Procedure Number

Rio Tinto Exploration Pty. Limited ABN 76 000 057 125 / ACN 000 057 125

A member of the Rio Tinto Group

Environmental Management Plan Dunmore Heavy Minerals Project Western Creek EPM 13484, Yandilla EPM 13486, Dunmore EPM 13488, Paddys Creek EPM 13492 and Wondul EPM 13507, Dalby SG56-13 and Goondiwindi SH56-01, Queensland

Exploration Report No. 26283

Tenement Holder: Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd

Date: February 2004

Author: Alison J Keogh

Submitted: Graham Muggeridge

Distribution: RTE Perth Information Centre

This report and its contents are confidential. All rights to the report and its contents (including, without limitation, rights to confidential information and copyright in all works (including photographs, diagrams, charts, maps and graphs) comprised in the report) remain the property of Rio Tinto Exploration Pty. Limited. No part of this report or the information contained in it may be disclosed to any person without the consent of Rio Tinto Exploration Pty. Limited. No part of this report, or the information contained in it may be reproduced (including being stored in any form), transmitted, published or used for any purpose without the prior consent of Rio Tinto Exploration Pty. Limited.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES...... iv LIST OF APPENDICES ...... v LIST OF PLANS...... vi 1. SUMMARY...... 1 2. INTRODUCTION...... 1 2.1. Location and Access…………………………………………………………………..….2 2.2. Licence Details...... 2 2.3. Project Management ...... 5 3. STAKEHOLDERS...... 5 3.1 Lease Holders ...... 5 3.2 Native Title Groups...... 5 3.3 Communities / Interest Groups...... 9 4. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE...... 9 4.1 Environmental Approvals ...... 9 4.2 Utility Services...... 16 5. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ...... 17 5.1 Physiography...... 17 5.2 Previous Exploration/Mining or other Disturbances ...... 17 5.3 Quarantine Issues ...... 18 5.4 Significant Environmental Issues ...... 19 5.4.1 Conservation Areas...... 20 5.4.2 Heritage Sites...... 20 5.4.3 Protected Flora and Fauna...... 21 5.5 Surface Water ...... 23 5.6 Ground Water...... 23 5.7 Contaminated Land...... 23 6. WORK PROTOCOL AND REHABILITATION...... 24 6.1 Tracks...... 24 6.2 Camp-sites ...... 24 6.3 Drill-sites...... 25 6.4 Drilling ...... 25 6.5 Sampling ...... 26 6.6 Geophysical Surveys...... 26 6.7 Other Ground Disturbing Activities...... 26

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6.8 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous Substances...... 26 7. DESCRIPTOR...... 27 KEYWORDS ...... 27 REFERENCES ...... 28

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:Tenement Summary ...... 2

Table 2: Lease Details ...... 5

Table 3: Details of Native Title Group for the area...... 6

Table 4: Details of Communities / Interest Groups ...... 9

Table 5: Standard Environmental Conditions: applicability and management measures for RTE Dunmore project ...... 10

Table 7: Threatened Species that may occur on RTE Dunmore Project EPMs ...... 22

Table 8: Environmental Impact Management of Tracks ...... 24

Table 9: Environmental Impact Management of Drill Sites ...... 25

Table 10: Environmental Impact Management of Sampling ...... 26

Table 11: Environmental Impact Management for Hydrocarbons and Hazardous Substances ...... 26

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Title File 1 Code of Environmental Compliance for Code of Environmental Exploration and Mineral Development Projects Compliance.pdf

2 List of RTE Environmental Procedures List of RTE Environmental Procedures.pdf

3 Details of EPA Regional Ecosystems EPA Regional Ecosystems.pdf

4 List of Registered Indigenous Heritage Sites List of Registered Artefact Sites.pdf

5 Contaminated Land Search Details Contaminated Land Search Details.pdf

6 List of Declared Plants in Queensland List of Declared Plants Qld.pdf

7 EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Report EPBC Act Protected Matters Report.pdf

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LIST OF PLANS

Plan No. Scale

Map 1 Location of EPMs and Land Types 1 : 400 000

Location of Proposed Drill Holes, EPMs, Land Types Map 2 1 : 200 000 and Roads

Environmentally Sensitive Locations and Proposed Map 3 1 : 200 000 Drill Holes

Map 4 Bigambul Native Title Claim 1 : 400 000

Map 5 Registered Artifact Sites, Proposed Drillholes 1 : 100 000

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1. SUMMARY

This Environmental Management Plan (EMP) documents the proposed work activities that Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd (RTE) will carry out on the Dunmore Project. The EMP is a working document which is used by RTE-AR for management of environmental issues associated with all exploration activities on Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) Western Creek 13484, Yandilla 13486, Dunmore 13488, Paddys Creek 13492 and Wondul 13507. The Dunmore exploration programme involves surface sampling, hand drilled auger holes and minimal disturbance reconnaissance reverse circulation drilling on existing tracks.

There are a number of significant environmental issues in the area. Searches have identified that the area may contain one wetland of international significance, two conservation reserves, one threatened ecological community, 21 threatened species, 5 migratory species and 4 listed marine species. Searches have been requested from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines for more specific, local information. RTE will assess the results of these searches in the context of the proposed exploration activities with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service personnel and put appropriate management measures in place.

An Annual Environmental Report (AER) will document all ground disturbance and rehabilitation on this programme. At the conclusion of the project, RTE will complete a Final Rehabilitation Report (FRR). It is recommended that this EMP be updated by RTE if the abovementioned proposed exploration program changes significantly.

It is recommended that RTE contractors are provided with a copy of this EMP and the Code of Environmental Compliance for Exploration and Mining Development Projects, and that RTE is satisfied that all contractors are fully aware of, equipped sufficiently and capable of meeting all these environmental requirements prior to commencing work.

2. INTRODUCTION

The Dunmore exploration programme involves surface sampling, hand drilled auger holes and minimal disturbance reconnaissance reverse circulation drilling on existing State Forest tracks and road reserves along public roadways. 2004 reverse circulation drilling is planned to commence in March to April, subject to successful completion of heritage work area clearances. The project will involve one to two RTE personnel, one field technician and a

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Environmental Management Plan, Dunmore Heavy Minerals Project, Western Creek EPM 13484, Yandilla EPM 13486, Dunmore EPM 13488, Paddys Creek EPM 13492 and Wondul EPM 13507, Dalby SG56-13 and Goondiwindi SH56-01, Queensland Report No. 26283 Page 2 small drilling crew. RTE will manage environmental issues associated with these tenements according to the RTE Environmental Management System and guidelines in this EMP.

2.1. LOCATION AND ACCESS

The Dunmore exploration project is located in the western Darling Downs region, approximately 90 km west-south-west of Toowoomba and 15 kilometres west of Millmerran (Map 1). The Dunmore and Western State Forests cover a significant portion of the area held under the EPMs (Map 2). Access to the tenement is via the Gore Highway from Toowoomba and then by well-maintained council roads and forestry tracks leading west and north from Millmerran or south-west from Cecil Plains.

2.2. LICENCE DETAILS

The EPMs are located on State Forest, perpetual leasehold and freehold land (Map 2). RTE holds a 100% interest in the titles.

Table 1:Tenement Summary

Tenement Sub-blocks Tenement Name Grant Date EPM 13484 96 Western Creek 15th Jan 2002 EPM 13486 100 Yandilla 15th Jan 2002 EPM 13488 124 Dunmore 14th March 2002 EPM 13492 59 Paddys Creek 15th Jan 2002 EPM 13507 62 Wondul 11th March 2002

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2.3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Team Leader: Graham Muggeridge Phone: (07) 3327 7618 Fax: (07) 3327 7640 Mailing Address: 2 Kilroe Street, Milton, QLD 4064

3. STAKEHOLDERS

3.1 LEASE HOLDERS

Proposed exploration activities are located on existing State Forest tracks and public roadways. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, who manage the State Forests, have advised that there are three leaseholders in parts of the proposed drilling areas. Records of correspondence with lease holders are held on RTE file by the Team Leader.

Table 2: Lease Details

Location Leaseholder Contact Details Drill sites D18 – D58 Barkla, TE & NM M/S 73 Milmerran QLD 4357 Drill sites D11 – D14 Gollan, TW & GO M/S 1180 Milmerran QLD 4357 Drill sites D59 – D74 Markham, Shane PO Box 1862 Emerald QLD 4357

3.2 NATIVE TITLE GROUPS

The majority of the tenement area is within State Forest and is subject to Native Title Claim. The initial EPM extent required negotiation with four Native Title claimant groups: the Bigambul, Jarowair, Barunggam and Western Wakka Wakka people. Delays were encountered by the inability to gain consensus with the claimant groups and their representative body, the Queensland South Representative Body Aboriginal Corporation. RTE have since reduced the EPM boundaries to the most prospective areas within the Bigambul claimant group. Negotiation with the Bigambul Native Title claimants led to the establishment of a Native Title access agreement in November 2003. Work area clearances over the proposed minimal disturbance reverse circulation drill hole sites will be conducted in March or April 2004. The Bigamul Native Title Claim area is shown on Map 4.

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Table 3: Details of Native Title Group for the area NNTT Group/Holder Legal Representative No. Name Name Contact Details QC01/6 Bigambul Queensland South PO Box 2562 People Native Title Toowoomba QLD Representative Body 4350. Aboriginal Corporation Ph 4639 4766 Fax 4639 4924

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3.3 COMMUNITIES / INTEREST GROUPS

Table 4: Details of Communities / Interest Groups

Community/Interest Group Contact Queensland Parks & Wildlife State Forest Rangers Service See Section 4.1 for contact details Environmental Protection See Section 5.4.2 for Senior Heritage Officer Agency contact details Department of Natural See Section 4.1 for contact details Resources and Mines – Water Management Millmerran Shire 2-16 Campbell St Millmerran 4357 Tel: 07 4695 1399 [email protected] Cecil Plains Depot - Cheetham St, Cecil Plains 4407. Tel/Fax: 07 4668 0988 Department of Primary 33 Campbell Street, Millmerran Industries – local Tel: 07 4695 1455 department of agriculture

RTE is consulting with Rangers in the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service and Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Water Management) as part of the drilling program planning phase (see Sections 4.1, 5.3 and 5.4). Records of correspondence with community and interest groups are held on RTE file by the Team Leader.

4. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS

The EPMs contain specific conditions:

RTE must comply with each of the standard environmental conditions contained in the Code of Environmental Compliance for Exploration and Mineral Development Projects dated January 2001 (Appendix 1).

This includes the Criteria for Determining the Level of Assessment and Standard Environmental Conditions. The level of assessment determined at the time of EPM application stands as RTE are not intending to conduct ground disturbing activities

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at this stage. This also requires mining activities to not be carried out within Category A or B Environmentally Sensitive Areas.

There are a number of stated Standard Environmental Conditions that must be met. These conditions, and their relevant applicability to RTE, are shown overleaf in Table 5. The term “RTE ENVT” refers to the relevant RTE Environmental Procedures that will be applied (Appendix 2).

Table 5: Standard Environmental Conditions: applicability and management measures for RTE Dunmore project Standard Environmental Applicability Management measures Condition 1 Financial Assurance N/A No change to proposed total area disturbance since EPM application required if application. change in total area of disturbance 2 Land disturbance area less N/A No earthworks or ground disturbance. than 1000 m2. 3 Air Quality - Avoid Drilling • Use of a cyclone to direct sample cuttings into a unreasonable release of confined area dust. • Use of hessian or plastic ground covers under the cyclone/other sample spillage areas to minimise cuttings and debris left on site. • Use of dust reduction equipment and filters in the drilling equipment • Collection of all down hole cuttings in bags, and if necessary, transportation of unused down hole cuttings off-site to an approved waste facility. • Rehabilitation in accordance with RTE ENVT 108 Drill Hole Capping procedure immediately after drilling of each hole. This will include backfilling of each drill hole with cuttings, appropriate drill hole capping and removal of all used sample bags, ground covers, rubbish and down hole cuttings off site. 4 Noise Emissions. RTE Drilling • RTE will consult with QPWS to determine if Noise must not cause Sensitive Places are present. unreasonable noise in a • Use of noise reduction equipment, if required due to Noise Sensitive Place. Noise Sensitive Areas. 5 Erosion & Sediment N/A No earthworks or ground disturbance. & Control 6 7 Topsoil and Overburden N/A No earthworks or ground disturbance. Management 8 Hazardous Contaminants. All RTE will manage hazardous contaminants in accordance & exploration with RTE ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous 9 activities. Substances and will ensure that contractors meet such requirements. RTE will check procedures with the drilling company to ensure all hazardous substances are prevented from spillage and securely stored and that management procedures and equipment are in place for any on-site spillage incidents. 10 Separating Acid Waste N/A No earthworks or ground disturbance is anticipated. In the & Rock from Benign Waste low likelihood that acid waste rock intersected, RTE ENVT 11 Rock 106 Acid Rock Drainage will be used. 12 Declared Plants All RTE ENVT 105 Quarantine will be followed by all RTE exploration and contract vehicles on entry into the work area to activities. ensure that no spread of noxious weeds can occur. RTE is required to ensure vehicles and machinery are cleaned prior to taking them out of Declared Plant Areas. As noxious weeds are known to be present, this will need to be carried out by each vehicle every time the project area is entered. 13 Category A, B and C All Refer to Section 4.1 (b).

