Ecological Assessment Report Water to Grade Pipeline and Road Upgrade Corridor Investigations Santos Lot 4 on WT217

Transcription

1 Ecological Assessment eport Water to Grade Pipeline and oad Upgrade Corridor Investigations Santos Lot 4 on WT217 eport ref: June 2011 evision 0

2 Document prepared by: Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd ABN Turbot Street Brisbane Queensland 4000 Australia T: F: E: brisbane@ap.aurecongroup.com W: aurecongroup.com Document control Document ID: Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) ev No Date evision details Typist Author Verifier Approver 0 2 June 2011 final for submission CS CS 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

3 Contents 1. Background Project Description Purpose of eport 1 2. Methodology Desktop Methodology Field Methodology 3 3. Ecological Assessment and ecommendations Fairview to Gladstone GLNG pipeline corridor oad Upgrade Corridor 5 4. Conclusion 7 5. eferences 8 Appendix A Botanical Species List Appendix B Significant Species Observed on Lot 4 (WT217) Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page i

4 1. Background 1.1 Project Description Santos Ltd (Santos) have commissioned Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd (Aurecon) to conduct an ecological investigation of areas proposed for the construction of multiple water to grade pipelines within the Fairview gas fields. The Fairview gas fields are centred around the Injune area and are characterised by elevated sandstone ranges including the Carnarvon and Expedition anges and part of the Mount Hutton and Kongabula anges. The Dawson iver and other smaller watercourses drain this area and the vegetation is dominated by Eucalyptus and White Cypress Pine woodland, Brigalow and Semievergreen 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. Santos have identified proposed corridors to allow for the construction of water to grade pipelines to transport water from existing gas wells. Aurecon has undertaken desktop and on-ground ecological assessments of the proposed pipeline corridors to identify any environmental constraints associated with the area. Numerous pipeline corridors are planned and this report addresses those corridors reviewed during a week of field inspections which specifically targeted Lot 4 on WT217. The areas assessed as part of this report consist of the proposed oad Upgrade Corridor and the proposed Fairview to Gladstone GLNG pipeline. 1.2 Purpose of eport The purpose of this report is to provide an ecological assessment of the proposed development area and identify potential environmental 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 File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 1

5 TP-F034 4WT TP TP TP-48 oad Corridor GLNG Corridor 4WT TP TP-46 TP-T305 M-04 P:\GIS\Projects\215648FairviewEcoAssessment\215648Fairview031.mxd 02/06/ : TP-44 TP-T303 M TP TP-42 Map by: PIC Legend EVNT and Type A Species Environmentally Significant egion Corridors Cadastre Geotech Borehole A1 scale: 1:14, ESA Mapping Category A Category B Category C Date: 02/06/ ,000 Meters Version: 1 egional Ecosystem Endangered - Dominant Endangered - Sub-dominant Of Concern - Dominant Of Concern - Sub-dominant Least Concern Job No: Coordinate system: GDA1994MGAZone55 Source: Cadastre: DEM, egional Ecosystems: Version 6, The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and esource Management), Nov Santos Upstream Ecological Assessment Figure 1-1: Location of Proposed Pipeline Corridors Investigated

6 2. Methodology 2.1 Desktop Methodology Areas of development have been projected on various maps as provided by Santos. These maps include egional Ecosystem (E) mapping, Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) mapping, drainage mapping and aerial photography. Where available ahead of time, these resources were reviewed to determine areas of focus for the field inspection. 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 E 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 corridors were inspected by two (2) Aurecon ecologists (Chris Schell and Hayley Poole) on May The inspections aimed to assess the existing vegetation communities and habitat value of the proposed clearing within the pipeline corridors as well as verifying regional ecosystem (E) mapping as produced by the Department of Environment and esource Management (DEM). GIS layers of the proposed corridor locations and environmental constraints mapping (eg egional 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 (GPSmap 78) was also used in the inspection. The corridors were 100m wide and of varying lengths. The ground-truthing of these sites 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) were recorded by GPS. Fauna observations were also recorded during the inspections. A complete list of flora species observed in each corridor has been included in Appendix A. Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 3

