Department of Defence

2 April 2012

Cultana Training Area Expansion

Public Environment Report

AECOM

Cultana Training Area Expansion - Public Environment Report

2 April 2012

Cultana Training Area Expansion

Public Environment Report

Prepared for

Department of Defence

Prepared by

AECOM Australia Pty Ltd

Suite 3, 17 Lindsay Street, Darwin NT 0800, GPO Box 3175, Darwin NT 0801, Australia

T +61 8 8981 2698 F +61 8 8981 4565 www.aecom.com

ABN 20 093 846 925

2 April 2012

60162130

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AECOM

Cultana Training Area Expansion - Public Environment Report

2 April 2012

Quality Information

Document Cultana Training Area Expansion

Ref 60162130

Date 2 April 2012

Prepared by Abe Francis, Nicole Conroy, Vanessa Yeomans, James Matthew and Jeni Young

Reviewed by Matt MacFarlane

Revision History

Revision Revision Date Details

Authorised

Name/Position Signature

A 4-Mar-2011 Draft for Review Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

B 30-May-2011 Second Draft for Review Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

C 21-Jun-2011 Final Draft for Review Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

D 28-Jun-2011 Draft PER for DSEWPaC

review

Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

E 16-Sep-2011 Second Draft for DSEWPaC

review

Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

F 11-Oct-2011 Third Draft for DSEWPaC

review

Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

G 30-Mar-2012 Final for DSEWPaC review Abe Francis

Principal

Environmental

Scientist

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Table of Contents

Glossary of Terms i List of Acronyms iii Executive Summary v 1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Project Title and Proponent 1 1.2 PER Structure 1 1.3 Implications under the EPBC Act 2 1.4 Objective of the PER 3 1.5 Project Description and Objectives 3 1.6 Location of the Cultana Expansion Area 3 1.7 Project Status and Timeframe 4

2.0 Background to the Project 11 2.1 Project Context 11 2.2 Project Justification and Need 11 2.3 Consequences of Not Proceeding with the Action 12 2.4 Alternatives to the Project 12 2.5 Consultation 13

2.5.1 Previous consultation 14 2.5.2 PER Consultation 16

3.0 Other Approvals and Conditions 17 3.1 Commonwealth Matters 17

3.1.1 EPBC Act 17 3.1.2 Defence Approval 18

3.2 State Matters 18 3.2.1 State Legislation 18

3.3 Local Matters 19 3.3.1 Whyalla (City) Development Plan 20 3.3.2 Port Augusta (City) Development Plan 20 3.3.3 Land Not Within a Council Area (Eyre, Far North, Riverland and Whyalla)

Development Plan 23 3.4 Other Matters 24

3.4.1 Indigenous Cultural Heritage Clearance 24 3.4.2 Airspace Change 24

4.0 Description of the Project 25 4.1 Acquisition and Development 25

4.1.1 Land Acquisition 25 4.1.2 Decommissioning Existing Infrastructure 25 4.1.3 Infrastructure Development 26

4.2 Training Activities 28 4.2.1 Range of training activities 28 4.2.2 Training Intensity 29 4.2.3 Description of Training Activities 30

4.3 Equipment 35 4.4 Maintenance and Management 44

5.0 Defence Environmental Management 45 5.1 Defence Environmental Policy 46 5.2 Defence Environmental Strategic Plan 47 5.3 Defence Environmental Management System 47 5.4 Defence National Policies and Guidelines 48

5.4.1 Biosecurity and Overabundant Native Species (BONS) Guidelines 48 5.4.2 Defence Climate Change Policy 48 5.4.3 Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy 49 5.4.4 Waste Minimisation Policy 49 5.4.5 Contaminated Land Management Strategy 50 5.4.6 Training Area Sustainability Monitoring and Reporting Policy 50

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5.5 Environmental Management Sub-plans 51 5.6 Defence Environmental Impact Assessment Process 54 5.7 Environmental Control Mechanisms 54

