Bluewaters Power Station Phase III & IV...

Bluewaters Power Station

Phase III & IV expansion

Inspection of trees in area south

of the Power Station and along

the proposed pipeline route for

black-cockatoo nesting habitat

Prepared for

Griffin Power 3 Pty Ltd

by Strategen

April 2009

Bluewaters Power Station

Phase III & IV expansion

Inspection of trees in area south of the

Power Station and along the proposed

pipeline route for black-cockatoo

nesting habitat

Strategen is a trading name of

Strategen Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd

Suite 7, 643 Newcastle Street Leederville WA

ACN: 056 190 419

April 2009

Disclaimer and Limitation

This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the Client, in accordance with the agreement

between the Client and Strategen (“Agreement”).

Strategen accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for it in respect of any use of or reliance

upon this report by any person who is not a party to the Agreement.

In particular, it should be noted that this report is a qualitative assessment only, based on the scope of

services defined by the Client, budgetary and time constraints imposed by the Client, the information

supplied by the Client (and its agents), and the method consistent with the preceding.

Strategen has not attempted to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information supplied by the

Client.

Copyright and any other Intellectual Property arising from the report and the provision of the services

in accordance with the Agreement belongs exclusively to Strategen unless otherwise agreed and may

not be reproduced or disclosed to any person other than the Client without the express written

authority of Strategen.

Client: Griffin Power 3 Pty Ltd

Report Version Prepared by Reviewed by Submitted to Client

Copies Date

Draft Report V2 CM/LC HV Electronic 4/2/09

Final Report Final CM/LC HV Electronic 7/4/09

st rategen Bluewaters Power Station Phase III & IV expansion

TGG07066 Black Cockatoo Survey Final.doc

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 BACKGROUND 1

1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF REPORT 1

1.3 LOCATION 1

1.4 BLACK-COCKATOOS 1

1.5 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSAL 2

2. METHODOLOGY 5

2.1 PERSONNEL 5

2.2 AREA SOUTH OF THE POWER STATION 5

2.3 PROPOSED PIPELINE ROUTE 5

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 6


3.1.1 Potential habitat trees 6

3.1.2 Black-cockatoos observed on site 7


3.2.1 Potential habitat trees 10

3.2.2 Black-cockatoos observed along the pipeline route 11

4. CONCLUSION 12



5. MITIGATION 13

6. REFERENCES 20


TGG07066 Black Cockatoo Survey Final.doc

LIST OF TABLES

1. Black-cockatoo taxa and conservation status 2

2. Potential black-cockatoo nesting trees in the area south of the Power Station site 6

3. Potential black-cockatoo habitat trees along the proposed pipeline route 10

4. Observations of black-cockatoos along pipeline route 11

LIST OF FIGURES

1. Location of survey area and potential habitat trees previously identified on

Bluewaters site 3

2. Proposed pipeline route and potential habitat trees identified 4

3. Location of potential habitat trees within survey area 8

4. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view A 14

5. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view B 15

6. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view C 16

7. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view D 17

8. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view E 18

9. Proposed pipeline route – detailed view F 19

LIST OF PLATES

1. Dead jarrah tree with potential hollow 9

2. Chewed marri nuts indicating foraging by Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos 9


TGG07066 Black Cockatoo Survey Final.doc 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

Griffin Power 3 Pty Ltd (Griffin Power) is proposing to expand the Bluewaters Power Station facility

near Collie, by constructing and operating an additional two generator units comprising multi-fuel

boilers, steam turbine, generator and associated infrastructure. The expansion is known as Bluewaters

Power Station Phases III and IV (the Proposal) and also includes an ocean outfall pipeline to discharge

cooling blowdown water.

1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF REPORT

As part of the Proposal, several large trees with the potential to provide nesting habitat for black-

cockatoos are required to be cleared on the Bluewaters Power Station site. Strategen was

commissioned to examine these trees and an area of trees south of the proposed construction site to

determine the potential nesting and foraging habitat that will remain on site after construction of the

Proposal. This will help determine the significance of the proposed clearing in the local context.

An investigation of the proposed pipeline route was also conducted to determine whether any potential

cockatoo habitat trees are located within the easement.

1.3 LOCATION

The Bluewaters Power Station (the Power Station) is located approximately 4.5 km east of Collie in

the south west of Western Australia, about 150 km south of Perth. The Power Station is located within

the Coolangatta Industrial Estate at Lot 8, Wellington Location 796, which is freehold land owned

by W.R. Carpenter Agriculture Pty Ltd, a member of the Griffin Group of Companies. The area

surveyed is a patch of grazed remnant vegetation in the south western corner of this Lot with an area

of approximately 4 ha (Figure 1). It consists of a mixture of Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Marri

(Corymbia calophylla), with the majority of the trees being regrowth, but with some large specimens.

