Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project

Flora Assessment

Prepared by

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants

Specialist Consultant Studies Compendium

Part 2

April, 2008

ABN: 29 094 269 780

Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project

Flora Assessment

Prepared for: Eastern Star Gas Limited GPO Box 4526 Suite 1, Level 2, 37 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Tel: (02) 9251 5599 Fax: (02) 9251 2299 Email: [email protected]

Prepared by: Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants 21 Titan Close BONVILLE NSW 2441

Tel: 02 6653 4190 Fax: 02 6653 4190 Email: [email protected]

April, 2008

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED 2 - 2 SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Part 2 – Flora Assessment Report No. 585/06

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© Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants, 2008 and © Eastern Star Gas Limited, 2008

All intellectual property and copyright reserved.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, 1968, no part of this report may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system or adapted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants.

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES 2 - 3 EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED Part 2 – Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Report No. 585/06 CONTENTS Page

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 2-5

1.1 Background ...... 2-5 1.2 Project Site, Study Area and locality ...... 2-5 1.3 Review of Existing Literature...... 2-5 1.4 Previous Studies...... 2-5 1.5 Existing Mapping ...... 2-6 1.6 Database Searches for Threatened Species and Community Records ...... 2-6

2 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS ...... 2-7

2.1 Methodology ...... 2-7 2.2 Limitations ...... 2-8

3 RESULTS ...... 2-12

3.1 Threatened Communities Potentially Occurring in the Study Area...... 2-12 3.2 Threatened Species Potentially Occurring in the Study Area ...... 2-12 3.3 Vegetation Communities of the Study Area (see Figure 1)...... 2-12

3.3.1 Cleared ...... 2-12

3.3.1.1 Species Composition ...... 2-12 3.3.1.2 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics ...... 2-12 3.3.1.3 Conservation values ...... 2-12

3.3.2 Brigalow Acacia harpophylla Low Open Forest...... 2-14

3.3.2.1 Species Composition ...... 2-14 3.3.2.2 Structure ...... 2-14 3.3.2.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics ...... 2-14 3.3.2.4 Conservation values ...... 2-14

3.3.3 Narrowleaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra Dry Open Forest...... 2-15

3.3.3.1 Species Composition ...... 2-15 3.3.3.2 Structure ...... 2-15 3.3.3.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics ...... 2-15 3.3.3.4 Conservation values ...... 2-15

3.3.4 Pilliga Box Eucalyptus pilligaensis Dry Open Forest...... 2-16

3.3.4.1 Species Composition ...... 2-16 3.3.4.2 Structure ...... 2-16 3.3.4.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics ...... 2-16 3.3.4.4 Conservation values ...... 2-16

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED 2 - 4 SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Part 2 – Flora Assessment Report No. 585/06

CONTENTS Page

3.3.5 Rough-barked Apple Angophora sp Dry Open Forest...... 2-16

3.3.5.1 Species Composition ...... 2-16 3.3.5.2 Structure...... 2-17 3.3.5.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics...... 2-17 3.3.5.4 Conservation values ...... 2-17

3.3.6 Red Gum Eucalyptus dwyeri Woodland ...... 2-17

3.3.6.1 Species Composition ...... 2-17 3.3.6.2 Structure...... 2-18 3.3.6.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics...... 2-18 3.3.6.4 Conservation values ...... 2-18

4 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE...... 2-18

4.1 Type and Degree of Impacts ...... 2-18 4.2 TSC Act – Assessment of Significance ...... 2-19 4.3 7-part Tests...... 2-20

5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS...... 2-24

6 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 2-25

6.1.1 Extract from EPBC Act Protected Matters Report ...... 2-44

TABLES

Table 1 Endangered communities in locality and assessment of likelihood of occurrence in the Study Area...... 2-9 Table 2 Threatened species and assessment of likelihood of occurrence in the Study Area ...... 2-10 Table 3 Calculation of area of native vegetation clearance required for Preferred route ...... 2-19

FIGURES

Figure 1 Gas Flow Line Corridor Vegetation Communities...... 2-13

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Flora Inventory ...... 2-29 Appendix 2 Plot Data...... 2-35 Appendix 3 Wildlife Atlas Threatened Plant Species Records Within 10km of the Study Area...... 2-39 Appendix 4 Threatened Species Known or Predicted to Occur in the Pilliga Outwash CMA Sub- region ...... 2-41 Appendix 5 EPBC Act Predicted Matters Reports ...... 2-43 Appendix 6 Flora Survey Locations ...... 2-53 Appendix 7 Photographs...... 2-55

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES 2 - 5 EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED Part 2 – Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Report No. 585/06 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Idyll Spaces has been engaged by Eastern Star Gas Limited to undertake the flora component of an environmental assessment of impacts for proposed Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project (‘the Project”).

The aim of this assessment is to determine whether or not the Project would impact on any Threatened flora species, populations and ecological communities, or their habitats.

1.2 Project Site, Study Area and locality

The Project Site (the area directly affected by the Project) is up to 10m wide and 32km long. It crosses part of Bibblewindi and Pilliga East State Forests, road and travelling stock reserves, and private property, and falls within the Pilliga Outwash subcatchment of the Namoi Catchment Management Area.

The Study Area incorporates the Project Site and an alternate corridor for part of the gas flow line corridor. The corridor widths surveyed were approximately 50m wide to allow for impacts from tree clearing.

For the purpose of this study and assessment, the locality is defined as an area within 10km of the Study Area, and consists of a rectangle between coordinates 741000 & 767000 East, 6599000 & 6648000 North (Zone 55, datum AGD66).

1.3 Review of Existing Literature

A previous report covering the Study Area (Elks 2005) reviewed a report by Clements & Moore (2002) that examined existing literature and flora data, and specified survey protocols to minimise impacts on flora from the route of a proposed seismic survey within PEL 238. Subsequent to Clements and Moore, the Western Regional Assessment for the Brigalow Belt South was completed, and some general data posted on the NPWS website (http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/Brigalow+Belt+South+Bioregion, accessed 21 October 2005).

Little other published work is available on the vegetation of the Pilliga East State Forest (Clements and Moore 2002, Eastern Star Gas 2005), and none was found regarding Bibblewindi State Forest.

1.4 Previous Studies

Previous studies and assessments have been undertaken in the southern part of the Study Area for previous developments undertaken for initial development of gas extraction wells (Elks 2005) and an evaporation pond (Elks 2006). Flora survey data collected for these studies has also been utilised for this assessment.

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1.5 Existing Mapping

Vegetation communities in State Forests in the Pilliga area have been mapped by State Forests using the methodology of Lindsay (1974, in Clements & Moore 2002).

In the State Forests within the Study Area, the vegetation most commonly consists of Narrowleaved ironbark Eucalyptus crebra, with varying amounts of White cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla and Bull oak Allocasuarina luehmannii.

Two other forest communities, consisting either of Pilliga box Eucalyptus pilligaensis, or of various combinations of Brown bloodwood Corymbia trachyphloia and (unspecified) Roughbarked apples Angophora spp and Red gums Eucalyptus spp, are less common. These communities also have varying amounts of White cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla and Bull oak Allocasuarina luehmannii.

There are also substantial areas of vegetation in the East Pilliga State Forest along Bohena Creek that area mapped as ‘untyped’.

No detailed mapping is available for vegetation communities in those parts of the Study Area outside of the East Pilliga State Forest. The area of occurrence of various communities has been estimated for each 16km grid square (http:// maps.environment.nsw.gov.au/stateveg/default.htm). For the grid square covering the unmapped northern section of the Study Area the main communities mapped (and their coverage of the grid square) are:

Cleared (>50%); Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forests (10 - 50%); Coast and Tableland Riverine Forests (1 - 10%), and Brigalow Clay Plain Woodlands (1 - 10%).

1.6 Database Searches for Threatened Species and Community Records

Records of Threatened species, populations or communities, as listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), known to occur within 10km of the Study Area was extracted from the New South Wales Wildlife Atlas database for the Baan Baa, Cubbo, Narrabri and Wee Waa 1:100 000 map sheets (Department of Environment and Conservation 10 November, 2006, updated 28 April 2008). A summary of data is included as Appendix 3.

Records of Threatened species, populations or communities as listed under the TSC Act known to occur in the Pilliga Outwash subcatchment of the Namoi Catchment Management Area were obtained from the DEC Threatened species website (http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx 4 December 2006, updated 28 April 2008) and presented in Appendix 4.

Records of Threatened plant species, communities or species habitat listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) likely to occur within 10km of the Study Area were obtained from the Department of Environment and Heritage environmental reporting tool (http://www.deh.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/index.html, 8 January 2007, updated 28 April 2008) (Appendix 5).

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Current schedules of the TSC Act and the EPBC Act, the existence of any relevant Threatened species recovery or threat abatement plans, and preliminary determinations, were reviewed online http://www.nationalparks .nsw.gov.au / npws.nsf/Content/Threatened+Species, and http:// www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/ threatened/index.html, 8 January 2007, updated 28 April 2008).

