Metro Mining Appendix H2 - Metro Mining Community and Chapter 6 - Marine Ecology ... ·...

Metro MiningBauxite Hills Project

Environmental Impact Statement

Metro MiningChapter 6 - Marine Ecology

Environmental Impact Statement

Metro MiningAppendix H2 - Metro Mining Community andSocial Responsibility Policy

i

Table of Contents

6 Marine Ecology ..................................................................................................................................... 6-1

6.1 Project Overview .................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Regulatory Framework ....................................................................................................................... 6-1

6.2.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .......................... 6-2 6.2.2 Nature Conservation Act 1992 .................................................................................................. 6-2 6.2.3 Environmental Protection Act 1994 ....................................................................................... 6-2 6.2.4 Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 .................................................................. 6-2 6.2.5 Fisheries Act 1994 .......................................................................................................................... 6-3

6.3 Objectives and Performance Outcomes ....................................................................................... 6-3 6.3.1 Protection Objectives..................................................................................................................... 6-3 6.3.2 Performance Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 6-3

6.4 Assessment Method .............................................................................................................................. 6-4 6.4.1 Marine Development Footprint ................................................................................................ 6-4 6.4.2 Desktop Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 6-8 6.4.3 Field Surveys ..................................................................................................................................... 6-8

6.5 Existing Environmental Values........................................................................................................ 6-9 6.5.1 Coastal Habitats ............................................................................................................................ 6-12 6.5.2 Benthic Habitats ............................................................................................................................ 6-19 6.5.3 Commonwealth Marine Area .................................................................................................. 6-22 6.5.4 Conservation Significant Species ........................................................................................... 6-26 6.5.5 Fisheries ........................................................................................................................................... 6-36

6.6 Potential Impacts ................................................................................................................................ 6-37 6.6.1 Marine Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 6-38 6.6.2 Marine Species ............................................................................................................................... 6-42 6.6.3 Marine Pests ................................................................................................................................... 6-45 6.6.4 Fisheries ........................................................................................................................................... 6-46 6.6.5 Summary of Impacts to Marine Ecology ............................................................................ 6-47

6.7 Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 6-48 6.7.1 Predicted Cumulative Impacts ............................................................................................... 6-49

6.8 Management and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................... 6-51 6.8.1 Management of Impacts ............................................................................................................ 6-51 6.8.2 Matters of State Environmental Significance ................................................................... 6-56

6.9 Qualitative Risk Assessment .......................................................................................................... 6-70 6.10 Summary................................................................................................................................................. 6-73 6.11 Commitments ....................................................................................................................................... 6-75 6.12 ToR Cross-reference .......................................................................................................................... 6-76

List of Figures

Figure 6-1 Barge Loading Facility and infrastructure ....................................................................................... 6-6 Figure 6-2 Indicative OGV anchorage area and reef habitat ........................................................................... 6-7 Figure 6-3 Bathymetry of Skardon River (September 2009) with bed features noted .................................. 6-11 Figure 6-4 Skardon River marine vegetation and seagrass habitats .............................................................. 6-17 Figure 6-5 Skardon River wetland classification ............................................................................................ 6-18 Figure 6-6 Seagrass survey of the Skardon River entrance (Chartrand and Thomas, 2010) .......................... 6-20 Figure 6-7 West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve ........................................................................ 6-22 Figure 6-8 North Marine Region area ............................................................................................................ 6-26

Bauxite Hills Project Marine Ecology

ii

List of Tables

Table 6-1 Regional ecosystems within the Skardon River - marine vegetation ............................................. 6-12 Table 6-2 Vegetation of the Skardon River (adapted from Roelofs et al., 2002) ........................................... 6-14 Table 6-3 Benthic habitat surveys undertaken from the Skardon River (1986-2015) ................................... 6-19 Table 6-4 Percentage cover from the Skardon River, anchorage options and a nearshore reef patch ......... 6-21 Table 6-5 Conservation status listed species that are known to occur or likely to occur .............................. 6-27 Table 6-6 Listed marine species considered unlikely to occur ....................................................................... 6-28 Table 6-7 Number of turtle nesting tracks at four beach regions along western Cape York (modified from

Bell, 2004) ...................................................................................................................................................... 6-31 Table 6-8 Incidental snubfin dolphin sightings by PaCE in waters surrounding the Skardon River ............... 6-34 Table 6-9 MSES as they apply to the Bauxite Hills Project ............................................................................. 6-56 Table 6-10 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Flatback Turtle .................................................. 6-60 Table 6-11 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Green Turtle ...................................................... 6-61 Table 6-12 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Hawksbill Turtle ................................................ 6-62 Table 6-13 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Loggerhead Turtle ............................................. 6-63 Table 6-14 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Olive Ridley Turtle ............................................. 6-64 Table 6-15 Assessment against significant impact criteria: three sawfish species and Speartooth Shark .... 6-65 Table 6-16 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Narrow Sawfish ................................................. 6-67 Table 6-17 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Estuarine Crocodile ........................................... 6-67 Table 6-18 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Dugong .............................................................. 6-68 Table 6-19 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Australian Snubfin Dolphin and Indo-Pacific

Humpback Dolphin ........................................................................................................................................ 6-69 Table 6-20 Assessment against significant impact criteria: Coastal Manta Ray ............................................ 6-70 Table 6-21 Qualitative risk assessment - marine ecology .............................................................................. 6-70 Table 6-22 Commitments – marine ecology .................................................................................................. 6-75 Table 6-23 ToR cross-reference – flora and fauna ......................................................................................... 6-76

List of Plates

Plate 6-1: Typical saltmarsh (foreground) and mangroves (rear) .................................................................. 6-13 Plate 6-2: Mangrove community in Project area ........................................................................................... 6-14

6-1

6 Marine Ecology

This chapter identifies the key marine habitats, species of significance and sediment and water

quality characteristics within the Bauxite Hills Project (the Project) area. Potential impacts are

assessed in this chapter along with management and mitigation measures to reduce the identified

potential impacts. The technical marine ecology report, prepared by Ports and Coastal Environment

(PaCE), can be found in Appendix B3 – Marine Ecology Technical Report.

6.1 Project Overview

Aldoga Minerals Pty Ltd (Aldoga), a 100% owned subsidiary of Metro Mining Limited (Metro

Mining), proposes to develop the Project located on a greenfield site on the western coastline of

Cape York, Queensland, approximately 35 kilometres (km) northeast of Mapoon. The Project will

include an open cut operation, haul roads, Barge Loading Facility (BLF), Roll on/Roll off (RoRo)

facility, transhipping and will produce and transport up to 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of ore

over approximately 12 years. The mine will not be operational during the wet season.

The Project is characterised by several shallow open cut pits that will be connected via internal haul

roads. The internal haul roads will be connected to a main north-south haul road that will link with

the Mine Infrastructure Area (MIA), BLF and RoRo facility located to the north of the pits on the

Skardon River. Bauxite will be screened in-pit and then hauled to the product stockpile using road

train trucks.

Bauxite from the Project is suitable as a direct shipping ore product (i.e. ore is extracted and loaded

directly to ships with no washing or tailings dams required). Bauxite will be transported by barge

via the Skardon River to the transhipment site, approximately 12 km offshore, and loaded into ocean

going vessels (OGVs) and shipped to customers. No dredging or bed-levelling for transhipping is

proposed as part of this Project.

OGVs of between 50,000 to 120,000 tonne (t) each will be loaded at the transhipment anchorage

site. Vessels will be loaded and bauxite will be transported to OGVs 24 hours per day with barges

having an initial capacity of approximately 3,000 t to meet early production volumes, increasing up

to 7,000 t as the Project reaches a maximum production volume of 5 Mtpa.

