long-eared Bat) - expected roosts in warm, humid tree hollows, under bark and occasionally in caves; feeds close to ground (FD,)

I Nyctophilus gouldi (Gould's Long-eared Bat) - expected roosts in tree hollows, under bark and occasionally in caves; feeds close to ground in higher rainfall areas than N. geaffroyi; feeds on flying insects, and ones on foliage )F,FD,) I Hydromys chrysogaster ('ater Rat) - expected in small numbers along Fame Creek where suitable food is available (C)

I Pseudomys novaehoilandiae (New Holland Mouse) - expected occurs nearby; a colonising species in heath and open forest with a heath and scrub understorey after fire (FD,,H(

I Rattus fuscipes (Bush Rat) - present through much of area, on plateau and near Parma Creek. Should be common where there is good ground cover (FR,E1,FD,,H) I Rattus lutreolus (Swamp Rat) - expected in wetter parts of area where there is a dense ground layer including grasses and sedges (FR,F(C) ,H() ,S) I INTRODUCED MAMMALS: I Oryctolagus cuniculus (Rabbit) - present but uncommon or rare, with little suitable habitat (FD(0),)

Lepus capensis (Brown Hare) - present I in or adjacent to more open areas on plateau (ie existing quarry) (FD(0),)

Canis familiaris (wild Dog) - present I area probably part of 1 or more larger ranges {F(0),FD(O(,H)

Vulpes vulpes (Fox) - present I in small numbers, occasional signs in gully, on plateau, and in caves on edge of plateau (FR,F,FD,H,S)

NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry scierophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet scierophyll (tall open) forest; (0) clearings or open spaces in forest or woodland; R = rocky areas, rock faces; R(c) = caves or crevices in rock faces; 5 sedgeland swamp; Sc = scrub; W = woodland. I I 1

APPENDIX 3: Li Checklist of Birds Recordedin the Hell-Hole Study . Area. I SPECIES OBSERVED MAJOR HABITAT IN I WHICH RECORDED

Phalacrocorax rneianoieucos (Little Pied Cormorant) C I Phaps chaicoptera (Common Bronzewing) HS Leucosarcia rneianoleuca (Wonga Pigeon) H FW Cailocephalon fimbria turn (Gang-gang Cockatoo) FD Calyptorhynch us fun ereus (Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo) FW F Platycercus elegans elegans (Crimson Rosella) FW Cuculus pyrrhophan us (Fan-tailed Cuckoo) FW Cuculus variolosus (Brush Cuckoo) FR Li Cuculus pailidus (Pallid Cuckoo) FD Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) FD Tyto ten ebricosa 1 (Sooty Owl) R Ninox novaeseeiandiae (Southern Boobook Owl) R FD I Zoothera lunatula (Australian Ground Thrush) FW Petroica rosea (Rose Robin) FR Eopsaitria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) FW I Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) FW,D Coil un cincla harmonica (Grey Shrike-thrush) FW Rhipidura fuliginosa (Grey Fantail) FW,D I Rhipidura rufifrons (Rufous Fantail) FR,W Psophodes oil vaceus (Eastern Whipbird) FW,D Stipiturus malach urus (Southern Emu-wren) HW Malurus cyaneus (Superb Blue Wren) FW I Sericornis fron tails (White-browed Scrubwren) FW Origma solitaria (Rock Warbler) R Acanthiza lineata (Striated Thornbill) FD I Acanthiza pusilia (Brown Thornbill) FW Cormoba tes leucophaea (White-throated Treecreeper) FD

Li KEY TO HABITATS: C = creek H, HW or HS = tall heath, wet heath or heathy scrub I R = rocky edge of sandstone plateau FO, FD, FW or FR = forest clearings, dry forest, wet forest or rainforest I (Note: 1 Owl pellets found in a cave at the southern end of the study area were judged to be of this species. The remains were of uncertain H age, however, and the species may no longer be present.) I (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I I I 2 I APPENDIX 3 (Continued) I SPECIES OBSERVED MAJOR HABITAT IN I WHICH RECORDED

Anthochaera carunculata (Red Wattlebird) FD I Anthochaera chrysoptera (Little Wattlebird) HS Melithreptus lunatus (White-naped Honeyeater) H Meliphaga lewinii (Lewins Honeyeater) FD Lichenostomus melanops (Yellow-tufted Honeyeater) H I Lichenostomus leucotis (Wite-eared Honeyeater) H Lichenostomus chrysops (Yellow-faced Honeyeater) H Lichenostomus fuscus (Fuscous Honeyeater) H I Phylidonyris nova ehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) FD Phylidonyris nigra (White-cheeked Honeyeater) FD Acanthorhynchus ten uirostris (Eastern Spinebill) FD I Zosterops lateralis (Silvereye) H Aegintha temporalis (Red-browed Firetail) FD Emblema bellum (Beautiful Firetail) H Strepera graculina (Pied Currawong) FD I Strepera versicolor (Grey Currawong) FD Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis (Black-backed Magpie) FO Ptilinorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerb ird) FW I Menura novaehollandiae (Superb Lyrebird) FR ,W Corvus coronoides (Australian Raven) FD I KEY TO HABITATS: C = creek H, HW or HS = tall heath, wet heath or heathy scrub I R = rocky edge of sandstone plateau FO, FD, FW or FR = forest clearings, dry forest, wet forest or rainforest I I I I I I I I I 1

APPENDIX 4

I Checklist of Reptiles Present or Lik.ely to Occurinthe Hell—Hole I L I Z A. I. ID

I AGAMIDAE:

Geinmatophora muricata (Tree Dragon) - expected I semi-arboreal; encountered on fallen or standing timber, or hidden beneath low vegetation, rocks, timber or bark (FD/(

Physignathus lesueurii howitti.i (Gippsland iater Dragon) - present I along margins of Parma Creek; arboreal, terrestrial and semi-aquatic; encountered on rocks, logs or overhanging branches, or hidden in burrows, hollow limbs or trunks, or beneath vegetation (C)

Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) - expected I on plateau; terrestrial and arboreal; encountered perched on stumps or rocks, or hidden in hollow limbs or under surface debris (FD/)

I Tympanocryptis diemensis (Mountain Dragon) - possible perhaps along edge of plateau; terrestrial; encountered perched on low rocks or fallen timber, or hidden in under its I perching site or low vegetation (F(0),FD)O)/VH) GEKKONIDAE:

I Diplodactylus vittatus (Stone Gecko) - possible along rocky plateau edge or in drier plateau habitats; nocturnal; shelters beneath small stones, fallen bark, timber and I surface debris )R/FD//H) Oedura lesueurii (Lesueur's Velvet Gecko) - expected along rocky plateau edge; shelters beneath rock slabs and in crevices (R)

I Phyllurus platurus (Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko) - possible along rocky plateau edge; shelters in crevices and caves (R(c))

I Underwoodisaurus milii (Barking Gecko) - possible in drier plateau habitats; shelters beneath rocks, fallen timber, beneath bark at bases of stumps and in burrows (R/FDIVH) I PYGOPODIDAE:

Lialis burtonis (Burton's Snake Lizard) - expected I in all but wettest parts of area; shelters beneath rocks, logs or leaf-litter and in abandoned burrows (FR(M)/F(M)/FD/(

Pygopus lepidopodus (Common Scaly-foot) - possible I in drier plateau habitats; shelters beneath low vegetation, leaf-litter or surface debris and in dense grasses and shrubs (F(M)IFDILIH) I NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall I open) forest; R, R(c) = rocky areas, rock crevices or caves; 5 = sedgeland swamp; W = woodland. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I PA

APPENDIX 4 (Continued)

SCINCIDAE: I Cryptoblepharus virgatus virgatus - possible in drier timbered or rocky habitats: arboreal and rock inhabiting (R/FD/)

- present I Ctenotus robustus along rocky edge of plateau; in rocky areas, shelters in short shallow tunnels excavated in soil under rock slabs; may shelter under debris, at base of low vegetation, or beneath fallen timber (FD(0)/E

I Ctenotus taenioiatus Copper-tailed Skink) - present in drier timbered, heathy or rocky habitats; shelters in shallow burrows excavated under rocks (R//H)

I cyclodomorphus casuarinae (She-oak Skink) - possible in habitats where ground cover is dominated by tussock grasses; shelters in grass tussocks and beneath leaf-litter, logs and surface debris (FDIIIHIS(

I Ergenia cunninghami cunninghami (Cunningham's Skink) - possible mainly along rocky edge of plateau; shelters in rock crevices, beneath slabs and occasionally in hollow timber or abandoned I burrows (R/)O)) Ergenia saxatilis intermedia (Black Rock Skink) - expected I mainly along rocky edge of plateau: shelters in rock crevices or beneath slabs (RIF/FD) Ergenia whitii moniligera (white's Skink) - expected mainly in rocky plateau habitats including the plateau edge; shelters in shallow depressions or tunnels beneath rocks or I I logs )R/FD//H) Hemiergis maccoyi (Illawarra form) - possible I in and adjacent to rainforest; nocturnal; shelters under leaf-litter, stones and logs (FR/F(M(( Lampropholis delicata - present abundant, widespread; shelters and forages among leaf-litter, fallen timber, logs, stones, grasses and surface debris I (FR/F/FD/VH) Lampropholis guichenoti (Grass Skink) - possible mainly in drier areas, particularly where tussock grasses are present; shelters and forages among leaf-litter, fallen I timber, logs, stones, grasses and surface debris (FR(M)/F(M(/FD/W)

Lampropholis mustelina (weasel Skink) - possible I shelters and forages among leaf-litter, fallen timber, stones, grasses and surface debris (FR!F//H) Leiolopisma duperreyi - possible U in drier wooded habitats or heathland, where low tussock grasses are present; shelters among tussocks or beneath rocks and logs (FD//H(

Leiolopisma entrecasteauxii (Tussock Skink) - expected I in drier wooded habitats, heath and swamp; shelters beneath fallen timber, stones, dead vegetation and grass tussocks (FD/VH/S) I NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry scierophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet scierophyll (tall open) forest; R, R(c) = rocky areas, rock crevices or caves; S = sedgeland swamp; W = woodland.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) APPENDIX 4 (Continued)

Saiphosequalis (Three-toed Skink) - possible throughout timbered habitats in area; shelters and forages in damper sites, beneath logs, rocks or surface debris (FR/FIFD/)

Sphenomorphus quoyii (Eastern 'ater Skink) - present I (form with pale green undersurface, particularly near and below tail) abundant near creeks and pods in gullies and sometimes on plateau (C(M(/S(M))

ISphenomorphus tenuis - possible along rocky edge of plateau; primarily rock-inhabiting; shelters in crevices, caves, and sometimes in cracks, hollows or beneath the bark of tallen or standing timber (R/FR/F/FD/)

I Sphenomorphus sp. (1) - possible shelters among tree roots or beneath stones, fallen timber and low vegetation on creek and swamp margins (C)M)/S)M))

scincoides (Common Blue-tongued Lizard) - expected I- Tiliqua scincoides through all but wettest habitats (F/FD/VH)

VARANIDAE:

IVaranus rosenbergi (Rosenberg's Monitor) - possible terrestrial )VH)

IVaranus varius (Lace Monitor) - present probably through most of area (FR!FfFD/)

I I Morelia spilota spilota (Diamond Python) - expected in small numbers, through most rocky and timbered habitats; arboreal, terrestrial and rock-inhabiting; shelters in hollow I trunks and limbs, abandoned burrows, caves, rock crevices and beneath boulders (R(c)IFRIF/FD/) I COLUBRIDAE: Boiga irregularis (Brown Tree Snake) - possible through most rocky and timbered habitats; arboreal and rock inhabiting; shelters in hollow trunks and limbs, termitaria; I rock crevices and caves )R/FRfF1/FD/) Dendrelaphis punctulata (Green Tree Snake) - possible through most rocky and timbered habitats; predominantly arboreal; shelters in foliage, hollow limbs, rock crevices and caves I )R (c) /FRIFVFDI)

NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll )open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall open) forest; R, R(c) = rocky areas, rock crevices or caves; S = sedgeland swamp; W = woodland.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I 4

APPENDIX 4 (Continued)

ELAPIDAE:

F Acanthophis antarcticus (Common Death Adder) - expected terrestrial )FR/FV/H) I Austrelaps superbus (Copperhead) - possible in moist habitats or those near water, generally at higher altitudes, especially where tussock grasses occur; terrestrial: shelters in hollow logs or beneath rocks, low vegetation and surface debris (FDIIH)

I Gryptophis nigrescens (Eastern Snail-eyed Snake) - expected in rocky, wooded or heathy habitats; terrestrial; nocturnal: shelters under bark, fallen timber, rocks, surface debris and I in crevices (R/FRfF/H) Demansia psammophis psammophis (yellow-faced whip Snake) - possible in drier timbered habitats of area; terrestrial (FR(M)/F)M(/FD/'/H)

I possible Drysdalia coronoides )hite-lipped Snake) - in drier timbered or heathy habitats with tussocks; terrestrial (F)M)/FD//H(

I Furina diadema )Red-naped Snake) - possible in most habitatsexcept rainforest; terrestrial; nocturnal; favours rock outcrops )R/F1/FD//H)

I Hemiaspis signata (Black-bellied Swamp Snake) - possible in rainforest or near creeks and swamps; terrestrial; diurnal, although crepuscular or nocturnal in hot weather )C(M)IS (M) /FR/F(

I Hoplocephalus bungaroides (Broad-headed Snake) - expected along rocky edge of plateau; rock-inhabiting; nocturnal; shelters in caves or beneath boulders and slabs resting on bare H rock (R(c)( Notechis scutatus scutatus (Eastern Tiger Snake) - possible along margins of swamps or creeks in more open country; predominantly terrestrial; predominantly diurnal: shelters beneath U logs, rocks or surface debris, and in abandoned burrows in well-watered areas )C(M(/S(M)) Pseudechis porphyriacus (Red-bellied Black Snake) - present in well-watered habitats or near water; terrestrial: predominantly diurnal; shelters in abandoned burrows and hollow logs, I or beneath rocks and surface debris (FR)M(/F(M)/C/S)

Pseudonaja textilis textilis (Eastern Brown Snake) - present 1 in most habitats except wet ones; terrestrial; predominantly diurnal: shelter beneath logs, rocks or surface debris, and in abandoned burrows or hollow logs (FD/VH) I Vermicella annulata annulata (Common Bandy Bandy) - possible through most habitats; fossorial; nocturnal; shelters in loose soil beneath rocks or logs, in soli cracks and termitaria I (FRIFIFD/VH( NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall I open) forest; R, R(c) = rocky areas, rock crevices or caves; S = sedgeland swanp; W = woodland. I (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I S

APPENDIX 4 (Continued)

TYPHLOPIDAE:

Ramphotyphiops affinis (Blind Snake) - possible fossorial; shelter in ant nests, termitaria or soil beneath leaf-litter, logs or racks (fl

Ramphotyphiops nigrescens (Blind Snake) - expected fossorial: shelter in ant nests, ternitaria or soil beneath leaf -litter, logs or rocks (FR/F/FD/)

NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath: FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest: FR = rainfarast: FW = wet sciercphyll (tall open) forest; R, R(c) = rocky areas, rock crevices or caves: s = sedgeland swanp; W = woodland.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1

APPENDIX 5

I Checklist of AmphibIaPresent orLikelyto .0ccurin the Hell—Hole StudyArea: I

MYOBATRACHIDAE: Adelotus brevis (Tusked Frog) - expected although at southern limit of range, occurs nearby; might be found beside creeks under logs and in cavities or crevices (FR)C),F1)C))

Heleioporus australiacus (Giant Burrowing Frog) - expected might be found in burrows in creek banks (F(C),FD)C))

Limnodynastes peronui (Brown-striped Frog) - possible might be found associated with permanent still or slow-moving water in area, possibly under debris )F,FD,,S)

I Lirnnodynastes tasmaniensis )Spotted Grass Frog) - expected might be found sheltering under logs or stones on the edge of temporary or permanent water )F,FD,,S) I Mixophyes bal bus - expected might be found at night on the ground near creeks in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest (FR,F) I Mixophyes fasciolatus (Great Barred Frog) - possible might be found at night on the ground near creeks in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest (FR,F,C)

Paracrinia haswelli - expected I might be found in tussocks or grass beside water or under rocks or logs in forest, heathiand or sedgeland creeks )F,FD,H,S,C)

I Pseudophryne australis )Red-crowned Toadlet) - expected might be found under rocks/logs/etc on sandstone plateau, converging beside non-perennial creeks to breed (FD,,C) I Pseudophryne bibronii )Brown Toadlet) - possible might be found under forest rocks and logs, converging to breed in inundated areas )FD,,S)

Pseudophryne den dyi - possible I might be found under forest rocks or logs, converging to breed in inundated areas (F,FD,S)

Ranidella signifera Common Eastern Froglet) - present I found under logs or rocks or thick vegetation in dry weather, and within shallow water or fringing grass/leaf litter when breeding (F,FD,,S)

Uperoleia laevigata (Yellow-spotted Toadlet) - possible I might be found in temporary swamps after rain, and at other times burrowing under logs or in earth crevices )F,Ffl,S)

I NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll )open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall open) forest; S = sedgeland swamp; W = woodland. r_j (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) I I I I 2 APPENDIX 5 (Continued) I HYLIDAE:

I Litoria caerulea (Green Tree Frog) - expected throughout area; might be found in tree hollows or breeding in grassy, temporary marshes (FRF,FD,S) I Litoria citropa (Blue Mountains Tree Frog) - expected might be found under rocks or in rock crevices or breeding in permanent/semi -permanent POOlS FFD,S(