7 3. Ecological Assessment and ecommendations 3.1 Fairview to Gladstone GLNG pipeline corridor General Within Lot 4 (WT217), one (1) Geotechnical Test Pit is contained within the Fairview to Gladstone GLNG pipeline corridor. The details relating to the location of this test pit are contained within Table 3-1. Table 3-1: Test Pit Contained within the Fairview to Gladstone pipeline corridor on Lot 4 (WT217) Test Pit Easting (GDA 94, Zone 55J) Northing (GDA 94, Zone 55J) TP-T Most of the Fairview to Gladstone GLNG pipeline corridor is currently mapped as non-remnant vegetation on the E mapping. However, a small portion of remnant vegetation (ie E No concern at present ) is located within the southern portion of the corridor. The corridor is situated in proximity to remnant endangered (ie E ; 120m to the east of the corridor) vegetation. emnant endangered vegetation is mapped as Category B on the ESA mapping. No watercourses are mapped as occurring within the pipeline footprint and none were observed during the inspection. The area has been extensively disturbed mainly due to heavy grazing by stock and the prior construction of an existing pipeline along the proposed alignment. The existing pipeline ight of Way (ow) had been slashed at the time of the assessment. Floristics The pipeline corridor is located in a highly modified landscape. However, despite this, species diversity was relatively high (see Appendix A). Disturbed areas were generally dominated by Buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare) and regrowth dominated by Acacia species. Despite this, native grasses and forbs were well represented. asp weed (Gonocarpus urceolatus) was observed to grow extensively within the southern and northern portions of the alignment (Figure 1-1). This species is listed as Vulnerable under the provisions of the NC Act. Location details for this species within the alignment are provided within Appendix B. Habitat values The habitat value of this corridor is relatively low overall. The area has been extensively disturbed by stock grazing, burning and invasion of exotic pasture species. In addition, slashing to maintain the ow has decreased the habitat value of this corridor. However, shrubby regrowth adjacent to the existing ow is likely to provide habitat and breeding sites for small avian fauna. Summary The corridor contains one (1) species listed under the provisions of the NC Act as vulnerable (ie Gonocarpus urceolatus). A Type A restricted plant species (ie Xanthorrhoea johnsonii) occur at multiple locations along this corridor (refer to Appendix B).. Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 4

8 3.2 oad Upgrade Corridor General Within Lot 4 (WT217), nine (9) Geotechnical Test Pit are contained within the oad Upgrade Corridor. The details relating to the location of this test pit are contained within Table 3-3. Table 3-3: Test Pit Contained within the oad Upgrade Corridor on Lot 4 (WT217) Test Pit Easting (GDA 94, Zone 55J) Northing (GDA 94, Zone 55J) 6399-TP TP TP TP TP TP TP TP TP Of the Test Pits presented in Table 3-3, two (2) contained species listed as either endangered (ie Melaleuca irbyana at 6399-TP-42) or vulnerable (ie Gonocarpus urceolatus at 6399-TP-48) under the provisions of the NC Act. Essential habitat for a single species (ie Melaleuca irbyana) has been mapped by DEM along the southern portion of the alignment. This was confirmed in the field. Essential habitat mapping is analogous to a Category C ESA. One watercourse has been mapped as occurring midway along this corridor footprint. This watercourse was confirmed 0n the ground and is ephemeral in nature. Floristics The area of disturbance occurs in both remnant (ie no concern at present Es / and / ) and non-remnant vegetation. Within the remnant vegetation, the dominant vegetation consists of Eucalyptus species and Cypress Pine woodland. Acacia regrowth and pasture species dominate non-remnant areas. Buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare) dominates much of ground stratum within the non-remnant areas of this corridor. Four (4) species of significance were located within the proposed corridor footprint. asp weed (Gonocarpus urceolatus), Swamp teatree (Melaleuca irbyana), Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus), and Bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris). The details of their locations are provided in Figure 1-1 and within Appendix B. Of the above species, Gonocarpus urceolatus is listed as vulnerable and Melaleuca irbyana is listed as endangered under the provisions of the NC Act, while Brachychiton populneus and Brachychiton rupestris are Type A restricted plants under the provisions of the NC Act. Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 5

9 Habitat Values The habitat values of this corridor are relatively high within the remnant areas. In such areas, course woody debris and leaf litter was relatively abundant. In addition, Essential habitat for Melaleuca irbyana was confirmed as occurring within the southern portion of this corridor. The remnant areas adjacent to the existing road offers is dominated by mature trees and shrubby understorey which provides a high level of cover and potential nesting hollows for arboreal mammals an avian fauna. The areas of non-remnant regrowth and open pasture land within the northern portion of the corridor have very limited fauna habitat values due to the lack of cover and high prevalence of exotic species. These areas are unlikely to be further affected by the proposed road widening. ecommendations The corridor contains two species listed under the NC Act as endangered (ie Melaleuca irbyana) and vulnerable (ie Gonocarpus urceolatus). Two Type A restricted plant species (ie Brachychiton populneus and Brachychiton rupestris) occur at multiple locations along this corridor (refer to Appendix B). Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 6