5.7.1 Defence Instructions 54 5.7.2 Range Standing Orders 55 5.7.3 Standard Operating Procedures 55 5.7.4 Environmental Clearance Certificates 55 5.7.5 Training Area Safety and Management Information System 56 5.7.6 Restricted Areas 56

5.8 Review and Continual Improvement 56 5.9 Environmental Monitoring and Reporting 57

5.9.1 Environmental Performance Reporting Framework 57 5.9.2 Defence Environmental Reporting of Incidents and Complaints 57 5.9.3 External Reporting 57 5.9.4 Sustainability Monitoring and Reporting Plan 57

5.10 Rehabilitation and Reinstatement 60 5.10.1 Land Rehabilitation 61 5.10.2 Contaminated Land Remediation 61

5.11 Environmental Management Resources and Education 61 5.11.1 Environmental Advisory Committee 61 5.11.2 Site Environment Officers 62 5.11.3 Range Control Officer 62 5.11.4 Induction and Awareness 62

6.0 Existing Environment 63 6.1 Climate 63

6.1.1 Local Climate 63 6.1.2 Climate Change 65

6.2 Land Systems 65 6.3 Topography and Relief 69 6.4 Geology 73 6.5 Soils and Erodibility 77 6.6 Groundwater and Surface Water Drainage Characteristics 81

6.6.1 Groundwater Characteristics 81 6.6.2 Surface Water Characteristics 87 6.6.3 Characteristics and Environmental Values of Receiving Water and Drainage

Systems 87 6.6.4 Present Uses and Users of Surface Water and Groundwater 88

6.7 Vegetation and Flora 89 6.7.1 Vegetation Field Surveys 89 6.7.2 Significant Flora that may potentially occur in the CEA 99 6.7.3 Significant Vegetation Communities that may potentially occur in the CEA 103

6.8 Native Fauna and Fauna Habitat 109 6.8.1 Fauna and Fauna Habitat Field Surveys 109 6.8.2 Significant Fauna that may potentially occur in the CEA 111 6.8.3 Significant Fauna encountered during the AECOM (2010) Field Survey 119 6.8.4 Significant Fauna Habitat 123 6.8.5 Feral Animals 124

6.9 Weeds 125 6.10 Heritage 126

6.10.1 Register of the National Estate 126 6.10.2 European Heritage 127 6.10.3 Indigenous Heritage 127

6.11 Fire 132 6.12 Noise and Vibration 132 6.13 Air Pollution, Greenhouse Gas and Dust Emissions 133 6.14 Land Uses 133

6.14.1 Current Land Use 133 6.14.2 Surrounding Land Use 137

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6.15 Social and Economic Environment 137 6.16 Waste, Contamination and Hazardous Substances 138

7.0 Nature and Extent of Potential Impacts 141 7.1 Impact Assessment Approach 141

7.1.1 Risk Assessment Process 141 7.1.2 Indirect Impacts 143 7.1.3 Cumulative Impacts 144

7.2 General Sources of Impacts 144 7.2.1 Destocking and Decommissioning of Existing Infrastructure 144 7.2.2 Site and Infrastructure Development 146 7.2.3 Defence Training Activities 146

7.3 Landforms and Soils 147 7.3.1 Impact Assessment 148 7.3.2 Indirect Impacts 155 7.3.3 Cumulative Impacts 155 7.3.4 Monitoring 156

7.4 Groundwater and Surface Water 162 7.4.1 Indirect Impacts 163 7.4.2 Cumulative Impacts 164 7.4.3 Monitoring 164

7.5 Vegetation and Flora 167 7.5.1 Impact Assessment 167 7.5.2 Indirect Impacts 169 7.5.3 Cumulative Impacts 170 7.5.4 Monitoring 170

7.6 Native Fauna and Fauna Habitat 173 7.6.1 Impact Assessment 173 7.6.2 Indirect Impacts 175 7.6.3 Cumulative Impacts 176 7.6.4 Monitoring 176