2 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

2.1 Methodology

The State Forests’ vegetation community map was used as the basis for initial stratification of the Study Area within State Forest as other biophysical variation was minimal. No mapping suitable for stratification was available for the remainder of the Study Area. Final stratification utilised dominant tree species as determined from inspection of the pipeline route.

A survey of the alternate route was undertaken by G. Elks over 20 hours between 23 and 25 October 2006. Further field survey of approximately 8km of the forested section of the Preferred route was undertaken as a targeted transect search for Threatened Species, and to confirm vegetation mapping, over 6 hours in October 2007.

Vegetation communities within the study area were mapped along both the preferred and alternate routes, using vehicle-based transects along existing roads and foot transects in forested areas. Mapping of vegetation adjoining the study area was not considered feasible because of the length of the pipeline and associated cost constraints.

All transects incorporated searches for Threatened species potentially occurring in the Study Area. Plot surveys were then undertaken in representative areas to ensure adequate sampling of vegetation communities and collected structural and full floristic data was collected for a number of.04ha survey plots. Plot data is included in Appendix 2.

Other survey effort included 20 hours in October 2005 (10 plots and 10 random meanders) for a previous study prior to installation of the existing gas wells (Elks 2005), and 6 plots, associated random meanders and mapping of understorey habitat for Pilliga Mouse over 13 hours in May 2006 (Elks 2006).

Further survey was not undertaken because: • The routes were within 1.5km of each other. • The same floristic communities occurred on or adjoining both routes. • The route was affected by drought and grazing at the time of both route surveys, and survey for ground layer species would be unlikely to have yielded any new information.

Overall survey effort meets that required under DECC survey guidelines for all areas except for cleared areas of private property. It is acknowledged that survey in the cleared areas of private property does not meet survey guidelines but this is not regarded as a significant limitation, as outlined below.

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2.2 Limitations

The survey was undertaken in mid-Spring after a dry season, and much ground layer vegetation was either browned off or heavily grazed. Fertile plant material of many grasses and forbs was therefore unavailable and these species will be under-represented in the data. Similarly, many short-lived and ephemeral species were absent because of the preceding dry conditions.

For the southern part of the Study Area, this was not considered to be a major limitation because of more favourable conditions during earlier surveys (Elks 2005 and 2006).

The cleared parts of the northern section of the preferred route consisted of either improved pasture or cropping paddocks with little native vegetation. Remnant native grassland species of conservation significance assessed as possibly occurring in the study area are not regarded as persistent under heavy grazing and/or cultivation. Native grasslands of the type listed in the determination for ‘Native Vegetation on Cracking Clay Soils of the Liverpool Plains’ are not recorded as occurring, and not predicted to occur, in the study area (http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/cma_subregion_list.aspx?id= 776). Given the apparent effort by farmers to clear, improve and crop private lands in the northern part of the preferred corridor, as observed over the period of the pipeline project to date, and that they were affected by drought and very heavily grazed at the time of both surveys, this was not considered to be a major limitation.

Three of the fourteen Threatened species known or predicted to occur in the subcatchment (Cyperus conicus, Dichanthium setosum and Digitaria porrecta) are not regarded as detectable in spring and may have been present but undetected by the field survey (Table 2).

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SPECIALIST CONSULTANTSTUDIES Table 1 Part 2– Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal SeamG Endangered communities in locality and assessment of likelihood of occurrence in the Study Area

Community TSC Act status Description/ Habitat (Scientic Committee) Likelihood of occurrence in Study Area EPBC Act status Brigalow Endangered Acacia harpophylla is a dominant or co-dominant species. Usually occurs on Detected in Study Area heavy clay soils (Scientic Committee) Cadellia pentastylis (Ooline) community Endangered Cadellia pentastylis dominant or codominant species. Occurs on sandy-loam to Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. clay soils of low to medium fertility (Scientic Committee) Carbeen- Endangered Dominated by Eucalyptus tesselaris Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. Coolibah - Black Box Woodland of the northern Endangered Eucalyptus coolabah is typically the most common tree. Occurs on periodically Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. riverine plains waterlogged grey, self-mulching clays (Scientic Committee) Fuzzy Box Woodland on alluvial Soils Endangered Dominated by Eucalyptus conica. Occurs on brown loam or clay, alluvial or Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. colluvial soils on prior streams and abandoned channels or slight depressions(Scientic Committee)

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants Consultants Environmental Spaces Idyll Inland Grey Box Woodland Endangered Dominated by Eucalyptus microcarpa. Occurs on fertile soils of Tertiary and Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected Quaternary alluvial origin, especially Red Brown Earths Myall Woodland Endangered Dominated by Acacia pendula. Occurs on red-brown earths and heavy textured Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. grey and brown alluvial soils(Scientic Committee)

McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest Endangered Characteristic tree species include Eucalyptus andrewsii, E. mckieana and Unlikely. Characteristic species not detected. Callitris endlicheri are characteristic tree species. Occurs on lateritic soils in

low lying areas on hill slopes and open depressions (Scientic Committee) 2 - 9 Myall Woodland Endangered Dominated by Acacia pendula. Occurs on red-brown earths and heavy textured Unlikely. Characteristic species present as grey and brown alluvial soils. occasional trees in Eucalyptus dominated woodland only Native Vegetation on Cracking Clay Soils of the Endangered Grasslands which are often dominated by Austrostipa aristiglumis, Unlikely. Not listed for Pilliga Outwash Liverpool Plains Dichanthium sericeum or Panicum queenslandicum but can include shrubs and subcatchment.Characteristic species not detected. trees on cracking clay soils (vertosols - including soils referred to as Black Earth) Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket Endangered Characteristic canopy dominants are Cassine australis var. angustifolia, Unlikely. Only Geijera parvifolia present & at low Geijera parvifolia and Notelaea microcarpa var. microcarpa. Occurs on deep densities, eucalypt overstorey, vines sparse, loamy, high nutrient soils derived from basalt or other volcanic rocks, which are structure not typical, no obvious fire protection. less fire prone than surrounding areas (Scientic Committee) White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland/ Endangered/ Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus melliodora or Eucalyptus blakelyi are dominant. Unlikely. Blakely’s Red Gum present at low EASTERN STARGASLIMITED Grassy White Box Woodlands Endangered Occurs on relatively fertile soils (Scientic Committee) densities on banks of Bohena Creek, probably as part of hybrid complex with E. dwyeri

as Utilisation Project Project Utilisation as Report No. 585/06

Part 2– Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal SeamG SPECIALIST CONSULTANTSTUDIES

Table 2 Threatened species and assessment of likelihood of occurrence in the Study Area Page 1 of 2 Scientific name TSC Act EPBC Act Detectability Records of occurrence Habitat Likelihood of occurrence in Study status status Area Cadellia pentastylis Vulnerable Vulnerable All year Not recorded in Pilliga Outwash Vine thickets or dry rainforest, and more rarely in Unlikely. Suitable habitat not detected subcatchment of Namoi CMA. woodlands. Favours upper and mid slope positions, in Study Area, no local occurrences often with a northerly aspect. Occurs on sandy-loam to recorded. clay soils of low to medium fertility. Bertya sp. Cobar- Vulnerable Vulnerable All year Known from Pilliga Outwash In eucalypt-cypress woodland on red soils & stony Likely. Occurs in locality, suitable Coolabah subcatchment of Namoi CMA. ridges (DEC) habitat detected in southern half of Study Area. Cyperus conicus Endangered - Autumn- Known from Pilliga Outwash Wetlands and wet run on areas in Callitris forest in the Unlikely. No local occurrences Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants Consultants Environmental Spaces Idyll winter subcatchment of Namoi CMA. Pilliga area, growing in sandy soil with Cyperus recorded, and Cyperus spp. are rare in gracilis, C. squarrosus and C. fulvus (DEC) the Study Area. Dichanthium setosum Vulnerable Vulnerable Summer, Known from Pilliga Outwash In woodland and native grassland on stony red-brown Unlikely. No local occurrences recorded autumn subcatchment of Namoi CMA. hard-setting soils over basalt, or on black soil (DEC) since 1885

Digitaria porrecta Endangered - Summer, Not known from or predicted in Native grassland, woodlands or open forest with a Unlikely. No local occurrences autumn Pilliga Outwash subcatchment of grassy understorey, on richer soils (DEC) recorded, suitable habitat not detected. Namoi CMA. 2 - 10 Diuris tricolor (syn D. Vulnerable Vulnerable September- Known from Pilliga Outwash Open forest among grass, often with Callitris Possible. No local occurrences schaeffiana) November subcatchment of Namoi CMA. spp.(DEC) recorded, but suitable habitat detected in southern half of Study Area. Goodenia Vulnerable Vulnerable Spring Predicted but not recorded in Pilliga Shaded, seasonally damp sites in clay-loam, sandy- Unlikely. No local occurrences macbarronii Outwash subcatchment of Namoi loam and sandy soils (DEC) recorded, suitable habitat rare in Study CMA . Area. Lepidium aschersonii Vulnerable Vulnerable Spring, Known from Pilliga Outwash ridges of gilgai clays dominated by Brigalow with Likely. Occurs in locality, suitable Summer, subcatchment of Namoi CMA. Austrodanthonia and/or Austrostipa spp.in the habitat detected in northern half of Autumn understorey (DEC) Study Area. Philotheca ericifolia Vulnerable Vulnerable All Known from Pilliga Outwash Heath, open woodland, dry sandy creek beds, and Possible. No local occurrences subcatchment of Namoi CMA. rocky ridge and cliff tops chiefly in dry sclerophyll forest recorded, but suitable habitat detected and heath on damp sandy flats and gullies (DEC) in southern half of Study Area. EASTERN STARGASLIMITED Polygala linariifolia Endangered - Spring, Known from Pilliga Outwash Sandy soils in dry eucalypt forest and woodland with a Possible. No local occurrences summer subcatchment of Namoi CMA. sparse understorey. recorded, but suitable habitat detected in southern half of Study Area.