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Environmentally Sensitive exploration Locations activities. 14 No activities to be All Refer to Section 5.4.2 for ethnographic sites. conducted less than 100 exploration The presence of any historical sites will be determined in metres from historical, activities. consultation with QPWS. archaeological or ethnographic sites. 15 Must not carry out Level 2 N/A No such activities are planned. Environmentally Relevant Activities ERA(7) Chemical Storage, ERA(76) Incinerating Waste, ERA(77) Battery Recycling or ERA(80) Tyre Recycling. 16 Roads and Tracks N/A No ground disturbing activities. & 17 18 Campsites N/A No campsite required. & 19 20 Waste Management. Must All activities, RTE ENVT 107 Drilling and ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and & not release waste to any particularly Hazardous Substances will be used to manage waste and 21 water body or ground drilling hazardous substances. water, and must not dispose of more than 50 tonnes of general waste per year. 22 Service, Maintenance and Drilling RTE ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous & Storage Areas. Must not Substances will be used to manage hazardous 23 release fuels, oils, substances. Any chemical, fuel and oil storage facilities of lubricants, contaminants to less than 10,000 litres to comply with AS1940. RTE will water bodies or check drilling fuel capacity& require contractors meet groundwater. AS1940 prior to mobilising equipment to site. RTE will arrange for drilling contractors to store any such substances away from the tenement and purchase such substances on as-needs basis from local town. 24 Service, Maintenance and Drilling RTE will review the requirements of this condition if the Storage Areas. Conditions drilling company needs to transport >10,000 litres of fuel for > 10,000 litres of fuels, to site. oils, lubricants. 25 Marker Pegs must be All RTE ENVT 112 Flagging and ENVT 108 Drill Hole made clearly visible, exploration Capping will be used to manage associated environmental removed and completed at activities. issues. the end of exploration, and permanent markers such as concrete plugs installed safely at ground level. 26 Drilling, excavating or Drilling. RTE ENVT 107 Drilling will be used to manage sampling. Must minimise environmental issues. No ground disturbing earthworks disturbance to land and are planned. Refer to Condition 3 and 4 management vegetation measures for additional procedures. 27 Drilling, excavating or Drilling RTE has requested search of groundwater and hydrology sampling. Must not through Department of Natural Resources and Mines. conduct this within 3 m of Pre-planning site visit will also determine if any water water bodies and courses. bodies exist near proposed drill sites. 29 Exploration drill holes must Drilling RTE ENVT 108 Drill Hole Capping will be used to manage be rehabilitated within 6 environmental issues. months, and must cap all holes >1m below cropping surfaces and >300mm below other land surfaces 30 Must isolate non-artesian Drilling RTE has requested search of groundwater and hydrology & aquifers where a drillhole through Department of Natural Resources and Mines. 31 intersects more than one This will provide information on weather any or multiple water-bearing strata, by aquifers are likely to be intersected. If so, RTE will provide casing or plugging, unless a procedure to manage this issue. already agreed water bore use with landowner 32 Must decommission or cap Drilling RTE has requested search of groundwater and hydrology artesian flows of >500 through Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

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litres/hour This will provide information on likelihood of artesian flows. If so, RTE will provide a procedure to manage this issue. 33 Must cap drill holes Drilling N/A. according to conditions if retaining exploration drill holes for evaluation 34 Gridlines and Geophysical N/A No geophysical surveys or grid lines proposed. & Surveys 35 36 Monitoring, reporting and All RTE has a safety and environmental incident reporting emergency response exploration system, which will be used if any incident occurs and procedures. Must record & activities. forwarded to the relevant authority. notify administering authority of any incident not complying with Standard Environmental Conditions 37 Rehabilitation in Riverine All RTE will review proximity to riverine areas and track Areas – Must ensure exploration surface conditions during the pre-planning trip. adequate erosion activities protection in such areas prior to wet season. 38 Must ensure rehabilitation All RTE ENVT 110 Sampling and RTE ENVT 107 Drilling will is carried out within 6 exploration be used, with rehabilitation within 6 months of exploration months activities activities. 39, Must backfill all All Condition 38 management measures will apply. 40 excavations, drillholes and exploration & sampling sites unless activities 41 agreed with landowner 42 Must spread seeds or plant Drilling and No ground disturbing activities proposed. species to revegetate and Earthworks provide erosion control to disturbed areas 43 Mine Infrastructure N/A 44 Must complete All RTE ENVT 101 Environmental Reports will be followed. rehabilitation to satisfaction exploration RTE will compile a Final Rehabilitation Report and of the administering activities Environmental Audit Statement and will continue to authorities and submit a consult with QPWS and other relevant authorities during Final Rehabilitation Report the life of the EPMs to ensure satisfactory environmental and Environmental Audit management. Statement prior to EPM cancellation/expiry

Conditions 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 will be met by RTE due to the nature of the low impact proposed exploration, which is non-ground disturbing, will not involve the use of large volumes of hazardous substances and will not involve the use of a campsite: The remaining conditions require management by RTE as stated above during the proposed exploration.

The terms of the tenement licence require that RTE must not carry out activities in a category A or B Environmentally Sensitive Area. Activities involving machinery must not be carried out within 1 km of category A environmentally sensitive areas or within 500m of category B environmentally sensitive areas. Prior to carrying out activities in a category C environmentally sensitive area, RTE must consult with the relevant administering authority and the Environmental Protection Agency. If it is determined through the consultation that additional conditions are necessary, RTE must comply with those conditions.

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Table 6 overleaf lists the Category A, B and C environmentally sensitive areas within the Dunmore Project tenements. Any areas within the stated distance of proposed drill sites will not be drilled without prior consultation with the relevant authority, as special conditions may apply.

No exploration activities are proposed within Category A National Park areas.

Two proposed drill holes, D15 and D56, are within 500 metres of Category B Endangered Regional Ecosystems (Map 3). It is recommended that these drill holes be moved or deleted from the proposed program. If they are of critical technical importance, the relevant contacts must be contacted to discuss whether a management plan can be put in place to meet all requirements.

The remaining drill holes, except for those within EPM 13507, are in Category C State Forest areas, and are greater than 500 metres from any identified Endangered Regional Ecosystems. For these drill holes, licence conditions require RTE to consult with the relevant administering authority and the Environmental Protection Agency, and meet any additional conditions imposed. Mark Cant, QPWS Ranger-In-Charge at QPWS Western Downs, will arrange a representative to view proposed drill hole plans and attend the area with RTE (possibly during the heritage work area clearance) to view the in-situ position of proposed drill holes. Feedback to RTE regarding any additional conditions is anticipated from this representative after this has occurred.

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Table 6: Environmentally Sensitive Areas by Tenement and Proposed Drill Sites

Tenement Category Land Area General Location Who to contact Drill Sites Impinging No. Classification EPM Category B Endangered Regional BRIS 3252 sub- QPWS District D56 within BRIS 3253 13484 Ecosystem (11.9.5) block l, BRIS 3253 Manager sub-block g - within 50m Western sub-block g Toowoomba of Endangered Regional Creek Ecosystem along river. Category C State Forest 154 Overlaps QPWS Principal Require map to check significantly with Forest Officer drill holes affected by EPM 13484 Toowoomba overlap Category C River Improvement Overlaps entirely NRM Water D19, D27, D29-D36, Trust (Millmerran) with EPM 13484 Monitoring and D38-D56 Information EPM Category B Endangered Regional BRIS 2966 sub- QPWS District Outside new EPM 13486 Ecosystem (11.3.17) block c, d and j Manager bounds Yandilla Toowoomba Category C State Forest 155, 150 Along the western QPWS Principal Require map to check and 154 and southern Forest Officer drill holes affected by boundary of EPM Toowoomba overlap – possible D64 13486 and D6. State Forest 155 outside new EPM bounds. Category C River Improvement Overlaps entirely NRM Water D64 and D67 Trust (Millmerran) with EPM 13486 Monitoring and Information EPM Category C State Forest 155, 150 Overlaps QPWS Principal Require map to check 13488 and 154 significantly with Forest Officer drill holes affected by Dunmore EPM 13488 Toowoomba overlap Category C River Improvement Overlaps entirely NRM Water D57-D63, D66, D68-D74 Trust (Millmerran) with EPM 13488 Monitoring and Information EPM Category B Endangered Regional BRIS 3396 sub- QPWS District BRIS 3325 sub-block 13492 Ecosystem (11.9.5) block f and l, BRIS Manager z.contains D15 – map Paddys 3398 sub-block a, b, Toowoomba shows location <250m Creek c, g, h, m and n from Endangered BRIS 3325 sub- Regional Ecosystem block u and z. Category C State Forest 154 BRIS 3325, BRIS QPWS Principal 3397 and BRIS 3398 Forest Officer Toowoomba Category C River Improvement Overlaps entirely NRM Water Trust (Millmerran) with EPM 13492 Monitoring and Information EPM Category A Wondul Range National On southern edge of QPWS District No drill holes proposed 13507 Park EPM 13507. Manager within National Park. Wondul Toowoomba Category B Endangered Regional Map required in QPWS District Drill holes do not impinge Ecosystem (including consultation with Manager on Endangered Regional but not limited to QPWS Toowoomba Ecosystems. Closest 11.3.18, 11.9.5 and distance is 1.9 km from 11.7.4) D8. Category C State Forests (189, 232 Map required in QPWS Forest No drill holes within and 154) consultation with Management these state forests in this QPWS Toowoomba EPM. Closest D1 is 525m from SF232.

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Relevant contacts are listed below.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS): Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services PO Box 731, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 (07) 4639 4599 James Haig, District Manager Toowoomba (07) 4639 4599 Principal Forest Officer Toowoomba (07) 4639 8310 Mark Cant, QPWS, Dalby (07) 4669 9580 Wayne Capernick, Forest Range-In-Charge, Dunmore (07) 4668 0172

Department of Natural Resources and Mines (NRM): Department of Natural Resources and Mines Greg Murphy, Manager Water Management & Use PO Box 2, Warwick, QLD 4370 Water Monitoring and Information (07) 3369 7668

It is recommended that this EMP be updated by RTE if the abovementioned proposed exploration program changes significantly.

It is recommended that RTE contractors are provided with a copy of this EMP and the Code of Environmental Compliance for Exploration and Mining Development Projects, and that RTE ensures it is satisfied that all contractors are fully aware of, equipped sufficiently and capable of meeting all these environmental requirements prior to commencing work.

4.2 UTILITY SERVICES

There is potential that some above ground or underground infrastructure may exist in the areas to be drilled. This may include utilities such as electricity, telephone, gas, sewerage and water on or near the tenement. RTE must contact agencies such as Dial-before-you-dig, Power and Water Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Utilities to identify any such utilities prior to commencing mobilisation of drilling equipment or drilling operations.

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5. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

RTE has considered environmental factors in the planning stages of exploration activities. This planning process has identified the potential impacts and likely environmental issues associated with the exploration activities in this tenement. RTE have implemented appropriate Environmental Procedures to manage these activities. RTE will conduct all its exploration activities in accordance with these Environmental Procedures.

5.1 PHYSIOGRAPHY

The topography of the Dunmore Project area is mostly flat to hilly. The majority of creeks drain west into the Weir River, with some creeks in the north-east draining easterly into the Condamine River. The physiography is dominated by undulating sandy to clayey country with some outcrop, with lesser dissected tablelands from the Tertiary land surface to the north of the EPMs (Exon, 1976).

Significant portions of the tenement areas are occupied by State Forest. Within the State Forest, some logging of Cyprus pine is being conducted. Portions of the area are leased to local pastoralists, who use these areas predominantly for cattle grazing. Within the freehold land, cattle grazing and limited cultivation are the dominant land use.

The geology of the area is dominated by westerly dipping Jurassic-Cretaceous age sedimentary sequences of the eastern Surat Basin, which is part of the Great Artesian Basin. Tertiary basalt forms ridges and hilltops to the east of the EPMs. East of Dalby, the geology is dominated by underlying Bowen Basin and basement units.

Vegetation includes a wide variety of farming and cropped land, pine logging plantation forests and remnant native vegetation. Soils are variable, ranging from Cenozoic lateritic duricrust, to thin sandy soils, some cracking clay soils and Quaternary alluvial deposits.

5.2 PREVIOUS EXPLORATION/MINING OR OTHER DISTURBANCES

Previous exploration disturbance is expected to be minimal. In 1997, RGC conducted heavy minerals exploration in the eastern Surat Basin, which includes an

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area partly overlapping the western side of EPM 13484 Western Creek. Four lines of RC air core drill holes were drilled within EPM 13484. The nature of disturbance at these sites is not known. An aerial survey was conducted over most of the current EPM area in 1969.

Oil and gas exploration companies have conducted seismic surveys and petroleum well drilling between 1960 and 1990. Phillips Petroleum Company (PPC) conducted the Kogan seismic survey in 1962, and the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) conducted the Southeast Queensland Survey in 1986. Existing fire break tracks and roads appear to have been used for this purpose, although it is possible that new tracks were formed for some lines. Four deep petroleum wells were drilled by PPC and QPT in EPM 13484: “Zig Zag 1”, “Wilkie 1”, “Nangway 1” and “Station Creek 1”. Two further petroleum wells have been drilled just outside EPM boundaries: “Waggaba 1” and “Cecil Plains West 1”. The nature of disturbance at these sites is not known. Origin Energy CSG Limited holds a current ATP Petroleum Exploration Permit over most of the RTE EPM area.

No government stratigraphic bores, mining operations, mineral occurrences or coal seam gas wells are recorded within the EPMs.

Significant disturbance has been caused by agricultural clearing over freehold land and perpetual leases. Fire break tracks have been previously constructed within the State Forests, as well as some logging.

Monitoring sites will be established at representative RTE drill sites and existing tracks used for exploration activities in accordance with RTE ENVT 104. These will document the types of existing disturbance and subsequent RTE activities.

5.3 QUARANTINE ISSUES

Introduced plant and animal species occur in the project area. RTE is aware that noxious weed and species infestations may include but are not limited to horicia cactus, pyrethenium and “mother of millions”. Appendix 6 outlines the declared plants of Queensland.

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A vermin proof fence is present within the border of the State Forests. QPWS Ranger-In-Charge Mark Cant will be consulted to determine if any special requirements apply.

RTE ENVT 105 Quarantine Environmental Procedure will be used to manage quarantine issues. This will incorporate field vehicle and equipment inspections by RTE and its contract employees prior to entering each property and prior to leaving the project area. Mark Cant, Ranger-In-Charge of QPWS Toowoomba, will be consulted to determine if any additional measures are required.

5.4 SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

A search was conducted on the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage web site (Appendix 7). The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is Commonwealth legislation that provides a national framework for environmental protection by focusing on protecting matters of national environmental significance and the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity.

The EPBC database available at this web site is designed to assist in identifying the locations of places that may be relevant in determining obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It holds mapped locations of World Heritage properties, Wetlands of International Importance, Commonwealth reserves, listed threatened, migratory and marine species and listed threatened ecological communities. It does not map Commonwealth areas (Refer to additional data sources).

The EPBC search identifies a number of significant environmental issues in the area. This includes:

• One Ramsar site wetland of international significance • Two conservation reserves • One threatened ecological community • Twenty-one threatened species • Five migratory species • Four listed marine species. These issues are discussed separately in the sections below.

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The significant environmental issues in the area emphasise that it is critical that RTE manage all environmental issues carefully. As the proposed work is along existing tracks, and QPWS will be consulted with respect to the location of each drill site, RTE considers that any impact is likely to be minimal. However, RTE will consult with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to assess if RTE’s proposed exploration activities are likely to have any impact on any of these areas. If it is likely that an impact may occur, RTE may require a permit for activities to be carried out. Information on EPBC Act permit requirements and application forms can be found at http://www.ea.gov.au/epbc/permits/index.html.

5.4.1 Conservation Areas

The two conservation areas identified in the EPBC search are the Bulli Scientific Area (to the south-west of RTE tenements) and the Wondul Range National Parks. No exploration activities are proposed in these areas.

Regional ecosystems 11.9.5, 11.3.17, 11.3.18 and 11.7.4 are present in the area. Details of these ecosystems are attached in Appendix 3. Remnant native vegetation is also present in many parts of the EPMs. The Narran Lake Nature Reserve is identified by the EPBC search as a wetland of international significance. The location of this reserve is outside the proposed drilling area.

RTE will consult with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to check if any additional conservation areas are present, to discuss and if necessary move or delete proposed drill site locations and to assess if RTE’s management measures are adequate.

