Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project SEIS Report for Offsite Infrastructure Ecological Assessment 31 October 2013 This Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project SEIS: Offiste Infrastructure Ecological Assessment (“the Report”) has been prepared by GHD Pty Ltd (“GHD”) on behalf of and for Adani Mining Pty Ltd (“Adani”) in accordance with an agreement between GHD and Adani. The Report may only be used and relied on by Adani for the purpose of informing environmental assessments and planning approvals for the proposed Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project (Purpose) and may not be used by, or relied on by any person other than Adani. The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing the Report were limited to those specifically detailed in Section 1.4 and 1.5 of the Report. The Report is based on conditions encountered and information reviewed, including assumptions made by GHD, at the time of preparing the Report. Assumptions made by GHD are contained through the Report and that the information provided to GHD is accurate. To the maximum extent permitted by law GHD expressly disclaims responsibility for or liability arising from: any error in, or omission in connection with assumptions, or reliance on the Report by a third party, or use of this Report other than for the Purpose. ii | GHD | Report for Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project SEIS – Offsite Infrastructure Ecological Assessment, 41/26422/03 Executive summary In March 2013, Adani Mining Pty Ltd (Adani) commissioned an assessment of terrestrial and aquatic ecological values within and adjacent to an area proposed for offsite infrastructure for the Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project (the Project). This assessment has been undertaken as part of a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to provide information on areas that were not assessed during the original EIS. Desktop and field surveys were undertaken within a 7187.2 ha area of investigation, referred herein as the ‘Study Area’, an area within Lot 662 on PH1491 east of the Project (Mine), encompassing the following proposed offsite infrastructure: Worker accommodation village and airport Industrial precinct including rail siding An off-stream storage and pump station near Belyando River 5 gigalitre (GL) storage dam This report presents a summary of the existing ecological values within the Study Area, based on the results of desktop and field investigations. An additional piece of infrastructure (Moray- Carmichael Road realignment) was added to the Project (Offsite) after field surveys were completed. Wherever possible, desktop information on that area has been incorporated in this report. The report also presents a review of potential impacts that construction and operation of the Project (Offsite) may have on the ecological values of the Study Area and outlines measures to manage and mitigate those potential impacts. Field surveys of the Study Area were undertaken between 28 April 2013 and 6 May 2013, coinciding with the late wet / early dry season. Flora and fauna surveys incorporated: 10 comprehensive and 49 rapid flora assessment sites 2 comprehensive and 38 rapid terrestrial fauna assessment sites 12 rapid aquatic (flora and fauna) assessment sites Additional targeted survey for threatened species including: – 23 hrs of dam watches and 2,016 hrs of remote camera to detect the black-throated finch (southern) (Poephila cincta cincta) – 320 km of driving transects, 23 hrs of dam watches and 2,016 hrs of remote camera to detect the squatter pigeon (southern) (Geophaps scripta scripta) – 21 hrs of diurnal active search and 24 hrs of nocturnal active search for brigalow associated reptiles: yakka skink (Egernia rugosa), ornamental snake (Denisonia maculata) A description of the existing terrestrial ecological values of the Study Area, based on the results of the desktop assessment and field studies is provided. The key findings from this terrestrial and aquatic ecological assessment are summarised below. GHD | Report for Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project SEIS – Offsite Infrastructure Ecological Assessment, 41/26422/03 | iii Study Area in the landscape The Study Area occurs in an agricultural landscape, where historic and current land use practices associated with cattle grazing have altered the extent, connectivity and ecological integrity of vegetation communities and the habitats they provide. Furthermore, disturbances associated with introduced plant and animal species are a feature of this agricultural landscape. The Project (Offsite) footprint has been located in a predominantly cleared landscape, which is subject to ongoing cattle grazing. Vegetation communities and fauna habitats at Study Area Remnant vegetation