Slide 1: Caroona Coal Project: Ecological Studies of the Caroona EL Area
Caroona Coal Project Ecological Studies of the Caroona EL Area Presentation to the Community Consultative Committee 7 February 2011
Slide 2: Introduction
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Introduction • Purpose of presentation: Provide an overview of the process of conducting flora and fauna surveys; Provide an overview of the flora and fauna survey effort and results to date; Discuss how flora and fauna are being managed during explora
Slide 3: Caroona Exploration Licence (EL) Area
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Caroona Exploration Licence (EL) Area • Caroona Exploration Licence (EL) Area is approximately 344 km2 • Predominantly flat open plains (floodplains) with hilly outcrops associated with Doona Ridge, Nicholas Ridge and Georges Island Hill (ridge country). • P
Slide 4: Previous Ecological Records
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Previous Ecological Records • No reports documenting targeted ecological surveys within the Caroona EL have been identified. • We are currently seeking Forests NSW records and regional vegetation mapping from Namoi CMA. • The following threatened species rec
Slide 5: Ecological Survey Methods
Caroona Coal Project Ecological Survey Methods
Slide 6: Flora Survey Methods
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Flora Survey Methods • To date, targeted flora surveys have been undertaken in November 2008, February 2009, October 2009 and November 2009. • Plot-based flora surveys were undertaken using methods also used by most NSW government vegetation management agenc
Slide 7: Flora Survey Locations
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Flora Survey Locations
Slide 8: Fauna Survey Methods
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods • Three periods of fauna survey (of 5 days duration each) were completed within the EL area between 2009 and 2010. • Detailed systematic fauna surveys were undertaken in March 2009, July 2009 and February 2010. • Fauna surveys were under
Slide 9: Fauna Survey Locations
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Locations
Slide 10: Fauna Survey Methods: Trapping Surveys
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods TRAPPING SURVEYS • A variety of different types of traps, targeting a wide range of species, are used during the trapping surveys including: Terrestrial and arboreal Elliot traps Terrestrial and arboreal hair funnels Terrestrial ca
Slide 11: Fauna Survey Methods (cont): Area Searches
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods (cont) AREA SEARCHES • A variety of area searches of differing duration and purpose are undertaken as part of the fauna survey including: Spotlighting searches Diurnal and nocturnal reptile and amphibian searches Bird searches Mi
Slide 12: Fauna Survey Methods (cont)
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods (cont)
Slide 13: Fauna Survey Methods (cont): Habitat Assessments
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods (cont) HABITAT ASSESSMENTS The following fauna habitat attributes are assessed during surveys • The presence (and number / % cover) of: Logs Stumps Rocks and outcropping Stags and hollow-bearing trees (including the size and orie
Slide 14: Fauna Survey Methods (cont): Koala Habitat
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Survey Methods (cont) Koala Habitat Survey Methods • State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) 44 is used to determine if an area contains potential or core koala habitat. • SEPP 44 assessments are undertaken at each of the plot-based flora sampling s
Slide 15: Ecological Survey Results
Caroona Coal Project Ecological Survey Results
Slide 16: Flora Species Recorded
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Flora Species Recorded • Umwelt has recorded a total of 304 species during surveys for this project within the EL area, of which 231 (76%) are native and 73 (24%) are introduced species. • Of the total flora species recorded, 1 species was from the Class Con
Slide 17: Fauna Habitat Recorded
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Habitat Recorded • Several general fauna habitat types are located within the EL area. • Each of these broad habitat types has a range of characteristics which influence the habitat value, and the range of fauna species which are likely to be identifie
Slide 18: Fauna Species Recorded
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Species Recorded • A total of 162 fauna species have been recorded by Umwelt during surveys of the EL area, consisting of: 111 birds 12 reptiles 7 amphibians 32 mammals • Some of the species recorded occur in very specific habitat types (such a
Slide 19: Threatened Species
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Species • A number of threatened flora and fauna species are either known or considered to potentially occur within the EL area. • No records of threatened flora species from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) Atla
Slide 20: Threatened Fauna Species
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Fauna Species • Threatened fauna species that have been recorded by Umwelt include: spotted harrier (Circus assimilis) (TSC – V) little lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla) (TSC – V) turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella) (TSC – V) brown treecre