Litoria ewingii (Brown Tree Frog) - expected I throughout area: might be found near water (F,FD,,S(

Litoria fallax (Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog) - possible I might be found in swampy sedgeland or in vegetation in or beside creeks in the area )F,FD,,C) Litoria freycineti (Freycinets Frog) - possible I might be found on ground after rain (F1,FD,) Litoria jervisiensis (Jervis Bay Tree Frog) - expected I might be found in deeply forested gullies in wet sclerophyll forest, in streamside vegetation (F,FD,S) Litoria lesueuri (Lesueur's Frog) - expected throughout area; might be found long distances from water (FR,F1,FD,S,C)

I Litoria peronii (Feron's Tree Frog) - expected might be found in trees away from water, or in creekside trees and shrubs (F,FD, I S,C)

I Litoria phyllochroa (Leaf Green Tree Frog) - expected might be found in trees and shrubs beside creeks and swamps )FR,F,FD,S,C( I Litoria verreauxii - expected might be found in or beside swamp, or near water in forest (F,FD,S)

I NOTE: C or (C) = creek; H = heath; FD = dry sclerophyll (open) forest; FR = rainforest; FW = wet sclerophyll (tall open) forest; S = sedgeland swamp; W = woodland. I I I I I I I I S 1

APPENDIX 6

Checklist of Fish LikelytoOccurintheHell—HoleStudy. Area:

MORDACIIDAE:

Mordacia mordax (Short-headed Lamprey) - possible although not likely; (range - Shoalhaven R. southwards) migratory; nocturnal

ANGUILLIDAE:

Anguilla australis (Shortfinned Eel) - expected migratory

Anguilla reinhardtii (Longfinned Eel) - expected migratory

GALAXIIDAE:

Galaxiasbrevipennis (Climbing Galaxias) - expected secretive, solitary, tumbling rocky streams flowing thro' forests; newly hatched larvae migrate to sea and return as juveniles; able to climb falls and moist rock faces

Galaxias olidus (Mountain Galaxias) - possible although not likely; may occur as solitary individuals or in loose shoals in small streams, generally at intermediate and high elevations; migratory

Galaxiasmaculatus (Common Jollytail) - possible although not likely; occurs in small/moderate shoals at low elevations in still/gentle streams at low elevations; migratory

PER CICHTHYIDAE:

Macquaria novemaculeata (Australian Sass) - possible although not likely; occurs in coastal rivers & estuaries, migratory

MUGILIDAE:

Mugil cephalus (Sea Mullet) - possible although not likely; migratory coastal fish, young fry enter rivers and may move far upstream

BOVICHTHYIDAE:

Pseudaphritis urvillii(Congolli( - possible although not likely; primarily marine, but may penetrate up to 123 km inland

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) S 2

APPENDIX 6 (Continued)

ELEOTRIDAE:

Gobiomorphus coxii(Cox's Gudgeon) - expected prefers flowing water/rapids, migratory, and can climb steep surfaces

Gobiornorphus australis (Striped Gudgeon) - possible but unlikely; prefers sluggish creeks close to coast, migratory

Hypseleotris corn press us (Empiref ish) - possible but unlikely; occurs in lower reaches of coastal rivers & streams

Hypseleotris galii (Fire-tailed Gudgeon) - possible occurs in higher reaches of coastal streams, rarely with empirefish

GOBIIDAE:

Redigobius macrostorna (Largemouth Goby) - possible but unlikely; occurs in estuaries, sometimes rivers & freshwater streams APPENDIX 6: ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

OF PROPOSED QUARRY AREAS

AT "HELLHOLE", PARMA CREEK NEAR NOWRA, NSW.

A Report to D. P. James & Co.

al Paul Packard

June 1990 S

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1. SUMMARY 1

2. INTRODUCTION 1

3. BACKGROUND 2 3.1 Environmental Setting 2 3.1.1 Geology and Geomorphology 2 3.1.2 Flora and Fauna 2 3.2 Archaeological Background 4

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY METHODS 7

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 8

6. ABORIGINAL CONSULTATION 10

7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 11

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 13 I I • NOWRA 74km PRINCES IIIGIIWY 7 150 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 1 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 !'j J .17 H < 1 1 \xt i r Swan4 ) i tI - Adand / J . 1 2 (22 - fIWoonmai .i F ./. \ A I [ r 1 I FOAEST 6120 tA

ncgroU Li TapIIa Pr 19 Huskisson nair .}n rm,II I JL\ Tonner I 1RY.2: 0000a 18 .15 : Coll .29

Mast

Belli

0M14 WadandIn 4 I (I / fkO IIJ\ (7 wong I / II

ISO

E ~,Wan Say / GEORGES Un 1 ig:--t

1.4 liE .McMd.

I

I FIGURE 1. Location of study area. Scale 1:100,000. I Derived from Natmap Jervis Bay 9027.

I

I I 1. SUMMARY Nosites were found in the actual development area or in the nearby areas of the escarpment, valley or plateau that were surveyed. This fits with the results of a previous archaeological survey whose area overlapped with this survey area. The lack of sites is also in keeping with the general archaeological models of Aboriginalsettlement patterns for the region. Two rock shelters with the potential for archaeological deposit were found outside the proposed impact zones. From consultations with the Local Aboriginal Land Council it seems that the area has no particular I Aboriginal significance and that there are no sites known in the area. On this basis it is recommended that no further archaeological investigations are necessary and that the I development should be allowed to proceed.

2. INTRODUCTION

This report presents the results of an archaeological survey of a proposed quarry area to the northwest of Tomerong, near Nowra (see Figure 1). Normans Plant Hire Pty Ltd of Nowra proposes to I extract and process sandstone into quarry products in the Parma Creek area. The southeastern corner of the group of freehold portions can be found on the Huskis son (9027-4-N) 1:25000 map I at grid reference 736207.

