WESTERN HUB RAIL LINK LEVEL 2 FLORA AND VEGETATION SURVEY Fortescue Metals Group Ltd COPYRIGHT STATEMENT FOR: Western Hub Rail Link Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Survey Our Reference: 9049-3017-13R final rev 0 flora 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 SK, LA BT August 2013 Final rev 0 SK, LA BT October 2014 9049-3017-13R FINAL REV 0 FLORA 29/10/2014 II TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................................1 Acronyms and Abbreviations .....................................................................................................................2 Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................3 1.0 . Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................4 1.1 ... Project Overview .................................................................................................................................4 1.1.1 .... Survey Area Location .......................................................................................................................4 1.2 ... Project Objectives ...............................................................................................................................6 1.2.1 .... Relevant Legislation .........................................................................................................................6 1.3 ... Previous Botanical Surveys .................................................................................................................6 2.0 . Existing Environment ...........................................................................................................................8 2.1 ... Physical Environment ..........................................................................................................................8 2.1.1 .... Climate .............................................................................................................................................8 2.1.2 .... Geology ............................................................................................................................................9 2.1.1 .... Land Systems ...................................................................................................................................9 2.1.1 .... Drainage .........................................................................................................................................10 2.2 ... Biological Environment ......................................................................................................................10 2.2.1 .... Biogeographic Region ....................................................................................................................10 2.2.2 .... Flora ...............................................................................................................................................10 2.2.3 .... Vegetation and Ecological Communities ........................................................................................12 3.0 . Methods ...............................................................................................................................................17 3.1 ... Flora and Vegetation Assessment ....................................................................................................17 3.1.1 .... Field Survey ...................................................................................................................................17 3.2 ... Flora and Vegetation Significance.....................................................................................................20 3.2.1 .... Survey Area Floristic Analysis ........................................................................................................20 3.2.2 .... Local and Regional Vegetation Significance ..................................................................................21 3.3 ... Adequacy of Sampling ......................................................................................................................22 4.0 . Results .................................................................................................................................................23 4.1 ... Flora Survey ......................................................................................................................................23 4.1.1 .... Flora Inventory ...............................................................................................................................23 4.1.2 .... Conservation Significant Flora .......................................................................................................24 4.1.3 .... Undescribed (New) Species ...........................................................................................................27 4.1.4 .... Introduced Flora .............................................................................................................................27 4.2 ... Vegetation Assessment .....................................................................................................................34 4.2.1 .... Vegetation Types ...........................................................................................................................34 4.2.2 .... Conservation Significance of Vegetation Types ............................................................................55 4.2.3 .... Vegetation Condition ......................................................................................................................56 4.3 ... Survey Area Floristic Analysis ...........................................................................................................57 4.4 ... Adequacy of Sampling ......................................................................................................................57 4.5 ... Survey Timing and Botanical Limitations ..........................................................................................59 4.5.1 .... Field Survey Timing ........................................................................................................................59 9049-3017-13R FINAL REV 0 FLORA 29/10/2014 III 5.0 . Discussion ..........................................................................................................................................62 5.1 ... Flora Significance ..............................................................................................................................62 5.1.1 .... Conservation Significant Flora .......................................................................................................62 5.1.2 .... Introduced Species .........................................................................................................................63 5.2 ... Vegetation Significance .....................................................................................................................64 5.2.1 .... Vegetation Types ...........................................................................................................................64 5.2.2 .... Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities ..........................................................................64 5.2.3 .... Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems ...........................................................................................64 5.2.4 .... Sheet Flow Dependent Ecosystems ..............................................................................................64 5.2.5 .... Regional Vegetation Significance ..................................................................................................64 5.3 ... Vegetation Condition .........................................................................................................................65 5.4 ... Summary Conclusion ........................................................................................................................66 References .................................................................................................................................................67 Maps ............................................................................................................................................................73 Appendix One: Definitions and Criteria ..................................................................................................82 Appendix Two: DPaW Database Search Results ...................................................................................90 Appendix Three: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report ..........................................................................94 Appendix Four: NatureMap Search Results