The construction of the mine is due to commence in April 2017 and is expected to take seven months

to complete. The first shipment of bauxite is planned for October 2017. The Project will be 100%

fly-in fly-out (FIFO) due to its remote location. The Project will operate over two 12 hour shifts per

day for approximately eight months of the year and is expected to employ up to 254 employees

during peak operations. In addition to the workforce, it is expected that the Project will result in the

employment of additional workers through local and regional businesses servicing the

accommodation camp and the construction and operation of the mine.

6.2 Regulatory Framework

The protection of the marine environment is governed by several legislative acts including

Commonwealth and Queensland State legislation. Those with relevance to the Project activities

include:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth);

Nature conservation Act 1992;


6-2

Environmental Protection Act 1994

Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995; and

Fisheries Act 1994.

Under the Queensland Marine Parks Act 2004 there are three designated State marine parks,

however none of these occur in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

6.2.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides a

framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna and

ecological communities (among other things) as defined under the act as Matters of National

Environmental Significance (MNES). Under the EPBC Act the Department of the Environment (DotE)

has jurisdiction over actions that are likely to have a significant impact on MNES.

6.2.2 Nature Conservation Act 1992

The NC Act provides for the protection and management of native wildlife and habitat that support

native species with particular regard to:

Activities that may cause disturbance (that is tamper, damage, destroy, mark, move or dig up)

to animal breeding places; and

The taking of fauna.

Subordinate legislation, such as the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006, lists protected

species and areas to which the regulatory provisions of the NC Act apply including. This Regulation

lists terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal species presumed extinct, endangered, vulnerable,

rare, common, international or prohibited. It recommends management objectives for the

protection and maintenance of these species in Queensland, as appropriate.

6.2.3 Environmental Protection Act 1994

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) has a broad objective of achieving sustainable

development within Queensland. The subordinate EP Regulation defines Category A and Category

B environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs). Category A ESAs include national parks, marine parks, the

Great Barrier Reef region and the wet tropics area. Category B ESAs include some classes of

protected areas, endangered regional ecosystem (RE) types, declared fish habitat areas and areas

subject to international conventions.

6.2.4 Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995

The Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (CPM Act) provides for the protection,

conservation, rehabilitation and management of the coast, including its resources and biological

diversity. The CPM Act acknowledges the goal, core objectives and guiding principles of the National

Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) in the use of the coastal zone.

An approval for tidal works will be required under the CPM Act. Works associated with the proposed

BLF may include construction within tidal areas and the disposal of excavated material within tidal

areas. This will also include the construction of the loading berth located outside the Skardon River

in the Gulf of Carpentaria.


6-3

6.2.5 Fisheries Act 1994

The main purpose of the Fisheries Act 1994 is to provide for the use, conservation and enhancement

of the fish resources and habitats as a way to apply and promote the principles of ESD. It regulates

the taking and possession of specific fish, removal of marine vegetation, the control of development

in areas of fish habitat and lists noxious fish species.

An approval is likely to be required to remove mangroves for the construction of the BLF under this

Act.

6.3 Objectives and Performance Outcomes

6.3.1 Protection Objectives

As per the Terms of Reference (ToR) the protection objectives relevant to this chapter are:

The activity is operated in a way that protects the environmental values of associated marine

flora and fauna;

Choice of the site, at which the activity is to be carried out, minimises serious environmental

harm on areas of high conservation value and special significance and sensitive land uses at

adjacent places;

Location for the activity on a site protects all environmental values relevant to adjacent sensitive

use;

Avoids significant residual impacts to matters of national and state environmental significance;

mitigates impacts where they cannot be avoided and offsets any residual impacts; and

The activity is developed and operated in a way that avoids environmental harm including

impacts on marine environmental values.

6.3.2 Performance Outcomes

The performance outcomes for the protection of the marine environment are based on Schedule 5,

Tables 1 and 2 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008:

Activities that disturb flora and fauna will be managed in a way that prevents or minimises

adverse effects on the environmental values of the marine environment;

The activity will be managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on the environmental

values of land due to unplanned releases or discharges, including spills and leaks of

contaminants;

Areas of high conservation value and special significance likely to be affected by the proposal

are identified and evaluated and any adverse effects on the areas are minimised;

The activity, and components of the activity, are carried out on the site in a way that prevents

or minimises adverse effects on the use of surrounding marine environment and allows for

effective management of the environmental impacts of the activity.


6-4

6.4 Assessment Method

6.4.1 Marine Development Footprint

To accurately assess the potential impacts to the marine environment the proposed marine

development footprint and activities were identified. Key elements of the Project in regards to the

marine environment and potential impacts include the following:

BLF;

RoRo facility;

Marine operations and barge route;

Barge moorings; and

Offshore transhipment area.

The aforementioned Project marine components are summarised below and in further detail in

Chapter 2 – Description of the Project.

Dredging or bed-levelling is not proposed to access the Skardon River. No changes to bed

morphology is expected from the proposed operations.

6.4.1.1 Barge Loading Facility

The proposed BLF will be located at the river bend at the downstream extent of the Mine Lease Area

(MLA) in the deep water to achieve an alongside depth of 4.5 m at Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)

(Figure 6-1). The BLF consists of the following components:

A causeway of approximately 100 m in length, with a 6 m wide crest will be constructed along

the alignment of the outloading conveyor;

A piled jetty consisting of a 6m wide concrete deck, supported on steel girders, which are in turn

supported by steel headstocks, each on two driven steel tubular piles. The piled headstocks are

at 12 m centres along the alignment of the jetty;

A loading head deck to support the barge loader, to provide a small working deck for

maintenance access to the barge loader, to provide access to berthed vessels and to allow turn-

around space for vehicles; and

Four berthing dolphins are provided on either side of the loading head, to provide vessel

berthing points over an extended quay line (Figure 6-1).

6.4.1.2 Roll on/Roll off Facility

The RoRo facility will be located adjacent to the MIA on the Skardon River. The facility includes a

concrete barge ramp designed for logistic support barges, to facilitate the unloading of cargo. The

ramp will be located at approximately mean sea level to allow access at high tide by barges with a

maximum draft < 2.0 m. To limit mangrove removal the ramp will be located at the narrowest

section of mangroves that adjoins the MIA.


6-5

The barge ramp consists of precast concrete slab panels placed over rock fill. The slope of the ramp

is at 1:7, which is the preferred ramp slope for the operation of logistic support barges. Ramp top

level will be set at Highest Astronomical Tide level, to place it above normal high tide events.

6.4.1.3 Barge Operations

Bauxite transportation will be via shallow draft barge through the Skardon River and will occur 24

hours per day during the eight to nine month operational period (the Project will not operate in the

wet season). Barges with a capacity of approximately 3,000 t will be used in year one to deliver 1

Mtpa and from year two onwards barges with a capacity of approximately 7,000 twill be used to

deliver up to 5 Mtpa to awaiting Ocean Going Vessels (OGVs). Barge loading will be carried out using

a stationary conveyor transferring the ore from the product stockpiles to the barge.

Each barge will be loaded taking into consideration potential navigational limitations at the time of

loading. Where loading occurs during periods of low water, barges will be light-loaded to retain

sufficient under keel depth. Conversely, during periods of high water, barges will be more fully

loaded, but still within design specification of the barge, to cater for greater under keel depths. It is

expected that transit at the river mouth will be limited for approximately seven hours a day during

low tide.

Shallow draft tugboats will standby with the barges during loading. Barges will then be delivered to

the transhipment location where they will be discharged to the awaiting carrier. Predicted barge

movements are detailed in Chapter 2 – Description of the Project and Appendix I – Shipping

Technical Report.

