Flora and Vegetation Environmental Management Plan · 2020-02-17 · VENTUREX RESOURCES LIMITED SULPHUR SPRINGS ZINC-COPPER PROJECT FLORA AND VEGETATION EMP Sulphur Springs Flora

Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper Project

Flora and Vegetation

Environmental Management Plan

January 2020

Version Description Originator Approved Date

A Draft JW, FID (MBS) KS (MBS) 30 May 2018

0 Preliminary plan as appendix to ERD JW, FID (MBS) KS (MBS) 6 June 2018

1 Amended in response to DMA feedback JW (MBS) KS (MBS) 31 October 2018

2 Revised to address amended proposal design JW (MBS) PG (VXR) 28 January 2020

Approver Signature Date

Manager Environment Piers Goodman 28 January 2020

VENTUREX RESOURCES LIMITED SULPHUR SPRINGS ZINC-COPPER PROJECT

FLORA AND VEGETATION EMP

Sulphur Springs Flora Veg EMP Revision 2 - Final

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 1

2. CONTEXT, SCOPE AND RATIONALE ....................................................................................................... 2

2.1 PROPOSAL ........................................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 LOCATION ............................................................................................................................................ 2 2.3 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR: FLORA AND VEGETATION ...................................................................... 5 2.4 RATIONALE AND APPROACH IN MEETING THE ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE ............................................. 5 2.4.1 Baseline Surveys ................................................................................................................................ 5 2.4.2 Conservation Significant Flora ............................................................................................................ 9

3. FLORA AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN PROVISIONS ................................................................ 12

3.1 MANAGEMENT APPROACH .................................................................................................................. 12 3.2 MONITORING ...................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1 Pre-Clearance Vegetation Checks ................................................................................................... 16 3.2.2 Threatened Flora Condition Monitoring ............................................................................................ 16 3.2.3 Weed Monitoring .............................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.4 Groundwater Dependant Ecosystem Monitoring .............................................................................. 19 3.3.1 Annual Reporting .............................................................................................................................. 22 3.3.2 Reporting Exceedance of Management Target ................................................................................ 22 3.3.3 Reporting of Management Actions not Being Implemented .............................................................. 23 3.4 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................... 23

4. REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 24

TABLES Table 1: Flora and Vegetation EMP Summary .......................................................................................... 1

Table 2: Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper Project Tenements ....................................................................... 2

Table 3: Project Aspects Constituting Impact or Potential Impact to Flora and Vegetation ....................... 5

Table 4: Summary of Flora and Vegetation Surveys ................................................................................. 6

Table 5: Vegetation Communities ............................................................................................................. 7

Table 6: Conservation Significant Species Recorded in the Survey Area ............................................... 10

Table 7: Flora and Vegetation Management ........................................................................................... 13

Table 8: Threatened Flora Monitoring Locations ..................................................................................... 16

Table 9: Plant Health Score Criteria ........................................................................................................ 18

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mbsenvironmental.com.au/



Sulphur Springs Flora Veg EMP Revision 2 - Final

FIGURES Figure 1: Location Plan ............................................................................................................................... 3

Figure 2: Development Envelope, Tenement Plan and Conceptual Mine Layout ....................................... 4

Figure 3: Conservation Significant Flora and Vegetation Communities within the Development Envelope .................................................................................................................................................. 11

Figure 4: Threatened Flora (Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar) Condition Monitoring Locations ........................... 17

Figure 5: Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Monitoring Areas ............................................................. 21



Sulphur Springs Flora Veg EMP Revision 2 - Final 1

1. SUMMARY This Flora and Vegetation Environmental Management Plan (FVEMP) has been prepared as an appendix to an Environmental Review Document (ERD) for the Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper Project (project), proposed to be developed by Venturex Resources Ltd (Venturex). The FVEMP is subject to periodic review to ensure relevance and consistency with the terms of approvals being sought by Venturex to implement the Project. Table 1 presents a high-level overview of the plan.

Table 1 : Flora and Vegetat ion EMP Summary

Title of Proposal Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper Project

Proponent Venturex Resources Limited.

Purpose of EMP Provide early guidance on approach to managing impacts to vegetation and flora.

EPA Environmental Factor (preliminary)

Flora and Vegetation.

EPA Environmental Objective

To protect flora and vegetation so that biological diversity and ecological integrity are maintained.

Key Provisions of Plan Management measures to limit direct and indirect impacts on native vegetation, with a focus on the DRF Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar.

