Lot 8 AB200 - Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Santos Report ref: 221708-001 15 June 2011 Revision 1
Document prepared by: Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd ABN 54 005 139 873 32 Turbot Street Brisbane Queensland 4000 Australia T: +61 7 3173 8000 F: +61 7 3173 8001 E: brisbane@ap.aurecongroup.com W: aurecongroup.com Document control Document ID: Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report Rev No Date Revision details Typist Author Verifier Approver 0 15 June 2011 Draft for internal verification GS/LL GAP 1 15 June 2011 Final KH GS/LL GAP JS A person using Aurecon documents or data accepts the risk of: a) Using the documents or data in electronic form without requesting and checking them for accuracy against the original hard copy version. b) Using the documents or data for any purpose not agreed to in writing by Aurecon. This document is solely for the purposes of an ecological assessment and does not provide any legal advice regarding development locations and/or activities
Contents 1. Background 1 1.1 Project Description 1 1.2 Purpose of Report 1 2. Methodology 2 2.1 Desktop Methodology 2 2.2 Field Methodology 2 3. Ecological Assessment and Recommendations 3 3.1 Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Site 3 4. Conclusion 5 5. References 6 Appendix A Botanical Species List Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page i
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms EPBC Act ESA EVNT NC Act RE REDD Santos TP VM Act Units ha m Aurecon Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Environmentally Sensitive Areas Endangered, Vulnerable or Near-threatened Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) Regional Ecosystem Regional Ecosystem Description Database Santos Ltd Test pit Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld) hectare metre Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page i
1. Background 1.1 Project Description Santos Ltd (Santos) have commissioned Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd (Aurecon) to conduct an ecological investigation of the proposed Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Location at Lot 8 AB200 at the Fairview Gas Fields. The Fairview Gas Fields are situated approximately 40km from Injune in southern Queensland. This area is characterised by elevated sandstone ranges including the Carnarvon and Expedition Ranges and part of the Mount Hutton and Kongabula Ranges. The Dawson River and other smaller watercourses drain this area and the vegetation is dominated by Eucalyptus and White Cypress Pine woodland, Brigalow and Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket (Eddie, 2007). Much of this area has been subjected to cattle grazing and other agricultural practices as well as previous development associated with the gas fields. 1.2 Purpose of Report The purpose of this report is to provide an ecological assessment of the proposed Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Location and identify potential ecological constraints to the development. This report does not make any recommendations regarding the development in relation to any Santos environmental authorities or other approvals. Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 1
2. Methodology 2.1 Desktop Methodology The Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Location has been projected on various maps as provided by Santos. These maps include Regional Ecosystem (RE) mapping, Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) mapping, drainage mapping and aerial photography. It is important to note that throughout this report areas of remnant vegetation are referred to as endangered, of concern and no concern at present regional ecosystems. The classification used for this report is based on the biodiversity status of the vegetation not the Vegetation Management Act status of the vegetation. This is important as some areas mapped on the RE mapping (which used the VMA status) are categorised as of concern but are referred to in this report as endangered. 2.2 Field Methodology The proposed Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Location (herein referred to as the site ) was inspected by two (2) Aurecon ecologists (Leesa Leathbridge and Gilbert Whyte) on 11 th of June 2011. The inspection aimed to assess the existing vegetation communities and habitat value of the site in addition to verifying any RE mapping as produced by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). In addition, a census of all flora contained within the site was undertaken in order to obtain information related to clearing under the provisions of the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act). GIS layers of the site and environmental constraints mapping (e.g. Regional Ecosystem Mapping, Ecologically Significant Area Mapping) and high resolution aerial photography were uploaded onto a toughbook (C5 mobile clinical assistant CFT-001 Motion computing) with an integrated GPS to facilitate the detection of boundaries whilst traversing the site. A handheld Garmin GPS (GPSmap78) was also used in the inspection. The ground-truthing of the site included undertaking detailed flora species observations including sampling of unknown flora. All flora species known to be of conservation significance (such as endangered, vulnerable, near threatened or Type A species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 or endangered, vulnerable or rare species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) were recorded by GPS. Fauna observations were also recorded during the inspections. Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 2