The area in question is freehold land - portions 45, 58, 66, 102, I 105, 108, and 159 Parish Tomerong, County of St. Vincent. This area is bound to the south by Yerriyong State Forest No. 920 and on the other sides by vacant crown land. The total area of these I portions is 274 ha, however the proposed development areas constitute only small sections of the eastern and southeastern I parts of the land (see Figure 2). It is in this corner of Hellhole that most archaeological work was concentrated.

I Access to the area will be (and is at present) from the Princes Highway via Blackbutt Range Road and Parma Fire Road.

I I I I 3. BACKGROUND 3.1 Environmental Setting I 3.1.1 Geology and Geomorphology I The study area consists of a gently sloping plateau bisected by the deep valleys of Parma Creek and its tributaries. The plateau, lying at between 150m AHD and 200m AHD, is formed on 'Nowra Sandstones' with weathered, lateritised sandstone gravels up to more than 3m deep mantling the plateau in places. In this area the Nowra Sandstone is up to 40m thick and consists of moderately weathered, yellowish, fine to medium grained, massive quartz arenite. In places the rocks are relatively coarse grained with approximately 3% gravel sized inclusions (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy 1980).

Sandstone cliffs 5m to 20m high mark most of the boundary between the plateau and the Parma Creek/Hellhole valley. The cliffs develop numerous overhangs, rockshelters and in some cases small caves. The steep talus slopes and footslopes of the cliffs are littered with varied size boulders of cliff-fall and some of these also form rockshelters.

Within the study area Parma Creek lies at between 125m AHD and lOOm AHD. The creek is permanent, 2-3m wide and flows between clayey banks with predominantly sandy substrate. The creek is joined by a number of smaller, ephemeral streams draining over the escarpment from the plateau. Overall the valley floor is moderately sloping although there are patches of more or less level ground. Beds of the Wandrawandian and Berry Siltstones are exposed (dark grey to black, sandy siltstones and mudstones) in gullies and creeks within the valley.

The relatively permeable sandstone plateau of the study area acts as a reservoir for infiltrating rainwater. The bedding of the sandstone allied with lower-lying more impervious rocks diverts this groundwater to the surface at places within the valley. This, in combination with localised variations in soil types results in a wide variety of habitats, communities and plant species.

3.1.2 Flora and Fauna

Peter Barrer (pers. comm.) has conducted a detailed biological investigation of the Hellhole area for the purposes of the EIS. During his survey more than 250 species of vascular plants were

2 1.rT,7

65 / are'a is Ui •..:: opprox. - / 55 ha)

-:

L SITE 2 (area is approx it ha / north of powerLtnes) I FIGURE 2. Proposed quary areas. I Grid spacing 1000 metres. Derived from CMA map Huskisson. I

recorded in the area. The species were generally found in distinct I. communities ranging from rainforests to sedgelands. Twenty nine of the species identified by Barrer are listed by Cribb and Cribb I (1976) as having been used for food or resources by Aborigines. I Riparian and warm temperate rainforest (vine-fern closed forests) species accounted for 33% of plant species recorded in the area. As well as along Parma Creek and the other streams in the valley the rainforests were found on moist sites from midsiopes through colluvial footsiopes down to the alluvial toeslopes. In most of these places moisture is maintained through seepage from the I overlying porous sandstones. A number of the rainforest species could have been food or resource plants for the Aborigines; many, I including the commonly occuring Lillypilly (Acmena smith ii) have edible fruit or berries, and the cabbage-tree palm (Livistona australis) is also common through the rainforests. I Tall Open Forest, Open Forest and Woodland are the most widespread communities in the area, especially on the plateau. In the wetter areas within the valley the forests exhibit certain rainforest species; overall the Eucalyptus dominated forests range from wet scierophyll to dry scierophyll, depending on the local I soils and moisture regimes. Much of the forests and woodlands have a shrubby or shrub and heath understorey. The density and I diversity of understorey and ground cover species is greatest in the woodlands and these are mostly found on the plateau areas. The understorey and ground layer includes a number of known I Aboriginal food and resource plants such as Pteridium esculentum, Lomandra longifolia, Xanthorrhoea sp., and Hypoxis hygrometrica. I Scattered through the plateau area are small patches of sedgeland, low wet heath, tall heath and scrub. The sedgelands and wet heath are located in areas of high water availability due to impeded drainage on gently sloping ground. These areas do not appear to include any greater density of Aboriginal food or resource plants I than other areas Peter Barrer has also assessed the fauna of the area and identified 11 species of native mammals present in the area; these include I bandicoots, dunnarts, the Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), wombats, a range of possums and gliders, macropods (M. I rufogriseus and M. giganteus), the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) and the Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes). He also considers there is a further 20 species that can be expected to occur in the area I and 18 species that could possibly exist there. I 91 Thirty eight species of birds (most in the wet and dry scierophyll forests) have been recorded in the study area. Seven species of reptiles, including snakes, skinks and goannas (Varanus varius), have been identified. A further 40 species of reptiles as well as 23 species of amphibians are expected to live, or could live in the area (P. Barrer pers. comm.). No fish species have been recognised in the creeks although it is expected that at least 14 species could be found.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the area includes a wide range of potential faunal and floral resources for the Aboriginal hunters and gatherers. However, the generally poor soil in the area is reflected in low nutrient values in the leaves etc of the vegetation, and this is in turn reflected in a lower density and diversity of biomass (especially fauna!) than might be found on areas of more fertile soils (P. Barrer pers. comm.). Thus, while it might seem that the area would have offered certain economic attractions to hunter/gatherers, other structurally similar areas (same general plant and animal communities) on more fertile soils could have been subtly more attractive.

3.2 Archaeological Background

There has been substantial archaeological work conducted in the general region and the Aboriginal prehistory is relatively well known. There is evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the region dating to at least 20,000 years ago. A rockshelter at Burrill Lake 42km to the south of the study area has been found to contain stone artefacts at levels within the deposit dating to 20,000 years ago (Lampert 1971). At this time during the last glacial maximum the sea level was 13-16km to the east of its present position, and Lampert (1971) has argued that the stone tools from this level suggest the occupants were exploiting inland resources. In this light, although the geographic location may have shifted, there is evidence of some Aboriginal exploitation and occupation of the hinterlands as far back as 20,000 years ago. A broadly similar sequence of occupation has been found at the Bass Point open site 40 km north of Nowra (Bowdier 1976).