Monitoring measures to evaluate the efficacy of management actions

Procedures for reporting performance, implementation of the plan and non-compliances.




2. CONTEXT, SCOPE AND RATIONALE

2.1 PROPOSAL

The Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper Project is a greenfield development that comprises:

• An open pit to mine the top portion of the orebody during the first five years of the project life.

• An underground mine accessed via a portal external to the mine pit, to mine the remainder of the orebody.

• A conventional flotation processing plant (up to 1.5 Mtpa) to produce separate copper and zinc concentrates.

• A ‘valley fill’ Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) for the placement of tailings.

• A waste rock dump (WRD).

• Supporting elements such as stormwater management infrastructure (bunds and drains), internal mine roads, Site Access Road, mine water storage ponds, topsoil stockpiles, construction material stockpiles, power station, accommodation village, wastewater treatment plants, mine water treatment plant and mine support facilities.

• Transport of copper and zinc concentrates to the Port Hedland port for export.

2.2 LOCATION

The project is approximately 144 km south east of Port Hedland and 57 km west of Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (Figure 1). It is accessed from the existing Abydos Link, an unsurfaced dual carriageway extending from the sealed Marble Bar Road. The project is predominantly on Unallocated Crown Land, with the site access road and accommodation village on the Panorama and Strelley Pastoral Leases (Figure 2). Mineral exploration and development activities are enabled through tenure granted to Venturex under the Mining Act 1978 and listed in Table 2.

Table 2: Sulphur Springs Zinc -Copper Project Tenements

Tenement Area (ha) Grant Date Expiry Date

M45/494 972 22/10/1990 21/10/2032

M45/653 497 29/09/1995 28/09/2037

M45/1001 873 22/01/2008 21/01/2029

L45/189 1,808 20/11/2009 19/11/2030

L45/170 688 18/09/2009 17/09/2030

L45/173 40 24/08/2012 23/08/2033

L45/166 2,183 01/05/2009 30/04/2030

L45/179 636.9 01/04/2011 31/03/2032

L45/287 117 28/09/2012 27/09/2033




2.3 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR: FLORA AND VEGETATION

This plan is focussed on the management of risks presented by the project to the environmental factor of Flora and Vegetation. The EPA objective for this factor is:

To protect flora and vegetation so that biological diversity and ecological integrity are maintained. The project has been designed to avoid direct disturbance to the species of conservation significance, and no ecological communities of conservation significance are at risk of impact by the project. Table 3 summarises the main impacts, or risk of impact, to flora and vegetation arising from implementation of the project.

Table 3: Project Aspects Consti tut ing Impact or Potent ial Impact to Flora and Vegetation

Aspect Activity/Effect Impact/Risk

Direct impact

Establishment of operational footprint Clearing and grubbing Removal of vegetation

Operational activities Inadvertent removal of vegetation Inadvertent damage/removal of vegetation

Indirect impact

Infrastructure establishment Localised modification of hydrology and

hydrogeology Mortality/decline in condition

Orebody dewatering Localised modification of hydrogeology Mortality/decline in condition

PAF material deposition (waste rock and tailings)

PAF seepage to groundwater (tailings, WRD)

Mortality/decline in condition

Materials handling/storage Hydrocarbon/ reagent spills Mortality/decline in condition

Earthmoving activity Introduction/spread of weeds Decline in condition

Hot works, land clearing Altered fire regime Decline in condition

Mining, ore/overburden haulage and unloading, tailings storage, earthmoving,

vehicle movements

Dust generation Mortality/decline in condition

Landform construction

Waste rock dump, tailings storage facility

Erosion during establishment - sedimentation Decline in condition

2.4 RATIONALE AND APPROACH IN MEETING THE ENVIRONMENTAL

OBJECTIVE

2.4.1 Baseline Surveys

A number of vegetation and flora surveys have been undertaken for the project and regional area in the period 2001 to 2018, as summarised in Table 4. Overall, 360 vascular plant taxa, representative of 139 genera and 48 families, have been recorded within the survey area. The majority of taxa recorded were representative of the Fabaceae (77 taxa), Poaceae (60 taxa) and Malvaceae (37 taxa) families. Within the proposal Development Envelope, a total of 185 vascular plant taxa, representative of 84 genera and 35 families, were recorded. The majority of the taxa recorded were widespread locally and more broadly within the Chichester biogeographical sub-region (Mattiske 2018). Eighteen vegetation communities have been defined and mapped in flora surveys, with 12 of these occurring within the Development Envelope (Mattiske 2018). The vegetation communities are shown in Figure 3, with details provided in Table 5. The majority of vegetation within the Development Envelope comprises open forest to open woodland vegetation communities 6a (31.5%) and 5a (38.6%). These vegetation communities are characterised by scattered to low open