Pterostylis cobarensis Vulnerable Vulnerable September- Known from Pilliga Outwash Eucalypt woodlands, open mallee or Callitris Possible. No local occurrences as Utilisation Project

November subcatchment. shrublands on low stony ridges and slopes in skeletal recorded, but suitable habitat detected Report No. 585/06 sandy-loam soils (DEC) in southern half of Study Area.

Part 2– Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal SeamG SPECIALIST CONSULTANTSTUDIES Table 2 (Cont’d) Threatened species and assessment of likelihood of occurrence in Study Area

Page 2 of 2 Scientific name TSC Act EPBC Act Detectability Records of occurrence Habitat Likelihood of occurrence in Study status status Area Rulingia procumbens Vulnerable Vulnerable All year Known from Pilliga Outwash Grows in sandy sites, often along roadsides, in soil Possible. No local occurrences subcatchment of Namoi CMA. types including sands, sandy loams and gravels over recorded, but suitable habitat detected Jurassic sandstones and conglomerates (DEC) in southern half of Study Area. Swainsona Vulnerable Vulnerable Spring Known from Pilliga Outwash Clay based soils, ranging from grey, red and brown Unlikely. No local occurrences recorded murrayana summer subcatchment of Namoi CMA. cracking clays to red-brown earths and loams since 1886. Tylophora linearis Endangered Endangere All year Predicted to occur in Pilliga In dry scrub and open forest on low-altitude Unlikely. No local occurrences d Outwash subcatchment of Namoi sedimentary flats recorded, suitable habitat not detected CMA. in Study Area.

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3 RESULTS

3.1 Threatened Communities Potentially Occurring in the Study Area

Communities listed as Threatened under the relevant state and federal jurisdictions are known to occur on the relevant 1:100 000 mapsheets or likely to occur within the locality.

The Brigalow Endangered Ecological Community was identified in the Study Area. The results of field survey and assessment outlined in Table 1 indicate that no other Endangered Ecological Communities occur in the Study Area.

3.2 Threatened Species Potentially Occurring in the Study Area

Fourteen flora species listed as Threatened under the relevant state and federal jurisdictions are known to occur in the Pilliga Outwash subcatchment, considered as likely to occur within the locality on the basis of habitat models, or regarded by Doug Binns as potential occurrences in the Bohena Study Area (pers. comm. in Clements & Moore 2002) (Table 2).

No Threatened species have been detected in the Study Area. The assessment outlined in Table 2 indicates that nine of these species are potential occurrences on the basis that known habitat requirements are likely to be met in the Study Area.

Two of these Threatened species, the spiny peppercress Lepidium aschersonii and Bertya sp. Cobar Coolabah, are known to occur in the locality.

3.3 Vegetation Communities of the Study Area (see Figure 1)

3.3.1 Cleared

3.3.1.1 Species Composition

Cleared areas were not surveyed and ground layer species composition is unknown. Cleared areas in the northern part of the study area contained occasional paddock trees including Casuarina cristata apparently retained for their fodder and shade value, and occasional clumps of Acacia harpophylla young coppice growth.

3.3.1.2 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

Small areas cleared for road construction and firebreaks occur on sandy soils in State Forests of the southern part of the Study Area. In the northern part of the Study Area most of the landscape has been cleared for agriculture and grazing as soils are more fertile.

3.3.1.3 Conservation values

No Threatened species are considered likely to occur in cleared areas, and the conservation values are minimal.

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3.3.2 Brigalow Acacia harpophylla Low Open Forest

3.3.2.1 Species Composition

Brigalow is generally the dominant species, although Casuarina cristata may be dominant in localised areas of poor drainage.

There is a midstratum with Wilga Geijera parviflora, Orange bush Maytenus cunninghamii, and Leafless ballart Exocarpus aphyllus and an occasional vine of Parsonsia lanceolata.

Ground layer vegetation is most diverse, herbs in the saltbush family typically dominant in drier areas and grasses and sedges in moister areas.

3.3.2.2 Structure

This community consists of a mosaic of dense stands of Brigalow to 30cm diameter and 15 metres tall on elevated areas, and small areas of grassland or sedgeland under Casuarina cristata on lower areas.

The midstratum and ground layer were both very sparse and around 2m and 0.3m tall respectively.

3.3.2.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

This community occurs on black cracking clays in the northern part of the Study Area, where it occurs as occasional small remnants along road reserves. The soil surface is undulating with local topographic variation of around 1 metre; on road reserves the lower areas are often used for disposal of household garbage.

The dominant trees are generally close together, small, and large woody debris is absent, indicating that the vegetation has regrown from suckers following previous clearing.

The midstratum vegetation is sparse and most species have fleshy fruits which are likely to be bird dispersed. Ground layer vegetation varies markedly according to elevation.

3.3.2.4 Conservation values

This community is classified as Brigalow Clay Plain Woodlands (Keith 2004), Forest Type 214 Wattle (Forestry Commission 1989), and the Endangered Ecological Community Brigalow (as listed under the TSC Act and the EPBC Act).

Brigalow in NSW has been extensively cleared for agricultural purposes and the remnants have often been modified. The community therefore has high conservation value.

No Threatened species were detected in this community in the Study Area. The community is potential habitat for the Vulnerable species Lepidium aschersonii, reported as occurring on a road reserve within 2km of the Study Area.

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3.3.3 Narrowleaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra Dry Open Forest

3.3.3.1 Species Composition

Narrowleaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra is always present, and usually the dominant species. Other common species include White cypress Callitris glaucophylla and bull oak Allocasuarina luehmannii. Pilliga box E. pilligaensis may occur at low densities.

Midstratum vegetation increases in complexity toward the south of the Study Area, where there is often a well developed midstratum with hopbushes Dodonea spp, Calytrix tetragona, wattles Acacia spp and Broom bitter-pea Daviesia genistifolia . Further north, the understorey consists of occasional Broom bitter-pea and dead wattles only.

Ground layer vegetation is most diverse, with mat-rushes Lomandra spp, sawsedge Gahnia aspera, flax lily Dianalla longifolia, wild onion Bulbine semibarbata, Laxmannia gracilis, Calandrinia spp, Goodenia spp, bluebells Wahlenbergia spp, cutleaf daisy Brachycome multifida and the fern Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia common.

3.3.3.2 Structure

This community consists of open stands of Narrow-leaved ironbark around 20m tall, with or without intervening stands of White cypress and Bull oak, over a midstratum with scattered stands or sparse individual sclerophyllous shrubs, and a sparse to mid-dense ground layer of forbs, grasses and graminoids.

3.3.3.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

This community occurs on silty sand with adequate drainage in the southern half of the Study Area. The dominant ironbark trees, although generally less than 60cm diameter at breast height (dbh), are nonetheless often of considerable age and many have small hollows.

White cypress is usually present, but rarely exceeds 20cm dbh, and is often represented by standing dead trees from previous fire. Bull oak occurs in dense patches and is typically represented by young coppice following previous fire.

Much of the ground layer vegetation was in very poor condition during this field survey, but during a previous survey consisted of many short-lived species that had established following good winter rains, especially in the southern part of the Study Area. Dominance of ground layer vegetation by grasses increases toward the north.

3.3.3.4 Conservation values

No Threatened species were detected in this community in the Study Area. The community is potential habitat for the Threatened species Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, and Rulingia procumbens.

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This community is classified as Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forests (Keith 2004), or Type 189 White Cypress Pine – Narrowleaved Ironbark (Forestry Commission 1989). It is the most widespread of the White cypress types, occupying around 40% of the total area of managed cypress forests (Forestry Commission 1989 p.79). It is not listed as Endangered under the TSC Act or EPBC Act.

3.3.4 Pilliga Box Eucalyptus pilligaensis Dry Open Forest

3.3.4.1 Species Composition

Pilliga box Eucalyptus pilligaensis is the dominant species, and Bull oak is common. White cypress and Narrowleaved ironbark are less common.

Midstratum vegetation is very sparse or absent. Ground layer vegetation is dominated by grasses such as Paspalidium distans and Eragrostis sterilis elsewhere. Other common species include burr-daisy Calotis cuneifolia, bluebells Wahlenbergia spp, the grassy sedge Carex inversa, sawsedge Gahnia aspera, and mat-rushes Lomandra spp.

3.3.4.2 Structure

This community typically consists of mature trees over occasional stands of coppice and dense regrowth and sparse grasses and forbs.