5.4.2 Heritage Sites

An Indigenous Cultural Heritage Sites search was requested through the Environmental Protection Agency (Osborne, April 2002). Within the EPMs, no Designated Landscape Areas were identified. Nineteen indigenous sites were identified in the area (Appendix 4). These sites include artefact scatters, scarred trees, middens and axe grinding grooves.

All Aboriginal places in Queensland are protected under the terms of the Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate) Act 1987. This applies whether or not such places are recorded in an official register. RTE are conducting heritage work area clearances for minimal disturbance reverse circulation drilling to ensure that no disturbance of indigenous sites occurs. During the work area

Rio Tinto Exploration Confidential Information - unauthorised use prohibited

clearance, RTE will confirm that no drill sites are positioned within 100 metres of any heritage sites or culturally sensitive areas, and will move or delete any such proposed drill sites from the program.

The EPA contact for any future development works is Mr Anthony Simmons, Cultural Heritage Officer with the Environmental Protection Agency, Southern Region (Toowoomba), telephone contact (07) 4639 8358.

5.4.3 Protected Flora and Fauna

The EPBC search showed a number of protected flora and fauna species that may occur in the area. These are shown below in Table 7. In addition, the Brigalow threatened ecological community is present in the area.

Rio Tinto Exploration Confidential Information - unauthorised use prohibited

Table 7: Threatened Species that may occur on RTE Dunmore Project EPMs

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

Animals - Birds Erythotriorchis radiatus Red Goshawk Geophaps scripta scripta Squatter Pigeon (southern) Rostratula australis Australian Painted Snipe Xanthomyza phrygia Regent Honeyeater Animals - Fishes Maccullochella peelii peelii Murray Cod, Cod, Goodoo Animals - Mammals Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-eared Pied Bat, Large Pied Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis (South-eastern Eastern Long-eared Bat form) Animals - Reptiles Anomalopus mackayi Five-clawed Worm-skink, Long-legged Worm-skink Elseya belli Bell’s Turtle, Namoi River Turtle Furina dunmalli Dunmall’s Snake Plants Acacia lauta Cadelia pentastylis Ooline Digitaria porrecta Finer Panic Grass Diuris sheaffiana Tricolour Diurus Eucalyptus virens Goodenia macbarronii Narrow Goodenia Homopholis belsonii Macrozamia machinii Prostanthera sp. Dunmore (D.M.Gordon 84) Stemmacantha australis Austral Cornflower, Native Thistle Thesium australe Austral Toadflax, Toadflax Migratory Terrestrial Species - Birds Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Needletail Xanthomyza phrygia Regent Honeyeater Migratory Wetland Species - Birds Gallinago hardwickii Latham’s Snipe, Japanese Snipe Rostratula benghalensis s. lat. Painted Snipe

RTE is aware that there are a number of environmentally sensitive areas and endangered regional ecosystems in the vicinity of the program and will ensure that no drilling occurs within 500 metres of threatened ecological communities. The proposed exploration activities are of a low impact, minimal disturbance nature. RTE will consult with QPWS Ranger-In-Charge Mark Cant to determine any special requirements with respect to protected and migratory species.

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5.5 SURFACE WATER

Surface water may include permanent and ephemeral rivers, creeks, rock-holes, springs and any other water sources. RTE is aware that endangered regional ecosystems may be sensitive to changes in the local surface water system and will assess the required management measures once the results of this search are known.

5.6 GROUND WATER

Small amounts of near-surface groundwater could be intersected within 50m of the surface. Artesian groundwater is not expected by RTE to be intersected, because of the shallow nature of the drillholes and the location at the recharge end of the Great Artesian Basin. The Surat Basin contains several pressure aquifers in deeper pars of the basin (Exon 1976, p.59). Recharge is thought to take place from belts of alluvium and sandy soil overlying aquifers, and also through joints in sandstone outcrops (Exon, 1976, p.60). The shallow major aquifers in the EPM area are in the Marburg Sandstone and Gubberamunda Sandstone – Pilliga Sandstone sequence. In all aquifers, most water is stored in pore spaces between sand grains in sandstone.

The contract drilling company will provide a small vessel containing clean water to assist with drill hole stability when required. It is anticipated that no water bore will be required in this drilling program as water will be available from local shire and town facilities.

5.7 CONTAMINATED LAND

Contaminated land is unlikely in the vicinity of the proposed drilling because of its location within State Forest. A search may be conducted of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Contaminated Land Register if it is deemed necessary after observing the proposed drilling areas during the heritage work area clearance. Contaminated land could potentially include wood treatment sites, chemical contamination, cattle dips, tanneries, fuel storage, landfill or refuse tips. Appendix 5 details how to order a contaminated land search.

Rio Tinto Exploration Confidential Information - unauthorised use prohibited

6. WORK PROTOCOL AND REHABILITATION

RTE will conduct its activities in accordance with the RTE Environmental Procedures. The ENVT 100 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 checklist for the Dunmore Project will identify the planned activities for the programme. This section addresses the impacts associated with these activities and the appropriate management techniques that RTE will implement.

Exploration activities include

• surface sampling

• hand augering

• minimal disturbance reverse circulation air core drilling.

Toyota four-wheel drive vehicles will be used to access existing tracks for hand augering, sampling and drilling activities. Equipment used for the reconnaissance drilling programme will also include a small reverse circulation air core drill rig mounted on a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle.

6.1 TRACKS

Existing shire-maintained and State Forest tracks will provide sufficient access into the area for the reconnaissance testing to be carried out.

Table 8: Environmental Impact Management of Tracks Action Impact Control Vehicles driving • Generation of dust ENVT 102 on track • Compaction Ground • Surface crusting after rain Disturbance • Disturbance of plant and animal species

6.2 CAMP-SITES

Field crews will be accommodated in a motel in Millmerran and will commute daily to the exploration sites in Toyota four-wheel drive vehicles. There is no need for a camp site at this stage. The RTE Team Leader will assess the condition of the tracks and the nature and location of environmentally sensitive areas in deciding if any vehicle speed and route restrictions are required.

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6.3 DRILL-SITES

The drilling program will involve approximately 80 to 100 drill holes to a depth of 40- 50 metres, spaced between 400 metres and 1000 metres apart. Drill sites will require a flat, reasonably cleared area of approximately 20 metres long by 15 metres wide. Areas of previously disturbed, cleared land alongside existing tracks will be selected for drilling or hand augering. The construction of drill pads or sumps is not anticipated to be required for this reconnaissance work. At the completion of drilling, all drill holes will be backfilled with the drilling cuttings and capped to prevent injury to small animals, and all rubbish will be removed from site.

Table 9: Environmental Impact Management of Drill Sites

Action Impact Control

• Disturbance to topsoil • Limited re-growth ENVT 102 Ground Disturbance, ENVT 107 • Intersection of • Impact on surface and groundwater ground water bodies Drilling. Assessment of potential to • Spillage of injected • Site contamination intersect groundwater fluids, grease, fuel or aquifers – if likely, RTE will groundwater develop an appropriate management plan.

6.4 DRILLING

Hand augering to sample near-surface material will be conducted along existing tracks and cause an area of less than 20cm to be disturbed temporarily.

The drilling program will be conducted using a small, Toyota Land Cruiser-mounted reverse circulation air core drill rig.

RTE recognise that all environmental procedures must be carefully followed to avoid impacting nearby environmentally sensitive locations. Environmental impact management for drilling will involve the provisions noted in Tables 5 and 9, including a number of RTE Environmental Procedures, specifically ENVT 107 Drilling, ENVT 108 Drill Hole Capping, ENVT 106 Acid Rock Drainage and ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous Substances.

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6.5 SAMPLING

Surface rock channel sampling and hand augering will be conducted along existing tracks and road lines, and will have minimal impact.

Table 10: Environmental Impact Management of Sampling Action Impact Control Hand digging and hand Localised, temporary ENVT 110 Sampling augering shallow holes for small area of disturbance surface sampling

6.6 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

No geophysical surveys are currently planned for the Dunmore Project area.

6.7 OTHER GROUND DISTURBING ACTIVITIES

No other ground disturbing activities are currently planned for the Dunmore Project area.

6.8 HYDROCARBONS AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

The following substances may potentially be used on the Dunmore exploration program: diesel fuel, degreasing agents, engine oil, and drilling foam or detergent. Material Safety Data sheets will be kept on site for these substances.Table 11: Environmental Impact Management for Hydrocarbons and Hazardous Substances Action Impact Control Spillage of diesel Soil contamination, ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous when re-fuelling water course or Substances. SAFE 109 Hazardous drilling equipment groundwater Substances (Minimum Standards) and contamination Australia District Field Operations Hazardous Materials Procedure

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7. DESCRIPTOR

This Environmental Management Plan for the Dunmore heavy minerals exploration program covers Western Creek EPM 13484, Yandilla EPM 13486, Dunmore EPM 13488, Paddys Creek EPM 13492 and Wondul EPM 13507. The project area is located on State Forest, perpetual leasehold and freehold land approximately 15 km west of Millmerran, west of Toowoomba. The planned work programme may comprise surface sampling, hand augering and reconnaissance reverse circulation air core drilling on existing Shire or State Forest fire break tracks. This report documents the environmental management that RTE will implement for the environmental impact of activities associated with this program. There are a number of significant environmental issues in the area. A search has identified that the area may contain one Ramsar site wetland of international significance, two conservation reserves, one threatened ecological community, 21 threatened species, 5 migratory species and 4 listed marine species. Searches have been requested from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines for more specific, local information. RTE will assess the results of these searches with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service personnel and put management measures in place.

KEYWORDS

Environmental Management Plan, Rehabilitation, Ground Disturbance, Bigambul Native Title claimant group, Millmerran, Cecil Plains, Mineral Sands, Western Creek EPM 13484, Yandilla EPM 13486, Dunmore EPM 13488, Paddys Creek EPM 13492, Wondul EPM 13507, Western Creek State Forest, Dunmore State Forest, Vermin Proof Fence, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, artefact sites, Environmentally Sensitive Locations, Endangered Regional Ecosystems, Ramsar site wetland of international significance, conservation reserves, threatened ecological community, threatened species, migratory species, listed marine species.

Rio Tinto Exploration Confidential Information - unauthorised use prohibited

REFERENCES

Osborne, R., April 2002: Cultural Heritage Search – Rio Tinto Dunmore Mineral Exploration Project. Letter from Environmental Protection Agency to Graham Muggeridge of Rio Tinto.

Exon, N.F., 1976. Geology of the Surat Basin in Queensland. Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Bulletin 166. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Additional Internet Data Sources: www.nrm.qld.gov.au - Department of Natural Resources and Mines, QMIN Interactive Resources Maps: Queensland Petroleum Tenures and Exploration Data, Queensland Mineral Tenures and Resources Data, current at 4th February 2004. www.nrm.qld.gov.au/factsheets/index.php - Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Fact Sheets on Declared Plants of Queensland and Declared Pests of Queensland. www.deh.gov.au/epbc/index.html - Department of Environment and Heritage website providing information on requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. www.deh.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/index.html - Department of Environment and Heritage website interactive tool that enables search of specific areas within Australia of national and international environmental significance. www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/biodiversity/endangered_wildlife - Environment Protection Agency website, with information on endangered plants and animals. www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/planning_and_guidelines/codes_of_practi ce/environmental_compliance_codes/ - Environment Protection Agency website, with access to the Code of Environmental Compliance for Exploration and Mineral Development Projects.

APPENDIX 1

Code of Environmental Compliance for Exploration and Mineral Development Projects

Code of Environmental Compliance.pdf

CODE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE for EXPLORATION AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

January 2001 CONTENTS

Section Page

1.0 INTRODUCTION 4

2.0 CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT 7

3.0 STANDARD ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 8

3.1 General Conditions 8

Financial Assurance Land Disturbance Air Quality Noise Emissions Erosion and Sediment Control Topsoil and Overburden Management Hazardous Contaminants Nature Conservation Other Level 2 Environmentally Relevant Activities

3.2 Activity-based Conditions 13

Roads and Tracks Campsite Waste Management Service, Maintenance and Storage Areas Drilling, Excavating and Sampling Exploration Drill Holes Gridlines and Geophysical Surveys Monitoring, Reporting and Emergency Response Procedures Rehabilitation

4.0 DEFINITIONS 24

5.0 TECHNICAL GUIDELINES 34

6.0 RELEVANT LEGISLATION 35 APPENDICES 36

A Environmentally Sensitive Areas 36

BFORMS 40

Form 1 Monitoring and Record Keeping Summary Form 2 Emergency Response Table. Form 3 Schedule of Rehabilitation Costs

FIGURES 43

Figure 1 - Cross Section through a watercourse 43 Figure 2Plan View of a Watercourse 44

3 1.0 INTRODUCTION

Note: The key terms and/or phrases used in this Code are highlighted in italics followed by an (*). They are defined in Section 4.

Mineral exploration activities are authorised by Exploration Permits and Mineral Development Licences issued under the Mineral Resources Act 1989. An Exploration Permit allows the holder to take action to determine the existence, quality and quantity of minerals by: - prospecting; - using instruments, vehicles, vessels, machinery and equipment and techniques appropriate to determine the existence of any mineral; - sampling and testing of material to determine its mineral bearing capacity or properties of mineralisation; and - carrying out other operations the Minister approves.

A Mineral Development Licence entitles the holder to carry out: - geological, geophysical and geochemical programs and other work reasonably necessary to evaluate the potential for development of any mineral occurrence that has possible economic potential; - mining feasibility studies; - metallurgical testing; - environmental studies; - marketing studies; - engineering and design studies; and - other activities the Minister considers appropriate.

The regulation of environmental management for an Exploration Permit or a Mineral Development Licence is via an Environmental Authority* issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. An exploration or mineral development project that is considered to present a low risk of causing Serious Environmental Harm* under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 will be assessed as a Standard Mining Activity*. A standard mining activity is an Environmentally Relevant Activity* under the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 and will therefore require an environmental authority.

This Code of Environmental Compliance has been developed for standard mining activities that include an Exploration or a Mineral Development activity that, to the satisfaction of the administrating authority, complies with all relevant criteria listed in schedule 1A of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998.

4 About this Code

The Code of Environmental Compliance:

- provides the criteria used to determine the level of environmental management required for exploration or mineral development projects (see section 2); - sets the environmental performance requirements as Standard Environmental Conditions*, which will be the compliance requirements of an environmental authority issued for standard exploration and mineral development projects (see section 3); - provides advisory notes on how to achieve compliance with the standard environmental conditions. These are not compliance requirements and are contained in the boxes associated with the relevant standard environmental condition; and - provides definitions of terms used in this code (see section 4); - provides references to Technical Guidelines for information on best practice environmental management (see section 5).