6.4.1.4 Barge Moorings

When not in use the barges will be moored in the Skardon River clear of other river traffic. The base

case will include four sets of pile type moorings (consisting of two piles) for each tug and barge set

and two sets of piles for each of the two floating cranes (Figure 6-1). Piles are planned to be removed

at the end of mine life. The moorings will be designed to withstand cyclones (cyclone rated) and tugs

and barges will be secured to these moorings during the wet season.

A separate single “day mooring” will be established in offshore water between the mouth of the

Skardon River and the OGV loading area. The structure of the moorings will be like other standard

moorings, comprising a single weight with a buoy attached. This mooring will not be cyclone rated

but will be of sufficient design to be able to withstand 30 knots and 2 m seas.

6.4.1.5 Offshore Transhipment Area

The options for the OGV anchorage area has been assessed to ensure it is sufficiently far away from

any sensitive marine habitats (reef assemblages) to avoid any potential impacts. The current

location is to the north of the reef assemblages and to the north west of the Skardon River mouth.

The indicative OGV anchorage area, relevant to the different OGV sizes, is shown in Figure 6-2.

Whilst this proposed anchorage area requires a longer and less direct transit than some other

options that had been proposed, Metro Mining decided this option provided the lowest risk of

environmental impact.

Bauxite will be shipped to overseas markets via a combination of Supramax, Ultramax, Panamax and

Mini Capesize Class Vessels. Geared Supramax and Ultramax class OGVs will be used during year

one and until such time that the floating crane system is established. Once the floating crane is

operational all four classes of OGV will be utilised. Dependent on the class of OGV, loading will take

approximately four to six days, requiring between 15 to 20 loaded barges to complete each cargo.

0 20 40

SCALE 1:1,000 AT A3 SHEET SIZE

60 80 100m

SCALE 1:

JETTY &BERTH

SCALE 1:1000

Figure 6-1: Barge loading facility and infrastructure

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!

!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!

!(

!( !(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

ML 20676

BAUXITE HILLS 1

ML 20689

BAUXITE HILLS 6 WEST

(BH6 WEST)

ML 20688

BAUXITE HILLS

6 EAST

(BH6 EAST)

Panamax

Supramax

Ultramax

Mini Cape

Day Mooring

Pace 3 - A1

Pace 1 - A3

Pace 2 - A25

SKA R DON

RIVER

NAM

ALETACREEK

NAMALETA CREEK

590000

590000

600000

600000

610000

610000

620000

620000

86

90

00

0

86

90

00

0

87

00

00

0

87

00

00

0

DATE

DISCLAIMERCDM Smith has endeavoured to ensure accuracy

and completeness of the data. CDM Smith assumes no legal liability or responsibility for any decisions or actions resulting from the information contained

within this map.

GCS GDA 1994 MGA Zone 54

/0 2,000 4,0001,000

Metres

Indicative OGV anchorage area

©COPYRIGHT CDM SMITHThis drawing is confidential and shall only be used

for the purpose of this project.

APPROVED

DRAWN

07/04/16

CHECKED

Legend

!! Shipping Route

Watercourse

Indicative Reef 1km Buffer

Indicative Reef

Limit of Coastal Waters

Accommodation Camp

Haul Road

Pit Extents

Mine Lease Area

Skardon River Port Limits

Skardon River Pilotage Area

West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Multiple Use Zone

Special Purpose Zone

DATA SOURCEMEC Mining; 1sSRTM v1.0 Geoscience Australia 2011;

Australian Government, Department of the Environment; QLD Government Open Source Data;

Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (Geofabric) PRODUCT SUITE V2.1.1

DRG Ref: BES150115-002-R1_PACE_Rfs

DESIGNER CLIENT

1:90,000Scale @ A3 -

-DESIGNED

CHECKED -

MD

MD

-

R Details Date

15/07/151

Notes:

2

-

-

-

-

-

F:\1_PROJECTS\BES150115_Bauxite_Hill\GIS\DATA\MXD\FINAL\ERA\PACE\BES150115-002-R1_PACE_Rfs.mxd

For Information Purposes

Updated Pit Extents

-

-

-

-

-

Barge Loading Area

Haul Road

Haul Road

Accommodation Camp

Figure 6-2

07/04/16

Camp Access

Road


6-8

6.4.2 Desktop Assessment

A desktop assessment was carried out to identify potential matters of ecological significance

including marine species and communities, as well as other ecological features occurring within the

vicinity of the Project area. The desktop review was used to obtain background information relating

to the potential presence and distribution of species particularly those listed under the NC Act and

EPBC Act. Desktop studies involved database searches and review of:

Commonwealth EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool (Department of the Environment

(DotE)) - as a number of EPBC-listed species have changed status over the course of this

assessment the most recent search available has been used as a reference point for assessment

of marine ecology values;

Queensland wetland mapping as sourced from EHP’s Wetland Info database;

A number of reports with direct relevance to the Project area include:

- Port of Skardon River: Marine habitat resources survey April/May 2002 (Roeloffs et

al., Marine Ecology Group, QFS, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, 2002)

- Port of Skardon River: Marine Habitat Resources Survey, September 2003 (Roeloffs et

al. Marine Ecology Group, QFS, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, 2004)

- Port of Skardon River: Marine Habitat Resources Survey, December 2006 (Rasheed et

al., Marine Ecology Group, QFS, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, 2007)

- Benthic marine habitat of the Skardon River mouth, May 2010 (Chartrand and

Thomas, Marine Ecology Group, QFS, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, 2010)

Reporting with regard to marine fauna for nearby Environmental Impact Statements for the

Skardon River Bauxite Project (SRBP) Marine Ecological Survey (November 2014 (RPS, 2014))

and the Amrun (South of Embley) Project (Weipa area).

The extensive marine ecology surveys and reporting undertaken as part of the baseline work for the

previously proposed Pisolite Hills Project has been used as the predominant marine ecology

document for the Project. This work was focussed on Port Musgrave, approximately 25 km south of

the Skardon River. As Port Musgrave is recognised as having a significantly larger, protected

estuarine area than Skardon River, has been mapped with relatively large seagrass meadows and is

fed from the large perennial rivers of both the Ducie and the Wenlock systems, the findings in the

Port Musgrave work are considered to represent a potentially wider range of species niches than

would be available in the Skardon River. The Project has adopted the conservative approach of

assuming any species found in the Port Musgrave study could also occur in the Skardon River, even

where conditions may be less optimal than in Port Musgrave.

6.4.3 Field Surveys

Field surveys of Skardon River for benthic marine habitat and seagrass extent were undertaken by

PaCE in 2014 and 2015. The surveys were conducted to better understand benthic habitats from

upstream of the proposed barge developments to the Skardon River entrance. Offshore habitats,

within three proposed transhipment locations, and several bathymetric ‘high spots’ were also

surveyed.

PaCE (2014) surveyed the benthic habitats adjacent to the three BLF locations originally proposed

by Metro Mining during the end of the dry season (November). A total of 48 locations were surveyed


6-9

using benthic video techniques. The video surveys covered a distance of approximately 20-30 m of

seabed over a two minute period at each location.

In addition to the survey undertaken around the proposed BLF options for seagrass, data was also

collected for other benthic habitats. The survey included 116 locations to extend the understanding

of benthic habitats downstream to the Skardon River entrance and offshore at the proposed

transhipment locations. Sites where distributed randomly within the river system or targeted given

available bathymetric survey information (i.e. rocky reef). Video data was analysed and biota

recorded within key classes including, total live cover, macroalgae, macroinvertebrates, coral and

bare substrate cover.