3.3.4.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

This community occurs in the southern part of the Study Area, often on darker silty soils.

3.3.4.4 Conservation values

No Threatened species were detected in this community in the Study Area. The community is potential habitat for the Threatened species Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, and Rulingia procumbens.

This community is classified as Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forests (Keith 2004) or Type 193 White Cypress Pine – Box (Forestry Commission 1989). It is not listed as Endangered under the TSC Act or EPBC Act.

3.3.5 Rough-barked Apple Angophora sp Dry Open Forest

3.3.5.1 Species Composition

A Rough-barked Apple hybrid Angophora floribunda x leiocarpa is the dominant species. Other species which may be present include Cypress, the Red gums E. dwyeri and (in Bohena Creek) E. blakelyi.

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Midstratum vegetation ranges from occasional large wattles A. leiocalyx and A. leucoclada to stands of the heath shrubs Brachyloma daphnoides, Styphelia triflora, Dillwynia sericea and Grevillea floribunda.

Ground layer vegetation includes Flannel flower Actinotus helianthus, daisies, numerous grasses including Digitaria diffusa, Imperata cylindrica, Eriachne pallescens and Phragmites australis, as well as sedges and rushes.

3.3.5.2 Structure

This community consists of open stands of Rough-barked apple around 20m tall, with or without intervening stands of White cypress and Bull oak, over a midstratum with scattered stands or sparse individual sclerophyllous shrubs, and a sparse to mid-dense ground layer of forbs, grasses and graminoids.

3.3.5.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

This community occurs on sandy soils associated with flats and terraces along Bohena Creek in the southern part of the Study Area. Elevated areas on deep sand have sparser cover of trees and ground layer vegetation, and the midstratum is dominated by heath shrubs. On flats the ground layer vegetation is denser and more complex, and the community features some species typical of wetter vegetation of the slopes and tablelands, such as Blakely’s Red gum Eucalyptus blakelyi and Pale Wallaby grass Eriachne pallescens.

3.3.5.4 Conservation values

No Threatened species were detected in this community in the Study Area. The community is potential habitat for Diuris tricolor, Pilotheca ericifolia, Polygala linariifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis, and Rulingia procumbens.

This community is classified as Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forests (Keith 2004) or Type 129 Roughbarked Apples (Forestry Commission 1989). It is not listed as Endangered under the TSC Act or EPBC Act.

3.3.6 Red Gum Eucalyptus dwyeri Woodland

3.3.6.1 Species Composition

Dwyer’s red gum E. dwyeri is common, with or without Brown bloodwood Corymbia trachyphloia. Where Brown bloodwood occurs it is typically dominant because of its taller stature; Dwyer’s red gum is typically somewhat shorter and of mallee form. White cypress is the only other tree species.

There is often a well-developed midstratum of heath shrubs include Allocasuarina gymnanthera, Aotus mollis, Daphne heath Brachyloma daphnoides,, Calytrix tetragona, Dodonea peduncularis, the Seven dwarfs grevillea Grevillea floribunda and Homoranthus flavescens. The midstratum is best developed in the south of the Study Area.

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Ground layer vegetation is typically sparse, with Flannel flower actinotus helianthii, the daisy Helichrysum collinum, the sedge Schoenus ericatorum and various three-awned speargrasses Aristida spp most common.

3.3.6.2 Structure

This community consists of sparse open stands of brown bloodwood to 20m tall and Dwyers red gum to 15m, over mid-dense stands of heath shrubs or young White cypress. Ground layer vegetation is typically very sparse.

3.3.6.3 Ecology Disturbance & Dynamics

This community is found on red sands on elevated parts of the southern Study Area where it occurs on poor sandy soils. The trees typically have small hollows, and some of the larger Brown bloodwoods have large hollows.

3.3.6.4 Conservation values

No Threatened species were detected in this community in the Study Area. The community is potential habitat for Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Philotheca ericifolia, and Pterostylis cobarensis.

This community is classified as Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forest, although the shrubby understorey vegetation may be more typical of Western Slopes Dry Sclerophyll Forest (Keith 2004), and Forest Type 190 White Cypress Pine – Brown Bloodwood (Forestry Commission 1989). The type is regarded as of low quality and little productive capacity (Forestry Commission 1989 p.79). It is not listed as Endangered under the TSC Act or EPBC Act.

4 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

4.1 Type and Degree of Impacts

The Project would involve the clearing of all woody vegetation, excavation, and installation of a cleared corridor up to 10m wide for machinery operation and access along the alignment of the gas flow line.

Direct impacts would therefore include loss of existing native vegetation cover along a 14km section of the gas flow line. Potential indirect impacts include the introduction of weed propagules. The proposed activities are not expected to impact on landforms or drainage, or cause erosion, or adversely affect fire regimes in the locality.

The area of native vegetation cover that would be cleared by the proposal is summarised in Table 3, according to location (along roadsides, along unformed track, or through forest).

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Table 3 Calculation of area of native vegetation clearance required for Preferred route Community Length (km) Width (m) Cleared Area (ha) Ironbark 7.6 10.0 7.6 Angophora 3.0 10.0 3.0 Red Gum 2.5 10.0 2.5 Total -- -- 13.1

4.2 TSC Act – Assessment of Significance

The assessment of the nature and magnitude of impacts of the Project has been conducted in accordance with the draft Assessment Guidelines (DEC 2007) and includes the following considerations.

1. Pre-construction, construction and occupation/maintenance phases. It is envisaged that construction would occur over a comparatively short period, and that occupation would continue for an indefinite period. 2. All on-site and off-site impacts, including location, installation, operation and maintenance of auxiliary infrastructure and fire management zones. On-site impacts will include the total loss of native vegetation cover within a corridor with a length of approximately 14km. No off-site impacts are expected. 3. All direct and indirect impacts It is expected that direct impacts would be confined to the Project Site, and potential indirect impacts limited to introduction of new weed species into the Project Site from contaminated plant or machinery. 4. The frequency and duration of each known or likely impact/action The construction impacts would occur as a single event over a comparatively short period. Ongoing impacts are likely to be limited to those associated with regular vehicle access for the purpose of maintenance and are likely to be similar to those arising from current land use as State Forest. 5. The total impact which can be attributed to that action over the entire geographic area affected, and over time The total impact attributed to the Project would occur within an area of 13.1ha, a comparatively small part of the 175ha Study Area and 127,500ha locality for an indefinite period not exceeding 50 years. 6. The sensitivity of the receiving environment The numerous roads tracks and services occurring throughout the locality provide no evidence to indicate that the receiving environment would be unduly sensitive to the impacts of the Project. 7. The degree of confidence with which the impacts of the action are known and understood. Activities of the type proposed have been undertaken over a long period and their impacts are relatively well known and understood.

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4.3 7-part Tests

The following 7-part test assesses the impacts of the Project on the Endangered Ecological Community Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions (the Brigalow EEC) and on Threatened plant species grouped according to growth form and habitat, namely:

• Group 1 - Lepidium aschersonii (fertile clay soils); • Group 2 - Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, Rulingia procumbens (woodland on sandy soils); and • Group 3 - Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Philotheca ericifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis (heath, mallee or woodland on stony, red or skeletal soils).

(a) in the case of a threatened species, whether the action proposed is likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species such that a viable local population of the species is likely to be placed at risk of extinction.

Group 1 - Lepidium aschersonii The species was not detected in the Study Area. An apparently viable (reproducing) local population occurs in the Brigalow Park Nature Reserve approximately 5km west of the Study Area.

The Project would not require the clearing of any potential habitat for the species. The action proposed is assessed as not likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species such that a viable local population of the species is likely to be placed at risk of extinction

Group 2 - Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, Rulingia procumbens The species were not detected in the Study Area. No local populations of these species are recorded. The Project would require the clearing of 7.6ha of potential habitat for the species. This habitat occurs in Ironbark and Pilliga Box communities, and is widespread and common in the Study Area, locality, and region. The life cycle of these species is unlikely to be dependent on or impacted by factors that may result from or operate within the narrow strips of vegetation, previously modified by forestry activities that would be removed by the proposal.

The Project is assessed as not likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species such that a viable local population of the species is likely to be placed at risk of extinction

Group 3 - Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Philotheca ericifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis. The species were not detected in the Study Area. A local populations of Bertya sp. Cobar Coolabah has been reported from an area of crown land adjacent to the Newell Highway and east of the Study Area.

The Project would require the clearing of 5.5ha of potential habitat for the species. This habitat occurs in Angophora and Red Gum communities, and is widespread and common in the Study Area, locality, and region. The life cycle of these species is unlikely to be dependent on or impacted by factors that may result from or operate within the narrow strips of vegetation, previously modified by forestry activities that would be removed by the proposal.

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The Project is assessed as not likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species such that a viable local population of the species is likely to be placed at risk of extinction

(b) in the case of an endangered population, whether the action proposed is likely to have an adverse effect on the life cycle of the species that constitutes the endangered population such that a viable local population of the species is likely to be placed at risk of extinction.

Endangered populations as listed on Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the TSC Act do not occur in the Study Area or locality.