Additional Conditions

The holder of the environmental authority may apply for additional conditions at any time. The request must be made on the Approved Form* and the applicant must supply enough information to allow the Administering Authority* to decide whether or not to impose the additional condition/s. The administering authority may set additional conditions on the environmental authority. The administering authority may only set additional conditions as long as the exploration or mineral development project remains a standard mining activity. In deciding whether to set an additional condition, the administering authority must comply with any relevant Environmental Protection Policy* and consider the Standard Criteria*. If an application for an additional condition is granted, the additional condition will override the relevant criteria (see section 2) or standard environmental condition (see section 3) and the activity will remain a standard mining activity in accordance with section 151 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Compliance Requirement

The compliance requirements of a standard environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for a standard mining activity are the standard environmental conditions in this code, plus any additional conditions. Failure to comply with the standard environmental conditions, or any additional conditions, is a breach of the environmental authority and the holder is liable to various compliance enforcement actions under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Refer to section 430 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 - ‘offence to contravene condition of environmental authority’.

Public Notification

Following assessment of the application for an environmental authority for a standard exploration or mineral development project, the application and the decision on the level of assessment will be publicly notified, but will not be subject to objection. The explorer will continue to notify land owners of entry to land as required under the Mineral Resources Act 1989. 5 For More Information on this Code

Contact the District Manager at the Environmental Protection Agency or the Mining Registrar at the Department of Mines and Energy at the following locations.

Environmental Protection Agency Department of Mines And Energy

EPA Advisory Service - 1800 501087 Brisbane (Spring Hill) - (07) 3227 1972 Brisbane and Toowoomba - (07) 3224 6161 Quilpie – (07) 4656 1266 Maryborough and Emerald - (07) 4982 4011 Rockhampton - (07) 4936 0511 Winton – (07) 4657 1727 Mackay and Emerald - (07) 4982 4555 Mt Isa – (07) 4747 2103 Townsville - (07) 4722 5350 Mareeba – (07) 4092 4211 Mt Isa - (07) 4744 7888 Charters Towers - (07) 4787 1266 Cairns - (07) 4046 6730 Townsville – (07) 4760 7406 Georgetown – (07) 4062 1204 Rockhampton – (07) 4938 4440

6 2.0 CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT

The following criteria found in schedule 1A of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, are used to determine the level of assessment required for an application for an environmental authority for a standard exploration or mineral development project.

(1) the mining activities do not, or will not, cause more than 10 ha of any land to be Significantly Disturbed* at any one time;

(2) no more than 5000 m2 are disturbed at any campsite at any one time;

(3) no more than 20 m3 of any substance is extracted from each kilometre of any riverine area in any one year;

(4) the mining activities are not, or will not be, carried out in a category A or B Environmentally Sensitive Area*;

(5) the mining activities do not include a level 1 environmentally relevant activity.

If an application for an environmental authority does not meet the assessment level criteria, it could be approved as a standard mining activity provided the environmental impact is no greater than the environmental impact of activities allowed under an environmental authority of the same type that does meet the criteria. For example, an application for a standard mining activity proposing a significant disturbance of greater than 10ha, could be granted a standard environmental authority as long as the applicant can demonstrate that the significant disturbance will have no greater environmental impact than a project that can operate within the 10ha limit.

7 3.0 STANDARD ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

3.1 GENERAL CONDITIONS

Financial Assurance

Condition 1

The holder of a new Environmental Authority* must submit the required amount of Financial Assurance* to the administering authority prior to carrying out any activities on the mining tenement. If the activities being carried out by the holder of the environmental authority are altered so as to cause a change in the category of total area of disturbance shown in Form 3, Schedule of Rehabilitation Costs, the holder of the environmental authority must submit an application to amend their financial assurance to the administering authority. If an application is lodged to transfer the environmental authority to another person or company, the proposed transferee must submit the required financial assurance prior to the transfer taking effect.

Note 1 - Financial assurance must be calculated in accordance with Form 3, Schedule of Rehabilitation Costs. Note 2 - Section 364 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 requires that the holder of the environmental authority gives the administering authority a financial assurance in a form acceptable to the administering authority. When necessary, the holder of the environmental authority must submit an application to amend their financial assurance under section 366 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The holder of the environmental authority must lodge a single financial assurance with the District Mining Registrar, Department of Mines and Energy. The financial assurance will consist of two components: (i) An amount to cover the potential costs of rehabilitation of areas disturbed by mining activities (ie. Environmental Protection Agency component); and (ii) An amount to cover the potential costs of restoring property improvements disturbed by mining activities and the failure of the tenure holder to pay rents and royalties (ie. Department of Mines and Energy component).

Land Disturbance

Condition 2

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised. Not more than 1000m2 can be disturbed at any one location, excluding campsites.

Note 3 – To minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation the following measures or similar measures can be used: - avoid disturbing large and/or mature trees; - select specific trees to be cleared and avoid causing damage to surrounding vegetation; - where practical leave the rootstock intact to promote regeneration and regrowth. Note 4 – Before carrying out activities on the tenement refer to the Technical Guideline ‘Good Relations with Landowners’ and the Department of Mines and Energy Code of Conduct, ‘Procedure for Sound Landholder/Explorer Relations’.

8 Air Quality

Condition 3

The holder of the environmental authority must not cause an Unreasonable Release* of dust.

Note 5 – To prevent causing an unreasonable release of dust the following measures or similar measures can be used:

- altering work practices to avoid or minimise the generation of dust; - scheduling activities for times when they will have least impact; - spraying water on roads and tracks; - revegetating disturbed areas as soon as practicable; - leaving or creating wind breaks or screening; and - installing pollution control equipment (e.g. fitting bag filters or a cyclone to dust generating equipment).

Noise Emissions

Condition 4

The holder of the environmental authority must not cause Unreasonable Noise* at a Noise Sensitive Place*.

Note 6 - To prevent causing unreasonable noise at a noise sensitive place the following measures or similar measures can be used:

- construct and maintain noise barriers and enclosures around noisy equipment or along the noise transmission path; - implement noise reduction measures at noise sensitive places; - provide and maintain low noise equipment; - carry out routine maintenance on fans to minimise bearing noise; and - repair or replace defective mufflers of vehicles and plant with suitable effective mufflers; limit the hours of operation of the project to between the hours of 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.

Note 7 - If aircraft are being used for mining activities operate them so as to minimise disturbance to livestock (eg. helicopters).

Erosion And Sediment Control

Condition 5

The holder of the environmental authority must design, install and maintain adequate banks and/or diversion drains to minimise the potential for storm water runoff to enter disturbed areas.

9 Condition 6

The holder of the environmental authority must design, install and maintain adequate erosion and sediment controls wherever necessary to prevent erosion of disturbed areas and sedimentation of any Watercourse*, Waterway*, Wetland* or Lake*.

Note 8 - When designing and constructing sediment ponds refer to the “Engineering Guidelines for Queensland Construction Sites” Soil Erosion and Sediment Control.

Note 9 – Regularly clean out sediment traps, ponds and drains and maintain them in effective working order, until erosion stability has been achieved in disturbed areas. Note 10 – The capacity of sediment traps, ponds, drains and banks should not be reduced below 70% of their design capacity.

Topsoil and Overburden Management

Condition 7

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that Topsoil* is removed and stockpiled prior to carrying out any mining activity. Prevent or minimise the mixing and erosion of topsoil and Overburden* stockpiles.

Note 11 - To separate topsoil and overburden and to prevent or minimise the erosion of these stockpiles the following measures or similar measures can be used: - identify topsoil and overburden layers before stripping topsoil; - store topsoil and overburden in separate stockpiles; - install silt fences or bunding around the stockpiles; - where practical reuse topsoil stockpiles within 12 months; - establish and maintain a temporary cover crop on stockpiles; and - limit the height of topsoil stockpiles to 2 metres.

Hazardous Contaminants

Condition 8

The holder of the environmental authority must plan and conduct activities on site to prevent any potential or actual release of a Hazardous Contaminant*.

Note 12 - Section 442 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 makes it an offence to release a prescribed contaminant. A prescribed contaminant is a contaminant prescribed by an Environmental Protection Policy.

Note 13 - Section 443 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 makes it an offence to cause or allow a contaminant to be placed in a position where it could reasonably be expected to cause serious or material environmental harm or environmental nuisance. 10 Condition 9

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that spills of hazardous contaminants are cleaned up as quickly as practicable. Such spillage must not be cleaned up by hosing, sweeping or otherwise releasing such contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake.

Note 14 - If a mining tenement becomes Significantly Disturbed Land* because it is contaminated land, it ceases to be significantly disturbed land if a Suitability Statement* is issued for the land. Refer to section 384 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Note 15 - A Site Management Plan* approved under part 413 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 may be required by the administrating authority for sites recorded on the Environmental Management Register* or Contaminated Land Register*. Such sites may include acid producing overburden stockpiles and tailings dams containing acid producing wastes.

Condition 10

The holder of the environmental authority must, where practical, separate acid producing waste rock from benign waste rock.

Condition 11

The holder of the environmental authority must dispose of acid producing waste rock in an excavation or pit and backfill as soon as practical. Backfill the excavation or pit containing acid producing waste rock with benign, low permeability material and seal the excavation or pit with a compacted capping layer at least 1m thick.

Note 16 - The owner or occupier of a mining tenement must notify the administering authority if they become aware that a Notifiable Activity* listed in schedule 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, is being carried out on the land within 30 days, by giving notice to the administering authority in the approved form. For example, an exploration or mineral development project that generates waste materials that contain hazardous contaminants, must notify the administrating authority that this activity is being carried out. Refer to section 371 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Note 17 - For detailed information on the management of acid mine waste material refer to the “Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Exploration and Mining in Queensland”, Part B, ‘Assessment and Management of Acid Drainage’ and the ‘Guidelines for Sampling and Analysis of Lowland Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) in Queensland’.

11 Nature Conservation

Condition 12

The holder of the environmental authority must prevent the spread of Declared Plants* by ensuring that all vehicles and machinery are adequately cleaned before taking the vehicles and machinery out of a Declared Plant Area*.

Note 18 - Sections 23 (b) and 29 (b) of the Mineral Resources Regulation 1990 requires that - every precaution be taken to ensure there is no dispersal of parthenium weed or the seed of any other declared plant within the meaning of the Rural Lands Protection Act 1985 as a result of mining activities or as a result of access to the area of the mining tenement. Note 19 – The Department of Natural Resources provide Pest Facts sheets for declared plants in Queensland and clean down procedures for vehicles and machinery working in declared plant areas. For advice on declared plant areas contact the Department of Mines and Energy, the Department of Natural Resources or your Local Shire Council.

Condition 13

The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out activities in a category A or B Environmentally Sensitive Area. Activities involving machinery must not be carried out within 1km of a category A environmentally sensitive area or within 500m of category B environmentally sensitive area. Prior to carrying out activities in a category C environmentally sensitive area, consult with the relevant administering authority and the Environmental Protection Agency. If it is determined through the consultation that additional conditions are necessary, the holder must comply with those conditions.

Note 20 – Refer to Appendix A - Environmentally sensitive Areas.

Condition 14

The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out activities within 100m of a Historical, Archaeological or Ethnographic site.

Note 21 – With regard to cultural heritage issues refer to the Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate) Act 1987 and the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 . Prior to carrying out any activities on the mining tenement, the holder of the environmental authority should consult with the administrating authority if a site has the potential to be designated as a historical, archaeological or ethnographic site.

12 Other Level 2 Environmentally Relevant Activities

Condition 15

The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out the following Level 2 Environmentally Relevant Activities (ERA) on the mining tenement:

- ERA (7) Chemical Storage - storage of chemicals (other than crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products) including ozone depleting substances, gases or dangerous goods under the dangerous goods code in containers with a design storage volume of more than 10m3 but less than 1000m3;

- ERA (76) Incinerating waste – operation of a waste incineration facility for incinerating -

(a) vegetation; (b) clean paper or cardboard;

- ERA (77) Battery Recycling - operation of a facility for receiving and recycling or reprocessing any kind of battery; and

- ERA (80) Tyre Recycling - operation of a facility for receiving and commercially recycling or reprocessing tyres (other than retreading tyres).

3.2 ACTIVITY BASED CONDITIONS

Roads And Tracks

Condition 16

The holder of the environmental authority must consult with the Landowner* prior to establishing any new roads and tracks.

Note 22 - Refer to the Technical Guidelines when planning and constructing all new roads and tracks. Note 23 - Repair all damage to existing private roads and tracks resulting from mining activities, so that they are as trafficable as they were prior to any damage.

13 Condition 17

When constructing new roads and tracks, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses is minimised.

Note 24 - When planning and constructing new roads and tracks the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance of land, vegetation and watercourses:

- wherever possible use or upgrade existing roads and tracks; - construct roads and tracks along natural grades; - minimise the width of roads and tracks; - minimise the number of crossings in riverine areas; - construct crossings in riverine areas in a stable section of the bed; - avoid constructing roads or tracks that run straight down the bank to the crossing; - do not disadvantage other users of existing public roads & tracks; - construct a bed level causeway, a culvert or a bridge where natural bed conditions within a watercourse will not carry the intended traffic load or where crossing of the bed will generate a significant increase in turbidity; - minimise the number of cuts and fills in riverine areas; - position cuts and fills in riverine areas to minimise risk of erosion from subsequent flood events; - position crossings to prevent flow being directed towards the banks and provide erosion resistance to the bed and banks downstream of a crossing for a distance equal to the width of the normal flow channel; - do not create any downstream or upstream drops at the lip of culverts or causeways; - regularly clean out culverts, bridges and causeways to prevent flow being impeded or redirected; and - construct in-stream crossings outside of main fish migration periods.

Campsites

Condition 18

The holder of the environmental authority must consult with the landowner prior to establishing any Campsites.

14 Condition 19

When establishing a campsite, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses is minimised.

Note 25 - When establishing and maintaining campsites the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses:

- locate campsites at least 100m from any riverine areas; - only disturb the minimum area necessary for the safe functioning of the campsite; - install an appropriate human waste disposal facility (e.g. portable self contained toilets, pit toilets, septic tanks); - use absorption trenches, transpiration beds or spray irrigation to dispose of grey water; and - locate all disposal areas at least 100m distance from any watercourse, waterway, groundwater recharge area, wetland or lake.

Note 26 – With regard to the on site management of water refer to the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997.

Waste Management

Condition 20

The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release waste from the project area to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake.

Note 27 - When managing waste materials the following strategy should be adopted:

- avoid creating excess waste; - reuse waste materials; - recycle waste; - create and utilise energy from waste; - treat waste; and - dispose of waste (e.g. provide rubbish containers on site).

Note 28 - Where practicable take all General Waste* to a Licensed General Waste Disposal Facility*.

15 Condition 21

The holder of the environmental authority must not dispose of more than 50 tonnes of General Waste* on the mining tenement per year.

Note 29 - The holder of the environmental authority may bury up to 50 tonnes of general waste on the mining tenement per year. When burying general waste the following measures or similar measures should be used:

- locate the waste pit so as to ensure that the waste will not contaminate any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake; - divert stormwater runoff from entering the pit; - crush drums and other containers to reduce the volume of waste; - make the pit safe and protect it from scavengers; - backfill the pit when the level of rubbish in the pit is not less than 1m below the surface; and - sufficiently overfill the pit to allow for settlement.