There has been much discussion over the density and nature of sites in the coastal hinterland versus those on the coast (e.g. Flood 1980:277; Hiscock 1982; Lance 1987:7-12; Poiner 1976; Sullivan 1976). Poiner and others have argued there was a real paucity of sites in the hinterland due most likely to a dispersed non- intensive, nomadic, winter time occupation of the zone (e.g. I

I . Poiner1976:196, 201-202). On the other hand it has been suggested that the "coastal/inland dichotomy is exaggerated" I (Hiscock 1982:43). Research generally on the South Coast has shown that inland from I the archaeologic ally rich coastal zone there is a zone of low site density between 3km to 13km distance from the coast. Still further inland from this zone site densities increase again (e.g. Byrne 1983; Hughes and Attenbrow 1981; Hughes et al 1982; Lance 1987). This is interpreted as the result of a coastal based economy/settlement pattern wherein the people intensively exploited, and lived on, the resource-rich coastal zone approximately 3km wide. From their campsites in this rich coastal I zone it would have been possible for Aborigines to make day- return hunting and foraging trips up to 10km or so into the hinterland. The types of sites left behind by these activities are I likely to have a very low archaeological visibility. Aboriginal movement or economic activity further inland than 13km would have required overnight stays with a commensurate increase in I the potential complexity, focusing and density of sites (Byrne 1983; Lance 1987).

I According to Tindale (1974) at the time of contact the study area would have been in the territory of the Wandandian tribe. It is I interesting to note that territories in the region were divided so as to give each tribe a section of coast line as well as a tract of hinterland and range country. I Lance (1987; and see also Cane 1985) conducted a survey of a transmission line from Nowra to Ulladulla which effectively ran the length of the hinterland zone in this area. This transmission constructed) bounds the freehold land of the present the eastern studyline(now area on the south and runs just to the east of boundary of the area. One of the sample areas along the transmission line chosen for investigation by Lance included all of I the southern plateau and escarpments within the freehold land and parts of the eastern plateau (see Lance 1987:Figure 3). This effectively covers the whole of the proposed development area on I the plateau and escarpment under consideration here. No sites were found in these areas and very few sites generally were found along the route. Lance (1987:18-19) concluded that this I paucity of sites supported the model of coastal versus hinterland settlement pattern described above. U More recently there have been archaeological investigations of the Tomerong By-Pass 6km to the southeast of the study area (Koettig I 1 5 1989; Silcox 1989). The initial survey of the route found one small site consisting of an open scatter of stone artefacts on a ridge top, and identified three "potential campsite locations", two on alluvial flats bordering major creeks and the third on a broad sloping ridge. These four locations were test excavated and as. well as the already known site, low densities of flaked stone artefacts were found at two of the "potential" locations. It is interesting to note that two of the three sites identified were located on ridges (Silcox 1989) even though the Tomerong area is not particularly hilly or rugged. Silcox (1989:4-5) concluded that sites can be expected to occur relatively evenly over the landscape and that the low density of artefacts at the sites is indicative of infrequent occupation.

A wide range of Aboriginal site types occur within this part of NSW. However, the geographic location of any particular area influences the types of sites which may be found. Shell middens are the most common form of site along the coastal and estuarine zones whereas in the hinterland scatters of stone tools are most common.

Rockshelters (areas sheltered from wind, rain or sun by overhanging rocks) in the region were occupied by prehistoric Aborigines. The concentration of activity within occupied rockshelters in some cases leads to the build-up of occupational deposits such as stone tool flaking debris and organic remains. Surveys in the rugged Tianjara area (25km southwest of the study area) found a number of shelters with occupation deposit, evidenced by stone artefacts, and one shelter had fragments of shells on the surface. Some of the shelters from the region also have paintings or drawings on them.

A very interesting shelter in similar sandstone to the Hellhole area, with deposit, grinding grooves and art is located at the Perch Hole on Wandandian Creek 13km to the south of the study area. The shelters most likely to have evidence of occupation are those that are generally dry with a level, sandy floor. Shelters with rock floors do not seem to have been commonly selected for occupation. In some cases it would seem that aspect and proximity to freshwater also influenced the likelihood of a shelter being occupied.

During surveys in the region some workers have used the term 'Potential Archaeological Deposit' (PAD) to describe rockshelters which showed no obvious evidence of occupation on the surface of the deposit but which were of a size and nature that could have I

I . been occupied. For example, studies in the Tianjara Training Area identified 87 shelters as PAD's (Hughes and Attenbrow 1981; I Hughes et al 1982). Some workers have also developed the concept of "Potential Habitation Shelters" in which it is not necessary for the shelter to have deposit, rather it must meet I other criteria of habitability (for a simple explanation of the criteria see Attenbrow 1982). In some studies follow up work has confirmed that many of the shelters initially described as PAD's I and PH's did in fact have archaeological deposit (Attenbrow 1981, 1982; Vinnicombe 1982).

I Open sites consisting of scatters of stone artefacts and flaking debris are found in a range of locations, although they are most I commonly located on level to gently sloping, well drained ground near water sources. In the more rugged terrain inland open sites are more often located on saddles and ridges. The stone raw I materials most óommonly found flaked at sites in the region are quartz and fine-grain siliceous rocks (silcrete and chert).

I The other types of sites which are sometimes found in the region include axe grinding grooves, scarred and carved trees, stone quarries, ceremonial sites and burials. Axe grinding grooves I resulting from the finishing and resharpening of stone axes are sometimes found located in sandstone areas near creeks or other I water sources. Stone quarries are specifically related to the locations of suitable outcrops; in the sandstone country of the study area the only possible exploitation of stone for flaking I would have been the use of the quartz and quartzite pebbles which occur through the Nowra Sandstone. Exploitation of this dispersed resource is not likely to have left any archaeologically I recognisable traces.