7.7 Feral Animals 180 7.7.1 Impact Assessment 180 7.7.2 Indirect Impacts 180 7.7.3 Cumulative Impacts 181 7.7.4 Monitoring 181

7.8 Weeds 183 7.8.1 Impact Assessment 183 7.8.2 Indirect Impacts 185 7.8.3 Cumulative Impacts 185 7.8.4 Monitoring 185

7.9 Heritage 189 7.9.1 Impact Assessment 189 7.9.2 Indirect Impacts 190 7.9.3 Cumulative Impacts 191 7.9.4 Monitoring 191

7.10 Fire Management 196 7.10.1 Impact Assessment 196 7.10.2 Indirect Impacts 197 7.10.3 Cumulative Impacts 197 7.10.4 Monitoring 197

7.11 Noise and Vibration 199 7.11.1 Impact Assessment 199 7.11.2 Indirect Impacts 202 7.11.3 Cumulative Impacts 202 7.11.4 Monitoring 202

7.12 Air Pollution, Dust and Greenhouse Gas Emissions 206 7.12.1 Impact Assessment 206 7.12.2 Indirect Impacts 207

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7.12.3 Cumulative Impacts 208 7.12.4 Monitoring 208

7.13 Present and Future Land Uses 211 7.13.1 Impact Assessment 211 7.13.2 Indirect Impacts 212 7.13.3 Cumulative Impacts 213

7.14 Social and Economic Environment 216 7.14.1 Impact Assessment 216 7.14.2 Indirect Impacts 221 7.14.3 Cumulative Impacts 221

7.15 Waste and Hazardous Substances 223 7.15.1 Impact Assessment 223 7.15.2 Indirect Impacts 225 7.15.3 Cumulative Impacts 225

8.0 Impacts Avoidance and Mitigation Measures Summary 229 8.1 Environmental Commitment Summary 229 8.2 Environmental Monitoring Summary 236

9.0 Conclusions 237 10.0 References 239

Appendix A Submission Summaries and Response A

Appendix B Content of Individual Submissions B

Appendix C Public Environment Report Guidelines C

Appendix D Cross Reference with Guidelines and Per Sections D

Appendix E Bounding Coordinates E

Appendix F Gawler Ranges Soil Conservation District Land System Descriptions F

Appendix G Risk Assessment G

Appendix H Vegetation, Flora and Fauna Technical Report H

Appendix I PER Team I

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List of Tables

Table 1 Relevant South Australia Legislation 18 Table 2 Proposed Infrastructure Requirements 27 Table 3 Army Unit Indicative Sizes 29 Table 4 Deployable Battlegroup Elements 30 Table 5 Summary of Equipment proposed for use in the CEA 36 Table 6 Example of Biosecurity and Overabundant Native Species Plan 53 Table 7 Pastoral Management Board Land System Descriptions 69 Table 8 Geology 73 Table 9 Summarised results of soil attributes from field survey 77 Table 10 Indicators for various ranges of soil salinity (PIRSA, 2007) 81 Table 11 AECOM (2010) Vegetation Associations 90 Table 12 Likelihood of Occurrence of Significant Flora within the CEA 101 Table 13 Range Extensions 103 Table 14 Species of Conservation Significance which may occur within the CEA 112 Table 15 Suitability of Broad Habitat Types for Recorded Threatened Fauna 123 Table 16 Declared Weed Species encountered during the AECOM 2010 Survey 125 Table 17 Existing Pastoral Leases 134 Table 18 Extractive Mineral Leases in the CEA 135 Table 19 Likelihood Rankings 141 Table 20 Consequence Descriptors 142 Table 21 Matrix for Identifying Overall Significance Rating 143 Table 22 CUTA Land Condition Mapping Scale 150 Table 23 Landform Risk Assessment Table 157 Table 24 Soils Risk Assessment Table 158 Table 25 Surface Water and Hydrology Risk Assessment Table 165 Table 26 Vegetation and Flora Risk Assessment Table 171 Table 27 Fauna Risk Assessment Table 177 Table 28 Feral Animals Risk Assessment Table 182 Table 29 Livestock palatability, dispersal mechanisms and percentage sites encountered for key