Note 30 – The holder of the environmental authority may dispose of limited regulated waste to a licensed general waste disposal facility provided the annual volume of limited regulated waste does not exceed 10% of the annual volume of general waste (e.g. tyres).

Service, Maintenance and Storage Areas

Condition 22

The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release fuels, oils, lubricants or other contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake.

Note 31 - To prevent the direct or indirect release of fuels, lubricants or other contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake the following measures or similar measures can be used:

- maintain all refuelling equipment in good working order; - use groundsheets or drip trays to capture spillage during maintenance of machinery and vehicles; - locate all fuel storages within an impermeable bund; - ensure all liquid containment, including fuel tank bunds and process water ponds, have a volume at least equal to the design volume plus an additional 10% of that volume; and - where practical, undertake all refuelling and routine maintenance of vehicles within designated service areas.

Condition 23

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that all chemical, fuel and oil storage facilities less than 10 000L on a mining tenement, must be designed and operated in accordance with Australian Standard 1940 – ‘The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids’, Section 2, Minor Storage.

16 Condition 24

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that:

(1) all chemical, fuel and oil storage facilities of more than 10 000 L on a mining tenement, must be bunded to contain at least one hundred percent of the volume of the largest container, plus twenty-five percent of the storage capacity of the largest container up to a maximum of 10,000 L, together with ten percent of the storage capacity beyond 10, 000 L; and

(2) the facility must be operated and maintained in accordance with the Australian Standard 1940 – “The Storage and Handling of flammable and combustible liquids”.

Drilling, Excavating and Sampling

Condition 25

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure: • all marker pegs are marked with contrasting colour so as to be clearly visible; • all marker pegs are removed from the tenement at the completion of exploration activities; • all permanent markers (example, concrete plugs or steel plates) are installed at ground level and made safe.

Condition 26 When drilling, excavating or sampling, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised.

Note 32 - When drilling, excavating or sampling the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation:

- consider seasonal influences, such as rainfall before excavating or establishing a drill site; - construct drill pads no larger than necessary to safely accommodate the drilling rigs and ancillary equipment; - use excavators or backhoes wherever possible in preference to bulldozers; and - use drilling fluids and other process fluids which are non-toxic.

Note 33 - Prior to working in riverine areas refer to the “Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Mining and Exploration in Queensland”, Part B, “Exploration and Mining in Watercourses”.

Note 34 - Install and maintain adequate warning signs, fences and rock bunds to exclude people, livestock and native animals from excavations and shafts. Note 35 - Provide safe access to water for livestock and native animals by:

- providing hard surfaces around water storage areas; and - fencing off any soft areas around the edge of water storage areas.

17 Condition 27

The holder of the environmental authority must not drill, excavate or clear vegetation:

- in standing waters, wetlands or lakes; or - on the sloped banks or within 3m of the top of the bank or 5m of the toe of the bank; or - within, or on the levee banks of the normal flow channel.

Note 36 - For representative diagrams that define the different landform elements that make up a watercourse refer to Figure 1 - Cross Section Through a Watercourse and Figure 2 – Plan View of a Watercourse.

Condition 28 The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release wastewater to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake.

Note 37 - To prevent the direct or indirect release of waste water to any watercourse, waterway or groundwater, wetland or lake the following measures or similar measures can be used:

- where practical recycle all waste water (e.g. recycle waste water for drilling water); - use waste water for dust suppression; - discharge waste water onto benign overburden or waste rock heaps for absorption; and - discharge wastewater to an evaporation pond.

Note 38 - With regard to the on site management of water refer to the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997.

Exploration drill holes

Condition 29

The holder of the environmental authority must decommission all non-artesian drill holes, apart from those still required for monitoring purposes as soon as practical, but no later than 6 months after the hole was drilled by undertaking the following actions:

- where practical dispose of all unused drill chips to the hole or to a sump pit and; - cap the hole at a depth that is appropriate for the previous land use of the area (unless the land owner stipulates a future use which requires the cap to be placed deeper); and - backfill the hole above the cap with soil or material similar to the surrounding soil or material.

Note 39 - The following depths are considered as appropriate for capping:

- surface level in rock outcrops; and - at least 1 metre below the surface on land used for cropping; and - at least 300 mm below the surface on other land.

18 Condition 30

The holder of the environmental authority must isolate non-artesian aquifers where a drill hole intersects more than one water bearing strata by casing or plugging the hole as soon as practical after the hole is no longer required, but no later than 2 months after the hole was drilled, apart from those holes that are still required for monitoring purposes if:

- the flow difference between aquifers exceeds 500 L/hour; and - the difference in electrical conductivity of water is greater than 10% of the lower value.

Condition 31

Conditions 29 and 30 do not apply to a non-artesian exploration drill hole if:

- the land owner and the explorer have agreed that it should be left for conversion to a water bore; and - the landowner gives a written undertaking to accept responsibility for the hole; and - the details of the agreement and the drill hole (such as its GPS location and the drill logs showing the water bearing strata and flow rates) are provided to the Department of Natural Resources within 30 days of the land owner giving the undertaking; and - the hole is temporarily capped so as to prevent possible ingress of surface waters and associated sediments and pollutants.

Note 40 - Drill holes that are to be converted to a water bore must be done so by a licensed water bore driller.

Condition 32

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that exploration drill holes that strike artesian flows of water that exceeds 500 L/hour for seven days must be either:

(1) decommissioned as soon as practical, but no later than 1 month after the hole was drilled, apart from holes that are still required for monitoring or evaluation purposes. Refer to Report No. SW4 – “Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia”, (ARMCANZ 1997); or (2) capped to allow for future conversion into a controlled artesian bore by a licensed water bore driller; or (3) converted into a controlled artesian bore by a licensed water bore driller, provided that:

(a) the land owner has undertaken in writing to accept responsibility for the drill hole; and (b) the explorer provides details of the agreement and the drill hole to the Department of Natural Resources within 30 days of obtaining the landowner’s agreement.

Note 41 - Provisions apply under the Water Act 2000 with respect to the utilisation of ground water from boreholes in Proclaimed Areas (which include all Artesian Basin areas) and the rehabilitation of boreholes.

19 Condition 33

The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that exploration drill holes that are to be retained for future mineral resource evaluation purposes are cased and capped. Holes to be retained for more than three years must be capped with steel casing and appropriately identified.

Gridlines and Geophysical Surveys

Condition 34 The holder of the environmental authority must plan and determine the final position of gridlines and geophysical lines in consultation with the landowner.

Condition 35 When constructing gridlines and geophysical lines, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised.

Note 42 - When constructing gridlines and geophysical lines the following measures or similar measures can be used to ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised:

- conduct surveying of gridlines on foot; - use existing gates, tracks, roads and seismic lines; - before deciding on the location of new seismic lines, record the location of all underground or surface pipelines, cables, power lines, etc. and avoid these areas; - in planning for drilling and sampling activities, where possible, ensure the activities occur at least 100m from riverine areas; - construct seismic lines that do not exceed the width necessary to safely undertake the survey; - use Global Positioning Systems (GPS), or other techniques, to reduce the need for line of sight clearing; - maintain buffer widths of at least 25m between all disturbed areas; - minimise the use of bulldozers and excavators when cutting gridlines and/or seismic lines; and - notify landowners at least 24 hours prior to detonating seismic explosives.

20 Monitoring, Reporting and Emergency Response Procedures

Condition 36

The holder of the environmental authority must record and notify the administering authority of any emergency or incident which demonstrates non-compliance with the Standard Environmental Conditions.

Note 43 - A notification of any emergency or incident which demonstrates non-compliance to the standard environmental conditions can not be used in evidence in any further action taken by the administrating authority as a result of the notification.

Note 44 - To demonstrate ongoing compliance with the standard environmental conditions, the holder complete Form 1, ‘Monitoring and Record Keeping Summary’ and establish programs to monitor project activities and maintain monitoring records for review by the administrating authority.

Note 45 - To demonstrate compliance complete Form 2, ‘Emergency Response Table’. Provide and maintain appropriate emergency response equipment and inform all operational personnel, contractors and visitors of emergency procedures.

Note 46 - Observe the provisions and regulations under the Fire and Rescue Authority Act 1990 and the Mines Regulation Act 1985.

Rehabilitation

Condition 37 In Riverine Areas*, the holder of the environmental authority must complete the Rehabilitation Processes* on all areas disturbed by mining activities, apart from those areas currently being utilised for mining activities, as soon as practical and prior to the onset of the wet season.

Note 47 - Condition 37 is to ensure that there is adequate erosion protection in riverine areas prior to the onset of the wet season. In Queensland the wet season is generally considered to be from November to April each year.

Condition 38

For all other areas on the mining tenement, the holder of the environmental authority must complete the rehabilitation processes on all areas disturbed by mining activities, apart from those areas currently being utilised for mining activities, as soon as practical and at least within six months of the completion of works in those areas.

Note 48 – Where practical undertake progressive rehabilitation wherever possible.

21 Condition 39

The holder of the environmental authority must backfill all excavations, drill holes or sampling sites as soon as practical following the completion of exploration activities.

Condition 40

Condition 39 does not apply to any excavations, drill holes or sampling sites that are to remain after the completion of exploration activities, by agreement with the land owner.

Condition 41

The holder of the environmental authority must rehabilitate areas disturbed by mining activities to a stable landform similar to that of surrounding undisturbed areas.

Note 49 - When rehabilitating disturbed areas refer to the “Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Mining and Exploration in Queensland”, Part D, ‘Geo-technical Slope Stability’.

Condition 42 The holder of the environmental authority must spread seeds or plant species that will promote vegetation of a similar species and Density of Cover* to that of the surrounding undisturbed areas or vegetation that is appropriate for providing erosion control and stabilisation of the disturbed areas.

Note 50 - To revegetate disturbed areas the following measures or similar measures can be used: - for areas which have become compacted during the project, break up the soil surface to a depth that is suitable for establishing vegetation; and - spread stockpiled topsoil over disturbed areas to a depth that is suitable as a rooting medium for the revegetation process; and - provide suitable nutrient conditions for planting by using fertiliser if necessary; and - collect and store native seeds to be used in rehabilitation.

Note 51 - When revegetating disturbed areas, the holder of the environmental authority should plant native species endemic to the area and location in the landscape (e.g. if clearing has occurred in a riverine area, revegetate the disturbed area using local riverine species).

Note 52 - Vegetation used to provide erosion protection and stabilise disturbed areas in the short term should be comprised of sterile, short-lived species (e.g. a cover crop). However, the long term aim of revegetating any disturbed area is to establish a stable vegetation community that is similar to that of the surrounding undisturbed areas or endemic species.

Note 53 - The environmental authority holder is not liable for rehabilitating disturbed areas that existed prior to the grant of the tenure unless those areas are disturbed during the term of the tenure.

22 Condition 43

For any Mine Infrastructure* to remain after all mining activities have ceased, the holder of the environmental authority must obtain the written agreement of the land owner stating they will take over responsibility for that infrastructure.

Condition 44

The holder of the environmental authority must complete rehabilitation of disturbed areas to the satisfaction of the administrating authority.

Note 54 - Condition 44 is a requirement of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The environmental authority holder must submit a Final Rehabilitation Report (FRR) and an Environmental Audit Statement (EAS) prior to the cancellation or expiry of the mining tenement. The surrender of the environmental authority will not be granted until the administrating authority has accepted the FRR and the EAS.

23 4.0 DEFINITIONS

Administrating authority - Means -

(a) for a matter, the administration and enforcement of which has been devolved to a local government under section 514 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994; or (b) for all other matters - the Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Agency; or (c) another State Government Department, Authority, Storage Operator, Board or Trust, who’s role is to administer provisions under other enacted legislation (e.g. Department of Natural Resources who licence referable dams under the Water Act 2000).

Annual exceedence probability (AEP) - For a given rainfall event the AEP is the probability that the event will be exceeded within a one year period. The AEP is usually expressed as a one in ‘n’ (years) or a percentage.

Approved form - Means a form approved by the administrating authority.

Archaeological site - A site that has physical evidence of the past, which has the potential to increase our knowledge of earlier human occupation, activities and events.

Artesian drill hole - An exploration drill hole from which water freely flows at a rate of greater than 500 L/hour for at least 7 days after being drilled.

Banks - The feature which confines major flows within a watercourse. They are steeper than a terrace and are generally of a slope greater than 1:1 on outer bends. Refer to Figure 1 – Cross Section through a Watercourse.

Bund - (a) An earth mound or similar structure (e.g. a concrete block wall), whether impervious or not, constructed to contain spilled material (e.g. petrol, diesel, oil etc); or (b) a structure to prevent or reduce soil erosion.

Campsite - The area encompassing any dwelling, amenities (e.g. toilet block, power generator), sewage or general waste disposal facility and includes the office area and vehicle parking areas associated with a temporary or permanent mining camp.

Contaminant - The Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines, under Section11, a contaminant as:

(a) a gas, liquid or solid; or (b) an odour; or (c) an organism (whether alive or dead), including a virus; or (d) energy, including noise, heat, radioactivity and electromagnetic radiation; or (e) a combination of contaminants.

Contamination - Section 10 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines contamination of the environment as the release (whether by act or omission) of a contaminant into the environment.

24 Contaminated land - Schedule 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines contaminated land as land contaminated by a hazardous contaminant. (See below for a definition of hazardous contaminant.)

Contaminated land register - Means the register kept by the administrating authority under section 541 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Contour banks - Are mounds of earth constructed along the contours of the land to reduce the amount and velocity of run-off down the slope.

Costeaning - The digging of a trench or pit across the seam or ore body for exposing, sampling and mapping of the ore body.

Culvert - A covered channel, or a pipe of large diameter conveying water below ground level. Also applies to a tunnel through which water is pumped or permitted to flow.

Declared plant area - Areas designated by the Department of Natural Resources or Local Government as areas infested with plants declared under section 69 of the Rural Lands Protection Act 1985 (section 70 (3) lists the categories of declared plants).

Declared plant - A plant that has been declared under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1985.

Density of cover - In reference to trees and/or shrubs, it means the number of trees or shrubs in a specified area (e.g. 50 trees per square kilometre). With reference to understorey plant species (e.g. grasses and forbs), it means the percentage of surface area covered by a particular species.

Designated service area - Is a nominated site, selected and managed to minimise contamination of land or water, where the majority of services or maintenance of machinery or plant is to be conducted.

Disturbed - Any area that has had its natural state altered by the action or interference of carrying out an activity associated with the exploration project.

Environment - Section 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines the environment as:

(a) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and (b) all natural and physical resources; and (c) the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas, however large or small, that contribute to their biological diversity and integrity, intrinsic or attributed scientific value or interest, amenity, harmony and sense of community; and (d) the social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions that affect, or are affected by, things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

Environmental audit statement - Verifies the accuracy of the final rehabilitation report and identifies any residual financial assurance requirements.