Water quality and sediment samples were also collected as part of PaCE’s surveys and these are

discussed in Chapter 9 – Water Quality and Chapter 19 – Coastal Environment.

6.5 Existing Environmental Values

The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large and relatively shallow body of water which is enclosed on three

sides by the Australian mainland and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea. The Gulf of

Carpentaria can be subject to seasonal fluctuations in sea level (up to 0.5 m) as a result of trade

winds (e.g. during the monsoon) and forcing from the Arafura Sea (Wolanski, 1993). These seasonal

sea level fluctuations can result in large areas being inundated by tides in the summer months

(during the monsoon). As a result these areas cannot support mangrove or freshwater vegetation

and therefore form salt flats.

Ryan et al., (2003) describes Skardon River as a tidal creek given the low freshwater input, low-

gradient and seaward-sloping coastal flats. These systems are primarily influenced by tidal currents

and as a result comprise straight, sinuous or dendritic tidal channels that taper and shoal to

landward. The mudflats which surround the creeks tend to be high relative to the tidal planes, with

seawater being mainly confined to the tidal channels except during high tide on spring tides. Tidal

creeks are usually highly turbid due to the strong tidal currents generated by the macro-tidal ranges

allowing fine sediments to remain in suspension during spring tides. The tidal action results in the

transport of sediment into the estuary, where the sheltered conditions eventually allow the coarser

sediment fractions to settle. The currents within the creek will be influenced by the channel depth

and orientation along with the difference in tidal range through the creek.

The configuration of the Skardon River ranges from a relatively narrow 300 m width at the river

entrance, quickly expanding to approximately 1 km upstream. The river starts to narrow about 3 km

upstream and ranges in widths of between 500 to 600 m to the downstream point where the river

branches into two arms. The site of the BLF and RoRo are located approximately 10 km upstream

of the mouth of the river and approximately 2 km upstream of where the river branches into two

arms. The river is approximately 350 m at this point. Further upstream the river the river continues

to narrow and turns from being tidal into narrow ephemeral drains.

Due to the narrow entrance of the Skardon River combined with the complex and relatively shallow

bathymetry of the ebb tidal delta and the offshore channel, swell waves are not expected to

propagate inside the Skardon River. The area upstream of the entrance will therefore only be

influenced by locally generated wind waves.

The dominant wind direction does not align with the estuaries main axis. This feature combined

with the river configuration causes the locally generated wind waves to be small and have a short

wave period. Based on this, along with the dominance of tidal currents within the river, wind

generated waves in the estuary are not considered to be a significant process.


6-10

The bathymetry of the main channel in Skardon River along with areas of indicative bed forms are

shown in Figure 6-3 and the results of the 2015 bathymetry survey are included in Appendix B3.

The highest tidal current speeds in an estuary tend to occur close to the entrance. Due to the

configuration of the Skardon River, the peak speeds are expected to occur at the constriction of the

entrance where a flatbed occurs. The flatbed indicates that the flow velocity exceeds the speed at

which ripples and mega ripples form, with peak current speeds potentially exceeding 1 m/s.

Offshore of the entrance, mega ripples and sand waves occur in the main channel where current

speeds remain high due to the constrained channel focusing the flow.

608000

608000

610000

610000

612000

612000

614000

614000

616000

616000

618000

61800086

96

00

0

86

96

00

0

86

98

00

0

86

98

00

0

87

00

00

0

87

00

00

0

87

02

00

0

87

02

00

0

DATE



within this map.


/0 500 1,000250

Metres

Figure 6-

Bathymetry of Skardon River (September 2009)

with bed features noted



APPROVED

DRAWN

22/03/16

CHECKED

Legend

Bathymetry (m)

0.1 - 1

-0.9 - 0

-1.9 - -1

-2.9 - -2

-3.9 - -3

-4.9 - -4

-5.9 - -5

-6.9 - -6

-7.9 - -7

-8.9 - -8

-9.9 - -9

-10.9 - -10

-11.2 - -11

Watercourse

Barge Loading Area

Metro Mining Mine Lease Area

Haul Road

Pit Extents

DATA SOURCEAcoustic Imaging; MEC Mining;

QLD Government Open Source Data;Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric

(Geofabric) PRODUCT SUITE V2.1.1 DRG Ref: BES150115-027-R1_BATHYM_SR

DESIGNER CLIENT

1:30,000Scale @ A3 -

-DESIGNED

CHECKED -

MD

MD

-

R Details Date

16/07/151

Notes:

2

-

-

-

-

-

F:\1_PROJECTS\BES150115_Bauxite_Hill\GIS\DATA\MXD\FINAL\ERA\BES150115-027-R1_BATHYM_SR.mxd

Draft

Updated Pit Extents

-

-

-

-

-

Barge Loading Area

Existing Gulf AluminaJetty Site

Haul Road

22/03/16

Mine Infrastructure Area


6-12

6.5.1 Coastal Habitats

The Skardon River and adjacent inshore and offshore areas encompass several marine habitats,

including; saltmarsh, mangroves, seagrass, rocky reef, oyster reef, coral reef and broad areas of

intertidal and subtidal soft substrates that are either bare or variably colonized by

macroinvertebrates and macroalgal communities. This section describes the coastal (terrestrial)

habitats within the Project area. The following coastal habitats are associated with the Project:

Saltmarsh;

Mangroves; and

Wetlands.

The DNRM Regional Ecosystems (RE) currently mapped within the Project area is presented within

Table 6-2 and Figure 6-4.

Table 6-1 Regional ecosystems within the Skardon River - marine vegetation

RE Code Community Description Status*

EPBC Act VMA

3.1.1a Long-styled Stilt Mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa) +/-

Large-leaved Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza)

closed forest as outer mangroves

N/A LC

3.1.3 Yellow Mangrove +/- Northern Grey Mangrove low

closed forest on intertidal areas

N/A LC

3.1.6 Sparse herb land or bare saltpans associated with salt

plains and saline flats, including saltmarsh

N/A LC

*Status: Queensland Vegetation Management Act (VMA): E = Endangered, OC = Of Concern, LC = Least Concern

6.5.1.1 Saltmarsh

Defined clearly from aerial imagery, saltpan and fringing saltmarsh habitats are present throughout

the Skardon River system. These habitats exist as a fringe between the dominant open woodland

and Melaleuca vegetation, and the mangrove habitats (see Plate 6-1) and are characterised by

periodic inundation leading to hypersaline soils, becoming bare saltpans in some instances. Plants

displaying adaptations to these harsh conditions include samphires (Halosarcia sp.), and several

marine grasses (Sporobolus sp., Fimbristylus sp. Tecticornia sp.). The mangroves bordering these

habitats, at their landward extents, typically include Excoecaria sp. and Avicennia sp.

Where the interaction of freshwater allows a reduction in soil salinity, and slight elevations preclude

saline inundation, sedges and grassland swamps may also develop (Perry, 1995). Species recorded

from these habitats include the sedge Eleocharis sp., Marine Couch (Xerochloa sp.) and Fimbristylus

sp., and emergent trees and shrubs including Melaleuca sp. and Grevillea sp. (Perry, 1995).


6-13

Plate 6-1: Typical saltmarsh (foreground) and mangroves (rear)

The location of the proposed BLF does not cross mapped saltmarsh habitats or saltpans. A listing of

saltmarsh species encountered during surveys by Roleofs et al. (2003) and PaCE (2014 and 2015)

is presented within Appendix B3 – Marine Ecology and Coastal Processes. The extent of saltpan

communities in the study area is presented in Figure 6-4.

