Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd November 2018 Final Report Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd Final Report Authors: Ryan Ellis, Grant Wells, Jarrad Clark Reviewer: Karen Crews Date: 20 November 2018 Submitted to: Phil Scott (Preston Consulting) ©Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 2018 The use of this report is solely for the Client for the purpose in which it was prepared. Phoenix Environmental Sciences accepts no responsibility for use beyond this purpose. All rights are reserved and no part of this report may be reproduced or copied in any form without the written permission of Phoenix Environmental Sciences or the Client. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 1/511 Wanneroo Rd BALCATTA WA 6021 P: 08 6323 5410 E: [email protected] Project code: 1211-ESP-LI-ECO Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd i Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Leichardt Industrials Pty Ltd (Leichardt) is investigating the feasibility of developing the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project (the Project). The Project aims to develop high purity industrial grade sodium chloride salt from seawater via a solar evaporation, crystallisation and raw salt purification operation. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd was commissioned by Preston Consulting on behalf of Leichardt to undertake a desktop study and site reconnaissance to inform the Project’s pre-feasibility study. In relation to terrestrial flora and fauna, the desktop study and site reconnaissance aimed to: • identify the key environmental values of the Project area and surrounds • provide field-validation of the desktop data/review results • identify any environmentally significant areas. The review included interrogation of several State and Federal databases, as well as a review of scientific publications and relevant biological survey reports and encompassed: • flora and vegetation • terrestrial fauna (vertebrate and short-range endemic invertebrates) • subterranean fauna • aquatic invertebrate fauna. Key Environmental Values No nature reserves, conservation reserves or national parks occur within the study area or immediately adjacent. An area set aside for conservation of the Priority Ecological Community (PEC)(Priority 3 PEC, Horseflat land system of the Roebourne Plains) partially intersects the study area, but it is unlikely that there will be any direct overlap with planned infrastructure. The desktop review and reconnaissance survey did not identify the presence of any: • Threatened Flora listed as Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) • Protected (Threatened) Flora listed under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act) • Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) listed as MNES under the EPBC Act • TECs listed by the WA Minister for the Environment. The desktop review and reconnaissance survey has identified the possible occurrence within the study area of: • 11 Priority flora listed under the WC Act • A PEC (Priority 3 PEC, Horseflat land system of the Roebourne Plains) listed under the WC Act • A potential area of the Priority 3 PEC, Coastal dune tussock grassland dominated by Whiteochloa airoides. A preliminary survey of an area mapped as the Priority 3 PEC, Coastal dune tussock grassland dominated by Whiteochloa airoides, determined that the immediate area was not representative of the PEC; however, further survey within this vicinity is recommended to ensure this initial assessment is validated. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ii Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd The desktop review and reconnaissance survey assessed the possible occurrence within the study area of the following significant fauna and fauna habitat: • Threatened Fauna listed as MNES under the EPBC Act • Protected (Threatened) Fauna listed under the WC Act1 • Priority Fauna listed by DBCA • Species listed as Migratory under international agreements and recognised under the EPBC Act and/or WC Act, particularly migratory shorebirds • Short-range endemic (SRE) fauna. The results indicate that: • Of the broad fauna habitats identified during the site visit, the intertidal zone, comprising of beach, intertidal mudflat and mangrove habitats, are most likely to support species of conservation significance • 76 significant fauna species or subspecies potentially occurring within the study area. Of these listed species, the following were of note in that there was suitable habitat for: o A range of migratory shorebirds, five species of marine turtles, the North-western Free-tailed Bat (P1). o Potentially suitable habitat for Night Parrot (CR) and Bilby (VU). • No obvious SRE habitat (restricted habitats, rocky outcrops, wetlands) noted • Regionally, stygofauna and troglofauna are noted to occur no local records are available. Results The desktop review identified 76 significant fauna species or subspecies as potentially occurring within the study area. Based on the results of the reconnaissance survey, several migratory shorebirds, marine turtles and a few significant terrestrial species are likely to occur. Several other significant species were considered unlikely to occur within the study area due to the lack of suitable habitat. Habitat assessments could not be undertaken in some areas due to difficult access conditions, particularly central areas and the western portion of the study area, including shoreline areas. A Level 1 fauna survey will need to be undertaken across the entire study area to accurately assess the likelihood of occurrence of conservation significant species returned in the desktop review and confirm the targeted fauna survey scope. Targeted surveys are likely to be required for several migratory shorebird species, five species of marine turtles, the North-western Free-tailed Bat (P1) and potentially Night Parrot (CR) and Bilby (VU), pending results of a Level 1 survey. While no obvious SRE habitat (restricted habitats, rocky outcrops, wetlands) was identified in the site visit the whole study area was not accessible. However, given the multitude of SRE species records within or in close proximity to the study area, as well as many more south and west Cape Preston and east of the study area, near Karratha, including many that appear to be from habitats that occur within the study area, a Level 2 SRE survey is likely to be warranted. With regards to subterranean fauna, most lithologies within the Pilbara have the potential to support stygofauna and troglofauna. While limited sampling of coastal alluvial and colluvial substrates between the Fortescue and Maitland Rivers have been undertaken, particularly east of Cape Preston, it is clear that the Port Hedland Coast and Fortescue Basins support a diverse stygofauna assemblage. Within these basins, the stygofauna are often found across multiple creek systems, but their distribution is often long and narrow and therefore strictly speaking, adhere to the definition of SREs. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd iii Environmental desktop review and reconnaissance site visit for the Eramurra Industrial Salt Project Prepared for Leichhardt Industrials Pty Ltd Both troglofauna and stygofauna were found to be widely distributed within the iron ore deposits of the Cape Preston Iron Ore Precinct. The groundwater within the study area is likely to be fresh and therefore stygofauna are likely to be present within the alluvial and colluvial aquifers, however they are considered unlikely to be range restricted due to the nature of the aquifer. Stygofauna are considered likely to be absent from the estuarine and delta deposits and Monzogranite deposits. Depending on (fresh) water requirements for the Project, a pilot study that incorporates sampling outside of the study area is likely to be required in order to demonstrate widespread occurrence. Due to nature of the Project, troglofauna are considered unlikely to be a factor in the assessment and should not require sampling. Aquatic invertebrates are most likely to be of marine origin within the study area and at this stage are not expected to be required to be surveyed, including with respect to those associated with the algal mats. In summary, potential risks to the Project with the greatest degree of uncertainty, concern the migratory shorebirds and potential ecological value of habitats within the study area to them. Environmentally Significant Areas In summary, the key areas of environmental significance that may warrant consideration in design phase to avoid or minimise impacts upon are likely to be: • Of the broad fauna habitats identified during the site visit, the intertidal zone, comprising of beach, intertidal mudflat and mangrove habitats, are most likely to support species of conservation significance. This includes migratory shorebirds habitat. Targeted survey work is required to determine numbers and usage, and potential ecological value of habitats within the study area to them. •