woodlands of Eucalyptus/Corymbia over Acacia shrubs over hummock grasslands. Vegetation community 5a occurs on ridge slopes and community 6a occurs on creek banks, flood banks and distributing fans. Where clearing is required, less than 7% of each vegetation community mapped by project surveys will be cleared. The majority of clearing will occur in vegetation communities 10a (43.2 ha or 28.0% of the total mapped area) and 9a (258.6 ha or 7.9% of the total mapped area).

Table 4: Summary of Flora and Vegetation Surveys

Survey Time

Author Survey Description

April 2001 M. E. Trudgen and Associates

General flora collection survey conducted with 81 quadrats established and recorded along the proposed access road and around the proposed mine and processing areas (including Kangaroo Caves and Bernts areas).

October 2001

M. E. Trudgen and Associates

Vegetation survey of the project area (including Kangaroo Caves and Bernts areas) and additional flora collections.

April 2006 M. E. Trudgen and Associates

Rare flora survey of the project area.

May 2006 M. E. Trudgen and Associates

Rare flora survey focussing on proposed element locations and a vegetation survey of the previously proposed camp site.

May 2007 M. E. Trudgen and Associates

Vegetation and flora survey of new project areas around the plant site that were not covered by previous surveys.

June 2007

M. E. Trudgen and Associates

Vegetation and flora survey of new project areas including the airstrip and camp that were not covered by previous surveys.

2007 Mattiske

Consulting Pty Ltd

Review of the flora and vegetation survey data and an assessment of the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs). Remapping of vegetation associations prepared by Trudgen et al. (2002) and Trudgen (2006, 2007a, 2007b).

2012 Ecologia Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar Targeted Flora Survey. Unpublished report by Ecologia Environment for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Ecologia Environment.

2013 Outback Ecology Level 1 Vegetation and Flora survey of the project area to review the previous vegetation mapping and search for conservation significant species.

2016 Ecologia Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar Regional Survey 2015. Unpublished report by Ecologia Environment for FMG Iron Bridge (Aust) Pty Ltd. Ecologia Environment.

2018 Mattiske

Consulting Pty Ltd

A Review of the Flora and Vegetation and targeted Threatened flora search – Sulphur Springs Zinc Copper Project. Report prepared for Venturex Resources Ltd to support the environmental review.




Table 5: Vegetation Communit ies

Code Description Total

Mapped (ha)

Total Mapped in Development Envelope (ha)

Proposed Clearing Area (ha)

Percentage Cleared of Total

Mapped (%)

Open Forest to Open Woodland: Flowlines

1a Open forest to open woodland of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Melaleuca argentea and Eucalyptus victrix with scattered tall shrubs of Indigofera monophylla over Schoenus falcatus, Cyperus vaginatus and Triodia longiceps sedgeland/grasslands in river beds.

458.0 5.0 1.4 0.3%

Open Forest to Open Woodland: Other

2a Eucalyptus victrix scattered trees to open woodland which may include Melaleuca glomerata and Melaleuca linophylla over open to closed scrub in creek beds and low slopes.

177.7 27.7 8.3 4.7%

3a Corymbia aspera scattered low trees to low open woodland in creek beds. 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0%

4a Acacia tumida high shrubland to low open forest in creeklines. 58.5 0.0 0.0 0.0%

5a Eucalyptus leucophloia scattered low trees over patches of Acacia shrubs over hummock grasslands of Triodia species, including T. brizoides, T. wiseana and T. epactia on ridge slopes.

2,253.4 343.4 129.8 5.8%

6a Corymbia hamersleyana scattered low trees to low open woodland over tall shrubs to open shrubland of Acacia spp. and Grevillea wickhamii over hummock grasslands on creek banks, flood banks and distributing fans.

7,285.8 279.7 106.1 1.5%

7a Corymbia zygophylla and Corymbia hamersleyana scattered low trees over hummock grasslands on sandplains.

66.8 0.0 0.0 0.0%

8a Terminalia canescens scattered low trees to low woodland on creek banks. 26.1 0.0 0.0 0.0%

9a Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia pruinocarpa, Ehretia saligna var. saligna, Acacia tumida, Eucalyptus ferriticola subsp. ferriticola and Ficus platypoda scattered low trees over high open shrubland on steep, rocky gorge walls.

