WESTERN HUB RAIL LIN K FAUNA AND H A B I T A T ASSESSMENT Fortescue Metals Group Ltd COPYRIGHT STATEMENT FOR: Fortescue Metals Group Ltd Our Reference: 9085-3017-13R final rev 1 fauna Copyright © 1987-2014 Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 70 070 128 675 Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the whole or any part of this document may not be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner, Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd. This includes microcopying, photocopying or recording of any parts of the report. Direct all inquiries to: Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd 9 Stirling Highway • PO Box 50 NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159 Ph: (08) 9430 8955 Fax: (08) 9430 8977 Rev. Author Approved Date Draft rev 0 JS LA 26/09/2013 Final rev 1 JS BT 21/01/2015 9085- 3 0 1 7 - 13R FINAL REV 1 FAUN A 1 9 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 4 II TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.0 . Introduction .........................................................................................................................................10 1.1 .... Project Overview ...............................................................................................................................10 1.1.1 ....Study Area Location .......................................................................................................................10 1.2 .... Project Objectives .............................................................................................................................11 1.2.1 ....Relevant Legislation and Policies ..................................................................................................11 1.3 .... Previous Fauna and Habitat Surveys ................................................................................................11 2.0 . Existing Environment.........................................................................................................................14 2.1 .... Physical Environment ........................................................................................................................14 2.1.1 ....Climate ...........................................................................................................................................14 2.1.2 ....Geology ..........................................................................................................................................15 2.1.3 ....Land Systems .................................................................................................................................15 2.1.4 ....Drainage .........................................................................................................................................16 2.2 .... Biological Environment ......................................................................................................................16 2.2.1 ....Biogeographic Region ....................................................................................................................16 2.2.2 ....Flora and Vegetation ......................................................................................................................16 2.2.3 ....Fauna .............................................................................................................................................17 3.0 . Methods ...............................................................................................................................................22 3.1 .... Field survey .......................................................................................................................................22 3.2 .... Habitat Assessment ..........................................................................................................................22 3.3 .... Motion-Activated Cameras ................................................................................................................23 3.4 .... Bat Echolocation Call Recorders ......................................................................................................24 3.5 .... Opportunistic Observations ...............................................................................................................24 4.0 . Results .................................................................................................................................................25 4.1 .... Habitat Assessment ..........................................................................................................................25 4.1.1 ....Assessment Site details .................................................................................................................25 4.1.2 ....Habitat Types .................................................................................................................................25 4.1.3 ....Habitat condition .............................................................................................................................26 4.2 .... Motion-activated Cameras ................................................................................................................26 4.3 .... Bat Echolocation Calls ......................................................................................................................26 4.4 .... Opportunistic Observations ...............................................................................................................27 4.5 .... Limitations of Survey .........................................................................................................................30 5.0 . Discussion ..........................................................................................................................................31 5.1 .... Fauna Assemblage ...........................................................................................................................31 5.2 .... Significant Fauna Observed and Expected .......................................................................................31 5.3 .... Significance of Habitat .......................................................................................................................33 5.4 .... Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................34 References .................................................................................................................................................36 9085- 3 0 1 7 - 13R FINAL REV 1 FAUN A 1 9 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 4 III Maps ............................................................................................................................................................46 Appendix One: Definitions and Criteria ..................................................................................................51 Appendix Two: DEC Database Search Results ......................................................................................54 Appendix Three: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report ..........................................................................59 Appendix Four: NatureMap Search Results ...........................................................................................67 Appendix Five: Habitat Assessment Site Data .......................................................................................74 Appendix Six: Fauna Inventory ................................................................................................................88 Appendix Seven: Significant Species Profiles .......................................................................................97 Fishes ......................................................................................................................................................97 Mammals .....................................................................................................................................................97 Reptiles ....................................................................................................................................................103 Birds . ....................................................................................................................................................106 Appendix Eight: Echolocation Survey of Bat Activity (R.D. Bullen) ..................................................115 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Study area location .......................................................................................................................10 Figure 2: Monthly rainfall and daily maxima and minima for Wittenoom BoM station (BoM 2013) .............14 TABLE OF TABLES Table 1: Geological units within the study area ...........................................................................................15 Table 2: Descriptions of land types and systems occurring in the study area ............................................15 Table 3: Extent of land systems within the study area and regional representation