Jigalong WWTP Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey December 2018 Prepared for Water Infrastructure Science & Engineering Report Reference: 21250-18-BISR-1Rev1_190219 This page has been left blank intentionally. Jigalong WWTP Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey Prepared for Water Infrastructure Science & Engineering Job Number: 21250-18 Reference: 21250-18-BISR-1Rev1_190219 Revision Status Rev Date Description Author(s) Reviewer G. Martinez A 16/01/2019 Draft Issued for Client Review J. Trainer J. Atkinson B. Jeans 0 13/02/2019 Final Issued to Client J. Trainer B. Lucas 1 19/02/2019 Final Issued to Client J. Trainer B. Lucas Approval Rev Date Issued to Authorised by Name Signature A 16/01/2019 T. Barton B. Lucas 0 13/02/2019 T. Barton B. Lucas 1 19/02/2019 G. Hughes B. Lucas © Copyright 2019 Astron Environmental Services Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. This document and information contained in it has been prepared by Astron Environmental Services under the terms and conditions of its contract with its client. The report is for the clients use only and may not be used, exploited, copied, duplicated or reproduced in any form or medium whatsoever without the prior written permission of Astron Environmental Services or its client. Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering Jigalong WWTP – Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey, December 2018 Abbreviations Abbreviation Definition Astron Astron Environmental Services DBCA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions EPA Environmental Protection Authority EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area GDA Geocentric Data of Australia GPS Global Positioning System ha Hectares IA International Agreement (Migratory) IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia km Kilometre MGA Map Grid of Australia mm Millimeters MNES Matters of National Environmental Significance P Priority PEC Priority ecological community sp. Species survey area The site of the proposed WWTP pond and adjoining corridor T Threatened TEC Threatened ecological community VU Vulnerable WAHerb Western Australian Herbarium WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 WISE Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering WoNS Weeds of National Significance WWTP Waste water treatment plant Page | ii Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering Jigalong WWTP – Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey, December 2018 Executive Summary The construction of infrastructure to support the sustainable treatment and disposal of waste water for the Jigalong Community is proposed. Astron Environmental Services was engaged by Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering to conduct a Reconnaissance flora and vegetation survey and a Level 1 fauna survey of a 9.7 ha area comprising the proposed plant site and a connecting corridor extending from the southern boundary of the town site. Three vegetation types were described and mapped for the survey area. All were representative of vegetation within the surrounding region. None of these vegetation associations represent a National or State listed threatened or priority ecological community. No environmentally sensitive areas were recorded. Twenty seven vascular flora species were recorded within the survey area. No National or State listed threatened flora species were located. One State listed priority flora species was observed: Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota P4. This species was recorded within the northern end of the survey corridor. Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota P4 is known to occur within four bioregions of Western Australia. The limited proposed disturbance footprint is unlikely to have a significant impact on the conservation status of this species. One introduced (weed) species was located within the survey area. *Cenchrus setiger (birdwood grass) is a relatively common and widespread weed in the region and is neither a declared pest or Weed of National Significance. The fauna assemblage and the fauna habitat types recorded within the survey area are considered common and widespread beyond the survey area in the region. The fauna habitats do not solely support any conservation significant species and similar habitats are adjacent to the survey area. No conservation significant fauna species were recorded in the survey area. Two conservation significant species were classified as having a ‘high’ likelihood of occurrence in the survey area: great desert skink and brush-tailed mulgara. No evidence of habitation was observed during the field assessment and these species are unlikely to be solely reliant upon the habitats present within the survey area. Page | iii Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering Jigalong WWTP – Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey, December 2018 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Scope of Work .................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Location of Project Area ..................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Land Use and Tenure .......................................................................................................... 1 2 Environmental Context .................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Physical Environment ......................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................ 3 2.1.2 Surface Water and Hydrology ..................................................................................... 3 2.2 Biological Environment ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1 Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia ................................................... 3 2.2.2 Land Systems ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2.3 Pre-European Vegetation ............................................................................................ 4 2.3 State and Commonwealth Conservation Categories and Management ............................ 4 2.4 Introduced Flora (Weeds)................................................................................................... 5 3 Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Desktop Assessment ........................................................................................................... 6 3.1.1 Database Searches ...................................................................................................... 6 3.1.2 Likelihood of Occurrence Assessment ........................................................................ 7 3.2 Field Survey ........................................................................................................................ 8 3.2.1 Flora and Vegetation Survey ....................................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Terrestrial Fauna ......................................................................................................... 9 3.2.3 Taxonomy and Nomenclature .................................................................................... 9 3.2.4 Limitations ................................................................................................................... 9 4 Results 10 4.1 Desktop Assessment ......................................................................................................... 10 4.1.1 Environmentally Sensitive Areas ............................................................................... 10 4.1.2 Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities ..................................................... 10 4.1.3 Conservation Significant Flora .................................................................................. 10 4.1.4 Conservation Significant Fauna ................................................................................. 10 Page | iv Water Infrastructure Science and Engineering Jigalong WWTP – Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey and Level 1 Fauna Survey, December 2018 4.2 Field Survey ...................................................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Seasonal Conditions .................................................................................................. 11 4.2.2 Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 11 4.2.2.1 Vegetation Types........................................................................................ 11 4.2.2.2 Vegetation Condition ................................................................................. 14 4.2.2.3 Conservation Significance of Vegetation ................................................... 14 4.2.3 Flora .........................................................................................................................