6.5.1.2 Mangroves

Mangrove communities of Cape York are considered one of the world’s most species rich, supporting

over 30 mangrove species that are unique to the region. Mangroves are also known to support more

than 75% of all Australia’s commercially and recreationally important fish and crustacean species

during some phase of their lifecycle (Abrahams et al., 1995; Duke, 2006; Quinn, 1992). They provide

a structurally complex habitat that can provide protection for juveniles and a source of carbon that

may be exported by the tide to other areas and food webs in the region (Manson et al., 2005;

Meynecke et al., 2008).

A community of fringing mangrove habitat exists along the shores of the Skardon River, extending

from just inside the mouth to the upper estuary/freshwater interface (see Plate 6-2). Roelofs et al.

(2002) have surveyed the mangrove communities along the Skardon River. A list of mangrove

species encountered is presented within Table 6-2. The extent of mangrove communities in the

study area is presented in Figure 6-4.


6-14

Plate 6-2: Mangrove community in Project area

The Long-styled Stilt Mangrove is the dominant mangrove community fringing the waterways of the

Skardon River. Grey Mangrove and Yellow Mangrove communities are commonly established

behind the mangrove fringe, nearest the saltpan/saltmarsh. Grey Mangrove species are also present

along the leading edge of the mangrove community adjacent to low gradient mudflats. Patches of

mangrove apple were also identified by Roelofs et al. (2002) being previously mapped as gaps in

the mangrove fringe by Danaher (1995). PaCE noted the presence of mangrove apple within the

vicinity of the proposed barge loading footprint.

The mangrove vegetation of the Skardon River is in good condition, with little evidence of

disturbance and a well distributed range of life stages from juveniles to flowering adults. Historical

clearing of a thin mangrove fringe has been undertaken at the nearby existing Port of Skardon barge

ramp. Isolated minor impacts from feral pigs and cattle were also observed over the saltpan,

saltmarsh, and landward fringe of the mangrove community across the study area. The mangroves

identified from the Skardon River reflect the findings of previous surveys (Danaher, 1995; Perry

1995) and are typical of Cape York Peninsula (Bunt et al., 1982).

6.5.1.3 Observed Vegetation

The vegetation species that have been observed in mangrove, samphire, seagrass and sedgeland

communities in the area during previous studies are identified in Table 6-2.

Table 6-2 Vegetation of the Skardon River (adapted from Roelofs et al., 2002)

Species Common Name PaCE (2014-

2015)

Roelofs et

al. (2002)

Literature Review

Mangroves

Rhizophora stylosa Red Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Rhizophora apiculata Tall-stilted Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Ceriops tagal Yellow Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Bruguieria gymnorhiza Large-leaved Orange

Mangrove

Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Bruguieria parviflora Small-leaved Orange

mangrove



6-15

Species Common Name PaCE (2014-

2015)

Roelofs et

al. (2002)

Literature Review

Sonneratia sp. Mangrove apple Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Avicennia marina Grey mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Xylocarpus granatum Cannonball mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Xylocarpus moluccensis Cedar mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Excoecaria agallocha Blind-your-eye

mangrove


Osbornia octodonta Myrtle Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Aegialitis annulata Club Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Lumnitzera racemosa Black Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Nypa fruticans Mangrove Palm Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Heritiera littoralis Looking-glass

Mangrove


Acrostichum speciosum Mangrove Fern Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Aegiceras corniculatum River Mangrove Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Hibiscus tiliaceus Native Hibiscus Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

Samphires

Halosarcia spp. Pigface Cited in Perry 1995

Fimbristylis spp. Danaher 1995

Tecticornia australasica Danaher 1995

Suaeda arbusculoides Samphire Bush Danaher 1995

Sarcocornia

quinqueflora

Tree Samphire Danaher 1995

Marine Grasses

Sporobolus virginicus Saltwater Couch Danaher 1995

Sphaeranthus indicus Cited in Perry 1995

Xerochloa sp. Cited in Perry 1995

Sedgeland

Eleocharis sp. Danaher 1995; Perry 1995

6.5.1.4 Intertidal Habitats

Intertidal habitats surrounding the entrance to the Skardon River are dominated by sand beaches,

exposed to prevailing wind and waves from the Gulf of Carpentaria. As the shoreline progresses into

the estuary and river system, silty sands and muds begin to dominate the intertidal substrate. This

is accompanied by increasing mangrove habitat, declining sandy shores, ironstone banks and

Casuarina dominated habitat. The distribution of intertidal mud and sandbanks at the entrance and

inner estuary system is quite extensive. As the river progresses upstream the width of the primary

waterway narrows. The edge of the banks become steeper, particularly on the outer bank curves,

favoring the establishment of mangroves such as Rhizophora sp. Further upstream within the small

tributaries, the channels may dry completely or almost completely at low tide. These intertidal

habitats are predominately bare mud and silty/sand with the presence of some isolated patches of

filamentous algae and oyster beds (Roleof et al., 2002; PaCE, 2015).


6-16

6.5.1.5 Wetlands

The mangroves and adjacent saltmarsh/saltpans are considered to form part of the Skardon River

– Cotterell River Aggregation (Figure 6-5). This wetland is listed under the Directory of Important

Wetlands in Australia (DIWA). The criteria applied to reaching this listing included:

It is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographic region in Australia;

It is a wetland which is important as the habitat for animal taxa at a vulnerable stage in their life

cycles, or provides a refuge when adverse conditions such as drought prevail; and

The wetland supports native plant or animal taxa or communities which are considered

endangered or vulnerable at the national level.

No Ramsar listed wetlands are mapped within or adjacent to the Project area.

SKARD

ON RIVER

611000

611000

612000

612000

613000

613000

614000

614000

615000

615000

616000

616000

617000

617000

618000

618000

619000

619000

620000

620000

621000

621000

622000

622000

86

97

00

0

86

97

00

0

86

98

00

0

86

98

00

0

86

99

00

0

86

99

00

0

87

00

00

0

87

00

00

0

87

01

00

0

87

01

00

0

87

02

00

0

87

02

00

0

87

03

00

0

87

03

00

0

DATE



within this map.


/0 500 1,000250

Metres

Figure 6-

Skardon River seagrass

habitats



APPROVED

DRAWN

30/03/16

CHECKED

Legend

Barge Loading Area

Haul Road

Metro Mining Mine Lease Area

Saltpans

Mangrove

Seagrass Mapping

DPI Seagrass 1986 and 2010

DPI Seagrass 2003

DPI 2006 Meadow

PaCE 2014 Meadow

DATA SOURCEMEC Mining;

QLD Government Open Source Data;Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric

(Geofabric) PRODUCT SUITE V2.1.1 DRG Ref: BES150115-038-R1_SEAGRASS

DESIGNER CLIENT

1:30,000Scale @ A3 -

-DESIGNED

CHECKED -

MD

MD

-

R Details Date

30/03/161

Notes:

-

-

-

-

-

-

F:\1_PROJECTS\BES150115_Bauxite_Hill\GIS\DATA\MXD\FINAL\ERA\BES150115-038-R1_SEAGRASS.mxd

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Mine Infrastructure

Area

Barge Loading Area

LogisticsBarge Facility

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!>

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(BH6 West MLA boundary(MLA 20689)

BH6 East MLA boundary(MLA 20688)

BH1 MLA boundary(MLA 20676)

AQ-BF01

AQ-LU01

AQ-NA04AQ-NA03

AQ-NA02AQ-NA01

S1S9S6

W5

W4

W3

W2

W1

S10

SW03

SW02

SP01SW01

AQ01

AQ02

AQ03

SKARDON RIVER

NAMALE

TA CREE KNAMALETA CREEK

605000

605000

610000

610000

615000

615000

620000

620000

625000

625000

630000

630000

869000

0

869000

0

869500

0

869500

0

870000

0

870000

0

Figure 6-5

DATE

DISCLAIMERCDM Smith has endeavoured to ensure accuracy and completeness of the data. CDM Smith assumes no legal liability or responsibility for any decisions or actions resulting from the information contained within this map.