(c) in the case of an endangered ecological community or critically endangered ecological community, whether the action proposed: (i) is likely to have an adverse effect on the extent of the ecological community such that its local occurrence is likely to be placed at risk of extinction, or (ii) is likely to substantially and adversely modify the composition of the ecological community such that its local occurrence is likely to be placed at risk of extinction.

The the Brigalow EEC adjoins the proposed route in the northern part of the Study Area.

The Project would not require the clearing of any of the community. Approximately 200ha of the community is reserved in the nearby Brigalow Park Nature Reserve. The Project is therefore assessed as not likely to have an adverse effect on the extent of the ecological community or adversely modify the composition of the ecological community such that its local occurrence is likely to be placed at risk of extinction.

(d) in relation to the habitat of a threatened species, population or ecological community: (i) the extent to which habitat is likely to be removed or modified as a result of the action proposed,

Assessment of the area and quality of habitat of the threatened species, population or ecological community that occurs within the locality;

Approximately 25,000ha of area mapped as the vegetation class ‘Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forest >50%’, 50,000ha of vegetation class ‘Pilliga Outwash Dry Sclerophyll Forest 10-50%’, 25,000 ha of vegetation class ‘Western Slopes Dry Sclerophyll Forest >50%’ and a 25,000ha of ‘Brigalow Clay Plain Woodland 1-10%’ occur in the locality (http://maps.environment.nsw.gov.au/stateveg/).

The Dry Sclerophyll Forests occur mostly in large blocks of State Forest that have been extensively roaded and logged, and managed for timber production for over 100 years. They contain potential habitat for the threatened species Bertya sp Cobar Coolabah, Diuris tricolor, Philotheca ericifolia, Polygala linifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis and Rulingia procumbens . Of these only Bertya sp Cobar Coolabah is known to occur in the locality, in Jacks Creek State Forest with associated species including Eucalyptus chloroclada and Eucalyptus fibrosa, neither of which were detected in the Study Area. The evidence suggests that the quality of habitat in the Study Area may not be suitable for these species.

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Brigalow Clay Plain Woodland occurs as small remnants in a largely cleared agricultural landscape. Remnants in the Study Area occur on road reserves and appear to have regrown following earlier clearing. They are subjected to some ongoing disturbance from road maintenance activities, rubbish dumping, and grazing. They are potential habitat for Lepidium aschersonii, which is recorded from a road reserve in the locality.

Assessment of the area and quality of habitats of the threatened species, population or ecological community that occurs within the Study Area;

Approximately 3ha of Brigalow and potential habitat for Lepidium aschersonii occurs in the Study Area. As the species is recorded from a road reserve in the locality, the quality of habitat in the Study Area may be adequate for the species.

Approximately 63ha of potential habitat for Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, and Rulingia procumbens occurs in the Study Area. These species have not been recorded in the locality and the quality of habitat in the Study Area may not be adequate for the species.

Approximately 35ha of habitat for Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Philotheca ericifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis occurs in the Study Area. Of these only Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah has been recorded in the locality, in association with eucalypts not detected in the Study Area, and the quality of habitat in the Study Area may not be adequate for the species.

Estimation of the area and quality that the habitat of the Study Area represents in relation to the local distribution of that habitat;

The vegetation of the Study Area represents between 1% and 0.1% of habitat for Group 1 (Lepidium aschersonii) and Brigalow in the locality.

It represents an estimated 0.2% of habitat for Group 2 (Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, Rulingia procumbens), and 0.2% of habitat for Group 3 (Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Philotheca ericifolia, Pterostylis cobarensis).

Estimation of the area and quality of the habitat of the Study Area which is to be removed or modified by the proposed development, activity or action or indirectly by longer term impacts from the proposed development such as increased predation, weed invasion, salinity etc;

The area of habitat to be removed or modified by the Project is calculated at 13.1ha (Table 3). The quality of the habitat to be removed is typical of forest communities in the Pilliga. Recommendations made later in this report would minimise opportunities for indirect impacts such as weed invasion.

Estimation of the area and quality of the habitat of the region that will be removed or modified by the proposed development, activity or action;

No habitat for Group 1 would be removed or modified by the proposal.

Habitat for Group 2 that would be removed or modified by the proposal is calculated at 7.6ha, or 0.02% of similar habitat present in the region.

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Habitat for Group 3 that would be removed or modified by the proposal is calculated at 5.5ha, or 0.02% of similar quality habitat present in the region.

Assessment of the ecological integrity of the habitat to be affected and of the habitat which will remain.

There habitat to remain is similar to the habitat to be affected.

(i) whether an area of habitat is likely to become fragmented or isolated from other areas of habitat as a result of the proposed action,

The small scale and spatial arrangement of the proposal is such that habitat is not likely to become fragmented or isolated from other areas of habitat.

(ii) the importance of the habitat to be removed, modified, fragmented or isolated to the long-term survival of the species, population or ecological community in the locality,

The habitat to be removed is assessed as likely to be of little importance for the long-term survival of endangered ecological communities or threatened flora species in the locality.

(e) whether the action proposed is likely to have an adverse effect on critical habitat (either directly or indirectly),

Critical habitat as listed in the Register of Critical Habitat kept by the Director General of Department of Environment and Conservation does not occur in the Study Area.

(f) whether the action proposed is consistent with the objectives or actions of a recovery plan or threat abatement plan,

The Project is consistent with the objectives and actions of the Bertya sp Cobar Coolabah Recovery Plan (NPWS 2002). No recovery plans or threat abatement plans are currently listed for the Brigalow EEC or for Lepidium aschersonii, Diuris tricolor, Polygala linariifolia, Rulingia procumbens, Philotheca ericifolia, or Pterostylis cobarensis.

(g) whether the action proposed constitutes or is part of a key threatening process or is likely to result in the operation of, or increase the impact of, a key threatening process.

The Project will involve the key threatening process ‘Clearing of native vegetation’. It has the potential to contribute to the impact of ‘Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses’.

Clearing is one of the threats listed for Bertya sp Cobar Coolabah and Philotheca ericifolia. Similarly, weed invasion is listed as a threat for Bertya sp Cobar Coolabah and Diuris tricolor.

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5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Given consideration of the above assessment, and in particular the small area of vegetation to be removed, both in absolute terms and in terms of the habitat for Threatened species in the locality and region, and the apparent absence of Threatened flora species from the Project Site and Study Area, it is concluded that a referral to the Federal Environment minister would not be required.

In order to minimise the impact of clearing on habitat for Threatened species and endangered ecological communities it is recommended that:

• the clearing envelope is to marked before commencement of clearing, and movement of plant, machinery or materials beyond the clearing boundary is to be rigorously avoided. • the introduction of invasive exotic grasses and weeds is to be avoided by ensuring that plant and machinery used for construction are cleaned and free of seeds before entering the site.

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6 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bishop T 2000. Field Guide to the orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. Second Edition. UNSW Press Sydney.

Briggs JD and JH Leigh 1995. Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. CSIRO Canberra

Clements C & R Moore 2002. Survey Protocols: PEL 238 Pilliga East Seismic Survey. Report to Eastern Star Gas.

Department of Environment and Climate Change 2007. Threatened Species Assessment Guidelines – August 2007.

Eastern Star Gas 2005. Review of Environmental Factors, Bibblewindi Nine-spot Project. Draft Report.

Elks G 2005. PEL 238 Coal Seam Gas Flora Survey. Report to Eastern Star Gas

Elks G 2006. Flora Survey for proposed evaporation pond, PEL 238 Coal Seam Gas project. Report to Eastern Star Gas

Forestry Commission 1989. Research Note 17: Forest Types in New South Wales. Forestry Commission of NSW Sydney.

Harden GJ 1992. Flora of New South Wales Vol 3. New South Wales University Press Sydney

Harden GJ 1993. Flora of New South Wales Vol 4. New South Wales University Press Sydney

Harden GJ 2000. Flora of New South Wales Vol 1(Revised Ed). New South Wales University Press Sydney

Harden GJ 2002. Flora of New South Wales Vol 2(Revised Ed). New South Wales University Press Sydney

Keith D 2004. Ocean shores to desert dunes: The native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT. DEC Hurstville

Walker J and M S Hopkins 1990. Vegetation in RC McDonald, RF Isbell, JG Speight, J Walker and MS Hopkins (Eds) Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook. Inkata Press Melbourne.