258.6 56.7 20.4 7.9%




Code Description Total

Mapped (ha)

Total Mapped in Development Envelope (ha)

Proposed Clearing Area (ha)

Percentage Cleared of Total

Mapped (%)

High Shrublands to Open Scrublands

10a Shrubland to open scrubland of Acacia species including A. tumida, A. acradenia and A. orthocarpa over hummock grasslands on upper and steep slopes.

43.2 13.4 12.1 28.0%

11a Shrubland to closed scrubland of Acacia species, including A. acradenia, A. pyrifolia and A. tumida along small creeklines and on the adjacent parts of valley floors and distributing fans.

818.4 34.7 15.9 1.9%

12a Acacia inaequilatera scattered tall shrubs to high open shrubland over Triodia brizoides hummock grasslands on ridge slopes and low hills.

36.7 1.0 0.0 0.0%

13a Acacia inaequilatera scattered tall shrubs to high shrubland over Triodia wiseana hummock grasslands occurring mainly on gentle lower slopes.

569.4 87.3 14.4 2.5%

14a Acacia ancistrocarpa high open shrubland to open scrub. 222.4 2.9 0.2 0.1%

15a Acacia trachycarpa high open shrubland to high shrublands. 44.8 5.1 2.8 6.2%

Low Shrublands to Low Open Heaths

16a Low shrublands to low open heath on gentle slopes and undulating plains. 101.2 0.0 0.0 0.0%

Hummock Grasslands

17a Hummock grasslands on slopes and ridges. 55.1 24.2 1.0 1.8%

Other Grasslands and Herblands

18a Cracking clay alliance on gentle sloping plains and seasonal damplands. 39.6 8.1 1.3 3.2%

Total 12,520.4 889.3 313.6 2.6%




2.4.2 Conservation Significant Flora

Table 6 summarises the presence of conservation significant species in the area of the project and Figure 3 details the recorded locations. One Threatened flora species has been recorded in the area of the Proposal - Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar (G. Woodman & D. Coultas GWDC Opp 4), listed as Threatened (Endangered) under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act; State) in the project area. Four Priority flora were: - Euphorbia clementii (P2), Gymnanthera cunninghamii (P3), Acacia glaucocaesia (P3) and Ptilotus mollis (P4). No Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) listed under the EPBC Act or the BC Act occur within the Development Envelope or adjacent areas. No Priority Ecological Communities (PECs), as listed by DBCA (2018), occur within the project area (Mattiske 2018).

2.4.2.1 Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar

Fifty-nine individuals of Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar have been recorded within the Development Envelope in seven locations as shown in Figure 3. Eight plants occur within 50 metres of the proposed maximum footprint of the TSF. Pityrodia sp.Marble Bar has only been recorded in the Chichester IBRA sub-region. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family and is a shrub that grows up to 2 m tall with predominately grey, densely hairy leaves and pink flowers that appear from July to September (Plate 1). Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar is very distinctive and can readily be identified from a distance, including from helicopters during regional surveys (Ecologia 2016). The species appears to favour steep, rocky areas with a southerly or easterly aspect within the Capricorn Land System (Ecologia 2016). Two colour variants have been observed, a “green” (less frequent) variant and a “grey” (more common) variant. “Grey” individuals appear to have an indumentum almost entirely of white hairs, whereas the stem and leaf of “green” individuals have yellow hairs and sepal hairs are pink. The inflorescence structure may also be more open in “green” plants, with possibly a later, albeit overlapping flowering period (Ecologia 2016). Plate 1 details the plant in its natural setting at the project area and flowers of the species. Taxonomic studies are currently being conducted to further assess the variants. Ecologia (2016) reported an estimated 9,848 individuals of Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar within 67 populations in the Pilbara. The species occurs predominately in the Capricorn land system, with only six records recorded in the Rocklea land system.

Plate 1: Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar (G. Woodman & D. Coultas GWDC Opp 4) a t Sulphur Springs




Table 6: Conservation Signif icant Species Recorded in the Survey Area

Species CC Habitat Recorded

Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar (G. Woodman & D. Coultas GWDC Opp 4)

T (E)

Occurs on sandstone hill slopes with skeletal sandy loams. Favours steep, rocky areas with a southerly or easterly aspect within the Capricorn Land System.