10 4. Conclusion The pipeline corridors occur across a variety of landscape and vegetation types. While most the corridors occur in previously disturbed areas, species of conservation significance occur in multiple corridors, including endangered and vulnerable species. Where practicable, the proposed clearing should avoid species of conservation significance and aim to be located in existing disturbed areas. In the event that species of conservation significance are required to be cleared, all necessary approvals must be obtained prior to clearing taking place. Some of the proposed corridors also occur adjacent or in close proximity to Semi Evergreen Vine Thicket which is a Category B ESA (ie E ). emnant vegetation occurs within multiple proposed corridors. A single mapped watercourse occurs within the central portion of the oad Upgrade Corridor. Clearing is proposed to occur within areas of high ecological value and near areas likely to be inhabited by fauna. Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 7

11 5. eferences Eddie, C. (2007). Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs of Eastern Queensland Oil and Gas Fields, Santos House, Adelaide. egional Ecosystem Mapping, Version 6, Department of Environment and esource Management Species Profile and Threats Database, Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 8

12 Ecological Assessment eport Appendix A Botanical Species List

13 Observed Flora Species within the Proposed Corridors Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Acacia complanata Flat Stem Wattle Acacia decora Pretty Wattle Acacia excelsa Iron Wood Acacia harpophylla Brigalow Acacia jucunda Hairy Wattle Acacia leiocalyx Black Wattle Acacia leptostachya Slender Wattle Acacia macradenia Zigzag Wattle Acacia shirleyi Lancewood Allocasuarina inophloia Thready-Bark She-Oak Allocasuarina leuhmannii Bull Oak Alloteropsis semialata Cockatoo Grass Alphitonia excelsa ed Ash Alstonia constricta Bitter Bark Alternanthera dentata Joy Weed Alternanthera pungens Kaki Burr Angophora leiocarpa Smooth Barked Apple Aristida caput medusae Curly Head Wire Grass Aristida calycina Dark Wire Grass Aristida ingrata Purple Aristida Aristida jerichoensis Jericho Wire Grass Aristida leptopoda Wire Grass Aristida queenslandicus White Spear Grass Atalaya hemiglauca Whitewood Atriplex muelleri Lagoon Saltbush Bidens pilosa Cobblers Pegs Boerhavia schomburgkiana Tar Vine Bothriochloa bladhii Forest Blue Grass Bothriochloa decipiens Pitted Bluegrass Bothriochloa ewartiana Desert Blue Grass Brachychiton populneus Kurrajong Brachychiton rupestris Narrow Leaved Bottle Tree Brachyscome dentata Lobe-Seed Daisy Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 1

14 Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Bracteata bracteata Everlasting Daisy Breynia oblongifolia Breynia Callitris endlicheri Black Cypress Pine Calocephalus platycephalus Billy Buttons Calotis cuneifolia Yellow Burr Daisy Calotis hispidula Bogan Flea Calotis lappulacea Yellow Burr Daisy Capparis lasiantha Native Orange Capparis spinosa Capparis Midsize Carex inversa Nut Sedge Carissa ovata Currant Bush Cassinia laevis Cough Bush Casuarina cristata Belah Centipeda minima Spreading Sneeze Weed Cheilanthes sieberi Mulga Fern Chloris gayana hodes Grass Chloris pectinata Feather-Top Chloris Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Convolvulus arvensis Bind Weed Conyza bonariensis Fleabane Corymbia clarksoniana Clarkson s Bloodwood Corymbia tessellaris Morton Bay Ash Cymbopogon refractus Barbwire Grass Cynodon dactylon Green Couch Cyperus bifax Star Sedge Cyperus difformis Dirty Dora Cyperus gunnii Sedge Cyperus polystachyos Bunchy Sedge Dactyloctenium radulans Button Grass Dianella longifolia Dianella Dichanthium sericeum Queensland Blue Grass Digitaria brownii Tall Digitaria Dodonaea triangularis Fan Hop Bush Dodonaea boroniifolia Pinnate Dodonaea Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 2