The proposed ocean outfall pipeline would be co-located with roads or other existing infrastructure

easements and traverses the Shires of Collie, Dardanup and Harvey (Figure 2). The pipeline route

traverses several areas of open forest or woodland of Jarrah and/or Marri.

1.4 BLACK-COCKATOOS

There are three taxa of black-cockatoos that may occur in the study area; the Forest Red-tailed Black-

Cockatoo, Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo and Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. The conservation significance

of these three taxa is outlined in Table 1.



Table 1 Black-cockatoo taxa and conservation status

Species EPBC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950

Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo - Schedule 1 (Vulnerable)

Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo Vulnerable Schedule 1 (Endangered)

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Endangered Schedule 1 (Endangered)

All three species nest in large tree hollows, often a near vertical spout (Bamford 2005). The Forest

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is known to nest in marri trees with hollows ranging from 0.12 to 0.41 m

diameter and hollow depths of 1 to 5 m (Bamford 2005).

1.5 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSAL

In the review of trees associated with the power station site, Bamford (2005) identified 16 large trees

with potential hollows, of which ten that will be cleared as part of the Proposal (Figure 1). These are

located in two areas of remnant vegetation, totalling approximately 4 ha. The vegetation is jarrah and

marri with no under-storey and was identified as potential foraging and breeding habitat for black-

cockatoos.

Mattiske (2008) identified several sections of the proposed pipeline route that transect vegetation units

containing jarrah and/or marri that may be potential nesting and foraging habitat. These sections

totalled approximately 16 km of the 70 km long route, however the majority of the proposed easement

in these sections has been previously cleared with most of the remnant vegetation being on the edges

of the easement.



Figure 1 Location of survey area and potential habitat trees previously identified on

Bluewaters site



Figure 2 Proposed pipeline route and potential habitat trees identified



2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 PERSONNEL

The methodology for the survey was developed in consultation with Dr Mike Bamford of Bamford

Consulting Ecologists and the field survey was carried out by Carolyn McGrath and Lisa Crossing of

Strategen.

This report was prepared by Strategen and reviewed by Dr Mike Bamford.

2.2 AREA SOUTH OF THE POWER STATION

The site was visited on 14 January 2008, to assess the potential for nesting and foraging habitat. The

area south of the Power Station site was traversed systematically by foot in north-south transects and

all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) over 600 mm1

were identified. The locations of the

trees were recorded with a hand-held GPS and the tree species, status (live/dead), DBH and number of

potential hollows in each tree that may be suitable for black-cockatoos were also recorded.

Confirming the suitability or use of these hollows by black-cockatoos was not possible during this

survey as they were only observed from the ground.

The area was also inspected for signs of foraging and the GPS locations of these foraging sites

recorded.

Any observations of cockatoos were also recorded using GPS and any behaviour noted.

2.3 PROPOSED PIPELINE ROUTE

Prior to conducting the survey, the vegetation mapping from the Flora and Vegetation Survey Report

of the proposed pipeline route (Mattiske 2008) was reviewed to determine the sections of the pipeline

route where suitable habitat trees may exist (i.e. vegetation units containing Jarrah and/or Marri).

The pipeline route was surveyed on 14 and 15 January 2008 to assess the potential for nesting habitat

within the easement. The majority of the pipeline route, where suitable vegetation was mapped by

Mattiske (2008) and trees within or adjacent to the easement that appeared to have a DBH of over

600 mm were inspected to identify any trees that may potentially support cockatoo nesting hollows.

The species, DBH, location, status (live/dead) and number of potential hollows of any potential habitat

trees were recorded.

Any signs of foraging and observations of black-cockatoos made opportunistically along the proposed

pipeline route were also recorded.

1

Previous studies have demonstrated that the minimum diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees that support Black Cockatoo

nests is 600 mm (Bancroft et al 2007).



3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


3.1.1 Potential habitat trees

Forty nine (49) large trees were identified within the area surveyed south of the Power Station, with 22

of these observed to have potential hollows suitable for black-cockatoos (e.g. Plate 1). The location,

species, status, DBH and general notes on the hollows of the potential nest trees are given in Table 2.

Locations of trees are also presented in Figure 3.

