Clearing Permit Decision Report 1. Application details 1.1. Permit application details Permit application No.: 9200/1 Permit type: Purpose Permit 1.2. Proponent details Proponent’s name: Montague Resources Australia Pty Ltd 1.3. Property details Property: Exploration Licence 77/1582 Local Government Area: Shire of Yilgarn Colloquial name: 1.4. Application Clearing Area (ha) No. Trees Method of Clearing For the purpose of: 1.6 Mechanical Removal Mineral Exploration 1.5. Decision on application Decision on Permit Application: Grant Decision Date: 29 March 2021 2. Site Information 2.1. Existing environment and information 2.1.1. Description of the native vegetation under application Vegetation Description The vegetation of the application area is broadly mapped as the following Beard vegetation association: 1413: Shrublands; acacia, casuarina & melaleuca thicket (GIS Database). A detailed flora and vegetation survey was conducted over the application area by AECOM during November, 2019. The following vegetation associations were recorded within the application area (AECOM, 2019): Mallee Woodland (EeMcDh): Eucalyptus eremophila, Eucalyptus capillosa subsp. polyclada and Eucalyptus incrassata low open woodland over Melaleuca cordata, Olearia sp. eremicola and Acacia assimilis subsp. assimilis mid shrubland over Drummondita hassellii, Gastrolobium floribundum and Hakea meisneriana low open shrubland. Melaleuca Shrubland (GeMhMc): Grevillea excelsior, Santalum acuminatum and Eucalyptus sp. (sterile) low open woodland over Melaleuca hamata, Allocasuarina spinosissima and Exocarpos aphyllus mid shrubland over Melaleuca calyptroides, Hibbertia stowardii and Drummondita hassellii low open shrubland. Mallee Woodland (EpAhAh): Eucalyptus pileata, Eucalyptus eremophila and Eucalyptus prolixa low woodland over Acacia hemiteles, Melaleuca halmaturorum and Exocarpos aphyllus mid sparse shrubland over Acacia hystrix subsp. hystrix, Daviesia argillacea and Microcybe multiflora subsp. multiflora low shrubland. Clearing Description Montague Resources Australia Pty Ltd proposes to clear up to 1.6 hectares of native vegetation within a boundary of approximately 32.139 hectares, for the purpose of mineral exploration. The project is located approximately 75 kilometres south-southeast of Southern Cross, within the Shire of Yilgarn. Vegetation Condition Pristine: No obvious signs of disturbance (Keighery, 1994). To Degraded: Structure severely disturbed; regeneration to good condition requires intensive management (Keighery, 1994). Comment The vegetation condition was derived from a vegetation survey conducted by AECOM (2019). 3. Assessment of application against Clearing Principles (a) Native vegetation should not be cleared if it comprises a high level of biodiversity. Comments Proposal is not likely to be at variance to this Principle The application area is located within the Southern Cross sub-region of the Coolgardie Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) bioregion (GIS Database). The Southern Cross subregion consists of Page 1 diverse Eucalyptus woodlands (Eucalyptus salmonophloia, E. salubris, E. transcontinentalis, E. longicornis) and is rich in endemic eucalypts which occur around salt lakes, on low greenstone hills, valley alluvials and broad plains of calcareous earths (CALM, 2002). The proposal is located wholly within the Jilbadji (‘C’ Class) Nature Reserve which is an area of approximately 200,000 hectares (GIS Database). The environmental values of the Jilbadji Nature Reserve include; large reserve size, importance as a fauna refugia site, high diversity of fauna species and flora species endemism. The Jilbadji Nature Reserve is a significant area in maintaining existing ecological processes at a regional scale. It is substantially larger than the average reserve area in the Wheatbelt of 114 hectares and therefore is a potentially important refugium for many species, including invertebrates and smaller vertebrates (DAWE, 2021). The Nature Reserve also supports a very high diversity of reptiles, with 38 species, and a high diversity of native mammal species, with 15 species (DAWE, 2021). There are no Threatened Ecological Communities, Priority Ecological Communities, or Threatened flora within the application area (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021; GIS Database). Five Priority flora species have been identified during the boarder flora survey (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021): Acacia lachnocarpa – Priority 1; Microcorys elatoides – Priority 1; Microcorys aff. obovata – Priority 1; Verticordia stenopetala – Priority 3; and Calamphoreus inflatus – Priority 4. Acacia lachnocarpa, Microcorys aff. obovata and Calamphoreus inflatus are all outside of the proposed disturbance areas. There are 27 Verticordia stenopetala within five metres of the proposed access track