Slide 21: Threatened Fauna Species (cont)
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Fauna Species (cont) koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) (TSC – V) eastern freetail-bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis) (TSC – V) large-eared pied bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) (TSC – V) (EPBC – V) large-footed myotis (Myotis adversus) (TSC – V) great
Slide 22: Threatened Fauna Locations
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Fauna Locations
Slide 23: Vegetation Communities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Vegetation Communities • The vegetation communities present in the EL area have been broadly mapped through aerial photograph interpretation (API) and ground-truthed as part of the vegetation surveys conducted to date. This will be an ongoing process of refi
Slide 24: Vegetation Communities (cont)
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Vegetation Communities (cont) • Vegetation communities present in the EL area (cont): Dirty Gum Woodland Weeping Myall Woodland River Red Gum Woodland Derived Native Grassland Native Grassland on Cracking Clay Soil Native Grassland Tall Shrubla
Slide 25: Preliminary Woodland Community Mapping
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Preliminary Woodland Community Mapping
Slide 26: Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs)
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) • 7 threatened ecological communities (TECs) are known, or considered likely, to occur within the EL area based on ecological survey work and environmental due diligence inspections conducted to date. • These TECs inc
Slide 27: Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) - cont
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) - cont • TECs known, or with potential, to occur in the EL area: Native Vegetation on Cracking Clay Soils of the Liverpool Plains (TSC Act) Natural Grasslands on Basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of norther
Slide 28: Managing Flora and Fauna during Exploration
Caroona Coal Project Managing Flora and Fauna during Exploration
Slide 29: Due Diligence Surveys - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Due Diligence Surveys - Exploration Activities • Due diligence inspections are carried out for all proposed exploration activity areas for the presence of threatened flora and fauna species, or their habitats, and other significant ecological values. • The r
Slide 30: Due Diligence Inspection Sites
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Due Diligence Inspection Sites
Slide 31: Potential Flora Impacts - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Potential Flora Impacts - Exploration Activities • Exploration activities have the potential to impact on vegetation in the following ways: Slashing of vegetation along seismic lines and in drilling compounds Removal of fallen timber to facilitate machin
Slide 32: Flora Control Measures - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Flora Control Measures - Exploration Activities • Ecological mitigation measures include: due diligence inspections locate exploration activities and access roads in areas that will require only minimal ground disturbance; where possible, locate explor
Slide 33: Potential Fauna Impacts - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Potential Fauna Impacts - Exploration Activities • Exploration activities can disturb fauna in the following ways: Removal of habitat through vegetation clearing or log/stump removal Noise and vibration from the activities and vehicle movements Disturb
Slide 34: Fauna Control Measures - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Fauna Control Measures - Exploration Activities • Ecological mitigation measures include: due diligence inspections activities relocated to avoid impacts where possible prior to clearing of shrubs and juvenile trees, inspections are undertaken within t
Slide 35: Due Diligence Survey Results - Exploration Activities
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Due Diligence Survey Results - Exploration Activities • Exploration activities undertaken to date have not resulted in significant impacts on threatened species, populations or ecological communities. • No threatened flora species or populations have been re
Slide 36: Where to from here?
Caroona Coal Project Where to from here?
Slide 37: Where to from here?
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Where to from here? • Further ecological studies need to be undertaken in areas not previously surveyed. • Further seasonal ecological surveys required (eg autumn and early spring surveys). • Further ground truthing required to improve accuracy of vegetation
Slide 38: Where to from here?
Ecological Studies in the Caroona EL Area Where to from here? • The results of the ecological studies will continue to be discussed with the community. • If a mining project is put forward for approval, these detailed ecological studies will provide high quality information for the preparation of th
Slide 39: Questions/Discussion
Caroona Coal Project Questions/Discussion