weed species 184 Table 30 Weeds Risk Assessment Table 186 Table 31 Natural Heritage Risk Assessment Table 192 Table 32 Indigenous Heritage Risk Assessment Table 193 Table 33 European Heritage Risk Assessment Table 195 Table 34 Fire Management Risk Assessment Table 198 Table 35 Activity and Noise Level 199 Table 36 Exposure time limits at different sound levels 200 Table 37 Environmental noise criteria applicable to different land uses 202 Table 38 Noise and Vibration Risk Assessment Table 203 Table 39 Air Pollution, Dust and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Risk Assessment Table 209 Table 40 Present and Future Land Uses Risk Assessment Table 214 Table 41 Social and Economic Environment Risk Assessment Table 222 Table 42 Waste Risk Assessment Table 226 Table 43 Environmental Commitments Summary Table 229

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List of Figures

Figure 1 Existing CUTA and Proposed Location of CEA 5 Figure 2 CUTA Boundary and Surrounding Features 7 Figure 3 Existing Infrastructure 9 Figure 4 Broad Land Zoning Within and Around the CEA 21 Figure 5 The CEA Defence EMS Framework 46 Figure 6 Defence Environmental Management System 48 Figure 7 Flowchart of Components of Sustainability Monitoring and Reporting 59 Figure 8 Reporting Plan Cycle 60 Figure 9 Average Climate of the CEA 63 Figure 10 Monthly Rainfall for Port Augusta, 2007 – 2009 64 Figure 11 Annual Rainfall for Port Augusta, 2002 – 2009 64 Figure 12 Land Systems 67 Figure 13 Topography 71 Figure 14 Geology 75 Figure 15 Soils 79 Figure 16 Salinity and Depth to Groundwater 83 Figure 17 Shallow Groundwater Yield 85 Figure 18 Vegetation Units 95 Figure 19 Vegetation Associations 97 Figure 20 Significant Flora 105 Figure 21 Normalised Difference Vegetation Index 107 Figure 22 Significant Fauna and Fauna Habitat 121 Figure 23 Weed Densities encountered during the AECOM 2010 Field Survey 126 Figure 24 Register of the National Estate Areas 129 Figure 25 Representation of Possible Range of Indirect Impacts 143 Figure 26 Example of the effect of different pastoral land management regimes in the CEA 145 Figure 27 Graphical Change in Land Condition at the existing CUTA: January 2006 and July 2010 151 Figure 28 Mapped Change in Land Condition at the existing CUTA: January 2006 and July 2010 153 Figure 29 Portions of acquired leases excluded from the Cultana Expansion Area 219

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Glossary of Terms

Term Meaning

Army The Australian Army

Australian Defence Force The military forces of Australia, comprising the Australian Army, The Royal Australian

Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy.

A Vehicles Tracked or wheeled amoured vehicles.

B Vehicles Wheeled non-armoured, or lightly armoured vehicles generally used for logistic supply

tasks.

C4I systems Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence. Decision-making

supported by information technology.

Capability Defence’s ability to meet its operational aims and objectives.

CEA The Cultana Expansion Area, being the subject of this PER and the area of land

proposed to be acquired for Defence training.

Combined Training Training consisting of military personnel of two or more countries, operating together

under one commander.

Defence The Department of Defence

Defence Instructions The mechanism and authority through which the Chief of the Defence Force, the

Secretary or the Service Chiefs administer the Defence Force as a whole or the

Services as single entities.

Direct Fire Means of aiming and firing a gun that relies on a direct line of sight between the gun

and the target (flat trajectory).

