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1 Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd ABN Level 14, 32 Turbot Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Locked Bag 331 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia T F E brisbane@aurecongroup.com W aurecongroup.com Memorandum To Mr Andrew Stannard From Aurecon C/o Jane Stark Copy Reference Date 24 August 2012 Subject Pages (including this page) 8 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 ). 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 Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 1

2 27 NPW826 1 WT37 3 WT216 Legend 5WT217 Ground Truthed Areas Type A Species EVNT Species Regions Drainage (100K) Upstream ground truth areas ESA Category B ESA Category C ESA Category A Regional Ecosystem (Biodiversity Status) j k Endangered - Dominant Endangered - Sub-dominant Of Concern - Dominant Of Concern - Sub-dominant Not of Concern 4 WT217 23/07/ :56 5 WT217 P:\Aurecon\ Santos\Mapping\24WV432_Overview.mxd 20 FTY1805 Notes: 6 CP Map by: Moore NK 21 WT32 20 WT32 Date: 13/08/2012 A3 scale: 1:45, m Job No: Coordinate system: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 Version: 1 Santos Ecological Assessment Report 5WT217 Figure 1.1: Overview Map

3 Figure 1.2 Aerial imagery of ground trothed areas on Lot 5WT 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. Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 3

4 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 Northing Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 4

5 Photo 1.2 Photo looking west into proposed development area at GPS Easting Northing 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 Aquila audax Corvus orru Malurus melanocephalus Common name Wedge Tail Eagle Torresian Crow 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. Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 5

6 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, Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 6

7 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 Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 7

8 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 Project File Santos_Lot_5_WT217_Addendum_Memo.docx 24 August 2012 Revision 0 Page 8