/0 1,000 2,000500Metres

Skardon River wetland classification©COPYRIGHT CDM SMITHThis drawing is confidential and shall only be used for the purpose of this project.

APPROVEDDRAWN

03/05/16

CHECKED

Legend!(

SRBP Aquatic Survey Site!(

Bauxite Hills Aquatic Sampling Site!>

Surface Water Sampling LocationBarge Loading AreaWatercourseHaul RoadPit ExtentsAccomoodation CampMetro Mining Mine Lease AreaDirectory of Important Wetlands

Wetland ClassRiverineEsturinePalustrineLacustrineMarine

DATA SOURCEMEC Mining;QLD Government Open Source Data;Australian Hydrological Geospatial Fabric (Geofabric) PRODUCT SUITE V2.1.1 DRG Ref: BES150115-003-R1_WETLANDS

DESIGNER CLIENT

1:70,000Scale @ A3 -

-DESIGNEDCHECKED -

MDMD-

R Details Date16/07/151

Notes:

2-----

F:\1_PROJECTS\BES150115_Bauxite_Hill\GIS\DATA\MXD\FINAL\ERA\TER FW ECOL\BES150115-003-R1_WETLANDS.mxd

For Information PurposesUpdated Pit Extents-----

Barge Loading Area

Haul Road

Haul Road

Accommodation Camp

03/05/16

CampAccess Road


6-19

6.5.2 Benthic Habitats

6.5.2.1 Seagrass

Several surveys for the distribution and abundance of seagrass and associated benthic habitats have

been undertaken within the Skardon River since 1986 (Table 6-3). The distribution of seagrass

habitats from the surveys within the Skardon River is presented within Figure 6-4.

Table 6-3 Benthic habitat surveys undertaken from the Skardon River (1986-2015)

Study Year Location

Coles et al. 1986 Entrance

Roelofs et al. 2002 Whole river dry season

Roelofs et al. 2003 Whole river wet season

Rasheed et al. 2007 Whole river

Chartrand and Thomas 2010 Entrance

PaCE 2014 Metro Mining BLF

PaCE 2015 Downstream of the BLF to the Skardon River entrance

Initial surveys by Coles et al. (1986) identified two isolated patches of seagrass near the Skardon

River estuary entrance. Further baseline investigations were undertaken during 2002 (wet season)

and 2003 (dry season) (Roelofs et al., 2003). Seagrasses were recorded within a tributary to the

main river channel during both these events: Narrowleaf Seagrass (Halodule uninervis). This

included three small meadows located within 500 m of the existing barge ramp at the then kaolin

processing area. Subsequent surveys undertaken in 2006 adjacent to the barge ramp facility

(Rasheed et al., 2007) extended the distribution of seagrass nearer to the existing BLF, adding

another small meadow which fringed the mangrove banks upstream to the extent of the port limits.

Distribution of Narrowleaf Seagrass was also extended, reporting a low density meadow adjacent

to the BLF.

Rasheed et al. (2007) described that seagrass distribution during 2006 (approximately 9.1 ha) was

double that of the previous surveys in 2003 (approximately 4.4 ha), and noted that variability in the

distribution of these meadows is not unusual. Paddle Grass (Halophila sp.) is a colonising species

that can rapidly form meadows in the right conditions (i.e. lower rainfall, and greater benthic

irradiance) (Rasheed et al., 2006).

During 2010, a detailed survey encompassing the then proposed barge access area was undertaken

through the river entrance (Chartrand and Thomas, 2010). A Narrowleaf Seagrass meadow

recorded earlier by Coles et al. (1986) was identified during this survey covering an area of

approximately 1 ha. Although a total of 230 seagrass habitat characterisation sites were surveyed

within the river entrance and surrounds, no additional seagrass communities were identified

(Figure 6-6) (Chartrand and Thomas, 2010). The majority of the survey locations within the

entrance reported open substrate, sand, or sand and shell matter.


6-20

Figure 6-6 Seagrass survey of the Skardon River entrance (Chartrand and Thomas, 2010)

During the 2014 surveys, nine small paddle grass meadows were located in thin (


6-21

6.5.2.3 Offshore anchorage areas

Three proposed anchorage areas for OGVs were surveyed using video techniques and side scan

sonar. Anchorage Option 1 was located in deeper water (15-16 m LAT) approximately 4-5 km north

of anchorage Options 2 and 3 (12-13 m LAT) (see Figure 6-2 and B3 – Marine Ecology and Coastal

Processes). Benthic habitats within the anchorage areas were surveyed by underwater video at five

locations and side scan sonar. The benthic habitat within the surveyed area was dominated by bare

coarse shell and sandy substrates (96%). A sparse cover (of sea whips, sponges, gorgonian fans,

ascidians and hard corals (Turbinaria spp.) were identified within the survey area and these biota

appear to have created a scattered low profile sponge, soft coral and minor hard coral reef (profile


6-22

6.5.3 Commonwealth Marine Area

Commonwealth waters commence from the three nautical mile limit (Figure 6-2). They extend

seaward to the 200 nautical mile limit (in the case of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the entire gulf waters

are included). The areas identified for transhipping and movement of bulk carriers servicing the

Project will be undertaken in Commonwealth marine waters. The location of the transhipment

operations is dominated by open sandy substrates, with minor live benthic cover (1 – 3%). Mining

and port activities occur approximately 10 km east of the mouth of Skardon River and 18 km to the

south east of the Commonwealth Marine Area.

6.5.3.1 Commonwealth Marine Reserve

The West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve is located to the northwest of Skardon River.

The Reserve covers an area of 16,000 km2 comprising national park, multiple use and special

purpose zones (see Figure 6-7). The reserve was declared in 2012 and includes the following uses:

Marine National Park Zone – IUCN Category II (7,957 km2);

Multiple Use Zone – IUCN Category VI (5,871 km2); and

Special Purpose Zone – IUCN Category VI (2,184 km2).

Figure 6-7 West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve


6-23

IUCN Category II - Marine National Park Zones

Marine National Park Zones are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale

ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the

area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual,

scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities.

The primary objective of Marine National Park Zone is to protect natural biodiversity along with its

underlying ecological structure and supporting environmental processes, and to promote education

and recreation. Other objectives include:

To manage the area in order to perpetuate, in as natural a state as possible, representative

examples of physiographic regions, biotic communities, genetic resources and unimpaired

natural processes;

To maintain viable and ecologically functional populations and assemblages of native species at

densities sufficient to conserve ecosystem integrity and resilience in the long term;

To contribute in particular to conservation of wide-ranging species, regional ecological

processes and migration routes;

To manage visitor use for inspirational, educational, cultural and recreational purposes at a

level which will not cause significant biological or ecological degradation to the natural

resources;

To take into account the needs of indigenous people and local communities, including

subsistence resource use, in so far as these will not adversely affect the primary management

objective; and

To contribute to local economies through tourism.