Dismounted Operating on foot, without use of a vehicle.

Drop zone Flat, cleared area to allow safe parachute deployment.

Electronic Warfare Warfare involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum to attack an enemy or

protect from enemy attack using the spectrum.

Environmental Clearance

Certificate

A mechanism for Defence to identify and manage potential environmental impacts of

specific activities and apply appropriate avoidance or mitigation measures as

conditions to any approvals given.

Existing CUTA The existing Cultana Training Area as defined by its current boundaries.

Expanded CUTA The existing CUTA combined with the CEA and managed as a single training area.

Firing range Constructed range, consisting of targets and static (fixed) firing points, or tracks along

which to engage targets whilst moving.

Forward Arming and Refuelling

Point

Remote, usually hard stand, location for refuelling and arming vehicles and / or

helicopters.

Forward Operating Base A temporary, secured military base used to support tactical operations located close to

the area of operation.

Hard stand Concreted, bituminised or hard packed area allowing high levels of vehicle use without

excessive damage to the environment.

High Explosive Target Areas The only areas where targets can be engaged with high explosive. These areas

incorporate a buffer area, outside of which a projectile is very unlikely to fall.

Joint Training Training consisting of force elements from two or more Services (Army, Navy, Air

Force) operating together under one commander.

Indirect Fire Means of aiming and firing a gun without relying on a direct line of sight between the

gun and the target (curved trajectory).

Mechanised Forces based on tracked vehicles such as the M1A1 Abrams Tank and the M113 AS4

APC.

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Term Meaning

Motorised Forces based on wheeled vehicles such as the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle and

the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle.

Nuclear, biological and chemical

warfare defensive training

Training carried out within a scenario of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons

attack, using only harmless reagents to activate sensors.

Primary Operating Environment The POE extends from the eastern Indian Ocean to the island states of Polynesia and

from the equator to the Southern Ocean. The area contains all Australian sovereign,

offshore and economic territories, such as Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island,

Heard and McDonald Islands, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island and also waters

adjacent to the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Range Control Administration of the day to day use and management of the training area.

Range Produce Spent ammunition (e.g. cartridge cases) and projectiles. These are removed from

fixed firing points at the end of the exercise and are removed periodically from target

areas.

Range Standing Orders The specific day-to-day operational guidance document for units exercising on the

training area, including designated temporary or permanent ‘off limits’ areas for safety,

environment or heritage management considerations.

Rotary wing aircraft Helicopters

Sectors Divisions within the training area to ensure the safe separation of training for multiple

users of the training area and to facilitate management of the training area.

Senior Environment Manager Environmental professional responsible for bases and training areas in their region

(e.g. Central-West [SA]).

Standard Operating Procedures Provide guidance to personnel undertaking routine activities that have an element of

environmental or safety risk.

Training Area Safety and

Management Information System

A Defence-wide training area booking and management system located on the

Defence intranet.

Unmanned Aircraft System Remotely piloted aircraft, or ‘drone’ and associated launch, retrieval and control

systems. The aircraft component of the system is sometimes called an Unmanned

Aerial Vehicle.

Urban Operations Training Facility ‘Mock’ streets and buildings, often reconfigurable, for training in urban environments.

Weapons danger area safety

template

An area forward of a firing point where projectiles may land. It incorporates a safety

buffer, the maximum range of the projectile, any relevant blast distances and ricochet

distances and angles. This area is superimposed along the direction of firing from the

firing point towards the target to determine safety and exclusion requirements. No part

of a template may fall outside of the Training Area or on any areas accessible to the

public.

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List of Acronyms

Acronym Meaning

CEA Cultana Expansion Area

CUTA Cultana Training Area

DSEWPaC Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

PER Public Environment Report

RAAF Royal Australian Air Force

RAN Royal Australian Navy

REO Regional Environment Officer

SEM Senior Environment Manager

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