Tristar-Simpson-Pedirka-Regions

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Tristar-Simpson-Pedirka-Regions ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions DRAFT May 2020 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Prepared by: Tri-Star Energy Company Level 35 Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street Brisbane, Q 4000 T: (07) 3236 9800 F: (07) 3221 2146 E: [email protected] W: http://www.tri-starpetroleum.com.au and JBS&G Australia Pty Ltd ABN 62 100 220 479 100 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 T: +61 8 8431 7113 F: +61 8 8431 7115 W: http://www.jbsg.com.au Document Status Release Version Purpose of Document Original Review Review Date QA Review Issue Date Approval A Preliminary draft AC SM 15/9/2019 B Draft for Tri-Star review / discussion AC SM 2/10/2019 RM/SM SM 2/10/2019 Draft updated with Tri-Star changes. Issued C for preliminary government agency AC SM 28/11/2019 SM SM 28/11/2019 consultation Updated based on DEW and DPTI initial 0 AC AC/DC 8/3/2020 CB/RU/SH JB 29/5/2020 comments Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 About this Document .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Tri-Star Energy Company Profile ................................................................. 1 1.3 Location and Exploration Rationale ............................................................ 1 1.4 Scope ........................................................................................................... 2 2 Legislative Framework ....................................................................................... 6 2.1 Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 ............................................. 6 2.1.1 Environmental Significance Assessment and SEO Consultation Requirements .............................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 Activity Notification / Approval Process .................................... 8 2.2 Other Legislation ......................................................................................... 8 3 Proposed Activities .......................................................................................... 11 3.1 History of Geophysical Exploration in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions . 11 3.2 Grouping of Operations ............................................................................ 13 3.2.1 Planning .................................................................................... 14 3.2.2 Cultural Heritage Approval ....................................................... 15 3.2.3 Seismic Line and Access Track Preparation .............................. 16 3.2.4 Surveying .................................................................................. 18 3.2.5 Recording ................................................................................. 18 3.2.6 Seismic Operations ................................................................... 18 3.2.7 Camp Sites and Associated Supplies ........................................ 20 3.2.8 Uphole Drilling and Logging ..................................................... 22 3.2.9 Rehabilitation ........................................................................... 23 3.2.10 Post Survey Monitoring and Auditing ...................................... 23 3.2.11 Other Geophysical Activities .................................................... 24 4 Existing Environment ....................................................................................... 25 4.1 Climate ...................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Bioregions, Landforms and Land Systems ................................................. 25 4.3 Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................... 30 4.3.1 Flora ......................................................................................... 30 4.3.2 Fauna ........................................................................................ 32 4.3.3 Threatened Species and Communities ..................................... 33 4.3.4 Listed Migratory Species .......................................................... 35 4.3.5 Weeds and Pests ...................................................................... 35 4.3.6 Recognised Biodiversity Values ................................................ 37 4.4 Surface Water ........................................................................................... 37 4.5 Social Environment ................................................................................... 41 4.5.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ..................................................... 41 4.5.2 Non-Aboriginal Heritage .......................................................... 41 4.6 Land Use .................................................................................................... 42 4.6.1 Pastoralism ............................................................................... 42 4.6.2 Mining and Petroleum ............................................................. 44 Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 i Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report – Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions 4.6.3 Conservation ............................................................................ 44 4.6.4 Tourism .................................................................................... 45 4.6.5 Native Title ............................................................................... 45 4.7 Socio-Economic ......................................................................................... 46 4.7.1 Population Centres ................................................................... 46 4.7.2 Infrastructure ........................................................................... 46 5 Environmental Risk Assessment ....................................................................... 48 5.1 Overview of Risk Assessment Process ...................................................... 49 5.2 Risk Assessment ........................................................................................ 