Tree hollows were inspected from ground observation only, however, there was no obvious evidence

of black-cockatoo activity within the hollows identified. While the results indicate that there are a

large number of potential habitat trees within this area, it should be noted that they were only trees that

appeared to contain suitable hollows based on visual inspection from the ground.

Table 2 Potential black-cockatoo nesting trees in the area south of the Power Station site

Easting* Northing Species Status DBH (mm) Notes

427867 6311682 Marri live 1000 No hollows observed

427869 6311665 Jarrah dead 800 At least 3 hollows observed



427849 6311593 Marri live 1100 Several potential hollows

Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin’s (several nuts chewed) and Carnaby’s (1 nut)


427843 6311629 Jarrah dead 600 2 large hollows observed

427835 6311666 Jarrah live 600 No hollows observed


Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin’s (2 nuts)




427780 6311625 Jarrah live 600 1 large observed, 1 potential hollow


Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin’s (many nuts)


427767 6311651 Jarrah dead 500 Several potential hollows

427787 6311674 Marri alive 900 No hollows observed



427786 6311717 Jarrah Partly dead 700 Several potential hollows



Easting* Northing Species Status DBH (mm) Notes

427773 6311697 Jarrah alive 700 1 large hollow observed, several potential hollows

427753 6311659 Jarrah alive 800 2 potential hollows

427741 6311635 Jarrah dead 600 3 potential hollows

427714 6311664 Jarrah dead 450 1 large potential hollow

427709 6311667 Jarrah alive 500 2 potential hollows

427722 6311700 Jarrah dead 600 Several potential hollows



427751 6311743 Marri alive 600 Several potential hollows

427740 6311731 Jarrah alive 600 No hollows observed

427715 6311713 Jarrah alive 750 Several potential hollows

427698 6311709 Jarrah dead 700 No hollows observed

427695 6311708 Marri dead 600 2 potential hollows



427652 6311743 Marri partly dead 1200 2 large hollows observed

427660 6311754 Jarrah alive 1100 Several potential hollows



427660 6311776 Marri alive 900 1 potential hollow

427663 6311778 Marri partly dead 800 2 potential hollows


427633 6311776 Jarrah partly dead 800 2 large hollows observed

427619 6311775 Jarrah dead 650 No hollows observed






427617 6311821 Marri alive 1100 1 potential hollow

427630 6311819 Marri dead 1100 1 potential hollow

* Coordinates in map datum GDA 94

3.1.2 Black-cockatoos observed on site

Four Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos were observed perching on the branches of a marri within the survey

area (427737E 6311737N). Evidence of foraging by black-cockatoos (marri nuts with feed marks),

mostly indicating foraging by Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos (Plate 2) and Forest Red-tailed Black-

Cockatoos, was noted below several marris within the study area (Table 2). No other behaviour was

noted.

Seven Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos were also observed in a jarrah in the area proposed to be cleared

directly north of the study area (427889E 6311874N).



Figure 3 Location of potential habitat trees within survey area



Plate 1 Dead jarrah tree with potential hollow

Plate 2 Chewed marri nuts indicating foraging by Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos




3.2.1 Potential habitat trees

Forty-four (44) large trees were identified along the pipeline route that had potential hollows suitable

for black-cockatoos (Figure 2; Figure 4 - Figure 9). Several other sites were noted where large

numbers of chewed marri nuts were observed. The location, tree species, status, DBH and general

notes on the hollows of the potential nest trees are given in Table 3. Tree hollows were only inspected

from the ground, however, there was no obvious evidence of black-cockatoo activity within these

hollows. Two sections along the pipeline route with vegetation classified as open forest of Jarrah and

Marri (Mattiske 2008) were inaccessible during this survey. Suitable habitat trees may also exist

within these sections. All potential habitat trees recorded along the pipeline route were located

adjacent to or on the edge of the existing easement or road. Therefore, detailed design of the pipeline

route should enable most of these trees to be avoided.

Table 3 Potential black-cockatoo habitat trees along the proposed pipeline route

Easting Northing Species Status DBH (mm) Notes


Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin's







418362 6311591 Marri live 850 1 potential hollow


Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin's & Carnaby's

418664 6311444 Jarrah live 1500 3 potential hollows

418171 6311693 Marri live 900 1-2 potential hollows

418071 6311665 Jarrah dead 900 3 potential hollows

417698 6311713 Marri live 800 3-4 large potential hollows

417009 6311651 Jarrah live 1000 1 potential hollow


416866 6311675 Jarrah live 1200 1 good potential hollow (bees’ nest on same tree)