Marine National Park Reserves provide large-scale conservation opportunities where natural

ecological processes can continue in perpetuity, allowing space for continuing evolution. They are

seen as key stepping-stones for designing and developing large-scale biological corridors or other

connectivity conservation initiatives required for those species (wide-ranging and/or migratory)

that cannot be conserved entirely within a single protected area. Their key roles are therefore:

Protecting larger-scale ecological processes that will be missed by smaller protected areas or in

cultural landscapes;

Protecting compatible ecosystem services;

Protecting particular species and communities that require relatively large areas of undisturbed

habitat;

Providing a “pool” of such species to help populate sustain-ably-managed areas surrounding the

protected area;

To be integrated with surrounding land or water uses to contribute to large-scale conservation

plans;

To inform and excite visitors about the need for and potential of conservation programmes; and

To support compatible economic development, mostly through recreation and tourism, that can

contribute to local and national economies and in particular to local communities.


6-24

IUCN Category VI - Multiple Use Zone and Special Purpose Zone

Multiple Use Zones are protected areas that conserve ecosystems and habitats, together with

associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems. They are generally

large, with most of the area in a natural condition, where a proportion is under sustainable natural

resource management and where low-level non-industrial use of natural resources compatible with

nature conservation is seen as one of the main aims of the area. The primary objective is to protect

natural ecosystems and use natural resources sustainably, when conservation and sustainable use

can be mutually beneficial. Other objectives are:

To promote sustainable use of natural resources, considering ecological, economic and social

dimensions;

To promote social and economic benefits to local communities where relevant;

To facilitate inter-generational security for local communities' livelihoods – therefore ensuring

that such livelihoods are sustainable;

To integrate other cultural approaches, belief systems and world-views within a range of social

and economic approaches to nature conservation;

To contribute to developing and/or maintaining a more balanced relationship between humans

and the rest of nature;

To contribute to sustainable development at national, regional and local level (in the last case

mainly to local communities and/or indigenous peoples depending on the protected natural

resources);

To facilitate scientific research and environmental monitoring, mainly related to the

conservation and sustainable use of natural resources;

To collaborate in the delivery of benefits to people, mostly local communities, living in or near

to the designated protected area; and

To facilitate recreation and appropriate small-scale tourism.

The general approval for the West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve provides for the

following activities to continue while a management plan is prepared:

Commercial fishing;

Non-commercial fishing;

Commercial tourism;

Mining operations;

Commercial vessel transit (being continuous passage of a vessel through an area by the shortest direct route without any other activity being carried on);

Aquaculture;

Commercial media activities;

Commercial image capture; and

Erecting structures, carrying out works and carrying on an excavation.


6-25

6.5.3.2 Marine Bioregional Plan for the North Marine Region

The study area also forms part of the area encompassing the Marine Bioregional plan for the

Northern Marine Region (Figure 6-8). This plan covers the Commonwealth marine area extending

from west Cape York Peninsula to the Northern Territory–Western Australia border. The plan does

not cover state or territory waters but, where relevant, does include information about inshore

environments and the way they interact with species and habitats of the Commonwealth marine

area.

The Commonwealth has prepared the Marine Bioregional Plan for the North Marine Region. The

Plan area covers approximately 625,689 km2 of tropical waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria and

Arafura and Timor seas, and abuts the coastal waters of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The key ecological features of relevance to the Project are the Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone and

the Gulf of Carpentaria basin (for bulk carrier vessel ship movements only).

The plan presents a summary of the analysis of pressures affecting conservation values in the region

undertaken to inform the development of regional priorities. The marine bioregional plan identified

12 regional priorities comprising six conservation values and six pressures. The six conservation

values are:

Listed marine turtles;

Listed inshore dolphins;

Listed sawfishes and river sharks;

Dugong;

Listed sea snakes; and

The Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone.

The conservation values are all relevant to the Project, and the listed marine species known or likely

to occur in the Project area are described in Section 6.5.4. The six pressures that are regional

priorities are less relevant to the Project, as the Project:

Will not increase pressure associated with marine debris, bycatch, extraction of living resources

(illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) or climate change;

Will involve physical habitat modification in the form of port infrastructure construction,

however this activity is minor, transient and not within Commonwealth marine waters, nor is it

likely to result in impacts to Commonwealth marine waters; and

May involve very minor modification of hydrological regimes from mining activities, although

this is highly unlikely to impact Commonwealth marine waters (for further discussion on the

hydrological regime of the Project area see Chapter 10 – Water Resources, Chapter 11 – Flooding

and Regulation Structures and Appendix E2 – Surface Water Technical Report).

The marine bioregional plan identifies the six pressures of potential concern on ecosystem

functioning and integrity on the Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone are:

Marine debris (e.g. derelict fishing nets, discarded plastic);

Fishing bycatch;


6-26

Extraction of living resources (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing);

Physical habitat modification;

Climate change (sea level rise, ocean acidification, changed temperature); and

Changes in hydrological regimes.

The marine bioregional plan identifies that the pressures of potential concern on ecosystem

functioning and integrity on the Gulf of Carpentaria basin are illegal, unreported and unregulated

fishing, marine debris and climate change. Project shipping in the Gulf of Carpentaria basin will not

contribute to these pressures.

In terms of the marine bioregional plan strategies to address regional priorities, the Project

contributes to Strategy D, through the EIS process, by increasing collaboration with relevant

industries to improve understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and address the

cumulative effects on the region’s key ecological features and protected species.

Figure 6-8 North Marine Region area

6.5.4 Conservation Significant Species

The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool aims to include species which are likely to occur in a

geographic region, based on known ranges and habitat preferences. Inclusion in the report does not

necessarily mean that the animal or plant will occur at a specific location. Consideration of site

specific information is important for augmenting the results of the protected matters search and

verifying that an animal or plant does occur at a specific locality, or has a high likelihood of occurring

based on habitat attributes. Additionally, site specific information may identify that a species of

conservation significance not included in the EPBC Act Protected Matters search may occur or is

highly likely to occur based on habitat attributes.


6-27

The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool for the Project area identified the following:

30 species listed as threatened, of which 15 may be considered marine species;

39 fauna species listed as Migratory, of which 22 are marine species;

62 species listed as marine species; and

11 whales and cetaceans.

The marine species that are known to occur or are likely to occur at or adjacent to the proposed

Project location are listed in Table 6-5 (see also Appendix B3 – Marine Ecology and Coastal

Processes). The listing status under the EPBC Act, the NC Act and the International Union for

Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are included. Bird species that are listed as Migratory under the

EPBC Act are treated in Chapter 5 – Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology and Chapter 7 – Matters of

National Significance.

Table 6-5 Conservation status listed species that are known to occur or likely to occur

Species EPBC Act Status NC Act Status IUCN Status

Marine Reptiles

Flatback Turtle (Natator

depressus)

Vulnerable, migratory marine

species, listed marine species

Vulnerable Not assessed

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta

caretta)

Endangered, migratory marine


Endangered Endangered

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Vulnerable, migratory marine


Vulnerable Endangered

Olive Ridley Turtle

(Lepidochelys olivacea)

Endangered, migratory marine


Endangered Vulnerable

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys

imbricata)

Vulnerable, migratory marine


Vulnerable Endangered

Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus

porosus)

Migratory marine species, listed

marine species

Vulnerable Least concern

Sea snakes (18 species) Listed marine species Not listed Not assessed,

least concern or

data deficient

Mammals

Dugong (Dugong dugon) Migratory marine species, listed

marine species

Vulnerable Vulnerable

Australian Hump-backed

Dolphin (Sousa sahulensis)

Migratory marine species, whales

and other cetaceans

Vulnerable Near threatened

Australian snubfin dolphin

(Orcaella heinsohni)

Migratory marine species, whales

and other cetaceans

Vulnerable Near threatened

Spotted Dolphin (Stenella

attenuata)

Whales and other cetaceans Not listed Least concern

Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops

truncatus s. st.)