52 6 Consultation .................................................................................................... 68 6.1 Key Stakeholder Consultation ................................................................... 68 7 Environmental Management System ............................................................... 70 7.1.1 Environmental Training ............................................................ 70 7.1.2 Emergency Response and Contingency Planning ..................... 70 7.1.3 Environmental Monitoring and Audits ..................................... 70 7.1.4 Incident Management, Recording and Corrective Actions ...... 71 7.1.5 Reporting .................................................................................. 71 8 References ....................................................................................................... 72 9 Abbreviations and Glossary ............................................................................. 76 Appendix A: Agency Consultation - Comments and Responses Tables Table 1-1: Licence Area Work Program Commitments ...................................................... 2 Table 2-1: Additional Environmental Legislation and Approvals ....................................... 8 Table 3-1: Historic 2D Seismic Survey Activity in the Licence Area (1961 - 1988) ........... 11 Table 3-2: Matrix of Line Preparation Activity and Machinery by Landform ................... 17 Table 4-1: Climate Data for Oodnadatta Airport ............................................................. 25 Table 4-2: Typical Landforms and Characteristics in the Licence Area ............................ 28 Table 4-3: Mapped Vegetation Associations in the Licence Area .................................... 30 Table 4-4: Threatened Species Recorded or Predicted to Occur in the Licence Area ..... 33 Table 4-5: Weeds Recorded in the Licence Area ............................................................. 36 Table 5-1: Severity of Consequences ............................................................................... 50 Table 5-2: Assessment of Likelihood ................................................................................ 51 Table 5-3: Risk Matrix ...................................................................................................... 51 Table 5-4: Impacts Associated with Line / Access Track Preparation in Various Land Systems ........................................................................................................... 52 Table 5-5: Environmental Risk Assessment for Geophysical Operations in the Simpson and Pedirka Regions, South Australia ............................................................. 54 Table 6-1: Stakeholder Consultation List ......................................................................... 68 Table 6-2: Summary of Issues Raised During Stakeholder Consultation ......................... 69 Figures Figure 1-1: Location of Tri-Star Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) 160, 288, 289 and 290 and the Simpson and Pedirka Regions ................................................ 4 Tristar Seismic EIR Rev0 ii Tri-Star Energy Company Environmental Impact Report –
Recommended publications
  • Cravens Peak Scientific Study Report
    Geography Monograph Series No. 13 Cravens Peak Scientific Study Report The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. Brisbane, 2009 The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. is a non-profit organization that promotes the study of Geography within educational, scientific, professional, commercial and broader general communities. Since its establishment in 1885, the Society has taken the lead in geo- graphical education, exploration and research in Queensland. Published by: The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. 237 Milton Road, Milton QLD 4064, Australia Phone: (07) 3368 2066; Fax: (07) 33671011 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rgsq.org.au ISBN 978 0 949286 16 8 ISSN 1037 7158 © 2009 Desktop Publishing: Kevin Long, Page People Pty Ltd (www.pagepeople.com.au) Printing: Snap Printing Milton (www.milton.snapprinting.com.au) Cover: Pemberton Design (www.pembertondesign.com.au) Cover photo: Cravens Peak. Photographer: Nick Rains 2007 State map and Topographic Map provided by: Richard MacNeill, Spatial Information Coordinator, Bush Heritage Australia (www.bushheritage.org.au) Other Titles in the Geography Monograph Series: No 1. Technology Education and Geography in Australia Higher Education No 2. Geography in Society: a Case for Geography in Australian Society No 3. Cape York Peninsula Scientific Study Report No 4. Musselbrook Reserve Scientific Study Report No 5. A Continent for a Nation; and, Dividing Societies No 6. Herald Cays Scientific Study Report No 7. Braving the Bull of Heaven; and, Societal Benefits from Seasonal Climate Forecasting No 8. Antarctica: a Conducted Tour from Ancient to Modern; and, Undara: the Longest Known Young Lava Flow No 9. White Mountains Scientific Study Report No 10.
    [Show full text]
  • Report to Office of Water Science, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane
    Lake Eyre Basin Springs Assessment Project Hydrogeology, cultural history and biological values of springs in the Barcaldine, Springvale and Flinders River supergroups, Galilee Basin and Tertiary springs of western Queensland 2016 Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation Prepared by R.J. Fensham, J.L. Silcock, B. Laffineur, H.J. MacDermott Queensland Herbarium Science Delivery Division Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation PO Box 5078 Brisbane QLD 4001 © The Commonwealth of Australia 2016 The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence Under this licence you are free, without having to seek permission from DSITI or the Commonwealth, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the source of the publication. For more information on this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5725 Citation Fensham, R.J., Silcock, J.L., Laffineur, B., MacDermott, H.J.