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APPENDICES

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Appendix 1: Flora Inventory

Appendix 2: Plot Data

Appendix 3: Wildlife Atlas Threatened Plant Species Records Within 10km of Study Area

Appendix 4: Threatened Species Known or Predicted to Occur in the Pilliga Outwash CMA Sub-region

Appendix 5: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report

Appendix 6: Flora Survey Locations

Appendix 7: Photographs

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Appendix 1

Flora Inventory

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Page 1 of 4 CLASS /Subclass Scientific name /Family Cover/abundance by Plot plot bbw bbw boh P5 bbw bbw bbw bbw boh po1 po2 P1 P2 P3 boh boh P4 3 4 4 1 2 5 6 1 2 3 map stratum tb tb tb - cop cop pco cop cop pco pco u u cop pg pg - Field community 1 2 3 4 5 FILICOPSIDA Adiantaceae Cheilanthes 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 austrotenuifolia CONIFEROPSIDA Cupressaceae Callitris glaucophylla 4 3 4 3 2 3 2 4 4 3 4 MAGNOLIOPSIDA Magnoliidae Aizoaceae Tetragonia tetragonioides 2 Amaranthaceae Alternanthera angustifolia 2 Apiaceae Actinotus helianthii 2 3 2 2 Apiaceae Daucus glochidiatus 1 1 Apiaceae Hydrocotyle laxiflora 1 Asclepiadaceae Parsonsia lanceolata 1 Asteraceae Actinobole uliginosum 1 1 Asteraceae Brachycome multifida 2 2 2 2 2 Asteraceae Bracteantha viscosa 2 1 1 Asteraceae Calotis cuneifolia 2 2 2 2 1 2 Asteraceae Calotis inerme 1 Asteraceae Cassinia arcuata 2 2 Asteraceae Centipeda minima 2 Asteraceae Chrysocephalum 1 2 1 apiculatum Asteraceae Chrysocephalum 1 semipapposum Asteraceae Glossogyne tannensis 1 Asteraceae Gnephosis tenuissima 1 Asteraceae Helichrysum collinum 2 2 1 Asteraceae Olearia subspicata 2 Asteraceae Ozothamnus diosmifolius 1 Asteraceae Podolepis neglecta 1 Asteraceae Soliva anthemifolia 1 Asteraceae Taraxacum officionale 1 Asteraceae Triptilodiscus pygmaeus 1 2 Asteraceae Vernonia cinerea 1 2 2 Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia gracilis 2 2 1 2 2 2 Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia graniticola 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 Capparaceae Capparis sp 1 Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina 2 1 3 gymnanthera Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina luehmannii 1 2 3 1 1 2 2 Casuarinaceae Casuarina cristata 1 Celastraceae Maytenus cunninghamii 1 2 2 Chenopodiaceae Atriplex sp 2 Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium 2 auricomiforme Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa 2 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena tetracuspis 2 Chloanthaceae Spartothamnella juncea 2 Crassulaceae Crassula sieberiana 2 2 2 Dilleniaceae Hibbertia obtusifolia 2 1 2 Droseraceae Drosera peltata 2 2 Epacridaceae Brachyloma daphnoides 2 2 2 2 Epacridaceae Lissanthe strigosa 2 2 1 2 2 1 Epacridaceae Melichrus urceolatus 2 1 1 2 1 Epacridaceae Styphelia triflora 2 2 Euphorbiaceae Poranthera microphylla 2

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Page 2 of 4 CLASS /Subclass Scientific name /Family Cover/abundance by Plot plot bbw bbw boh P5 bbw bbw bbw bbw boh po1 po2 P1 P2 P3 boh boh P4 3 4 4 1 2 5 6 1 2 3 map stratum tb tb tb - cop cop pco cop cop pco pco u u cop pg pg - Field community 1 2 3 4 5 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Aotus mollis 2 2 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia genistifolia 1 2 2 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia sericea 2 2 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine canescens 1 1 1 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine tomentella 2 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Gompholobium 1 foliolosum Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hardenbergia violaceae 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Medicago sp 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Mirbelia pungens 1 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea foliolosa 4 1 Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona 2 queenslandica Fabaceae (Faboideae) Templetonia stenophylla 1 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia caroleae 2 1 2 3 1 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia debilis 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia gladiiformis 1 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia harpophylla 5 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia leiocalyx 1 1 2 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia leucoclada 2 2 1 1 Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia pilligaensis 2 Goodeniaceae Goodenia pinnatifida 2 1 2 2 Goodeniaceae Goodenia rotundifolia 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 Lamiaceae Ajuga reptans 1 Lamiaceae Westringia cheelii 3 Lauraceae Cassytha sp 2 1 Lauraceae Cassythe pubescens 2 Myrtaceae Angophora floribunda x 4 3 leiocarpa Myrtaceae Calytrix tetragona 2 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 Myrtaceae Corymbia trachyphloia 1 3 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus blakelyi 2 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus crebra 3 2 4 4 3 2 4 4 1 1 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus dwyeri 2 3 1 3 2 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus pilligaensis 4 4 4 Myrtaceae Homoranthus flavescens 2 2 2 Myrtaceae Melaleuca uncinata 1 2 2 1 Orchidaceae Calochilus robertsonii 1 Orchidaceae Pterostylis sp 1 Oxalidaceae Oxalis radicosa 1 Plantaginaceae Plantago cunninghamii 1 Polygonaceae Acetosella vulgaris 1 Polygonaceae Polygonum patulum 2 Portulacaceae Calandrinia disperma 1 2 1 1 2 Portulacaceae Calandrinia sp 1 Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis 2 Proteaceae Grevillea floribunda 2 2 1 3 Proteaceae Persoonia sericea 1 Rutaceae Boronia glabra 2 2 Rutaceae Canthium oleifolium 1 Rutaceae Geijera parviflora 2 2 Rutaceae Philotheca salsolifolia 2 Rubiaceae Asperula sp 2 Rubiaceae Opercularia sp 1 Rubiaceae Pomax umbellata 2

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Page 3 of 4 CLASS /Subclass Scientific name /Family Cover/abundance by Plot plot bbw bbw boh P5 bbw bbw bbw bbw boh po1 po2 P1 P2 P3 boh boh P4 3 4 4 1 2 5 6 1 2 3 map stratum tb tb tb - cop cop pco cop cop pco pco u u cop pg pg - Field community 1 2 3 4 5 Santalaceae Exocarpus aphyllus 2 Sapindaceae Dodonaea heteromorpha 2 3 2 2 Sapindaceae Dodonaea peduncularis 1 1 1 2 Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa 2 4 2 2 1 Scrophulariaceae Veronica sp 2 Solanaceae Solanum ferocissimum 1 2 2 2 Stackhousiaceae Stackhousia monogyna 1 1 1 Thymelaeaceae Pimelea linifolia 2 1 Verbenaceae Verbena bonariensis 2 Violaceae Hybanthus monopetalus 1 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum apiculatum 2 Liliidae Amaryllidaceae Calostemma purpureum 1 Anthericaceae Laxmannia gracilis 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Asphodelaceae Bulbine semibarbata 2 2 2 2 2 Cactaceae Opuntia sp 1 1 1 Cyperaceae Carex inversa 1 1 2 2 Cyperaceae Cyperus gymnocaulos x 2 vaginatus Cyperaceae Cyperus sp 1 Cyperaceae Eleocharis plana 2 Cyperaceae Gahnia aspera 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 Cyperaceae Isolepis inundata 1 Cyperaceae Isolepis victoriensis 1 Cyperaceae Schoenus ericatorum 2 1 2 3 Juncaceae Juncus aridicola 2 Juncaceae Juncus sp 1 1 Juncaceae Juncus subglaucus 1 Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Lomandraceae Lomandra leucocephala 1 1 Lomandraceae Lomandra longifolia 1 1 2 2 Lomandraceae Lomandra multiflora 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 Lomandraceae Lomandra sp 2 Phormiaceae Dianella longifolia 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 Poaceae Agrostis sp 1 Poaceae Aristida behriana 1 Poaceae Aristida benthamii 1 Poaceae Aristida helicophylla 2 2 2 Poaceae Aristida ramosa 2 Poaceae Aristida leichardtiana 3 1 Poaceae Aristida sp 2 2 3 2 2 Poaceae Aristida vagans 2 2 2 3 2 2 Poaceae Austrodanthonia 1 2 monticola Poaceae Cymbopogon refractus 1 Poaceae Digitaria diffusa 2 2 Poaceae Enteropogon acicularis 1 Poaceae Eragrostis elongata 1 2 2 2 Poaceae Eragrostis sp 1 Poaceae Eragrostis sterilis 1 1 1 2 2 2 Poaceae Eriachne pallescens 3 Poaceae Homopholis proluta 2 Poaceae Imperata cylindrica 2 Poaceae Leptochloa sp 2 Poaceae Panicum capillare 2 2

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Page 4 of 4 CLASS /Subclass Scientific name /Family Cover/abundance by Plot plot bbw bbw boh P5 bbw bbw bbw bbw boh po1 po2 P1 P2 P3 boh boh P4 3 4 4 1 2 5 6 1 2 3 map stratum tb tb tb - cop cop pco cop cop pco pco u u cop pg pg - Field community 1 2 3 4 5 Poaceae Paspalidium distans 3 2 3 Poaceae Phragmites australis 2 Poaceae Sporobolus creber 2 Poaceae Stipa acrociliata 1 Poaceae Stipa scabra 1 Poaceae Thyridolepis mitchelliana 2 1 Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea sp 2 1 2

