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Memorandum
Project 225678 File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 1
To Mr Andrew Stannard From Aurecon C/o Jane Stark
Copy Reference 225678
Date 24 August 2012 Pages (including this page) 8
Subject Fairview Ecological Assessment – Addendum to Lot 5 WT217 Report
Mr Stannard,
This memorandum relates to the ground-truthing of the proposed development area, as shown in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2, and documents the results of ecological investigations of this area.
These ecological investigations were undertaken on 24 July 2012 by two (2) Aurecon ecologists (Vanessa Boettcher and Jenny Grundy).
A report specific to additional proposed development areas within Lot 5 on WT217 has been previously prepared and submitted to Santos (Ecological Assessment Report – Lot 5 Water to Grade Pipelines; Santos Document Reference 0020-GLNG-4-1.3-0030).
This memorandum should be considered as an addendum to the report listed above. This memorandum is specific to the ecology of the proposed development areas shown in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2. For ecological information related to the proposed development that is in addition to that covered by this report, please refer to the appropriate Lot-specific report.
1 Ecological Assessment
1.1 General
The proposed development area is situated on undulating hills, with slopes up to 10%. The land has previously been cleared for agriculture practices (including stock grazing) and is adjacent to gas field infrastructure. The majority of the area is dominated by groundcover species with patches of moderately dense regrowth woody vegetation.
No Regional Ecosystems (RE’s) or watercourses are mapped within the proposed development area (Queensland Government 2012). No watercourses were recorded during the site investigation.
No Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA’s) are located within the proposed development area. The nearest ESA is a ‘Category C’ ESA situated approximately 850 m in a north north-west direction. This is a ‘Category C’ ESA due to the presence of an ‘of concern’ regional ecosystem. In addition, a ‘Category A’ ESA is situated approximately 1 km to the north of the proposed development area due to the presence of Expedition National Park
5WT217
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Coordinate system: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 Figure 1.1: Overview MapSantos Ecological Assessment Report 5WT217° 0 500m
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Legend5WT217 Ground Truthed Areas
kj Type A SpeciesEVNT Species RegionsDrainage (100K)Upstream ground truth areasESA Category BESA Category CESA Category A
Regional Ecosystem (Biodiversity Status)Endangered - DominantEndangered - Sub-dominantOf Concern - DominantOf Concern - Sub-dominantNot of Concern
A3 scale: 1:45,000 Job No: 225678
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Figure 1.2 Aerial imagery of ground trothed areas on Lot 5WT217
1.2 Floristics
The proposed development area has been extensively cleared for agriculture (primarily grazing livestock) and is adjacent to gas field infrastructure. As such, the area is dominated by native pasture grasses, with patchy areas of moderately dense, regrowth woody vegetation. Photo 1.1 and Photo 1.2 are representative of the development area.
The ground cover is dense (approximately 95% cover of the total area assessed) and was dominated by Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland Blue Grass). Pennisetum ciliare (Buffel Grass), Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass) and Aristida queenslandicus (Wire Grass) are also present in the ground cover in high densities.
There is no canopy vegetation present through the proposed development area. Woody regrowth vegetation ranges in height from 1 - 7 m, with Eucalyptus melanophloia (Silver Leaved Ironbark), Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky Hopbush) and Eremophila mitchellii (False Sandalwood) the dominant species. Eremophila mitchellii is dominant on the top of the rises, while Dodonaea viscosa is dominant on lower slopes.
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Opuntia tomentosa (Velvety Tree Pear) and Opuntia stricta (Prickly Pear), Class 2 Weeds under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, were observed in the proposed development area during site investigations.
No flora species of conservation significance (ie ‘endangered’, ‘vulnerable’ and ‘near threatened’ species protected under the provisions of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 [NC Act] and/or ‘critically endangered’, ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ under the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 [EPBC Act]) were recorded within the proposed development areas.
No Type A restricted plant species are located within the proposed development areas, although it is important to note that a Brachychiton spp. (a Type A species) is located on the boundary of the proposed development area (represented by a yellow asterisk in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2).
A list of species recorded in the proposed development area is outlined in Table 2.1 at the end of this document.
Photo 1.1 Photo looking north into proposed development area at GPS Easting 692103 Northing 7165611
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Photo 1.2 Photo looking west into proposed development area at GPS Easting 692282 Northing 7165561
1.3 Habitat values
Three (3) incidental fauna species were recorded and identified during the site investigation as listed in Table 1.1. In addition, numerous unidentified bird calls were heard during the site investigation and macropod scats were observed in high densities.