Recorded within and around wider project area.

Euphorbia clementii P2 Occurs on gravelly hillsides and stony grounds.

Recorded along access road and in vicinity of airstrip.

Acacia glaucocaesia P3 Occurs on loams, sandy loams and clays. Commonly found on floodplains.

Recorded predominately along the access road, but also

recorded on road to the airstrip.

Gymnanthera cunninghamii P3 Occurs on sandy clay loams and sands. Commonly found on sandplains and drainage lines.

Recorded to the south of mining area.

Ptilotus mollis P4 Occurs on stony hills and screes, common on ironstone ridges, but can also occur on siltstone and chert.

Recorded in mining area and to the south.

CC:-Conservation Code; T - Threatened (Endangered) under EPBC Act and BC Act; P2:- Priority 2; P3 = Priority 3 P4:- Priority 4

2.4.2.2 Potential Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

No GDEs are present within the Development Envelope or surrounds, as inferred from the National Groundwater Dependant Ecosystem Atlas (Mattiske 2018). There is a low to moderate potential of occurrence of terrestrial GDEs along creeklines within the Development Envelope (Mattiske 2018). There are three unclassified aquatic GDEs outside of the Development Envelope, identified by regional studies by the Department of Water, associated with the De Grey River system. The GDEs are approximately 215, 672 and 821 m, respectively, from the boundary of the Development Envelope. Seven sites within these vegetation communities were investigated in 2017. All sites had Eucalyptus victrix as the dominant indicator tree species while the mid-storey and understorey was largely similar between sites (Mattiske 2018). Characteristics of the site (vegetation type, key species, presence of persistent water bodies, indicator tree species size and indicator tree species health) were scored in a matrix to produce a GDE likelihood score, with all seven sites scoring within the moderate likelihood range of GDE presence. Based on this assessment, Mattiske (2018) inferred that both vegetation communities 1a and 2a had a moderate likelihood of being a GDE. The total mapped area of Vegetation Communities 1a and 2a within the Development Envelope totals 32.8 ha or 3.7%. Of this, 9.7 ha lies within the Project footprint, which represents about 29.6% of this Vegetation Community presence within the Development Envelope or about 1.5% of the total mapped area of this Vegetation Community in the broader region.

2.4.2.3 Introduced Flora

Three introduced (weed) species were recorded during the 2017 flora survey by Mattiske (2018), namely:

• *Calotropis procera (Rubber Bush): This is a Declared Pest Organism pursuant to section 22 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (BAM) Act. *Calotropis procera is categorised as “exempt”, requiring no permit of conditions for keeping.

• *Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass): This is a perennial pasture grass that is widespread in central and northern Australia. It is permitted under Section 11 of the BAM Act.

• Setaria verticillata (Whorled Pigeon Grass): This is a widely distributed species permitted under Section 11 of the BAM Act.

The weeds were noted to be restricted to the main access road adjacent to a drainage line (Mattiske 2018).




3. FLORA AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

PROVISIONS

3.1 MANAGEMENT APPROACH

The management approach is based on the mitigation hierarchy of avoid, minimise, rehabilitate and offset to minimise impact on flora and vegetation as far as reasonably practicable. Risks and management actions were identified and prioritised using information gained from baseline surveys and other information in the public domain. Routine industry standard controls will be implemented to manage generic risks such as dust generation and hydrocarbon/chemical spillage. Site specific procedures will be applied to manage the risk to Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar in proximity of the proposed TSF. The management objectives of this plan include:

• Minimise clearing of native vegetation.

• Avoid direct disturbance of Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar and minimise risk of indirect impacts.

• Minimise indirect impacts to native vegetation.

• Prevent the introduction and spread of weeds by plant and equipment. Measures to achieve these objectives are set out in Table 7. The table is structured with the following fields:

• Objective - what is intended to be achieved

• Management Action - actions undertaken to enable the objective to be met.

• Performance Indicators - metrics for evaluating the outcomes achieved by Management Actions.

• Reporting – to record/demonstrate implementation of management actions and outcomes.

• Timing - period during which the Management Action should be implemented.




Table 7: Flora and Vegetat ion Management

Reference Management Action Performance Indicator Reporting/Evidence Timing Responsibility

Objective 1: Minimise clearing of native vegetation

1.1

All clearing in accordance with, and accounted for by completed Ground Disturbance Procedure.

• Vegetation clearing within approved

boundaries.