15 Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Dodonaea viscosa Sticky Hopbush Echinochloa colona Awnless Barnyard Grass Echinochloa crus-galli Barnyard Grass Einadia hastata Berry Salt Bush Eleusine indica Crowsfoot Grass Emilia sonchifolia Emelia Enneapogon avenaceus Bottle Washer Epaltes australis Spreading Nutheads Eragrostis basedowii Neat Lovegrass Eragrostis brownii Browns Lovegrass Eragrostis elastica Elastic Grass Eragrostis fallax Tall Lovegrass Eragrostis sororia Blue Eragrostis Eucalyptus crebra Narrow Leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus exserta Queensland Peppermint Eucalyptus melanophloia Silver Leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus populnea Poplar Box Eulalia aurea Silky Brown Top Grass Euphorbia drummondii Caustic Weed Evolvulus alsinoides Speed Well Fimbristylis dichotoma Fimbristylis Fimbristylis nutans Star Sedge Gahnia aspera Gahnia Gahnia sieberiana Sword Grass Geijera parviflora Wilga Glycine clandestina Native Glycine Glycine tomentella Hairy Glycine Gnaphalium sp Cudweed Gomphocarpus physocarpus Balloon Cotton Bush Gomphrena celosioides Gomphrena Weed Gonocarpus micranthus subsp. ramosissimus Gonocarpus Gonocarpus urceolatus Gonocarpus Goodenia glabra Smooth Goodenia Goodenia rotundifolia Goodenia Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 3

16 Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Grevillia striata Beefwood Grewia latifolia Dysentery Plant Hakea lorea Bootlace Oak Heliotropium amplexicaule Blue Heliotrope Heteropogon contortus Black Spear Grass Indigofera linifolia Little ed Pea Iseilema vaginiflorum ed Flinders Grass Jacksonia scoparia Jacksonia Juncus usitatus Juncus Keraudrenia collina Keraudrenia Lepidium africanum Pepper Cress Leptochloa digitata Cane Grass Lomandra confertifolia Lomandra Lophostemon suaveolens Swamp Mahogany Lysicarpus angustifolius Budgeroo Macroptilium lathyroides Phasey Bean Maireana microphylla Small-Leaf Bluebush Medicago polymorpha Burr Medic Melaleuca irbyana Western Swamp Tea-Tree Malvastrum americanum Spiny Malvastrum Marsdenia lanceolata Marsdenia Melinis repens ed Natal Neptunia gracilis Native Sensitive Weed Opuntia tomentosa Velvet Tree Pear Oxalis corniculata Wood Sorrel Panicum decompositum Hairy Panic Panicum effusum Inquisitive Grass Parsonsia lanceolata Monkey ope Paspalidium caespitosum Brigalow Grass Pennisetum ciliare Buffel Grass Perotis rara Comet Grass Petalostigma pubescens Quinine Phyllanthus fuernrohrii Phyllanthus Phyllanthus similis Phyllanthus Phyllanthus gunnii Phyllanthus Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 4

17 Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Plectranthus parviflorus Native Coleus Podolepis jaceoides Showy Copper Wire Daisy Portulaca oleracea Pigweed Portulaca pilosa Pink Pigweed Pseuderanthemum variabile Love Flower Pterocaulon sphacelatum Apple Bush hynchosia minima hynchosia Sclerolaena birchii Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena muricata Burr Sesbania sp Sesbania Senna coronilloides Coffee Senna Setaria surgens Pigeon Grass Sida fibulifera Creeping Sida Sida platycalyx Sida Sida rhombifolia Paddy's Lucerne Sida retusa Golden Sida Sida subspicata Queensland Hemp Solanum cleistogamum Solanum Solanum ellipticum Potato Bush Solanum esuriale Brown Potato Bush Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade Spartothamnella puberula Spiky Bush Sporobolus australasicus Drop Seed Grass Sporobolus caroli Desert Sporobolus Sporobolus creber Western ats Tail Grass Stylosanthes scabra Fine Stem Stylo Tagetes minuta Stinking odger Themeda avenacea Wild Oats Grass Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass Tragus australianus Burr Grass Urochloa mosambicensis Mozambique Grass Ventilago viminalis Vine Tree Verbena bonariensis Bunchy Verbena Verbena officinalis Common Verbena Verbena tenuisecta Mayne s Curse Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 5

18 Scientific Name Common Name oad Corridor GLNG Corridor Wahlenbergia communis Large Bluebells Wahlenbergia gracilis Sprawling Bluebell Xanthorrhoea johnsonii Grasstree Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page 6

19 Ecological Assessment eport Appendix B Significant Species Observed on Lot 4 (WT217)

20 Significant Flora Species within the Proposed Corridors Species Easting Northing Status (GDA 94, Zone 55J) (GDA 94, Zone 55J) Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA eg Type A Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Gonocarpus urceolatus NCA Vulnerable Brachychiton rupestris NCA eg Type A Brachychiton rupestris NCA eg Type A Brachychiton rupestris NCA eg Type A Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Brachychiton populneus NCA eg Type A Gonocarpus urceolatus NCA Vulnerable Melaleuca irbyana NCA Endangered Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A Xanthorrhoea johnsonii NCA eg Type A

21 Project File Santos - Corridor eport Lot 4 ( ) 2 June 2011 evision 0 Aurecon Page ii