occurs over approximately 4.5 percent of the Study Area (approximately 322.5 ha of the 7187.2 ha). Where remnant vegetation occurs, an assortment of habitat resources are available for fauna, in contrast with surrounding areas that have been previously cleared. Seven broad vegetation communities were identified in the Study Area based on the particular vegetation communities and land forms present. A total of 14 field verified regional ecosystems (REs) were identified within the Study Area, 5 from the Desert Uplands bioregion and 9 from the Brigalow Belt bioregion. Cleared land dominates much of the Study Area. Remnant vegetation persists as isolated remnants in the floodplain between Eight Mile Creek and Obungeena Creek and in narrow fringes lining North Creek and Eight Mile Creek. These areas retain structural elements that provide habitat and resources for a variety of terrestrial and aquatic fauna. However, the ecological value of these remnants has been limited by past fragmentation and associated isolation and edge effects. A total of eight fauna habitat types were identified within the Study Area. Open cleared land was the most widespread fauna habitat type at the Study Area. Although lacking the structural complexity of other habitat types, this habitat retains foraging resources for a number of rangeland species. Fauna species diversity was higher in habitat types associated with remnant vegetation, where the structural complexity provided by remnant vegetation and ground-level substrates increases the diversity of resources and microhabitats available. A review of the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) mapping indicated that remnant vegetation within and surrounding the Study Area has low to moderate value for both ecosystem diversity and context and connection. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed threatened ecological community (TEC), Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant), was confirmed present within the Study Area during field surveys. Approximately 9.8 ha of this TEC was confirmed from the occurrence of REs 11.3.1 and 11.4.9 within the Study Area. None of this TEC occurs within the Project (Offsite) footprint. Approximately 9.8 ha of endangered REs (11.3.1, 11.4.9), 220.6 ha of of concern REs (11.3.3, 11.4.11, 11.4.5, 11.4.6) and 102.1 ha of least concern RE (10.3.28, 10.3.6, 10.5.5, 10.3.4, 10.3.3, 10.3.14, 11.3.25, 11.3.37, 10.4.5, 11.3.10) were confirmed present within the Study Area (based on field-verified RE mapping). Approximately 7.2 ha of least concern RE (10.3.6, 10.3.28, 10.5.5, 10.4.5, 11.3.25, 11.3.37) occurs within the Project (Offsite) footprint. No State mapped essential habitat occurs in the Study Area. iv | GHD | Report for Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project SEIS – Offsite Infrastructure Ecological Assessment, 41/26422/03 Flora species Field studies identified 172 native flora taxa and 28 introduced taxa in the Study Area. Of the 28 introduced species, 4 are declared Weeds of National Significance (WONS) and declared weeds under the Queensland Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route) Management Act 2002 (LP Act). No threatened flora species were recorded within the Study Area from field surveys. Aquatic flora and fauna species Field surveys identified 18 native fish species, 4 bivalve species, 1 crustacean species and 1 turtle species. A total of nine aquatic plants were identified. No threatened aquatic species were recorded within the Study Area. Terrestrial fauna species Field studies identified 155 native terrestrial fauna species and 5 introduced fauna. The majority of fauna species recorded from the Study Area were common, widely distributed species. Pest species recorded in low densities included the cane toad (Rhinella marina), wild dog (Canis lupus familiaris), cat (Felis catus), rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and pig (Sus scrofa). Threatened fauna species recorded in field surveys of the Study Area included: 3 EPBC Act listed species: – black-throated finch (southern) (Poephila cincta cincta) – endangered under the EPBC Act / NC Act – squatter pigeon (southern) (Geophaps scripta scripta) – vulnerable under the EPBC Act / NC Act – ornamental snake (Denisonia maculata) – vulnerable under the EPBC / NC Act 2 bird species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act 15 bird species listed as marine under the EPBC Act 5 NC Act listed fauna species (the 3 EPBC listed species above and: – Black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) – near threatened under the NC Act – Cotton pygmy goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) – near threatened under the NC Act Potential habitat occurring within and beyond the Study Area for these species was identified. Two additional EPBC Act listed fauna