along the northern most part of the application area. AECOM (2019) identified 392 individuals of Verticordia stenopetala so the maximum potential impact to the tenement population is 6%. There are 71 Microcorys elatoides recorded within five metres of the proposed access track, and based on mapping undertaken by Montague Resources Australia Pty Ltd, the maximum potentially to be impacted would be 15 individuals. As 751 individuals have been identified, the maximum local impact would be 9%. Montague Resources Australia Pty Ltd are currently in the final stages of developing a Conservation Management Plan, and have committed to flagging all Priority flora prior to operations commencing and avoiding where possible (Blueprint, 2021). No introduced flora species were recorded within the application area (Blueprint, 2021). Weeds have the potential to out-compete native flora and reduce the biodiversity of an area. Potential impacts to biodiversity as a result of the proposed clearing may be minimised by the implementation of a weed management condition. Two fauna habitats are present within the application area: ‘Shrubland’ and ‘Mallee Woodland.’ Both these fauna habitats are well represented in the local and regional area (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021). Based on the small scale of clearing and the low impact nature of the proposed activities, it is unlikely that the proposed clearing will significantly impact on indigenous fauna species or their faunal habitat. The vegetation associations, fauna habitats and landform types present within the application area, are well represented in surrounding areas (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021; GIS Database). The application area is unlikely to represent an area of higher biodiversity than surrounding areas, in either a local or regional context. Based on the above, the proposed clearing is not likely to be at variance to this Principle. Methodology AECOM (2019) Blueprint (2021) CALM (2002) DAWE (2021) GIS Database: - IBRA Australia - Pre-European Vegetation - Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities Boundaries - Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities Buffers - Threatened and Priority Flora - Threatened Fauna Page 2 (b) Native vegetation should not be cleared if it comprises the whole or a part of, or is necessary for the maintenance of, a significant habitat for fauna. Comments Proposal may be at variance to this Principle A Vertebrate Fauna Survey was completed over the project tenement comprising a desktop assessment and field survey on 30 and 31 October 2019 (AECOM 2020). The following two fauna habitats have been recorded within the application area (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021): Shrubland – Open shrubland with emergent Eucalypts and Grevillea on white to yellow sandy loam and clay with ferruginous gravel and some fallen timber and leaf litter. Small logs common, no large logs and no hollows because of recent fire. Mallee Woodland – Low open Eucalyptus woodland over open Acacia shrubland. Understorey of emergent shrubs scattered throughout bare sandy loam and clay soils with ferruginous gravel, scattered with fallen timber and small logs. No conservation significant fauna have been identified within the application area, however, three species of conservation significance have been identified as potentially occurring within the broader survey area (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021): Leipoa ocellata (Malleefowl – Vulnerable); Dasyurus geoffroyii (Chuditch – Vulnerable); and Macropus Irma (Western Brush Wallaby – Priority 4). Suitable habitat for Malleefowl was identified in the broader survey area (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021), however, no Malleefowl mounds were recorded during the fauna survey. The fauna survey confirmed a very small amount of breeding and foraging habitat may be impacted if tree and shrubland vegetation is removed (AECOM, 2019). It is unlikely that the small amount of clearing needed for the proposal would have a significant impact on Malleefowl individuals or habitat. A large amount of similar habitat is also located nearby and in surrounding areas (AECOM, 2019). The proposed clearing is not expected to significantly impact this species due to the small size and linear nature of the proposed clearing, short term nature of the exploration activities and rehabilitation being undertaken within six months. A Conservation Management Plan is also being developed to assist in minimising potential impacts (Blueprint, 2021). Chuditch currently only occur in areas dominated by sclerophyll forest or drier woodland, heath and mallee shrubland (AECOM, 2019; Blueprint, 2021). No Chuditch or indirect evidence of this species was observed, however, there are numerous records of Chuditch in the area