Ceremonial sites (shaped earth structures and stone I arrangements) are known in the region. Most are found in isolated areas or areas with difficult access and many from the region are I located to the west of the study area in the rugged Budawang Ranges. I 4. FIELD SURVEY METHODS

I The field survey took place over three days in March 1990, the field team consisted of the author and Ms P McCloskey as I assistant. Considering the generally poor conditions of surface exposure other than along the escarpments it was decided to survey as many of the likely areas (places where there was

1 7 I • I ground surface visibility, rockshelters, level ground within the valley, dry open ground near the rainforest fringe, open swampy ground on the plateau, etc) within the general Hellhole area as possible to ensure that a representative sample of the local environments had been sampled. On the plateau in general, walking survey was most intensive in the proposed quarry areas. The areas surveyed and the routes walked are shown in Figure 3.

In the area of the cliffs the survey method used was to walk the full length of the escarpment, examining all overhangs, rockshelters and other likely locations. While one member of the field team examined the lower faces, including the talus slopes and any boulders with overhangs, the other would inspect the often clear, flat, upper levels of the escarpments. Where the cliffs prevented this the upper levels were examined on a return traverse.

Considering the focused and short term scope of this study it was decided that there was no point in recording any Potential Habitation shelters found. However, Potential Archaeological Deposits were recorded.

On the plateau away from the escarpment cleared areas, animal paths access tracks, natural open stoney ground, exposed ground around fallen trees and the existing and abandoned quarry locations were examined for sites. An open, elongated swampy area to the north, and outside, of the proposed quarry areas was also examined for comparative purposes.

Apart from examination of the talus slopes and lower footslopes of the escarpments survey within the Hellhole valley was restricted to a series of narrow bush tracks which traversed the valley floor, areas of past logging disturbance, boulders that could be seen from the tracks, and limited lengths of the creek banks where they were accessible and visible.

During the survey attention was paid to the possible presence of scarred or carved trees and stone arrangements where relevant.

S. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Throughout much of the area surveyed lack of ground surface visibility due to a combination of thick vegetation cover and leaf litter meant there was little chance of detecting any of the less obtrusive site types (chiefly stone tool scatters) which may have

.01

9

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- -.-- ---__ i (2O4.. I FIGURE 3. Walking survey routes and areas . Location of PAD's I Grid spacing 1000 metres. Derived from CMA map Huskisson. I I been present. In general, ground surface visibility was between and 0%. The only areas where any cosistent surface visiblity occured5% was along the escarpment zone (including shelters and overhangs), in other isolated areas of rocky outcrops, along the forestry tracks, along the transmission line access track and in the quarried areas. Within the numerous shelters and overhangs (including those associated with boulders in the valley) leaf litter density varied and surface visibility ranged from 0% to 75% with a mean of around 30%.

I In the open surveyed areas (tracks, quarries, fallen trees etc) localised surface visibility ranged from 0% to 100% with an over the areas of roughly 35%. I average No definite archaeological sites of any form were found in any of I the areas surveyed. Two shelters that could be classed as having Potential Archaeological Deposit were found. One was located on the I escarpment, the other was located below the base of the escarpment within the valley. In neither of these shelters was any I definite archaeological material found; however, their size, shape, headroom, dryness, aspect, and level floors with apparently I undisturbed deposit place them in the PAD category. -PAD 1 located on the northeast face of a large free- standing boulder of cliff-fall sandstone. The boulder is lying on I an extensive bench of relatively level sandy ground at the foot of the escarpment. The dry floor area within the drip-line of the shelter measures 4m long x 3m deep with a sloping roof I giving ample headroom at the front of the shelter but only limited at the back. The level floor shows no signs of animal I burrowing or disturbance, is substantially covered with leaf litter and the deposit is dark brown, dry and sandy. Two small fragments of shell were seen on the floor. Both of these were I white, with rounded or weathered edges, and one showed distinctive parallel ribbing.

I -PAD 2 located on a NNW facing stretch of escarpment under a high airy overhang (6m long x 4m deep). The gently sloping floor consists of a series of level areas of gravely and I sandy deposit built up behind large roof-fall boulders. A single 'possible' artefact was located in this shelter. This was a tabular I piece of coarse-grained quartzite 60mm x 40mm x 35mm with a single, negative, hinge-terminated flake scar. Considering the I amount of other fractured roof-fall material in the shelter and

1 9 I

talus slope it is possible that the scar is a natural result of roof-S I fall impact. However, the raw material type and blocky, angular shape of the piece did not seem to match with the other rounded pebbles in the sandstone in that area.

Although shelters and overhangs were numerous along the escarpment and under boulders in the valley they generally did not offer the right conditions to have been selected for use by Aborigines or to have preserved the evidence of their use. Most of the shelters found had rock floors that sloped downwards and outwards, perhaps due to bedding in the Nowra Sandstone in this area. Most of the shelters were damp from seepage through or over the sandstone from the plateau above and most shelters were relatively narrow with only a small area inside the drip-line.

The walls of the shelters would not preserve rock art for very long as the rock shows signs of rapid exfoliation, is weathered, crumbly, generally uneven, and prone to seepage. The same general conditions will have effected the potential preservation of stone engravings and axe grinding grooves.

