Enter Go back to contents S. AQUatIC ECOLOGY S Aquatic ecology Aquatic ecology assessment report Santos GLNG Gas Field Development Project AUGUST 2014 Prepared for Santos GLNG 32 Turbot Street Brisbane Q. 4000 42627287 Santos GLNG Gas Field Development Project - Aquatic ecology assessment report Project Manager: URS Australia Pty Ltd …………………………… 155A Hogan Street Robert Storrs Tatura VIC 3616 Principal Environmental PO Box 265, Tatura, VIC 3616 Scientist Australia T: 61 3 5824 6100 Principal-In-Charge: F: 61 3 5824 6150 …………………………… Chris Pigott Senior Principal Author: p.p ………………………… Heath Fidock Senior Aquatic Ecologist Reviewer: Date: August 2014 Reference: 42627287/AqE/2 p.p Status: Final …………………………… David Fuller Senior Principal Water and Catchments No use of the contents, concepts, designs, drawings, specifications, plans etc. included in this report is permitted unless and until they are the subject of a written contract between URS Australia and the addressee of this report. URS Australia accepts no liability of any kind for any unauthorised use of the contents of this report and URS Australia reserves the right to seek compensation for any such unauthorised use. Document delivery URS Australia provides this document in either printed format, electronic format or both. URS Australia considers the printed version to be binding. The electronic format is provided for the client’s convenience and URS Australia requests that the client ensures the integrity of this electronic information is maintained. Storage of this electronic information should at a minimum comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (Cth). j:\bne\42627287\5 works\05 eis technical studies\19. appendix s - aquatic ecology\14 post adequacy\santos_glng_gfd_project_eis_appendix_s_aquatic ecology_urs draft_clean.docx Santos GLNG Gas Field Development Project - Aquatic ecology assessment report Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................ vii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project overview ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 GFD Project infrastructure .............................................................................. 4 1.3 Description of GFD Project area ..................................................................... 5 2 Regulatory framework ............................................................................................ 8 2.1 Commonwealth legislation .............................................................................. 8 2.1.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ...................................... 8 2.2 State (Queensland) legislation and policies ................................................... 8 2.2.1 Environmental Protection Act ........................................................................................ 8 2.2.2 Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 ............................................................. 9 2.2.3 Fisheries Act 1994 ........................................................................................................... 9 2.2.4 Fisheries Regulation 2008.............................................................................................10 2.2.5 Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 ..............................10 2.2.6 Nature Conservation Act 1992 ......................................................................................10 2.2.7 Water Act 2000 ...............................................................................................................11 2.2.8 State Planning Policy ....................................................................................................11 2.3 Santos GLNG policy framework .................................................................... 13 2.3.1 Post-EIS field planning process ...................................................................................14 3 Methodology of assessment ............................................................................... 16 3.1 Scope of assessment ..................................................................................... 16 3.2 Description of the existing aquatic environmental values .......................... 16 3.2.1 Field data ........................................................................................................................18 3.2.2 Boggomoss snail survey ..............................................................................................18 3.2.3 Characterisation of catchments ...................................................................................18 3.3 Impact assessment and mitigation ............................................................... 18 4 Description of existing environment................................................................... 19 4.1 Dawson River catchment ............................................................................... 19 4.1.1 Aquatic habitat ...............................................................................................................19 4.1.2 Aquatic flora ...................................................................................................................24 4.1.3 Macroinvertebrates ........................................................................................................24 42627287/AqE/2 i Santos GLNG Gas Field Development Project - Aquatic ecology assessment report Table of Contents 4.1.4 Fish ..................................................................................................................................26 4.1.5 Turtles .............................................................................................................................28 4.1.6 Other aquatic vertebrates .............................................................................................28 4.1.7 Springs ............................................................................................................................29 4.2 Comet River catchment ................................................................................. 31 4.2.1 Aquatic habitat ...............................................................................................................31 4.2.2 Aquatic flora ...................................................................................................................35 4.2.3 Macroinvertebrates ........................................................................................................35 4.2.4 Fish ..................................................................................................................................36 4.2.5 Turtles .............................................................................................................................38 4.2.6 Springs ............................................................................................................................38 4.3 Condamine-Balonne River catchment .......................................................... 39 4.3.1 Aquatic habitat ...............................................................................................................39 4.3.2 Aquatic flora ...................................................................................................................43 4.3.3 Macroinvertebrates ........................................................................................................45 4.3.4 Fish ..................................................................................................................................46 4.3.5 Turtles .............................................................................................................................48 4.3.6 Springs ............................................................................................................................49 4.4 Summary of aquatic environmental values .................................................. 49 4.4.1 Conservation significant species and ecological communities ...............................49 4.4.2 Watercourses .................................................................................................................50 4.4.3 Wetlands and springs ....................................................................................................51 4.4.4 Aquatic environmental values ......................................................................................52 5 Impact assessment and mitigation ..................................................................... 54 5.1 Impact assessment methodology ................................................................. 54 5.2 Potential impacts on aquatic ecology values ............................................... 56 5.3 Management framework ................................................................................ 59 5.4 Residual impact significance ........................................................................ 62 5.5 Residual impacts ............................................................................................ 71 5.6 Cumulative impacts ....................................................................................... 71 5.6.1 Springs of interest .........................................................................................................72