• Cumulative area of clearing within

approved limit.

• Utilisation of areas within 6 months of

clearing (i.e. no unnecessary clearing).

• Ground disturbance register.

• Compliance assessment report

(CAR).

• Mine Rehabilitation Fund

submissions.

Construction phase

Operations phase

Environment Manager

Project Manager

1.2

The site induction/awareness program will provide information on protection of conservation significant flora and ground disturbance authorisation procedures.

• All workers complete Environmental

Induction prior to unaccompanied work

on site.

• Employee Induction records. Construction phase

Operations phase

Closure phase

Project Manager

Objective 2: Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar - Avoid direct disturbance and minimise risk of indirect impacts

2.1

Clearly demarcate Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar plants in the field.

• Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar plants

identified in accordance with

demarcation procedure.

• No direct disturbance of Pityrodia sp.

Marble Bar plants.

• CAR.

• Photographic records. Construction phase

Operations phase

Closure phase

Environment Manager

2.2

Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar plants recorded in site GIS database for reference in application of Ground Disturbance Procedure

• GIS report • Annual Report. Prior to commencement of construction

Environment Manager

2.3

Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar plant condition monitoring

• No excessive dust loading on

vegetation adjacent to project areas.

• Contingency action in the event of

unacceptable adverse change in

condition.

• Condition monitoring reports.

• Annual Report. Bi-annual (initially)

February (wet season)

August (dry season)

Environment Manager




Reference Management Action Performance Indicator Reporting/evidence Timing Responsibility

Objective 3: Minimise indirect impacts to native vegetation

3.1

Vehicle speed limits imposed • Induction content.

• Speed limit signs installed.

• Incident reporting (excessive

speed). Construction phase

Operations phase

Closure phase

Mine Manager

3.2

Dust suppression measures implemented (Water cart)

• Deployment of water carts(s) in periods

of dry soil conditions.

• Equipment duty logs.

Construction phase

Operations phase

Closure phase

Mine Manager

3.3

Pipes transferring low pH, metalliferous or saline water, or tailings will be located within bunds, fitted with leak detection systems and routinely inspected.

• Significant pipelines are bunded

• Flow/pressure sensors will be fitted

along pipelines.

• No spills to undisturbed native

vegetation.

• As-constructed drawings.

• Photographic records. Construction phase

Operations phase

Mine Manager

3.4

PAF material stored within catchment of the mine pit.

• PAF waste rock not stored outside of

pit dewatering cone of depression.

• Survey data and aerial imagery.

• Workplace inspections.

• Annual and short term Mine

Plans.

Construction phase

Operations phase

Mine Manager

3.6

Groundwater abstracted in compliance with Licences and groundwater operating strategy.

• Groundwater levels consistent with

modelling predictions.

• Compliance with groundwater licence

operating strategy.

• Groundwater level monitoring.

• Annual Report.

• Groundwater Monitoring

Report.

Construction phase

Operations phase

Mine Manager

3.7

Seepage monitoring and recovery (where necessary) at downgradient foot of embankments - TSF and water storage ponds.

• No decline in native vegetation

attributed to seepage.

• Monitoring data from

piezometers.

• Vegetation condition.

Operations phase

Closure phase

Environment Manager




Objective 4: Prevent the introduction and spread of weeds by plant and equipment

4.1 Implement an equipment and vehicle hygiene procedure prior to site entry.

• No new weed infestations in project

area attributable to operational activity.

• Hygiene inspection reports. Mine Manager

4.2

Weed control programme implemented. • Reduction in weed abundance and

distribution.

• Records of weed control.

• Mapped extent of weeds. Construction phase

Operations phase

Closure phase

Environment Manager

4.3

The site induction/awareness program will provide information on introduced flora species and vehicle/equipment hygiene procedures.

• All workers complete Environmental

Induction prior to unaccompanied work

on site.

• Employee Induction records. Ongoing Project Manager




3.2 MONITORING

Monitoring that will be undertaken to gauge the effectiveness of the management actions for each management objective is described in the following subsections.

3.2.1 Pre-Clearance Vegetation Checks

Surveys will be undertaken in advance of clearing to check for:

• The presence of Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar.

• The presence of invasive weed species.

3.2.2 Threatened Flora Condition Monitoring

Biannual monitoring of the Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar clusters most at risk of impact will be undertaken in July (dry season) and November (wet season) by site personnel. The monitoring procedure will be based on the detail in the following sections.