Environmental authority - Means a licence or approval issued by the administrating authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Environmental management register - Means the register kept by the administrating authority under section 541 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

25 Environmental nuisance - Section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines environmental nuisance as “unreasonable interference or likely interference with an environmental value” caused by:

(a) noise, dust, odour, light; or (b) an unhealthy, offensive or unsightly condition because of contamination; or (c) another way prescribed by regulation. (e.g. unreasonable noise or dust emissions)”

Environmental protection policy - Means an environmental protection policy approved under chapter 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Environmental relevant activity - Means an activity prescribed by regulation as an environmental relevant activity.

Environmentally sensitive areas - Refers to locations, however large or small, that have environmental values that contribute to maintaining biological diversity and integrity, have intrinsic or attributed scientific, historical or cultural heritage value, or are important in providing amenity, harmony or sense of community. Refer to Appendix A.

Environmental value - Section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines an environmental value as:

(a) a quality or physical characteristic of the environment that is conducive to ecological health or public amenity or safety; or (b) another quality of the environment identified and declared to be an environmental value under an Environmental Protection Policy or Regulation (e.g. water suitable for swimming in or drinking)

Ethnographic site - An archaeological site of particular importance to the study of a cultural group.

Final rehabilitation report - Means a final rehabilitation report prepared under chapter 5, part 10, division 2, subdivision 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The report assesses the extent to which the standard environmental conditions and any additional conditions of the environmental authority have been met.

Financial assurance - Means a security deposit, either cash or a bank guarantee, that is held by the administrating authority to cover the potential:

(a) costs to rehabilitate areas disturbed by mining activities; and (b) costs to restore property improvements disturbed by mining activities; and (c) failure of the tenure holder to pay rents and royalties.

Flood flow channel - For a representative drawing of a flood flow channel refer to Figure 1- ‘Cross Section Through a Watercourse’ and Figure 2 – ‘Plan View of a Watercourse’.

General waste - Schedule 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 defines general waste as “means waste other than regulated waste”. Waste rock, overburden and the contents of tailings dams are not included in the definition of general waste for the purposes of these conditions.

26 Guidelines for livestock drinking water - Recommended water quality guidelines for livestock drinking water. Refer to the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 1992.

Hazardous contaminant - Schedule 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines a hazardous contaminant as “a contaminant that, if improperly treated, stored, disposed of or otherwise managed, is likely to cause serious or material environmental harm because of:

(a) its quantity, concentration, acute or chronic toxic effects, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, corrosiveness, explosiveness, radioactivity, flammability; or (b) its physical, chemical or infectious characteristics (e.g.: spills of mercury, cyanide, petrol, diesel or oil)”.

Historical site - A site containing objects from the past that allows the study of the way people lived and worked at that place in the past.

Infrastructure - Project infrastructure includes roads, tracks, bridges, culverts, dams, bores, buildings, fixed machinery, hardstand areas, pipelines, powerlines, airstrips, helipads etc, which are constructed or installed specifically for the project.

Lake - A natural or artificial body of water, either permanent or intermittent.

Landowner - Schedule 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines the owner of the land as –

1. The “owner” of land is—

(a) for freehold land—the person recorded in the freehold land register as the person entitled to the fee simple interest in the land; or (b) for land held under a lease, licence or permit under an Act—the person who holds the lease, licence or permit; or (c) for trust land under the Land Act 1994—the trustees of the land; or (d) for Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991—the persons to whom the land has been transferred or granted; or (e) for Torres Strait Islander land under the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991—the persons to whom the land has been transferred or granted; or (f) for land for which there is a native title holder under the Commonwealth Native Title Act— each registered native title party in relation to the land.

2. Also, a mortgagee of land is the owner of the land if—

(a) the mortgagee is acting as a mortgagee in possession of the land and has the exclusive management and control of the land; or (b) the mortgagee, or a person appointed by the mortgagee, is in possession of the land and has the exclusive management and control of the land.

Licensed general waste disposal facility - A site authorised by the administrating authority to receive general waste or limited regulated waste (e.g. a rubbish dump).

Limited regulated waste - Schedule 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, defines limited regulated waste. The only limited regulated wastes relevant to mining projects are asbestos and tyres.

27 Material environmental harm - Section 16 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines material environmental harm as:

(1) material environmental harm is environmental harm (other than environmental nuisance)-

(a) that is not trivial or negligible in nature, extent or context; or (b) that causes actual or potential loss or damage to property of an amount of, or amounts totalling, more than the threshold amount but less than the maximum amount; or (c) that results in costs of more than the threshold amount but less than the maximum amount being incurred in taking appropriate action to -

i. prevent or minimise the harm; and ii. rehabilitate or restore the environment to its condition before the harm.

In this section -

“maximum amount” means the threshold amount for serious environmental harm.

“threshold amount” means $5 000 or, if a greater amount is prescribed by regulation, the greater amount.

Mine - Section 6A of the Mineral Resources Act 1989, defines mining as –

(1) “Mine” means to carry on an operation with a view to, or for the purpose of -

(a) winning mineral from a place where it occurs; or (b) extracting mineral from its natural state; or (c) disposing of mineral in connection with, or waste substances resulting from, the winning or extraction.

(2) For subsection (2), extracting includes the physical, chemical, electrical, magnetic or other way of separation of a mineral. (3) Extracting includes, for example, crushing, grinding, concentrating, screening, washing, jigging, tabling, electro winning, solvent extraction electro winning (SX-EW), heap leaching, flotation, fluidised bedding, carbon-in-leach (CIL) and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) processing. (4) However, extracting does not include -

(a) a process in a smelter, refinery or anywhere else by which mineral is changed to another substance; or (b) testing or assaying small quantities of mineral in teaching institutions or laboratories, other than laboratories situated on a mining lease; or (c) an activity, prescribed under a regulation, that is not directly associated with winning mineral from a place where it occurs.

(5) For subsection (1)(c), includes the disposal of tailings and waste rock. (6)A regulation under subsection (4)(c) may prescribe an activity by reference to the quantities of minerals extracted or to any other specified circumstances.

Native vegetation - Vegetation that occurs naturally in a certain area.

28 Noise sensitive place - Means any of the following places –

(a) a dwelling; (b) a library, childcare centre, kindergarten, school, college, university or other educational institution; (c) a hospital, surgery or other medical institution; (d) a protected area or an area identified under a conservation plan as a critical habitat or an area of major interest, under the Nature Conservation Act 1992; (e) a marine park under the Marine Parks Act 1982; and (f) a park or garden that is open to the public (whether or not on payment of money) for use other than for sport or organised entertainment).

Normal flow channel - For a representative drawing of a normal flood flow channel of a water course refer to Figure 1- ‘Cross Section Through a Watercourse’ and Figure 2 - ‘Plan View of a Watercourse’.

Notifiable activity - Means an activity in schedule 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Outer bends - For a representative drawing of an outer bend of a watercourse refer to Figure 1– “Cross Section Through a Watercourse” and Figure 2 – “Plan View of a Watercourse”.

Overburden - Material overlying a mineral ore deposit, up to but not including the topsoil.

Referable dam - The Water Resources Act 1989 defines referable dams as -

(a) works or proposed works that include or would include a barrier whether permanent or temporary that does or could or would impound, divert or control water, which barrier- (i) is more than 8 m in height and has a storage capacity of more than 500 ML; or (ii) is more than 8 m in height and has a storage capacity of more than 250 ML and a catchment area that is more than 3 times its maximum surface area or full supply level; (b) works - (i) that consist of or include or would consist of or include a barrier whether permanent or temporary that does or could or would impound, divert or control water or hazardous waste, other than a barrier defined in paragraph (a); (ii) other than a barrier whether permanent or temporary that does or could or would impound, contain, divert or control hazardous waste; declared by the chief executive by notification published in the gazette to be a referable dam by reason of the danger to life or property that could or would eventuate upon the collapse or failure of or the escape of hazardous waste from those works and includes the storage areas created by the works but does not include a tank constructed of steel or concrete or a combination of those materials.

The term does not include a weir, other than a weir that has a variable flow control structure on the crest of the weir.

29 Regulated waste - Schedule 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 defines regulated waste as non-domestic waste mentioned in schedule 7 (whether or not it has been treated or immobilised), and includes -

(a) for an element - any chemical compound containing the element; and (b) anything that has contained the waste.

(e.g. Regulated waste commonly generated from mining projects include tyres, oils, cyanide, mercury and batteries)

Rehabilitation processes - The measures and actions taken to achieve rehabilitation outcomes, including any or all of the following:

- removing all unwanted infrastructure; - backfilling mine excavations (e.g. pits) and capping drill holes; - reshaping the land surface to a stable landform similar to that of surrounding undisturbed areas; - spreading of topsoil; - spreading seed or planting seedlings to promote revegetation; - benching ridge cuts and removing any overhanging material.

Riverine area - Refers to the land adjoining and associated with watercourses, including the bed, banks, adjoining terraced land and riparian vegetation. Refer to Figure 1 – “Cross Section Through a Watercourse”.

Sediment pond - A bunded or excavated structure used to contain and settle waterborne sediment running off disturbed areas.

Sediment trap - A device used to filter waterborne sediment running off disturbed areas. May include silt fences, hay bales or grassed strips.

Serious environmental harm - Section 17 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines serious environmental harm as -

(1) environmental harm (other than environmental nuisance)

(a) that causes actual or potential harm to environmental values that is irreversible, of a high impact or widespread; or (b) that causes actual or potential harm to environmental values of an area of high conservation value or special significance; or (c) that causes actual or potential loss or damage to property of an amount of, or amounts totalling, more than the threshold amount; or (d) that results in costs of more than the threshold amount being incurred in taking appropriate action to-

(i) prevent or minimise the harm; and (ii) rehabilitate or restore the environment to its condition before the harm.

In this section - “Threshold amount” means $50 000 or, if a greater amount is prescribed by regulation, the greater amount.

30 Significantly disturbed land - Land is significantly disturbed if –

(a) it is contaminated land; or

(b) it has been disturbed and human intervention is needed to rehabilitate it.

Significantly disturbed land includes:

- areas where soil has been compacted, removed, covered, exposed or stockpiled; - areas where vegetation has been removed or destroyed to an extent where the land has been made susceptible to erosion; (vegetation & topsoil) - areas where land use suitability or capability has been diminished; - areas within a watercourse, waterway, wetland or lake where mining project activities occur; - areas submerged by tailings or hazardous contaminant storage and dam walls in all cases; - areas under temporary infrastructure. Temporary infrastructure includes any infrastructure (roads, tracks, bridges, culverts, dams, bores, buildings, fixed machinery, hardstand areas, airstrips, helipads etc) which is to be removed after mining has ceased; or - areas where land has been contaminated.

However, the following areas are not included:

- areas off lease (e.g. roads or tracks which provide access to the mining lease); - areas previously significantly disturbed which have achieved the rehabilitation outcomes; - by agreement with the EPA, areas previously significantly disturbed which have not achieved the rehabilitation objectives due to circumstances beyond the control of the mine operator (such as climatic conditions); - areas under permanent infrastructure. Permanent infrastructure includes any infrastructure (roads, tracks, bridges, culverts, dams, bores, buildings, fixed machinery, hardstand areas, airstrips, helipads etc) which is to be left by agreement with the landowner. The agreement to leave permanent infrastructure must be recorded in the Landowner Agreement and lodged with the EPA; - disturbances that pre-existed the grant of the tenure unless those areas are disturbed during the term of the tenure.

Site management plan - Means a site management plan approved under chapter 7, part 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 19994.

31 Standard criteria - Are defined in schedule 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. They are:

(a) the principles of ecological sustainable development; and (b) any applicable environmental protection policy; and (c) any applicable Commonwealth, State or local government plans, standards, agreements or requirements; and (d) any applicable environmental impact study, assessment or report; and (e) the character, resilience and values of the receiving environment; and (f) all submissions made by the applicant and interested parties; and (g) best practice environmental management; and (h) financial implications; and (i) the public interest; and (j) any applicable site management plan; and (k) any other matter prescribed under a regulation.

Standard environmental conditions - For an environmental authority, means the standard environmental conditions approved for the authority under section 549 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Standard mining activity - Means a mining activity decided to be a standard activity under section 151 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Suitability statement - The Environmental Protection Act 1994 defines a suitability statement as: for land, means a statement about the uses and activities for which the land is suitable.

Technical guidelines - Guidelines that indicate best practice environmental management.

Topsoil - The surface layer of a soil profile, which is usually more fertile, darker in colour, better structured and supports greater biological activity than underlying layers. The surface layer may vary in depth depending on soil forming factors, including parent material, location and slope, but generally is not greater than about 300mm in depth from natural surface.

Unreasonable noise - Section 18 of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 1997 defines unreasonable noise as - noise that

(a) causes unlawful environmental harm; and (b) is unreasonable, having regard to the following matters:

(i) its characteristics; (ii) its intrusiveness; (iii) the time at which it is made; (iv) where it can be heard; (v) other noises ordinarily present at the place where it can be heard; and

(c) is not declared to be reasonable in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 1997 ‘Reasonable Noise Levels’.

32 Unreasonable release - of a contaminant to the air environment, means a release of odours, dust, smoke or other atmospheric contaminants, that:

(a) cause unlawful environmental harm; and (b) is unreasonable having regard to the following matters:

(i) its characteristic; (ii) its intrusiveness; (iii) other releases of contaminants at the place affected by the release; (iv) where the effect of the release of the contaminants can be noticed; or (v) the order in which the person releasing the contaminant started to carry out the activity from which the release is made and persons affected by the release started to carry out other activities that may be affected by the release of the contaminant.

Watercourse - Means a river, creek or stream in which water flows permanently or intermittently in a visibly defined channel (natural, artificial or artificially improved) with clear bed and banks and evidence of biological dependence.

Waterway - A naturally occurring feature where surface water runoff normally collects, such as a clearly defined swale or gully, but only flows in response to a local rainfall event.

Wetland - Are areas of permanent or periodic/intermittent inundation, whether natural or artificial, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6m. Wetlands typically include areas such as lakes, swamps, marshes, estuaries or mudflats.

33 5.0 TECHNICAL GUIDELINES

Australian Standard 1940 - The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids. Standards Australia (1993).

Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (1992).

Commonwealth Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining Guidelines, Environment Australia.

Dredging, Extraction and Spoil Disposal, Fish Habitat Management Operational Policy: FHMOP 004, Department of Primary Industries (1998).

Farm Water Supplies Design Manual, Department of Primary Industries, (1992).

Guidelines for Sampling and Analysis of Lowland Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) in Queensland, Department of Natural Resources (1998).

Soil Erosion and Sediment Control - Engineering Guidelines for Queensland Construction Sites, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, Queensland Division (1996).

Technical Guidelines for Environmental Management of Exploration and Mining, Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland, 1995.

The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency (1999).

