Initial Advice Statement South of The Embley Project for Rio Tinto Alcan November 2008 + Initial Advice Statement South of the Embley Project This report has been prepared solely for the benefit of RIO TINTO ALCAN. Matrixplus Consulting Pty Limited accepts no liability for the use or interpretation of any information contained in this report for any other purpose other than intended, or for its use by any party other than the above named Client. Document History and Status Issue Revision Issued to Qty Date Reviewed by 1 Final November 08 Alan Irving 1 3/11/08 Randal Hinz Matrix+ Project Delivery System Printed: 3 November 2008 Last saved: 3 November 2008 File Name: matrixplus_soe_ias_20081103.doc Project Manager: Annemarie Skelly Name of Organisation: Matrixplus Name of Project: South of the Embley Project Name of Document: Initial Advice Statement Document Version: Final November 08 Project Number: RTA701 Matrixplus Level 4, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000 PO Box 10502, Adelaide St Post Office, Brisbane 4001 P:\Projects\RTA\RTA701_South_Embley_EIS\WIP\IAS\Final_Rev_3\Matrixplus_SoE_IAS_20081103.doc Initial Advice Statement South of the Embley Project TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 BACKGROUND..............................................................................................................................2 1.2 THE PROPONENT ..........................................................................................................................2 1.3 PURPOSE AND SCOPE .....................................................................................................................2 2 THE PROPOSAL ....................................................................................................................5 2.1 LOCATION..................................................................................................................................5 2.2 PROJECT SITE .............................................................................................................................5 2.3 PROJECT DETAILS.........................................................................................................................5 2.4 ALTERNATIVES.............................................................................................................................6 2.5 TIMEFRAME ................................................................................................................................6 2.6 WORKFORCE...............................................................................................................................6 2.7 TENEMENTS AND TENURE ................................................................................................................7 2.8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS .............................................................................................................7 2.9 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................................................7 3 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS........................................................ 12 3.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................12 3.2 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................................12 3.3 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................................12 3.4 SOILS.....................................................................................................................................12 3.4.1 Existing Soils..........................................................................................................................12 3.4.2 Potential Impacts on Soils........................................................................................................12 3.5 LAND USE................................................................................................................................14 3.6 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY ................................................................................................................14 3.6.1 Regional Ecosystems...............................................................................................................14 3.6.2 Flora.....................................................................................................................................16 3.6.2.1 Flora Mapping and Diversity.....................................................................................................16 3.6.2.2 Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare Flora (EVR)...............................................................................16 3.6.3 Fauna...................................................................................................................................18 3.6.4 Fauna Communities ................................................................................................................18 3.6.4.1 EVR Fauna.............................................................................................................................18 3.6.4.2 Pest and Introduced Fauna ......................................................................................................19 3.6.5 Potential Impacts on Terrestrial Ecology.....................................................................................20 3.7 FRESHWATER ECOLOGY ................................................................................................................20 3.7.1 Habitats ................................................................................................................................20 3.7.2 Fauna Communities ................................................................................................................20 3.7.3 EVR Fauna.............................................................................................................................21 3.7.4 Other Fauna ..........................................................................................................................21 3.7.5 Potential Impacts on Aquatic Ecology ........................................................................................21 3.8 MARINE ECOLOGY.......................................................................................................................22 P:\Projects\RTA\RTA701_South_Embley_EIS\WIP\IAS\Final_Rev_3\Matrixplus_SoE_IAS_20081103.doc Page TOC i Initial Advice Statement South of the Embley Project 3.8.1 Marine Sediments...................................................................................................................22 3.8.2 Marine Habitats......................................................................................................................22 3.8.2.1 Fish Assemblages ...................................................................................................................23 3.8.2.2 Prawns..................................................................................................................................23 3.8.2.3 Macrobenthic Infaunal Assemblages..........................................................................................23 3.8.2.4 Marine Turtles........................................................................................................................23 3.8.2.5 Dugongs ...............................................................................................................................25 3.8.2.6 Dolphins and Whales...............................................................................................................25 3.8.2.7 Sawfish.................................................................................................................................25 3.8.2.8 Sea Snakes............................................................................................................................25 3.8.3 Fishery Resources...................................................................................................................25 3.8.4 Potential Impacts on Marine Ecology .........................................................................................26 3.9 COASTAL PROCESSES ...................................................................................................................27 3.10 HYDROLOGY .............................................................................................................................27 3.10.1 Existing Hydrology..................................................................................................................27 3.10.2 Potential Impacts on Hydrology ................................................................................................28 3.11 HYDROGEOLOGY ........................................................................................................................28 3.11.1 Potential Impacts on Hydrogeology ...........................................................................................28 3.12 WATER QUALITY ........................................................................................................................28