3.2.2.1 Monitoring Locations

Permanent monitoring plots, marked with metal stakes and flagging tape, will be established around 10 Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar clusters (Table 8 and Figure 4). One of these plots, centred around plants remote from the operational footprint, will serve as a control.

Table 8: Threatened Flora Moni toring Locations

Plot Location

No. of Plants Easting Northing Distance from Project Footprint

Within the Development Envelope

P1 729308 7659084 20 m west of TSF footprint 4

P2 729697 7658899 29 m east of proposed TSF 1



P5 728217 7659623 55 m west of proposed WRD 20

P6 728201 7659636 75 m west of proposed WRD 29

P7 728380 7658790 155 west of proposed WRD 3

Outside the Development Envelope but ESA Intersected




P11 Location TBD




3.2.2.2 Monitoring Procedure

For each plot the following information will be recorded:

• Date and time that monitoring commenced.

• Photograph from each corner looking to diagonal opposite corner

• Dust observations.

• Plant health observations.

• Maintenance required for the site.

• Additional comments (plot location, surrounding vegetation that differentiates it from other plots). Individual plants within each plot will be assigned a unique plant identification number on a tag, which will be loosely attached to the plant. Where tags go missing or for new plants identified, a new tag will be issued. Where a tag is found loose on the ground, the plant to which the tag belonged to will be inferred. For each plot the following plant specific information will be recorded:

• Number of plants.

• Status (alive/dead).

• Health.

• Reproductive status.

• Height.

• Seedling recruitment and plant attrition. Plant health will be scored using the criteria shown in Table 9. Additional notes will be made where there is evidence that other factors may be potentially contributing to poor plant health (e.g. dust, insects or spiders).

Table 9: Plant Health Score Criteria

Score Plant Vigour Canopy Leaf Colour New Growth

0 Near death Dead or nearly dead Absent or nearly Brown Absent

1 Very poor Very low Thin Brown Absent

2 Poor Moderate Moderate-full Brown-Grey Absent

3 Fine Good Full Grey Present

The scale in Table 9 is subjective and has four criteria for every score category. Individual plants will often display attributes of different scores. The scale will be applied conservatively (i.e. tending to the worst) in the field. A health score of zero will be for dead plants or plants near death. Plants confirmed as dead for two years will be excluded from subsequent monitoring.

3.2.3 Weed Monitoring

Baseline surveys for the presence of invasive species have been undertaken for the project footprint. A weed monitoring procedure will be developed, based on the following:

• Monitoring areas (and immediate surrounds):

- Administration buildings and workshops.

- Accommodation village.




- Wastewater treatment plants.

- Water storages.

- Laydown areas.

- Landfill.

- Site access road and tracks.

- Topsoil stockpiles.

- Borrow pits.

- Rehabilitation areas.

- Areas where surface water pools.

• Timing:

- 4 – 6 weeks following rainfall event > 20mm.

- February each year (in the absence of material rainfall).

• Weed information to be recorded:

- Date and time that monitoring commenced.

- Weed species observed at specific locations.

- Estimate of number of plants at each location.

- Reproductive status (flowering, seeding).

- Observations relevant to its presence i.e. proximity to water or roads.

- Any control actions taken (i.e. manual removal / chemical control during the inspection). Weed control will be undertaken where results of monitoring identify species, populations or new infestations of concern.

3.2.4 Groundwater Dependant Ecosystem Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of potential GDEs in Minnieritchie Creek and Sulphur Springs Creek will be undertaken. A GDE monitoring procedure will be developed, based on the following:

• Monitoring areas: (Figure 5)

- Vegetation community 2a, approximately 1.1 km downstream of the pit on Sulphur Springs Creek at site SSC14.

- Vegetation community 2a on Minnieritchie Creek at MRC2.

• Timing:

- August – September each year

• Information to be recorded as Sulphur Springs Site:

- Date and time that monitoring commenced.

- Parameters to gauge the condition of Eucalyptus victrix (dominant indicator tree species)

- Groundwater drawdown (interpolated from groundwater monitoring level information)




- Potential utilisation of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalised Difference Wetness Index (NDWI or Wetness Index) methodologies

• Information to be recorded at Minnieritchie Creek site:

- Date and time of monitoring.

- Visual assessment of plant condition.

- Representative photographs. The monitoring scope will be intensified in the event of an adverse trend in condition or unplanned changes in the catchment condition upgradient such as material seepage from the TSF or water storage.