34 6.0 RELEVANT LEGISLATION

State Legislation (published by Go Print, Queensland):

Aboriginal Lands Act 1991

Cultural Record (Landscapes Queensland and Queensland Estate) Act 1987

Environmental Protection Act 1994

Environmental Protection Regulation 1998

Fire and Rescue Authority Act 1990

Fisheries Act 1994

Land and Resources Tribunal Act 1999

Land Act 1994

Mineral Resources Act 1989

Mineral Resources Regulation 1990

Mines Regulation Act 1985

Nature Conservation Act 1992

Queensland Heritage Act 1992

Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991

Water Act 2000

Water Resources Act 1989

Commonwealth Legislation:

Native Title Act 1993

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

35 APPENDIX A - ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS

Category A - Environmentally Sensitive Areas

LAND AREA ADMINISTERING AMINISTRATING CLASSIFICATION LEGISLATION AUTHORITY

National Parks (Scientific); Nature Conservation Act 1992 Environmental Protection Agency National Parks;

National Parks (Aboriginal Land);

National Parks (Torres Strait Islander Land);

National Parks (Recovery); and

Conservation Parks

Wet Tropics Wet Tropics World Heritage Wet Tropics Management Protection and Management Authority Act 1993

Restricted Areas (includes Mineral Resources Act 1989 Department of Mines and Constructed Water Reservoirs) Energy

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Region Act 1975 (Cwlth) Authority

Marine Parks (other than general Marine Parks Act 1982 (Qld) Environmental Protection use zones) Agency

36 Category B - Environmentally Sensitive Areas

LAND AREA ADMINISTERING ADMINISTRATING CLASSIFICATION LEGISLATION AUTHORITY

Coordinated Conservation Nature Conservation Act Environmental Protection Areas; 1992 Agency

Wilderness Areas;

World Heritage Management Areas;

International Agreement Areas;

An area of Critical Habitat or Major Interest identified under a Conservation Plan;

Areas subject to an Interim Conservation Order; and

Forest Reserves.

An area subject to following International Conventions Environmental Protection conventions: Agency

(a) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn, 23 June 1979);

(b) Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 2 February 1971); and

General Use Zones of a Marine Marine Parks Act 1982 Environmental Protection Park Agency

An Area to the Seaward Side of Nil Environmental Protection the Highest Astronomical Tide Agency

37 Category B - Environmentally Sensitive Areas (continued)

LAND AREA ADMINISTERING ADMINISTRATING CLASSIFICATION LEGISLATION AUTHORITY

Place of Cultural Heritage Queensland Heritage Act Environmental Protection Significance; 1992 Agency

Protected Area;

Registered Places; and

Restricted Zone. Queensland Heritage Act Environmental Protection 1992 Agency

Designated Landscape Area Cultural Record Environmental Protection (other than the area known as the (Landscapes Queensland Agency ‘Stanbroke Pastoral Holding’ and Queensland Estate) Act 1987

Feature Protection Area, State Forestry Act 1959 Department of Natural Forest Park or a Scientific Area Resources

Fish Habitat Area; and Fisheries Act 1994 Department of Primary Industries A place in which a Marine Plant is situated

Endangered Regional Nil Environmental Protection Ecosystems; and Agency

An area of High Nature conservation Value

38 Category C - Environmentally Sensitive Areas

ADMINISTERING LAND AREA CLASSIFICATION ADMINISTRATING LEGISLATION AUTHORITY

Nature Refuges; and Nature Conservation Act Environmental Protection 1992 Agency Resource Reserves

Declared Catchment Areas; Water Act 2000, various Department of Natural Water Board Acts Resources and/or Declared Irrigation and Irrigation Project Areas; and Relevant Storage Operator or Board Water Reservoirs and Drainage Areas.

River Improvement Areas River Improvement Trust Act Department of Natural 1940 Resources and the Relevant River Trust

Designated Landscape Area (e.g. Cultural Record (Landscapes Environmental Protection Stanbroke Pastoral Holding) Queensland and Queensland Agency Estate) Act 1987

Historic Mining Sites Nil (Inter Departmental Environmental Protection Notifications) Agency and the Department of Mines and Energy

State Forest or Timber Reserves Forestry Act 1959 Department of Natural Resources

DPI Research Sites Nil (Inter Departmental Department of Primary Agreement) Industries

Critical Areas and Public Purpose Land Act 1994 Department of Natural Reserves Resources

Areas under Coastal Management Coastal Protection and Environmental Protection Plans and Control Districts Management Act 1995 Agency

An area subject to a State Planning Integrated Planning Act 1997 Environmental Protection Policy that the policy declares is in Agency need of environmental protection.

Erosion Prone Areas and Coastal Beach Protection Act 1968 Environmental Protection Management Control Districts Agency

Areas of land occupied by the Sugar Industry Act 1999 Department of Primary Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations Industries to conduct research

39 Environmental Authority No: APPENDIX B Project No: FORM 1 MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING SUMMARY Term of Plan (yrs): Commencement date:

Data and Information Method Of Record Keeping To Be Used Frequency site plans journal photographs Other

Topsoil stripping and stockpiling (e.g. record topsoil stockpiles, location and age)

Area disturbed and rehabilitation (e.g. map of the area of disturbance and photos of rehabilitation)

Pre and post-mine landform (e.g. record photographs of the area prior to and following mining)

Water discharge quality (e.g. note colour of discharge water from sediment dams)

Dam maintenance (e.g. record of dam maintenance such as sediment removal)

Record of complaints (e.g. air, noise, tracks etc)

(e.g. record in journal any complaints received by adjoining land owner, actions taken and the outcomes of the action)

Site specific conditions (e.g. record of monitoring to demonstrate compliance with any site specific conditions)

Remediation of contaminated land (e.g. record of current and remediated contaminated land)

Waste Management (e.g. record of waste taken to a regulated waste collection depot)

Rehabilitation quotes, estimates and actual costs

Others – relevant to performance category

40 FORM 2 Emergency Response Table

Emergency situation Who to contact in case of Equipment required to be kept Procedure to be followed in case emergency situation occurring and maintained on site of emergency situation occurring

Hydrocarbon spill causing serious or material environmental harm

Chemical spill causing serious or material environmental harm

Other

41 FORM 3 SCHEDULE OF REHABILITATION COSTS

REHABILITATION TYPES

TOTAL AREA OF LOW RISK HIGH RISK DISTURBANCE Simple straightforward rehabilitation. Difficult rehabilitation Successful rehabilitation of analogous (e.g. dispersive soils, steep topography, sites has previously been achieved remoteness, sensitive areas, etc.)

Category 1 — Less than 1 hectare $2,500 $5,000

Category 2 — 1 to 4 hectares $10,000 $20,000

Category 3 — 4 to 10 hectares $20,000 $40,000

Notes: The final assurance for each category are based on rehabilitating the maximum area in that category (e.g. financial assurance for 1 to 4 hectares is based on the cost of rehabilitating 4 hectares). The Financial Assurance for environmental authority with additional conditions attached allow that the operator to disturb more than 10ha, will be calculated using the above schedule with the additional area of disturbance calculated according to the relevant category. For example, the financial assurance for 18ha of low risk disturbance will be $40,000 (i.e. $20,000 for the first 10ha and another $20,000 for the extra 8ha because it is also in category 3).

42 43

APPENDIX 2

List of RTE Environmental Procedures

List of RTE Environmental Procedures.pdf

List of RTE Environmental Procedures

Procedure Code Procedure Name

ENVT 100 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

ENVT 101 Environmental Reports

ENVT 102 Ground Disturbance

ENVT 103 Camp Management

ENVT 104 Site Monitoring

ENVT 105 Quarantine

ENVT 106 Acid Rock Drainage

ENVT 107 Drilling

ENVT 108 Drill Hole Capping

ENVT 109 Water Bore (Western Australia only)

ENVT 110 Sampling

ENVT 111 Hydrocarbons and Hazardous Substances

ENVT 112 Flagging

ENVT 113 Radiation

ENVT 114 Monitoring Equipment

APPENDIX 3

Details of EPA Regional Ecosystems

EPA Regional Ecosystems.pdf

Search Results from Environmental Protection Agency Regional Ecosystems. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/biodiversity/regional_ecosystems/

Ecosystem 11.9.5

Regional Ecosystem: 11.9.5 Vegetation Management Act Endangered status (September 2003): Biodiversity Status: Endangered Subregion: 15, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31. Estimated Extent: In September 2000, <10% of the pre-clearing

extent remained Extent in Reserves: Low

Short Description: Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata open forest on Cainozoic fine-grained sedimentary rocks

Description: Open-forest dominated by Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata. Open-forest dominated by C. cristata is more common in southern parts of the bioregion. A prominent low tree or tall shrub layer dominated by species such as Geijera parviflora and Eremophila mitchellii, and often with semi-evergreen vine thicket species is often present. The latter include Flindersia dissosperma, Brachychiton rupestris, Excoecaria dallachyana, Macropteranthes leichhardtii and Acalypha eremorum in eastern areas, and species such as Carissa ovata, Owenia acidula, Croton insularis, Denhamia oleaster and Notelaea microcarpa in south-western areas. Melaleuca bracteata may be present along watercourses. Occurs on Cainozoic to Proterozoic consolidated, fine- grained sediments. The topography includes gently undulating plains, valley floors and undulating foot slopes and rarely on low hills. The soils are generally deep texture-contrast and cracking clays. The cracking clays are usually black or grey to brown or reddish-brown in colour, often self mulching and sometimes gilgaied in flatter areas. Some texture contrast soils are shallow to only moderately deep.

Supplementary Description: Dawson (1972), Ulimaroa (1-3); Galloway et al. (1974), LU 38, 40, (41), 43, 44; Gunn and Nix (1977), LU 34, 37, 38, 41, 46, 50, 53, 72, 75, 93, 100, 101; Gunn et al. (1967), Craven (4), Cungelella (1,3), Hillalong (3), Kareela (4), Rutland (4), Skye (4), Wharton (4); Story et al. (1967), Arcadia (2), Daunia (4), Rewan (3); Speck et al. (1968) , Eurombah (8,10), Ramsay (5), Surprise (7), Wandoan (7), Womblebank (6); Vandersee (1975), Moola (1,3,4); Mullins (1980), Bringalilly, Burnt Creek, Greys Gate; Neldner (1984), 5, 6, 7, 9 (123, 124, 131); Young and McDonald (1989) 9h, 12a.

Protected Areas: Carnarvon NP, Carraba CP, Chesterton Range NP, Expedition NP, Homevale NP, Homevale RR, Irongate CP, Isla Gorge NP, Lake Murphy CP, Roundstone CP, Taunton NP (Scientific Reserve), Tregole NP

Comments: Extensively cleared for cropping and pasture.

Ecosystem 11.3.17

Regional Ecosystem: 11.3.17 Vegetation Management Act Of concern status (September 2003): Biodiversity Status: Endangered. Most of the remaining area is

highly fragmented. Subregion: 30, 31, 33, 35, 36. Estimated Extent: In September 2000, 10-30% of the pre-

clearing extent remained Extent in Reserves: No representation

Short Description: Eucalyptus populnea woodland with Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata on alluvial plains

Description: Eucalyptus populnea woodland with Casuarina cristata and/or Acacia harpophylla clumps or scattered trees and a low tree layer dominated by Geijera parviflora. Eucalyptus populnea predominates forming a distinct but discontinuous canopy (15- 18m high). E. populnea alone may form the canopy at a density of 25-75 trees/ha, or Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata may be part of the canopy. Most frequently, A. harpophylla predominates a lower tree layer (8-14m high). A moderately dense, tall shrub layer is usually present, and dominated by species such as Eremophila mitchellii, Geijera parviflora, Alectryon oleifolius and Acacia pendula. A sparse to open, low shrub layer is frequently present. The ground layer is usually sparse, and composed of grasses most frequently Bothriochloa decipiens, Aristida ramosa, Enteropogon acicularis and Paspalidium spp. with Chloris ventricosa, Eragrostis lacunaria, Aristida jerichoensis, Paspalidium constrictum, and Tripogon loliiformis on scalded areas. Occurs on back plains, levees and terraces formed on Quaternary alluvial deposits. Soils are generally deep texture contrast with thin sandy surfaces..

Supplementary Description: Galloway et al. (1974), LU 64; Neldner (1984), 22a, 22b

Protected Areas: Carnarvon NP, Culgoa Floodplain NP, Erringibba NP

Comments: This regional ecosystem is restricted to the southern part of bioregion. Extensively cleared or thinned for cropping and pasture.

Ecosystem 11.3.18

Regional Ecosystem: 11.3.18 Vegetation Management Act Not of concern status (September 2003): Biodiversity Status: No concern at present Subregion: 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Estimated Extent: In September 2000, remnant extent was > 10

000 ha and >30% of the pre-clearing area Extent in Reserves: Low

Short Description: Eucalyptus populnea, Callitris glaucophylla, Allocasuarina luehmannii shrubby woodland on alluvium

Description: Eucalyptus populnea and/or E. melanophloia dominate the woodland canopy. Other canopy tree species that may be present include Callitris glaucophylla, E. crebra, E. chloroclada and Angophora leiocarpa. A low tree layer dominated by Allocasuarina luehmannii, Callitris glaucophylla, Geijera parviflora and/or Eremophila mitchellii and sometimes Alstonia constricta is often present. The ground cover is usually open to sparse and dominated by perennial grasses such as Bothriochloa decipiens, Enteropogon acicularis, Triraphis mollis, Eragrostis lacunaria and Aristida spp. Occurs on levees, higher alluvial plains and terraces associated with drainage lines. The soils are mainly deep, uniform red sands, or deep, texture contrast soils with a sandy, thick surface horizon overlying neutral, blocky to massive subsoils. Small areas occur on red massive earths and alluvial soils.

Supplementary Description: Dawson (1987), 12, 15, 18; Galloway et al. (1974), LU63; Mullins (1980), Toombilla, Broadwater; Neldner (1984), 19b (45); Taylor and Grimshaw (1994-95), Goondiwindi MU5A and MU9B

Protected Areas: Carnarvon NP, Chesterton Range NP, Southwood NP

Values: Habitat for rare and threatened flora species including Acacia chinchillensis, A. curranii, A. lauta, Dodonaea macrossanii, Grevillea cyranostigma and Lomandra teres.

Comments: This regional ecosystem is restricted to the southern part of bioregion.

Ecosystem 11.7.4

Regional Ecosystem: 11.7.4 Vegetation Management Act Not of concern status (September 2003): Biodiversity Status: No concern at present Subregion: 18, 26, 27, 32. Estimated Extent: In September 2000, remnant extent was > 10

000 ha and >30% of the pre-clearing area Extent in Reserves: Low

Short Description: Eucalyptus decorticans and/or Eucalyptus spp., Corymbia spp., Acacia spp., Lysicarpus angustifolius on Cainozoic lateritic duricrust

Description: Mixed Eucalyptus spp. woodland on Cainozoic lateritic duricrusts. Species can include Eucalyptus crebra, E. decorticans, Corymbia trachyphloia, E. tenuipes, C.watsoniana and Callitris glaucophylla. There is usually a distinct low tree to tall shrub layer comprising species including Lysicarpus angustifolius, Acacia spp. or E. exserta. Occurs on low hills and ranges with shallow soils.