There has been substantial selective logging in the area as evidenced by stumps cut before chainsaws were available and this, allied with the signs of bushfires through parts of the area (P. Barrer pers. comm), will have tended to reduce the chances for survival of any scarred or carved trees. I 6. ABORIGINAL CONSULTATION

The study area lies within the Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council territory. Contact by telephone and letter was made with Mr Eddie Bloxsome, Chairman of the Land Council who noted that Mr Max Hill, a member of the Land Council, had been involved with archaeological investigations in the area in the past. The situation was discussed with him over the phone, maps and relevant information were sent, and time was allowed (8 weeks) for the issue to be discussed and considered by the Land Council. I During a follow-up phone conversation Mr Bloxsome said that no one knew of any places or sites of particular Aboriginal significance in the Helihole/Parma Creek area. He felt it would not I be necessary for any members of the Land Council to visit the area as it had already been surveyed during investigations for the transmission line. A copy of this report has been sent to the Land Council for their information and for any final comment. I 10 1 I

I . 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS I At a basic level of consideration the Helihole/Parma Creek area would seem a likely place to find evidence of Aboriginal exploitation or occupation. It has a varied patchwork of I environmental zones within a small area, there is ample freshwater and a host of rock overhangs. The lack of Aboriginal sites found in the area despite two surveys shows that factors of I site location and exploitation patterns as well as site preservation and detection are a lot more complex and subtle than might be imagined. It is possible that areas of low fertility soils such as at I Hellhole, while supporting the same basic plant communities, would not have offered the same overall biomass (and thus I potential exploitable resources) as other areas on richer soils. There are more factors involved in Aboriginal selection of I rockshelters for occupation sufficient to leave an archaeologically visible trace than merely the presence of overhangs. Perhaps, because the shelters of the Hellhole area are small, have sloping I and/or rock floors, are prone to seepage, have southerly aspects or abutt damp rainforests, they were not selected for occupation I often enough (if at all) by prehistoric Aborigines for any detectable trace to have remained. In contrast, the substantial and significant site with art and occupation deposit at the Perch hole I on Wandandian Creek 13km to the south of Hellhole is in a relatively large shelter in close proximity to a large, deep pool on the creek. The exfoliation, honeycomb weathering, seepage and coarse nature of the sandstone in the Hellhole area is not good for both the application or preservation of rock art.

I The lack of archaeological evidence in the study area is perhaps best explained by the models of Aboriginal exploitation and I settlement patterns on the coast and hinterland (see section 3.2). It has been argued that Aborigines living in the region had an economy focused on the coast and that exploitation of the I hinterland up to 13km inland would have mostly been conducted on daily trips from campsites on the coast. By not commonly camping in the hinterland the sites left behind are likely to have I been associated with hunting and foraging activities and perhaps meal stops. These types of sites would be small, dispersed, unobtrusive, and have a low archaeological visibility. This I situation is aggravated by the generally poor conditions of ground surface visibility in the Hellhole area.

No sites were found in the actual development area or in nearby I areas of the escarpment, valley or plateau and this fits with the

1 11 S general archaeological models of Aboriginal settlement patterns for the region. The two rock shelters with the potential for archaeological deposit are located outside the proposed impact zones. From consultations with the Local Aboriginal Land Council it seems that the area has no particular Aboriginal significance and that there are no sites known in the area. On this basis it is recommended that no further archaeological investigations are necessary and that the development should be allowed to proceed.

All Aboriginal relics are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, which makes it an offence to knowingly disturb or destroy such relics (or sites) without the written approval of the Director of National Parks and Wildlife Service. Should any relics or sites be located during the course of the development it will be necessary for officers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to be notified so that appropriate measures for the recording, collecting or preservation of these relics can be followed.

12 I

I . 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attenbrow, V. 1981 Mangrove Creek Dam salvage excavation project. A I report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales. ------, -. 1982 The archaeology of Upper Mangrove Creek Catchment: research in progress. In S. Bowdler (ed) Coastal archaeology in I Eastern Australia. pp. 67-78. Canberra Department of Prehistory, R.S.Pac.S., Australian National University. Bowdler, S. 1976 Hook, line and dillybag: an interpretation of an Australian coastal shell midden. Mankind 10:248-258 I Byrne, D. 1983 The Five Forests: an archaeological and anthropological investigation. Sydney National Parks and Wildlife Service. I Cane, S. 1985 Proposed archaeological sensitivity and survey methods for a proposed transmission line between Nowra and Ulladulla. A report to Dames and Moore. Crib b, A.B. and J.W. Cribb 1976 Wild Food in Australia Sydney Fontana I collins Department of Mineral Resources and Energy 1980 "Jervis Bay Boat Harbour, Investigation of potential breakwater quarry sites" Geological I Survey Report 1980/203 (unpub.) Flood, J. 1980 The moth hunters: Aboriginal prehistory of the Australian Alps. Canberra Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. I His cock, P. 1982 A technological analysis of quartz assemblages from the south coast. In S. Bowdler (ed) Coastal archaeology in Eastern Australia. pp. 32-45. Canberra Department of Prehistory, R.S.Pac.S., Australian National University. I Hughes, P.J. and V. Attenbrow 1981 A preliminary archaeological assessment of the Tianjara Army Training Area, New South Wales. A report to the Department of Defence, Canberra. I Hughes, P.J., V. Attenbrow and M. Koettig 1982 The Tianjara Army Training Area archaeology study: results of the 1982 survey and an analysis of the art sites. A report to the Department of Defence. Koe ttig, M. 1989 Report on the Survey for Aboriginal Sites along the I Proposed Tomerong By-Pass. Report to the Roads and Traffic Authority. Lampert, R.J. 1971 Burrill Lake and Currarong: coastal sites in southern New South Wales. Terra Australis 1. Department of I Prehistory, R.S.Pac.S., Australian National University. Lance, A. 1987 An archaeological study of the proposed Shoalhaven to Ulladulla 132kv power transmission line. ANU Archaeological Consultancies, ANUTECH Pty Ltd. I Poiner, G. 1976 The preocess ofthe year among Aborigines of the central and south coast of New South Wales. Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania 11:186-206. I Sullivan, M.E. 1976 Archaeological occupation site locations on the south coast of New South Wales. Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania. 11:56-63. I Tin dale, N.B. 1974 Aboriginal Tribes of Australia. Australian National University Press, Canberra. Vinnicombe, P. 1982 Prediction and Predilection: the archaeology of the Gosford-Wyong area, New South Wales. A report to the National Parks I and Wildlife Service of New South Wales. I I

1 13 rqltk.l-*A,

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PIN 1 The "Hellhole" property, existing 1andfo. Grid spacing 1000 metres. Derived from CMA map Huskisson.

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