No conservation significant fauna species under the provisions of the EPBC Act and/or the NC Act were recorded during field investigations.
Table 1.1 Incidental fauna observed in the proposed development area on Lot 5 WT217
Scientific name Common name
Aquila audax Wedge Tail Eagle
Corvus orru Torresian Crow
Malurus melanocephalus Red Backed Fairy Wren
The proposed development area contains areas of moderately dense regrowth vegetation, which provides cover suitable for shelter, foraging and perching. The area connects to similar regrowth vegetation outside the development area and is continuous to the Expedition National Park (a ‘Category A’ ESA area). The proposed development area also contains a moderate amount of woody debris (ie fallen/felled timber), dense groundcover vegetation (ie grassy tussocks) and some leaf litter.
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This area is frequently used by macropod species, evident from the high levels of macropod scats on the site.
As a result of the connectivity the regrowth vegetation provides to Expedition National Park, dense grass cover, moderate amount of woody debris and evidence of high use from macropod species, the habitat values of the proposed development area is considered to range from low to moderate.
1.4 References
Queensland Government (2012), Vegetation Management Act Regional Ecosystem and Remnant Map - Version 6.1, Centred on Lot on Plan 5 WT217, Online RE Maps, The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Brisbane, viewed 1 August 2012, http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/REMAP.
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2 Botanical Species List
Table 2.1 Botanical species recorded in the proposed development area on Lot 5 WT217
Scientific Name Common Name Notes
Acacia catenulata Bendee
Acacia excelsa Ironwood
Acacia leiocalyx Black Wattle
Acacia salicina Sally Wattle
Alstonia constricta Bitter Bark
Aristida queenslandicus Wire Grass
Atalaya hemiglauca Whitewood
Bothriochloa bladhii Forest Blue Grass
Callitris glaucophylla White Cypress Pine
Calotis lappulacea Yellow Burr Daisy
Capparis lasiantha Nipan, Wait-a-while
Cassinia laevis Cough Bush
Chloris pectinatus Comb Chloris
Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Non-native species
Cymbopogon refractus Barbed Wire Grass
Cyperus polystachyos Bunchy Sedge
Dianella spp. Dianella
Dichanthium sericeum Queensland Blue Grass
Dodonaea viscosa Sticky Hopbush
Eragrostis brownei Browns Lovegrass
Eragrostis lacunaria Tall Lovegrass
Eragrostis sororia Woodland Lovegrass
Eremophila debilis Winter Apple
Eremophila mitchellii False Sandalwood
Eucalyptus crebra Narrow Leaved Ironbark
Eucalyptus melanophloia Silver Leaved Ironbark
Eucalyptus populnea Poplar Box
Gahnia aspera Gahnia
Geijera parviflora Wilga
Glycine tabacina Glycine Pea
Gomphocarpus physocarpus Balloon Cotton Bush Non-native species
Grewia latifolia Dysentery Plant
Hakea lorea Bootlace Oak
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Scientific Name Common Name Notes
Heteropogon contortus Black Spear Grass
Jasminum didymum Native Jasmine
Lomandra multiflora Lomandra
Maireana microphylla Small-leaf Bluebush
Malvastrum americanum Malvastrum Non-native species
Maytenus cunninghamii Yellow Berry Bush
Opuntia stricta Prickly Pear Non-native species
LP Act Class 2 Weed
Opuntia tomentosa Velvety Tree Pear Non-native species
LP Act Class 2 Weed
Owenia acidula Emu Apple
Panicum effusum Inquisitive Grass
Pennisetum ciliare Buffel Grass Non-native species
Psydrax oleifolius Hat Stand
Pterocaulon sphacelatum Apple Bush
Santalum lanceolatum Sandalwood
Sclerolaena birchii Galvanised Burr
Senna artemisioides Senna
Sida hackettiana Queensland Hemp
Sida rohlenae Shrub Sida
Solanum ellipticum Potato Bush
Stylosanthes scabra Stylo Non-native species
Themeda avenacea Wild Oats Grass
Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass
Verbena litoralis Tall Verbena Non-native species
Verbena tenuisecta Mayne’s Curse Non-native species
Xerochrysum bracteatum Ever Lasting Daisy