3.3 REPORTING PROVISIONS

3.3.1 Annual Reporting

Venturex will prepare Annual Environmental Reports (AERs) to be submitted to regulatory authorities. The format of these reports will be consistent with requirements stipulated by the regulatory authorities. A Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) will be submitted to DWER at an agreed date. The report will document compliance with conditions of approval including assessment of compliance with management plan requirements where management plans form part of approval conditions. Annual reports will also be provided to DWER for Part V EP Act approvals, Rights in Water and Irrigation Act licences and the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for Mining Act approvals and Mining Rehabilitation Fund requirements.

3.3.2 Reporting Exceedance of Management Target

In the event that monitoring, surveys or investigations indicate a non-compliance or potential non-compliance with legislation, regulation or condition of project approval, Venturex will:

• Provide an initial written report of the incident to the CEO of DWER within 2 business days of the incident being identified.

• Investigate to determine the cause of the incident, quantify the actual and potential environmental impact and determine remedial and future preventative actions.

• Provide a report to the CEO of DWER within 30 days of the initial report that shall include:

- The likely cause(s) of the incident.

- The actual and potential environmental impact environmental.

- Details of revised and/or additional management actions to be implemented to prevent or reduce the risk of re-occurrence.




3.3.3 Reporting of Management Actions not Being Implemented

In the event that one or more management actions have not been implemented as specified in this management plan, Venturex will:

• Report the failure to implement management actions in writing to the CEO of DWER within in the annual CAR.

• Investigate to determine the cause of the management actions not being implemented.

• Provide the following information in the CAR:

- The cause for failure to implement management actions.

- The environmental consequences, if any, of the action not being implemented.

- Measures to prevent, control or abate any consequent environmental harm.

- The findings of investigations.

- Relevant changes to management systems or proposal activities.

3.4 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

The FVEMP will be reviewed biennially, commencing in the second year of operations. The review will consider:

• New or changes in knowledge/understanding of vegetation communities or conservation significant flora in the project area and surrounds.

• Any changes in project design.

• Results of monitoring programs.

• Relevance of the objectives to meet the EPA Objective for flora and vegetation and the effectiveness and adequacy of management actions to achieve each objective.

• Appropriateness of management targets to assess achievement of actions.

• Adequacy and effectiveness of monitoring programs.

If significant changes to the FVEMP are identified Venturex will amend the Plan and submit the amended plan to DWER.




4. REFERENCES Ecologia. 2012. Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar Targeted Flora Survey. Unpublished report by Ecologia Environment for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.

Ecologia. 2016. Pityrodia sp. Marble Bar Regional Survey 2015. Unpublished report by Ecologia Environment for FMG Iron Bridge (Aust) Pty Ltd.

Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd (Mattiske). 2007. A review of the Flora and Vegetation and an Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in the Panorama Project Survey Area. Prepared for URS Australia Pty Ltd.

Mattiske. 2018. A Review of the Flora and Vegetation – Sulphur Springs Zinc Copper Project. Report prepared for Venturex Resources Ltd.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). 2004. Guidance Statement No. 51: Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia. Perth: EPA.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). 2016. Technical Guidance – Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment. Perth: EPA.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). 2018. Instructions on how to prepare Environmental Protection Act 1986 Part IV Environmental Management Plans. Perth: EPA.

Outback Ecology. 2013. Pilbara Copper Zinc Project: Level 1 Vegetation and Flora Survey. Unpublished report Prepared for Venturex Resources Limited.

Trudgen et al. 2002. Flora and Vegetation Survey of the Proposed Mine Areas and Access Road for the Panorama Project. Report prepared for Astron Environmental.

Trudgen, Malcom. 2006. Rare Flora Searches of a Proposed Campsite, Tailings Dam and Waste Dumps for the Panorama Project. Report prepared for CBH Resources.

Trudgen, M. E. 2007a. Supplementary Botanical Surveys, Rare Flora Searches, Assessment of Vegetation Condition and Identification of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems for the Sulphur Springs Project. Unpublished report prepared for CBH Resources.

Trudgen, M. E. and Associates. 2007b. Vegetation Condition Panorama Access Road and Project Area. Unpublished data prepared for CBH Resources Limited.

Documents

Flora and Vegetation Environmental Management Plan · 2020-02-17 · VENTUREX RESOURCES LIMITED SULPHUR SPRINGS ZINC-COPPER PROJECT FLORA AND VEGETATION EMP Sulphur Springs Flora