    [Show full text]
  • DUCK HUNTING in VICTORIA 2020 Background
    DUCK HUNTING IN VICTORIA 2020 Background The Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 provide for an annual duck season running from 3rd Saturday in March until the 2nd Monday in June in each year (80 days in 2020) and a 10 bird bag limit. Section 86 of the Wildlife Act 1975 enables the responsible Ministers to vary these arrangements. The Game Management Authority (GMA) is an independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of game hunting in Victoria. Part of their statutory function is to make recommendations to the relevant Ministers (Agriculture and Environment) in relation to open and closed seasons, bag limits and declaring public and private land open or closed for hunting. A number of factors are reviewed each year to ensure duck hunting remains sustainable, including current and predicted environmental conditions such as habitat extent and duck population distribution, abundance and breeding. This review however, overlooks several reports and assessments which are intended for use in managing game and hunting which would offer a more complete picture of habitat, population, abundance and breeding, we will attempt to summarise some of these in this submission, these include: • 2019-20 Annual Waterfowl Quota Report to the Game Licensing Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries • Assessment of Waterfowl Abundance and Wetland Condition in South- Eastern Australia, South Australian Department for Environment and Water • Victorian Summer waterbird Count, 2019, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research As a key stakeholder representing 17,8011 members, Field & Game Australia Inc. (FGA) has been invited by GMA to participate in the Stakeholder Meeting and provide information to assist GMA brief the relevant Ministers, FGA thanks GMA for this opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Management Zones of Australia
    Conservation Management Zones of Australia Mitchell Grasslands Prepared by the Department of the Environment Acknowledgements This project and its associated products are the result of collaboration between the Department of the Environment’s Biodiversity Conservation Division and the Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN). Invaluable input, advice and support were provided by staff and leading researchers from across the Department of Environment (DotE), Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the academic community. We would particularly like to thank staff within the Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division, Parks Australia and the Environment Assessment and Compliance Division of DotE; Nyree Stenekes and Robert Kancans (DoA), Sue McIntyre (CSIRO), Richard Hobbs (University of Western Australia), Michael Hutchinson (ANU); David Lindenmayer and Emma Burns (ANU); and Gilly Llewellyn, Martin Taylor and other staff from the World Wildlife Fund for their generosity and advice. Special thanks to CSIRO researchers Kristen Williams and Simon Ferrier whose modelling of biodiversity patterns underpinned identification of the Conservation Management Zones of Australia. Image Credits Front Cover: Lawn Hill National Park – Peter Lik Page 4: Kowaris (Dasyuroides byrnei) – Leong Lim Page 10: Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) – JJ Harrison Page 16: Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh) – World Heritage Listed site – Colin Totterdell Page 18: Mitchell Grasslands
    [Show full text]
  • Management Plan for the South Australian Lake Eyre Basin Fisheries
    MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LAKE EYRE BASIN FISHERIES Part 1 – Commercial and recreational fisheries Part 2 – Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka Aboriginal traditional fishery Approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries pursuant to section 44 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007. Hon Gail Gago MLC Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries 1 March 2013 Page 1 of 118 PIRSA Fisheries & Aquaculture (A Division of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia) GPO Box 1625 ADELAIDE SA 5001 www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries Tel: (08) 8226 0900 Fax: (08) 8226 0434 © Primary Industries and Regions South Australia 2013 Disclaimer: This management plan has been prepared pursuant to the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (South Australia) for the purpose of the administration of that Act. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (and the Government of South Australia) make no representation, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this management plan or as to the suitability of that information for any particular purpose. Use of or reliance upon information contained in this management plan is at the sole risk of the user in all things and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (and the Government of South Australia) disclaim any responsibility for that use or reliance and any liability to the user. Copyright Notice: This work is copyright. Copyright in this work is owned by the Government of South Australia. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without written permission of the Government of South Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Heritage of the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks
    Department for Environment and Heritage Heritage of the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks Part of the Far North & Far West Region (Region 13) Historical Research Pty Ltd Adelaide in association with Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd Lyn Leader-Elliott Iris Iwanicki December 2002 Frontispiece Woolshed, Cordillo Downs Station (SHP:009) The Birdsville & Strzelecki Tracks Heritage Survey was financed by the South Australian Government (through the State Heritage Fund) and the Commonwealth of Australia (through the Australian Heritage Commission). It was carried out by heritage consultants Historical Research Pty Ltd, in association with Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd, Lyn Leader-Elliott and Iris Iwanicki between April 2001 and December 2002. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the South Australian Government or the Commonwealth of Australia and they do not accept responsibility for any advice or information in relation to this material. All recommendations are the opinions of the heritage consultants Historical Research Pty Ltd (or their subconsultants) and may not necessarily be acted upon by the State Heritage Authority or the Australian Heritage Commission. Information presented in this document may be copied for non-commercial purposes including for personal or educational uses. Reproduction for purposes other than those given above requires written permission from the South Australian Government or the Commonwealth of Australia. Requests and enquiries should be addressed to either the Manager, Heritage Branch, Department for Environment and Heritage, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, SA, 5001, or email [email protected], or the Manager, Copyright Services, Info Access, GPO Box 1920, Canberra, ACT, 2601, or email [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Native Vegetation Council (NVC) Bushland Assessment Manual
    Native Vegetation Council (NVC) Bushland Assessment Manual July 2020 Disclaimer While every reasonable effort has been made to verify the information in this fact sheet use of the information contained is at your sole risk. The Department recommends that you independently verify the information before taking any action. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2015 Bushland Assessment Manual | 2 Contents 1 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 5 2 INTRODUCTION 6 3 PRELIMINARY OFFICE PROCEDURE 7 4 FIELD PROCEDURE 7 4.1 Equipment 7 4.2 Determining/Naming Vegetation Associations in an Application Area 7 4.3 Completing the Bushland Assessment Field Inspection 14 4.3.1 General information about the datasheet 14 4.3.2 Listing plant species 14 4.3.3 Estimating cover of weeds and plant life forms 15 4.3.4 Native plant life forms 15 4.3.5 Native:exotic understorey biomass 15 4.3.6 Hollow-bearing trees 16 4.3.7 Fallen timber/debris 16 4.3.8 Mature Trees 16 4.3.9 Tree Canopy Cover Score 18 5 ASSIGNING A ‘BENCHMARK’ VEGETATION COMMUNITY 19 6 FILLING IN THE BUSHLAND ASSESSMENT SCORESHEET 20 6.1 Landscape Context Scores 20 6.1.1 Percent vegetation cover 22 6.1.2 Block shape score 22 6.1.3 Remnancy 23 6.1.4 % Native vegetation protected in IBRA Association 23 6.1.5 Incorporates a riparian zone or swamp/wetland score 24 6.2 Vegetation Condition Scores 24 6.2.1 Native plant species diversity score 24 6.2.2 Weed score 24 6.2.3 Native plant
    [Show full text]
  • Summary of Plots in the Lake Eyre Basin
    S ummary of Plots in the Lake Eyre Basin 2010 - 2016 Cravens Peak Reserve, QLD Acknowledgments TERN AusPlots Rangelands gratefully acknowledges the staff of the numerous properties both public and private that have helped with the work and allowed access to their land. AusPlots Rangelands also acknowledges the staff from the 4 state and territory governments who have provided assistance on the project. Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped to collect, curate and process the data and samples. Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Accessing the Data ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Point intercept data ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Plant collections ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Leaf tissue samples ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Site description information .............................................................................................................................. 3 Structural summary ..........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Studies of Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), IV: Revision of the Australian Species of Subgenus Neoscatella Malloch
    Studies of Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), IV: Revision of the Australian Species of Subgenus Neoscatella Malloch WAYNE N. MATHIS and WILLIS W. WIRTH SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 325 SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Insti- tution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, com- mencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of professional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. These pub- lications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, laboratories, and other interested institutions and specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available.