Supplementary Description: Galloway et al. (1974), LU20; Kent (1987), CZ1

Protected Areas: Coolmunda CP, Gurgeena CP, Stones Country RR

Comments: Many areas have been subject to past logging which has resulted in a decrease in the number of trees in the larger size classes including many important habitat trees.

APPENDIX 4

List of Registered Indigenous Heritage Sites

List of Registered Artefact Sites.pdf

Confidential – Not to be passed on to other parties by RTE personnel

List of Registered Aboriginal Artefact Sites

This information is strictly confidential and must not be passed on to a third party by RTE personnel.

Sitename Longitude Latitude File Attributes number

A11 151.09046 -27.92907 JB:A11 Scarred Tree

Vignoles 1 150.9957 -27.83297 JB:A12 Axe Grinding Grooves

Paddys Creek 150.9957 -27.83297 JB:A13 Midden

Western Creek 150.99568 -27.83387 JB:A14 Scarred Tree

PMIF5 151.05215 -27.90816 JB:A38 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 10 151.05945 -27.90805 JB:A39 Artefact Scatter

PMIF8 151.05158 -27.90811 JB:A41 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 24 151.04889 -27.90778 JB:A43 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 29 150.94749 -27.89452 JB:A46 Artefact Scatter

PMST2 151.06796 -27.90962 JB:A47 Scarred Tree

PMAS 22 151.12663 -27.92193 JB:A48 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 21 151.12767 -27.92223 JB:A49 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 8 151.11097 -27.91424 JB:A50 Artefact Scatter

PMIF4 151.07124 -27.90958 JB:A51 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 9 151.06725 -27.9101 JB:A52 Artefact Scatter

PMAS 7 151.11583 -27.91692 JB:A55 Artefact Scatter

PMIF3 151.11773 -27.91822 JB:A62 Artefact Scatter

Artefact Scatter Site 12 (A & B) 151.09021 -27.4216 JB:B31 Artefact Scatter

Artefact Scatter Site 12 (A & B) 151.08971 -27.4216 JB:B31 Artefact Scatter

APPENDIX 5

Contaminated Land Search Details

Contaminated Land Search Details.pdf

Contaminated Land Search

Excerpts from: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/land/contaminated_land/man agement_of_contaminated_land/ This provides information about how to order a contaminated land search.

How to order a search

When undertaking a search, you will need to provide the following information:

• the Lot and Registered Plan numbers of the land (available from the title deed or rates notice); • the property location and address; and • a search fee of $30 per lot. Cheques should be made payable to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Searches can be lodged in person at the Naturally Queensland Information Centre, Ground Floor, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane; the result is available for collection within three working days. Alternatively, a search request can be mailed to the Agency and the result will be mailed within 7 days.

For an immediate response you can search on-line via CITEC CONFIRM at www.citec.com.au, payable by credit card. For more information about this service, see the above website or call the CITEC Hotline on 1800 637 231 or in Brisbane on (07) 3222 2280. Information on contaminated land

Management of contaminated land

How is land contaminated? Land which is contaminated by hazardous substances such as arsenic, DDT or oil and which may pose a risk to human health or the environment is called contaminated land. Land contamination can occur as a result of poor environmental management and waste disposal practices or accidental spills in industrial or commercial activities. In the past, land was sometimes contaminated by activities that were not known to be dangerous at the time, often using chemicals which have since been banned or now are subject to much stricter controls.

Activities that have been identified as likely to cause land contamination are listed as notifiable activities in Schedule 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).

Common land uses which may cause contamination include service stations, cattle dips, tanneries, wood treatment sites, landfills, fuel storage and refuse tips.

Another type of contamination that affects some areas of Queensland is unexploded ordnance (UXO). UXO is ammunition such as artillery shells, mortar bombs and grenades that did not explode when used. In Queensland, most UXO is found on former training areas and firing ranges used by Australian and Allied Defence Forces, particularly during World War II. UXO may detonate if disturbed, causing a potential safety risk. Land affected by UXO requires specialised assessment and management procedures.

APPENDIX 6

List of Declared Plants in Queensland

List of Declared Plants Qld.pdf

pest series

Declared plants of Queensland

What is a declared plant? Class 2 Class 2 pests are established in Queensland and Pest plants targeted for control under state have, or could have, an adverse economic, legislation are species that have, or could have, environmental or social impact. The management serious economic, environmental or social impacts. of these pests requires coordination and they are Pest management legislation aims to help protect subject to local government-, community- or Queensland's economy, biodiversity and people's landowner-led programs. Landowners must take lifestyles by: reasonable steps to keep land free of Class 2 • preventing the introduction and establishment of pests. Other powers of the Act apply. new pest plants in Queensland Class 3 • preventing the spread of established pest plants into new areas Class 3 pests are established in Queensland and • and reducing the extent of existing infestations have, or could have, an adverse economic, where feasible. environmental or social impact. A pest control notice can only be issued for land that is, or is Declaration under the Land Protection (Pest and adjacent to, an environmentally significant area. Stock Route Management) Act 2002 imposes a Thus, the impact of species in this class is legal responsibility for control by all landowners primarily environmental. Only some of the other on land under their management. This includes all powers of the Act apply. landowning state agencies. Large landowning state agencies are also required to develop and It is illegal to sell a declared plant or its seed implement pest management plans. anywhere in Queensland without permission from the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines. Other than the above requirements, declaration does not mean that management of declared Species not declared under the Land Protection species becomes the responsibility of the state, (Pests and Stock Route Management) Act may still although the state may engage in supplemental be declared at a local government level under local publicity and awareness activities, research, laws. Species declared as Class 3 may be subject coordination of control activities, or assistance to local legal control outside environmentally with some pests in strategic areas. significant areas. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries Australia Reporting Class 1 Plants (AFFA) has complementary legislation to restrict the Please report the sale or presence of any Class 1 importation of potential weeds not yet found in plants to your local Department of Natural Australia. All plant nurseries and individuals should Resources and Mines Officer. Phone ensure they have an up-to-date list of declared 1 800 803 788 or 07 3227 7111 to be connected plants of Queensland and prohibited plants in to your nearest office. Prompt action by everyone Australia. will protect our agricultural industries, natural Declared plants are listed under three different resources and the environment from further categories. destruction by introduced plants. A maximum penalty of $60,000 applies to the Categories introduction of any Class 1 plant. Class 1 Declared plants list A Class 1 pest is not commonly present in Queensland and, if introduced, would cause an Plants in Queensland that are declared under adverse economic, environmental or social the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route impact. Class 1 pests established in Queensland Management) Act are listed alphabetically are subject to eradication from the state. below. Categories apply to the entire State Landowners must take reasonable steps to keep unless otherwise specified. land free of Class 1 pests. Other powers of the Act apply.

PP1 June 2003  The State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resources and Mines) 2003 QNRM01218 Produced by: Land Protection Author: Land Protection

• mesquites (Prosopis glandulosa, P. pallida and Class 1 Pest Plants P. velutina) • mother of millions (Bryophyllum delagoense and • acacias non-indigenous to Australia (Acacia spp. B. daigremontianum x B. delagoense; Syn. other than Acacia nilotica and Acacia farnesiana) Bryophyllum tubiflorum and B. daigremontianum • alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) x B. tubiflorum) • anchored water hyacinth (Eichhornia azurea) • parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) • badhara bush (Gmelina elliptica) • Parramatta grass (Sporobolus africanus) • bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. • parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) rotundata) • pond apple (Annona glabra) • bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) • prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica) • Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) • prickly pear (Opuntia spp. other than • Christ’s thorn (Ziziphus spina-christi) O. ficus-indica) • Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) • rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) • floating water chestnuts (Trapa spp.) • salvinia (Salvinia molesta) • gorse (Ulex europaeus) • sicklepods (Senna obtusifolia, Senna hirsuta and • honey locust (Gleditsia spp. including cultivars Senna tora) and varieties) • thunbergia (Thunbergia grandiflora) • horsetails (Equisetum spp.) • tobacco weed (Elephantopus mollis) • hygrophila (Hygrophila costata) • water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) • kochia (Kochia scoparia syn Bassia scoparia) • water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) • Koster’s curse (Clidemia hirta) • lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) • limnocharis (Limnocharis flava) Class 3 Pest Plants • Madras thorn (Pithecellobium dulce) • African fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) • mesquites (all Prosopis spp. and hybrids other • African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) than Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis pallida and • aristolochia or Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia Prosopis velutina) spp. other than native species) • miconia (Miconia spp.) • asparagus fern (Asparagus aethiopicus • mikania vine (Mikania spp.) ‘Sprengeri’, A. africanus and A. plumosus) • mimosa pigra (Mimosa pigra) • athel pine (Tamarix aphylla) • myrica (Myrica faya) • balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) • Peruvian primrose (Ludwigia peruviana) • blackberry (Rubus anglocandicans, Rubus • piper (Piper aduncum) fruticosus agg.) • red sesbania (Sesbania punicea) • broad-leaved pepper tree (Schinus • salvinias (Salvinia spp. other than S. molesta) terebinthifolius) • Senegal tea (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) • camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) • serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) • captain cook tree (Thevetia peruviana) • Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) • cat’s claw vine (Macfadyena unguis-cati) • thunbergia (Thunbergia annua, T. fragrans & • Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis) T. laurifolia) • harungana (Harungana madagascariensis) • water soldiers (Stratiotes aloides) • lantana (all species) (Lantana spp.) • willow (Salix spp. other than S. babylonica, • Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) S. x calodendron, S. x reichardtii and • pencil willow (Salix chilensis; syn. S. chilensis; syn. S. humboldtiana) S. humboldtiana) • witch weeds (Striga spp. other than native • privets (Ligustrum lucidum and L. sinense) species). • purple rubber vine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis) Class 2 Pest Plants • Singapore daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata) • yellow bells (Tecoma stans) • African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) • American rat’s tail grass (Sporobolus Note: Declaration of Class 3 species comes jacquemontii) into force on 1 November, 2003. • annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) This list is current at 1 July 2003, but new • bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) declarations of plants and/or changes in plant • cabomba (Cabomba spp.) declaration can occur at any time. • chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) • fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) • giant Parramatta grass (Sporobolus fertilis) Further information • giant rat’s tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis and Further information is available from weed S. natalensis) control/environmental staff at your local • giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa) government office or your local Department of • groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia) Natural Resources and Mines Land Protection • harrisia cactus (Eriocereus spp.) Officer: contact details available through • hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) 1800 803 788.

Find more NRM Facts at www.nrm.qld.gov.au and on While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this fact PrimeNotes CD-ROM (phone 1800 816 541 for purchase sheet, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines does not invite reliance details). upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based You can also find information on environmental weeds at on it. www.nrm.qld.gov.au/pests/environmental_weeds/weed_info_series.html

APPENDIX 7

EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Report

EPBC Act Protected Matters Report.pdf

EPBC Act Protected Matters Report

The following report documents results of a search conducted at the Department of Environment and Heritage website http://www.deh.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/index.html on a general polygon larger than the RTE EPM areas.

EPBC Act Protected Matters 17 February 2004 10:08 Report 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.ea.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/index.html

Search Type: Area Buffer: 0 km Coordinates: -27.675,151.1694, - 27.675,150.9222, - 28.075,150.9222, - 28.075,151.125, - 27.98055,151.125, - 27.98055,151.1694

Report Contents: Summary Details • Matters of NES • Other matters protected by the EPBC Act • Extra Information Caveat Acknowledgments

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.ea.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/guidelines/index.html. None World Heritage Properties: Wetlands of International 1 Significance: (Ramsar Sites) Commonwealth Marine Areas: None Threatened Ecological Communities: 1 Threatened Species: 21 Migratory Species: 5

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 be required for the Commonwealth or agencies proposing to take an action that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment anywhere.

Please note that the current dataset on Commonwealth land only includes Commonwealth reserves. Further information on Commonwealth land would need to be obtained from relevant sources including Commonwealth agencies, local agencies, and land tenure maps.

Commonwealth Lands: None A permit may be required for activities that may affect one or more of the following matters protected. Information on EPBC Act permit requirements and application forms can be found at http://www.ea.gov.au/epbc/permits/index.html.

Listed Marine Species: 4 Whales and Other Cetaceans: None Critical Habitats: None

Extra Information

This part of the report provides information that may also be relevant to the area you have nominated. Conservation Reserves: 2

Regional Forest Agreements: None

Details

Matters of National Environmental Significance

Wetlands of International Significance [ Dataset Information ] (Ramsar Sites) NARRAN LAKE NATURE RESERVE Within same catchment as Ramsar site Threatened Ecological Status Type of Presence Communities [ Dataset Information ] Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and Endangered Community known to occur within co-dominant) area

Threatened Species [ Dataset Status Type of Presence Information ] Birds Erythrotriorchis radiatus * Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Red Goshawk occur within area Geophaps scripta scripta Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Squatter Pigeon (southern) occur within area Rostratula australis Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Australian Painted Snipe occur within area Xanthomyza phrygia Endangered Species or species habitat may Regent Honeyeater occur within area Fishes Maccullochella peelii peelii Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Murray Cod, Cod, Goodoo occur within area Mammals Chalinolobus dwyeri Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Large-eared Pied Bat, Large Pied Bat occur within area Nyctophilus timoriensis (South-eastern form) Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Eastern Long-eared Bat occur within area Reptiles Anomalopus mackayi * Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Five-clawed Worm-skink; Long-legged Worm- occur within area skink Elseya belli Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Bell's Turtle, Namoi River Turtle occur within area Furina dunmalli * Vulnerable Species or species habitat may Dunmall's Snake occur within area Plants Acacia lauta Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Cadellia pentastylis Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Ooline occur within area Digitaria porrecta Endangered Species or species habitat likely to Finger Panic Grass occur within area Diuris sheaffiana Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Tricolour Diuris occur within area Eucalyptus virens Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Goodenia macbarronii Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Narrow Goodenia occur within area Homopholis belsonii Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area Macrozamia machinii Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Prostanthera sp. Dunmore (D.M.Gordon 84) Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Stemmacantha australis Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Austral Cornflower, Native Thistle occur within area Thesium australe Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to Austral Toadflax, Toadflax occur within area

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

Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act

Listed Marine Species [ Dataset Status Type of Presence Information ] Birds Gallinago hardwickii Listed - Species or species habitat may occur Latham's Snipe, Japanese Snipe overfly within area marine area Haliaeetus leucogaster * Listed Species or species habitat likely to White-bellied Sea-Eagle occur within area Hirundapus caudacutus Listed - Species or species habitat may occur White-throated Needletail overfly within area marine area Rostratula benghalensis s. lat. Listed - Species or species habitat may occur Painted Snipe overfly within area marine area

Extra Information

Conservation Reserves [ Dataset Information ] Bulli Scientific Area, QLD Wondul Range National Park, QLD

Caveat

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

This database 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 properties, Wetlands of International Importance, Commonwealth reserves, listed threatened, migratory and marine species and listed threatened ecological communities. It does not map Commonwealth areas 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 delineated. 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. 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 • cetaceans which are not listed as threatened • 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.

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.