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Appendix 2

Plot Data

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Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED 2 - 36 SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Part 2 – Flora Assessment Report No. 585/06 site date quadrat Community easting northing fire date/intensity/evidence disturbance P1 10/23/06 20x20 Angophora 752261 6610477 3-5yrs/mod/swainsona flowering nil P2 10/23/06 20x20 Angophora 752200 6612190 3-5yrs/severe/killed mature cypress roadside P3 10/24/06 20x20 Pilliga Box 752690 6621738 20-50yrs/low/large woody debris, some old charring roadside P4 10/25/06 40x10 Brigalow 753217 6630320 no evidence roadside, rubbish dumping, grazing P5 10/25/06 20x20 Red Gum 755270 6626600 no evidence minor clearing

plot Stratum height(m) cover(%) Dominant species P1 T 20 50 Angophora floribunda x leiocarpa P1 G1 1 10 Lomandra longifolia & Eriachne pallens P1 G2 0.1 70 various grasses P2 T 20 10 Angophora floribunda x leiocarpa P2 M 1 5 Grevillea floribunda, Actinotus helianthii P2 G 0.5 1 Aristida sp P3 T 25 60 E. pilligaensis P3 M 6 40 Callitris glaucophylla P3 G 0.2 1 Aristida sp P4 T 12 70 Acacia harpophylla P4 M 2 5 Maytenus cunninghamii, Geijera parviflora P4 G 0.3 5 various grasses & herbs P5 T 15 10 E. dwyeri P5 M1 10 50 Callitris glaucophylla P5 M2 2 5 Geijera parviflora, Spartothamnella juncea P5 G 1 5 Aristida helicophylla

Page 1 of 3 Cover/abundance x plot plot species P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Acacia gladiiformis 1 Acacia harpophylla 5 Acacia leiocalyx 1 2 1 Acacia leucoclada 2 1 1 2 Acetosella vulgaris 1 Actinotus helianthii 2 Agrostis sp 1 Ajuga reptans 1 Allocasuarina luehmannii 1 Alternanthera angustifolia 2 Anagallis arvensis 2 Angophora floribunda x leiocarpa 4 3 Aotis mollis 1 Aristida helicophylla 2 2 Aristida ramosa 2 Aristida sp 2 2 Aristida vagans 2 Asperula sp 2 Atriplex sp 2 Boronia glabra 2 Brachyloma daphnoides 2 Callitris glaucophylla 3 4 4 Calostemma sp 1 Calotis cuneifolia 2 2 Canthium oleifolium 1 Capparis sp 1 Cassinia arcuata 2 Casuarina cristata 1 Centipeda minima 2 Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia 1 2 2

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Page 2 of 3 Cover/abundance x plot plot species P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Chenopodium auricomiforme 2 Chrysocephalum apiculatum 2 Chrysocephalum semipapposum 1 Cymbopogon refractus 1 Cyperus gymnocaulos x vaginatus 2 Danthonia monticola 2 Dianella longifolia 2 2 2 1 2 Digitaria diffusa 2 2 Dillwynia sericea 2 Dodonaea peduncularis 2 Dodonaea viscosa 2 Eleocharis plana 2 Enchylaena tomentosa 2 Eriachne pallescens 3 Eucalyptus blakelyi 2 Eucalyptus crebra 4 Eucalyptus dwyeri 2 3 Eucalyptus pilligaensis 4 Exocarpus aphyllus 2 Gahnia aspera 2 2 Geijera parviflora 2 2 Glycine canescens 1 Glycine tomentella 2 Gompholobium foliolosum 1 Goodenia hederacea 1 Goodenia rotundifolia 2 Grevillea floribunda 3 Hibbertia obtusifolia s. str. 2 Homopholis proluta 2 Hydrocotyle laxiflora 1 Imperata cylindrica 2 Juncus aridicola 2 Juncus subglaucus 1 Leptochloa sp 2 Lissanthe strigosa 2 1 Lomandra longifolia 2 Lomandra multiflora 2 2 2 Maytenus cunninghamii 2 2 1 Medicago sp 1 Melichrus urceolatus 1 Mirbelia pungens 1 Opercularia sp 1 Opuntia sp 1 1 Ozothamnus diosmifolius 1 Panicum capillare 2 Parsonsia lanceolata 1 Phragmites australis 2 Plantago cunninghamii 1 Podolepis neglecta 1 Polygonum patulum 2 Pomax umbellata 2

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Page 3 of 3 Cover/abundance x plot plot species P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Schoenus ericatorum 3 Sclerolaena tetracuspis 2 Soliva anthemifolia 1 Solanum ferocissimum 2 1 Spartothamnella juncea 2 Stackhousia sp 1 Stipa acrociliata 1 Styphelia triflora 2 Swainsona queenslandica 2 Taraxacum officionale 1 Tetragonia tetragonioides 2 Verbena bonariensis 2 Vernonia cinerea 2 Veronica sp 2 Wahlenbergia gracilis 1 2 Wahlenbergia graniticola 2 Xanthorrhoea sp 2 Zygophyllum apiculatum 2

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Appendix 3

Wildlife Atlas Threatened Plant Species Records Within 10km of the Study Area

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Wildlife Atlas Threatened Plant Species Records Within 10km of the Study Area Scientific name TSC Status No of records Last recorded Bertya sp Cobar-Coolabah Vulnerable 1 2001 Lepidium aschersonii Vulnerable 21 2006 Swainsona murrayana Vulnerable 1 1886 Dichanthium setosum Vulnerable 1 1885

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Appendix 4

Threatened Species Known or Predicted to Occur in the Pilliga Outwash CMA Sub-region

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Known or Predicted to Scientific Name Common Name Type of species Level of Threat occur Bertya sp. Cobar- Coolabah (Bertya Coolabah Bertya Plant > Shrubs Vulnerable Known opponens) Plant > Herbs and Cyperus conicus Cyperus conicus Endangered Known Forbs Plant > Herbs and Dichanthium setosum Bluegrass Vulnerable Known Forbs Diuris tricolor Pine Donkey Orchid Plant > Orchids Vulnerable Known Plant > Herbs and Goodenia macbarronii Narrow Goodenia Vulnerable Predicted Forbs Plant > Herbs and Lepidium aschersonii Spiny Peppercress Vulnerable Known Forbs Philotheca ericifolia Philotheca ericifolia Plant > Shrubs Vulnerable Known Plant > Herbs and Polygala linariifolia Native Milkwort Endangered Known Forbs Pterostylis cobarensis Greenhood Orchid Plant > Orchids Vulnerable Known Rulingia procumbens Rulingia procumbens Plant > Shrubs Vulnerable Known Plant > Herbs and Swainsona murrayana Slender Darling Pea Vulnerable Known Forbs Plant > Epiphytes and Tylophora linearis Tylophora linearis Endangered Predicted climbers

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Appendix 5

EPBC Act Predicted Matters Reports

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6.1.1 Extract from EPBC Act Protected Matters Report 28 April 2008 14:09 Search Type: Line Buffer: 10 km Coordinates: -30.6067,149.6501, -30.6067,149.6501, - 30.5137,149.6108, -30.4298,149.6449, - 30.412,149.6684 Summary Matters of National Environmental Significance World Heritage Properties: None Details Matters of National Environmental Significance National Heritage Places: None Wetlands of International Significance: (Ramsar Sites) None Commonwealth Marine Areas: None Threatened Ecological Communities: 2 Threatened Species: 18 Migratory Species: 12 Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Commonwealth Heritage Places: None Places on the RNE: None Listed Marine Species: 8 Whales and Other Cetaceans: None Critical Habitats: None Commonwealth Reserves: None Extra Information State and Territory Reserves: 1 Other Commonwealth Reserves: None Regional Forest Agreements: None Threatened Ecological Communities [ Dataset Information ] Status Type of Presence Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and codominant) Endangered Community known to occur within area White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland Critically Endangered Community may occur within area Threatened Species [ Dataset Information ] Status Type of Presence Plants Bertya opponens * Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Cadellia pentastylis * Ooline Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Diuris sheaffiana * Tricolour Diuris Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Lepidium aschersonii * Spiny Pepper-cress

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Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Philotheca ericifolia * Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Pterostylis cobarensis * Cobar Greenhood Orchid Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Rulingia procumbens * Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area 28/04/2008 http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/erin/ert/epbc/epbc_report.pl

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8 January 2007 12:09 Protected Matters Search Tool You are here: DEH Home > EPBC Act > Search

This report provides general guidance on matters of national environmental significance and other matters protected by the EPBC Act in the area you have selected. Information on the coverage of this report and qualifications on data supporting this report are contained in the caveat at the end of the report.

You may wish to print this report for reference before moving to other pages or websites. The Australian Natural Resources Atlas at http://www.environment.gov.au/atlas may provide further environmental information relevant to your selected area. Information about the EPBC Act including significance guidelines, forms and application process details can be found at http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/index.html

Search Type: Line Buffer: 10 km Coordinates: -30.6289,149.6469, -30.363,149.6764

Summary Matters of National Environmental Significance This part of the report summarises the matters of national environmental significance that may occur in, or may relate to, the area you nominated. Further information is available in the detail part of the report, which can be accessed by scrolling or following the links below. If you are proposing to undertake an activity that may have a significant impact on one or more matters of national environmental significance then you should consider the Administrative Guidelines on Significance - see http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/guidelines/index.html.