411615 6312194 Jarrah live 2000 several potential hollows




412292 6312104 Marri live 900 2 potential hollows

409556 6312063 Marri live 1200 1 large potential hollow, 2 small potential hollows



Easting Northing Species Status DBH (mm) Notes

409417 6312088 Jarrah partial dead 1600 5 hollows, some large observed

408446 6312537 Jarrah live 1100 Several potential small hollows

408313 6312587 Marri partly dead 900 2 potential hollows

408232 6312637 Jarrah partly dead 1200 1 potential hollow observed

407937 6312762 Jarrah dead 1300 1 large potential hollow observed



403433 6314872 Jarrah live 1500 3 potential hollows

402639 6315239 Marri partly dead 1400 large hollow

401850 6315594 Jarrah partly dead 1600 Several potential hollows




401166 6315904 Jarrah partly dead 1100 3 potential hollows


400994 6315996 Jarrah dead 1100 several hollows both large and small

400784 6316087 Jarrah live 1300 3 large hollows

393746 6314712 Marri live 900 3 large hollows

~393130 ~6314566 unknown dead ~1000 Possibly potential hollows but unable to stop vehicle in vicinity


388399 6316000 Marri live 800 3 small potential hollows


388399 6316420 Marri live 1200 1-2 large potential hollows

Evidence of foraging by Red-tails/Baudin’s

388402 6316819 Marri dead 900 1 potential hollow



3.2.2 Black-cockatoos observed along the pipeline route

Black-cockatoos were observed in three locations along the proposed pipeline route (Table 4).

Table 4 Observations of black-cockatoos along pipeline route

Easting Northing Species Description

410088 6311803 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Five individuals flew overhead

408038 6312747 unknown Birds heard but not seen

403279 6314920 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Five individuals in Marri - evidence of foraging on ground



4. CONCLUSION


These results indicate that the 4 ha of vegetation within the Bluewaters property and immediately

south of the proposed expansion, contains large trees with potential hollows that may be suitable as

breeding habitat for black-cockatoos. The 4 ha of vegetation, previously surveyed by Bamford (2005),

to be partially cleared contains approximately 16 large trees with potential hollows, of which ten will

be cleared, and the 4 ha area to the south to be conserved contains approximately 22 large trees with

potential hollows. Therefore, approximately 74% of the vegetation on the property suitable for black-

cockatoos breeding and foraging, will be conserved after construction of the Proposal.

The proposed clearing is not likely to affect the abundance or extent of black-cockatoos in the area as

vegetation will be retained locally (on site) and there are also large areas of potential habitat nearby

within State Forest.


There are large trees with potential hollows on the edge of, or immediately adjacent to, the 20 m wide

indicative pipeline route. Most if not all of these trees can be avoided in the detailed pipeline design

and construction.



5. MITIGATION

Avoidance is the most desirable mitigation strategy for any potential clearing of black-cockatoo

habitat and this will be possible along most, if not all of the pipeline route.

However, within the Power Station site, there is no feasible way to avoid the clearing of the vegetation

that is directly adjacent to the existing infrastructure. The potential mitigation measures on site that

may be implemented for any clearing of black-cockatoo habitat include:

1. The retention of the remnant vegetation south west of the Power Station which has been shown to

contain potential nesting and foraging habitat for black-cockatoos.

2. Any suitable hollows that exist in the trees to be cleared can be salvaged and the piece of wood

containing the hollow attached to suitable large trees within the area to be conserved. The

salvaged hollows may need to be modified slightly to create good nesting sites for black-

cockatoos and to lessen the likelihood of feral bees using the hollow.

3. Planting new forage trees around the area of vegetation to be retained.



Figure 4 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view A



Figure 5 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view B



Figure 6 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view C



Figure 7 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view D



Figure 8 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view E



Figure 9 Proposed pipeline route – detailed view F



6. REFERENCES

Bamford Consulting Ecologists 2005, Inspection of trees on Bluewaters Farm (Coolangatta Industrial

Estate) for nesting by Black-Cockatoos, prepared for The Griffin Group.

Bancroft, W., Metcalf, B. and Bamford, M. 2007, Fauna Values of Griffin Coal’s proposed Ewington

conveyor alignment, unpublished report prepared for The Griffin Group, Bamford Consulting

Ecologists, Kingsley.

Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd 2008, Flora and Vegetation survey of Bluewaters Phases III and IV

Indicative Ocean Outfall Pipeline Vegetation Survey, Prepared for Griffin Power 3 Pty Ltd, July

2008.

Bluewaters Power Station Phase III & IV...

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