    [Show full text]
  • 100 the SOUTH-WEST CORNER of QUEENSLAND. (By S
    100 THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF QUEENSLAND. (By S. E. PEARSON). (Read at a meeting of the Historical Society of Queensland, August 27, 1937). On a clear day, looking westward across the channels of the Mulligan River from the gravelly tableland behind Annandale Homestead, in south­ western Queensland, one may discern a long low line of drift-top sandhills. Round more than half the skyline the rim of earth may be likened to the ocean. There is no break in any part of the horizon; not a landmark, not a tree. Should anyone chance to stand on those gravelly rises when the sun was peeping above the eastem skyline they would witness a scene that would carry the mind at once to the far-flung horizons of the Sahara. In the sunrise that western region is overhung by rose-tinted haze, and in the valleys lie the purple shadows that are peculiar to the waste places of the earth. Those naked, drift- top sanddunes beyond the Mulligan mark the limit of human occupation. Washed crimson by the rising sun they are set Kke gleaming fangs in the desert's jaws. The Explorers. The first white men to penetrate that line of sand- dunes, in south-western Queensland, were Captain Charles Sturt and his party, in September, 1845. They had crossed the stony country that lies between the Cooper and the Diamantina—afterwards known as Sturt's Stony Desert; and afterwards, by the way, occupied in 1880, as fair cattle-grazing country, by the Broad brothers of Sydney (Andrew and James) under the run name of Goyder's Lagoon—and the ex­ plorers actually crossed the latter watercourse with­ out knowing it to be a river, for in that vicinity Sturt describes it as "a great earthy plain." For forty miles one meets with black, sundried soil and dismal wilted polygonum bushes in a dry season, and forty miles of hock-deep mud, water, and flowering swamp-plants in a wet one.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution and Habitats of the Grey Grasswren in South Australia
    Government of South Australia South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board October 2009 South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board Distribution and habitats of the Grey Grasswren Amytornis barbatus in South Australia Andrew Black, Graham Carpenter, Lynn Pedler, Peter Langdon & Reece Pedler DISCLAIMER The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board and its employees expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice. © South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board 2010 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission obtained from the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the General Manager, South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board Railway Station Building, PO Box 2227, Port Augusta, SA, 5700 INTRODUCTION The Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus) is a small elusive bird of floodplain habitats in inland river systems dominated by Lignum Muhlenbeckia cunninghamii (Higgins et al. 2001). The species is relatively new to science, being first seen in 1921 on the Bulloo floodplain on the Queensland/New South Wales border (Chenery 1922, Macgillivray 1923, McAllan 2000), seen again in that area in 1942 and 1967 by Norman Favaloro and described from specimens taken soon afterwards (Favaloro and McEvey 1968, Robinson 1973).
    [Show full text]
  • Palatability of Plants to Camels (DBIRD NT)
    Technote No. 116 June 2003 Agdex No: 468/62 ISSN No: 0158-2755 The Palatability of Central Australian Plant Species to Camels Dr B. Dorges, Dr J. Heucke, Central Australian Camel Industry Association and R. Dance, Pastoral Division, Alice Springs BACKGROUND About 600,000 camels (Camelus dromedarius) are believed to inhabit the arid centre of Australia, mainly in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Most of these camels are feral. A small camel industry has developed, which harvests selected animals for domestic and export markets, primarily for meat. Camels can eat more than 80% of the common plant species found in Central Australia. Some plant species are actively sought by camels and may need to be protected. METHOD Observations of grazing preferences by camels were made periodically for up to 12 years on five cattle stations in Central Australia. Where camels were accustomed to the presence of humans, it was possible to observe their grazing preferences from a few metres. Radio transmitters were fitted on some camels for easy detection and observation at any time. These evaluations were used to establish a diet preference or palatability index for observed food plants. Table 1. Palatability index for camels Index Interpretation 1 only eaten when nothing else is available 2 rarely eaten 3 common food plant 4 main food plant at times 5 preferred food plant 6 highly preferred food plant 7 could be killed by camel browsing More information can be obtained from the web site of the Central Australian Camel Industry Association http://www.camelsaust.com.au 2 RESULTS Table 2.
    [Show full text]