World Heritage Properties: None National Heritage Places: None Wetlands of International Significance: None (Ramsar Sites) Commonwealth Marine Areas: None Threatened Ecological Communities: 2 Threatened Species: 21 Migratory Species: 7

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Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act This part of the report summarises other matters protected under the Act that may relate to the area you nominated. Approval may be required for a proposed activity that significantly affects the environment on Commonwealth land, when the action is outside the Commonwealth land, or the environment anywhere when the action is taken on Commonwealth land. Approval may also be required for the Commonwealth or Commonwealth agencies proposing to take an action that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment anywhere.

The EPBC Act protects the environment on Commonwealth land, the environment from the actions taken on Commonwealth land, and the environment from actions taken by Commonwealth agencies. As heritage values of a place are part of the 'environment', these aspects of the EPBC Act protect the Commonwealth Heritage values of a Commonwealth Heritage place and the heritage values of a place on the Register of the National Estate. Information on the new heritage laws can be found at http://www.deh.gov.au/heritage/index.html.

Please note that the current dataset on Commonwealth land is not complete. Further information on Commonwealth land would need to be obtained from relevant sources including Commonwealth agencies, local agencies, and land tenure maps.

A permit may be required for activities in or on a Commonwealth area that may affect a member of a listed Threatened species or ecological community, a member of a listed migratory species, whales and other cetaceans, or a member of a listed marine species. Information on EPBC Act permit requirements and application forms can be found at http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/permits/index.html.

Commonwealth Lands: 2 Commonwealth Heritage Places: None Places on the RNE: None Listed Marine Species: 9 Whales and Other Cetaceans: None Critical Habitats: None Commonwealth Reserves: None

Extra Information

This part of the report provides information that may also be relevant to the area you have nominated. State and Territory Reserves: 1 Other Commonwealth Reserves: None Regional Forest Agreements: None

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Details Matters of National Environmental Significance

Threatened Ecological Communities Status Type of Presence [Dataset Information] Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co- Endangered Community known to occur within area dominant) White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Critically Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Community may occur within area Endangered Grassland Threatened Species [Dataset Information] Status Type of Presence Birds Lathamus discolor * Species or species habitat may occur Endangered Swift Parrot within area Leipoa ocellata * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Malleefowl within area Polytelis swainsonii * Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Superb Parrot within area Rostratula australis * Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe within area Xanthomyza phrygia * Species or species habitat may occur Endangered Regent Honeyeater within area Mammals Chalinolobus dwyeri * Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Large-eared Pied Bat, Large Pied Bat within area Nyctophilus timoriensis (South-eastern form) * Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Eastern Long-eared Bat within area Petrogale penicillata * Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby within area Pseudomys pilligaensis * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Pilliga Mouse within area Ray-finned fishes Maccullochella peelii peelii* Species or species habitat may occur Vulnerable Murray Cod, Cod, Goodoo within area Reptiles Anomalopus mackayi * Species or species habitat may occur Five-clawed Worm-skink, Long-legged Worm- Vulnerable within area skink Elseya belli * Species or species habitat may occur Bell's Turtle, Namoi River Turtle, Bell's Saw- Vulnerable within area shelled Turtle Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Border Thick-tailed Gecko within area Plants Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah (Cunningham & Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Milthorpe s.n. 2/8/73) * within area Cadellia pentastylis * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Ooline within area Digitaria porrecta * Species or species habitat likely to occur Endangered Finger Panic Grass within area

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Threatened Species [Dataset Information] Status Type of Presence Diuris sheaffiana * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Tricolour Diuris within area Lepidium aschersonii * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Spiny Pepper-cress within area Species or species habitat likely to occur Philotheca ericifolia * Vulnerable within area Pterostylis cobarensis * Species or species habitat likely to occur Vulnerable Cobar Greenhood Orchid within area Species or species habitat likely to occur Rulingia procumbens * Vulnerable within area

Migratory Species [Dataset Information] Status Type of Presence Migratory Terrestrial Species Birds Haliaeetus leucogaster Species or species habitat likely to occur Migratory White-bellied Sea-Eagle within area Hirundapus caudacutus Species or species habitat may occur Migratory White-throated Needletail within area Leipoa ocellata Species or species habitat likely to occur Migratory Malleefowl within area Merops ornatus Species or species habitat may occur Migratory Rainbow Bee-eater within area Xanthomyza phrygia Species or species habitat may occur Migratory Regent Honeyeater within area Migratory Wetland Species Birds Gallinago hardwickii Species or species habitat may occur Migratory Latham's Snipe, Japanese Snipe within area Rostratula benghalensis s. lat. Species or species habitat may occur Migratory Painted Snipe within area

Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Listed Marine Species Status Type of Presence [Dataset Information] Birds Apus pacificus Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Fork-tailed Swift area within area Ardea alba Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Great Egret, White Egret area within area Ardea ibis Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Cattle Egret area within area Gallinago hardwickii Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Latham's Snipe, Japanese Snipe area within area Haliaeetus leucogaster Listed Species or species habitat likely to occur White-bellied Sea-Eagle within area Hirundapus caudacutus Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur White-throated Needletail area within area Lathamus discolor Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Swift Parrot area within area Merops ornatus Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Rainbow Bee-eater area within area Rostratula benghalensis s. lat. Listed - overfly marine Species or species habitat may occur Painted Snipe area within area

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Commonwealth Lands [Dataset Information] Communications, Information Technology and the Arts - Telstra Corporation Limited Education, Science and Training -

CSIRO

Extra Information State and Territory Reserves [Dataset Information] Brigalow Park Nature Reserve, NSW

Caveat The information presented in this report has been provided by a range of data sources as acknowledged at the end of the report.

This report is designed to assist in identifying the locations of places which may be relevant in determining obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It holds mapped locations of World Heritage and Register of National Estate properties, Wetlands of International Importance, Commonwealth and State/Territory reserves, listed Threatened, migratory and marine species and listed Threatened ecological communities. Mapping of Commonwealth land is not complete at this stage. Maps have been collated from a range of sources at various resolutions.

Not all species listed under the EPBC Act have been mapped (see below) and therefore a report is a general guide only. Where available data supports mapping, the type of presence that can be determined from the data is indicated in general terms. People using this information in making a referral may need to consider the qualifications below and may need to seek and consider other information sources.

For Threatened ecological communities where the distribution is well known, maps are derived from recovery plans, State vegetation maps, remote sensing imagery and other sources. Where Threatened ecological community distributions are less well known, existing vegetation maps and point location data are used to produce indicative distribution maps.

For species where the distributions are well known, maps are digitised from sources such as recovery plans and detailed habitat studies. Where appropriate, core breeding, foraging and roosting areas are indicated under "type of presence". For species whose distributions are less well known, point locations are collated from government wildlife authorities, museums, and non-government organisations; bioclimatic distribution models are generated and these validated by experts. In some cases, the distribution maps are based solely on expert knowledge.

Only selected species covered by the migratory and marine provisions of the Act have been mapped.

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The following species and ecological communities have not been mapped and do not appear in reports produced from this database.

• Threatened species listed as extinct or considered as vagrants • some species and ecological communities that have only recently been listed • some terrestrial species that overfly the Commonwealth marine area • migratory species that are very widespread, vagrant, or only occur in small numbers.

The following groups have been mapped, but may not cover the complete distribution of the species:

• non-Threatened seabirds which have only been mapped for recorded breeding sites; • seals which have only been mapped for breeding sites near the Australian continent.

Such breeding sites may be important for the protection of the Commonwealth Marine environment.

Acknowledgments This database has been compiled from a range of data sources. Environment Australia acknowledges the following custodians who have contributed valuable data and advice:

• New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service • Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria • Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania • Department of Environment and Heritage, South Australia Planning SA • Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory • Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland • Birds Australia • Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme • Australian National Wildlife Collection • Natural history museums of Australia • Queensland Herbarium • National Herbarium of NSW • Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium of Victoria • Tasmanian Herbarium • State Herbarium of South Australia • Northern Territory Herbarium • Western Australian Herbarium • Australian National Herbarium, Atherton and Canberra • University of New England • Other groups and individuals

ANUCLIM Version 1.8, Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University was used extensively for the production of draft maps of species distribution. Environment Australia is extremely grateful to the many organisations and individuals who provided expert advice and information on numerous draft distributions. Top | About us | Advanced search | Contact us | Information services | Publications | Site index | What's new

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Accessibility | Disclaimer | Privacy | © Commonwealth of Australia 2004 Last updated: Department of the Environment and Heritage GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Telephone: +61 (0)2 6274 1111 © Commonwealth of Australia 2004

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Appendix 6

Flora Survey Locations

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Note: A Colour Version of this figure is available on the project CD

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Appendix 7

Photographs

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Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED 2 - 56 SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Part 2 – Flora Assessment Report No. 585/06

Plot 1 Plot 2

Plot 3 Plot 4 Note: A Colour Version of these photos is available on the project CD

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES 2 - 57 EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED Part 2 – Flora Assessment Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Report No. 585/06

Plot 5 Note: A Colour Version of these photos is available on the project CD

Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants EASTERN STAR GAS LIMITED 2 - 58 SPECIALIST CONSULTANT STUDIES Narrabri Coal Seam Gas Utilisation Project Part 2 – Flora Assessment Report No. 585/06

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Idyll Spaces Environmental Consultants