3. Ecological Assessment and Recommendations 3.1 Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Site General The area has been extensively disturbed predominantly due to heavy grazing by stock or cropping. The site is currently mapped as non-remnant vegetation on the DERM RE mapping. A least concern RE 11.10.1; that is Corymbia citriodora open forest on coarse-grained sedimentary rocks, is mapped directly north of the site (refer to Figure 1-1). There are no ESA s or watercourses mapped on the site. Floristics The site is located in a highly disturbed area that appears to have been previously grazed and/or cropped and has been recently ripped. The site was dominated by the introduced fodder species Pennisetum ciliare (Buffel grass). A small quantity of emergent canopy species at a height of approximately 15 m were scattered across the site and included Eucalyptus melanophloia (Silverleaved Ironbark), Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson s Bloodwood) and Eucalyptus populnea (Poplar Box). Juveniles of these species to 1-2m high were also found on the site although other native species were absent from the midstorey layer. In addition to Pennisetum ciliare (Buffel grass), other common ground-layer species included the introduced Verbena tenuisecta (Mayne s Curse), Sida rhombifolia (Paddy's Lucerne) and Melinis repens (Red Natal Grass). 46 flora species were recorded from 20 plant families. Of the 46 species 18 (39%) were introduced with the balance (28 or 61%) being native. Species diversity in the groundcover layer appeared to be highest along the ripped lines where Pennisetum ciliare (Buffel grass) was not dominant. No Type A restricted flora species as listed under the provisions of the NC Act or threatened or nearthreatened flora species as listed under the provisions of either the NC Act and/or the EPBC Act were recorded on site. In addition the vegetation observed on the site did not have any affinity to any nationally listed threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act. A complete list of flora species observed on the site has been included in Appendix A. The site is illustrated in Photo 3-1 and Photo 3-2. Fauna Habitat values The habitat values of the site are very low overall. The site has been extensively disturbed in the past due to grazing and cropping activities. Isolated trees are present and these are likely to provide some habitat for avian and mobile arboreal mammal fauna. The remainder of the area contained very little woody debris or other habitat features and is likely to provide limited habitat for native fauna species. Only two native fauna species were observed being Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) (on site) and Dromaius novaehollandiae (Emu) (not on site but in general area). Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 3
11.10.1 Legend Cadastre Temporary Camp Location Land Access Buffer (50m) Regional Ecosystem Endangered - Dominant Endangered - Sub-dominant Of Concern - Dominant Of Concern - Sub-dominant Least Concern ESA Mapping Category A Category B Category C 8_AB200 P:\GIS\Projects\215648_Fairview_Eco_Assessment\215648_Fairview_039.mxd 14/06/2011 10:33 Source: Regional Ecosystems: Version 6, The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Resource Management), Nov 2009. Map by: PIC Date: 14/06/2011 Version: 1 A1 scale: 1:750 0 10 20 30 40 50m Job No: 215648 Coordinate system: GDA_1994_MGA_Zone_55 Santos Upstream Ecological Assessment Figure 1-1: Lot 8 AB200 - Temporary Camp Location
Photo 3-1 Proposed Burnt Gully Temporary Camp site Photo 3-2 Proposed Burnt Gully Temporary Camp site Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 4
4. Conclusion The proposed Burnt Creek Temporary Camp site occurs in a previously disturbed area dominated by introduced species. No Type A restricted species as listed under the provisions of the NC Act were present at the site. Similarly, no species listed as Threatened or Near-threatened under the provisions of the EPBC Act and/or the NC Act were located within the site. No vegetation with affinities to any nationally listed threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act was present at this site. Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 5
5. References Eddie, C. (2007). Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs of Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields, Santos House, Adelaide. Regional Ecosystem Mapping, Version 6, Department of Environment and Resource Management Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page 6
Appendix A Botanical Species List
Flora Species Observed Family Scientific Name Common Name Weed * Acanthaceae Plectranthus parviflorus Native Coelus Adiantaceae Cheilanthes aspersa Hairy Adiantaceae Doryopteris concolor Fern Amaranthaceae Gomphrena celosioides Gomphrena Weed * Araliaceae Polyscias elegans Celerywood Asteraceae Bidens pilosa Cobblers Pegs * Asteraceae Brachycome dentata Lobe Seed Daisy Asteraceae Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons Asteraceae Conyza bonariensis Fleabane * Asteraceae Senecio madagascariensis Fire Weed * Asteraceae Sonchus sp. Thistle * Asteraceae Zinnia multiflora Zinnia Brassicaceae Lepidium sagittulatum Pepper Cress Brassicaceae Rapistrum rugosum Turnip Weed * Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia gracilis Sprawling Bluebell Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena birchii Galvanised Burr Convolvulaceae Evolvulus alsinoides Tropical Speedwell Convolvulaceae Hydrocotyle laxiflora Pennywort * Cyperaceae Cyperus sp. Sedge Fabaceae Faboidea Swainsona campylantha Gilgai Darling Pea Goodeniaceae Goodenia glabra Goodenia Malvaceae Sida cordifolia Flannel Weed Malvaceae Abutilon malvifolium Chinese Lantern * Malvaceae Sida rhombifolia Paddy's Lucerne * Myrtaceae Eucalyptus melanophloia Silver Leaved Ironbark Myrtaceae Eucalyptus populnea Poplar Box Myrtaceae Eucalyptus crebra Narrow Leaved Ironbark Myrtaceae Corymbia clarksoniana Clarkson s Bloodwood Poaceae Dichanthium sericeum Queensland Blue Grass Poaceae Aristida caput medusae Curly Headed Wire Grass Poaceae Chloris truncata Windmill Grass * Poaceae Chloris virgata Feathertop Rhodes Grass * Poaceae Cymbopogon refractus Barbed Wire Grass Poaceae Eragrostis cilianensis Stink Grass * Poaceae Eragrostis curvula African Love Grass * Poaceae Echinochloa colona Spring Grass Poaceae Melinis repens Red Natal Grass * Poaceae Panicum maximum Green Panic Poaceae Penniseptum ciliare Buffel Grass * Poaceae Setaria surgens Annual Setaria Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page i
Poaceae Themeda avenacea Wild Oats Grass Solanaceae Solanum ellipticum Potato Bush Verbenaceae Verbena tenuisecta Mayne s Curse * Portulacaceae Portulaca oleracea Pigweed * Polygonaceae Rumex crispus Curly Dock * Tiliaceae Grewia latifolia Dysentery Plant Project 221708-001 File Burnt Gully Temporary Camp Report 15 June 2011 Revision 1 Aurecon Page ii