Whales and other cetaceans Not listed Least concern

Fish and Sharks

Narrow Sawfish (Anoxyprostis

cuspidata)

Migratory marine species Not listed Endangered

Speartooth Shark (Glyphis

glyphis)

Critically endangered Not listed Endangered

Coastal Manta Ray (Manta

alfredi)

Migratory marine species Not listed Vulnerable


6-28

Species EPBC Act Status NC Act Status IUCN Status

Dwarf Sawfish (Pristis clavata) Vulnerable Not listed Endangered

Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis

pristis)

Vulnerable Not listed Critically

endangered

Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron) Vulnerable Not listed Critically

endangered

Pipefishes (34 species) Listed marine species Not listed Not assessed,

least concern or

data deficient

(*) The taxonomy of the Bottlenose Dolphin remains to be determined.

A number of marine fauna species identified in the EPBC Act Protected Matters search, were

considered to not occur regularly (i.e. the study area may not be considered as within the species

normal distribution or habitat requirements), or are highly unlikely to occur at or adjacent to the

Project. Those species listed along with a brief justification as to why they were not considered is

provided in Table 6-6. Further detail on marine species is provided in Chapter 7 – Matters of

National Significance and the Marine Ecology and Coastal Processes Technical Report (Appendix

B3).

Table 6-6 Listed marine species considered unlikely to occur

Species EPBC Act Status NC Act

Status

Likelihood of Occurrence Justification

Marine Reptiles

Leatherback

Turtle

(Dermochelys

coriacea)

Endangered,

migratory marine

species, listed marine

species

Endangered No major nesting has been recorded in Australia,

although scattered isolated nesting occurs in southern

Queensland and the Northern Territory. Some nesting

has occurred in northern NSW near Ballina. However,

no nesting is known to have occurred in Queensland or

New South Wales (NSW) since 1996. The species is

most commonly reported from coastal waters in

central eastern Australia (from the Sunshine Coast in

southern Queensland to central NSW); south-east

Australia (from Tasmania, Victoria and eastern South

Australia) and in south-western Western Australia.

Based on this information Leatherback Turtles are

highly unlikely to nest on western Cape York beaches or

use the Gulf of Carpentaria as an important feeding

area. It should be noted that the measures in place to

mitigate the risk to the other five turtle species will also

benefit the Leatherback Turtle if new information

demonstrated regular use of the relevant area by the species.

Freshwater

Crocodile

(Crocodylus

johnstoni)

Listed marine species Not listed The species is generally found in freshwater

environments rather than marine, hence its common

name. Although it has a range across much of northern

Australia it is not found in northern Cape York

Peninsula including the region of the Project area. The

species relies on the presence of permanent, large

waterholes stocked with fish as prey and which do not

occur in the wider area.

Mammals

Bryde’s Whale

(Balaenoptera

edeni)

Migratory marine

species, whales and

other cetaceans

Not listed There are two forms of Bryde’s Whale: the coastal from

of Bryde's Whale appears to be limited to the 200 m

depth isobar, moving along the coast in response to

availability of suitable prey. The offshore form is found

in deeper water (500 m to 1,000 m). No specific feeding


6-29


Status


or breeding grounds have been discovered off

Australia. While Bryde’s Whale may infrequently occur

in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the region can be considered

outside their normal distribution.

Blue Whale

(Balaenoptera

musculus)

Endangered,

Migratory marine

species, whales and

cetaceans

Not listed The only known areas of significance to Blue Whales in

Australian waters are feeding areas around the

southern continental shelf, notably the Perth Canyon,

in Western Australia, and the Bonney Upwelling and

adjacent upwelling areas of South Australia and

Victoria. Blue whales are not known to regularly

migrate through, aggregate, feed or breed in the Gulf

of Carpentaria and as such the area is considered to be

outside of their normal range.

Humpback Whale

(Megaptera

novaeangliae)

Vulnerable, Migratory

marine species,

whales and other

cetaceans

Vulnerable The feeding, migratory and calving areas for the

eastern Australian and Western Australian populations

of Humpback Whales are known. The Great Barrier

Reef complex and the Kimberley Region are important

breeding and calving grounds for Humpback Whales.

Hervey Bay and the Whitsundays appear to be

important resting grounds for mothers and calves of

the east coast population on their southward

migration. Humpback Whales are not known to

regularly migrate through, aggregate, feed or breed in

the Gulf of Carpentaria and as such the area is

considered to be outside of their normal range.

Killer Whale

(Orcinus orca)

Migratory marine

species, whales and

other cetaceans

Not listed A single individual has been observed near Weipa in

August 2014 (Cairns Post, 2014). However, Killer

Whales are more common in cold, deep waters, or

inshore shelf waters near seal and sea lion colonies. As

such the Gulf of Carpentaria and hence the study area

can be considered to be outside its normal range.

Common Dolphin

(Delphinus

delphis)

Whales and other

cetaceans

Not listed Common Dolphins are found in offshore oceanic waters

and are rarely seen in northern Australian waters.

Common Dolphins appear to occur in two main

locations around Australia, with one cluster in the

southern south-eastern Indian Ocean and another in

the Tasman Sea. As the species is found in offshore

oceanic waters, the Gulf of Carpentaria can be

considered to be outside its natural range.

Risso’s Dolphin

(Grampus griseus)

Whales and other

cetaceans

Not listed Risso’s Dolphin has a marked preference for deep

oceanic water. They occur mainly on steep sections of

the upper continental slope, usually in waters deeper

than 1000 m, in tropical and warm temperate latitudes.

As the species is found in deep offshore oceanic

waters, the Gulf of Carpentaria can be considered to be

outside its natural range.

Water Mouse

(Xeromys

myoides)

Vulnerable Vulnerable For more information this species is referred to in

Chapter 5 – Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Fish and Sharks

Great White

Shark

(Carcharodon

carcharias)


marine species

Not listed The northern-most Queensland record is Mackay.

Areas where observations are more frequent include

waters in and around some fur seal and sea lion

colonies such as the Neptune Islands (South Australia);

areas of the Great Australian Bight as well as the


6-30


Status


Recherche Archipelago and the islands off the lower

west coast of Western Australia. Juveniles appear to

aggregate seasonally in certain key areas including the

90 Mile Beach area of eastern Victoria and the coastal

region between Newcastle and Forster in NSW.

Therefore, Great White Sharks are not known to

regularly migrate through, aggregate, feed or breed in

the Gulf of Carpentaria and as such the area is

considered to be outside of their normal range.

Whale Shark

(Rhincodon typus)


marine species

Not listed Ningaloo Reef, off the Western Australian coast, is the

main known aggregation site of Whale Sharks in

Australian waters. The species is generally found in

areas of upwelling and at times when plankton

abundance is very high (e.g. mass coral spawning

event. Whale sharks are known to regularly migrate

through, aggregate, feed or breed in the Gulf of

Carpentaria and as such the area is considered to be

outside of their normal range.

Giant Manta Ray

(Manta birostris)

Migratory marine

species

Not listed The Giant Manta Ray lives mostly in the open ocean,

traveling with the currents and migrating to areas

where upwellings of nutrient-rich water increase prey

concentrations. As such the Gulf of Carpentaria can be

considered to be outside its natural range.

6.5.4.1 Marine Reptiles

Marine Turtles

Marine turtles nest on beaches throughout the western Cape York region; however, the Project will

not impact upon turtle nesting habitat. The BLF and RoRo facilities locations are situated within a

mangrove fringed estuary environment within the Skardon River, and are not suitable for any

marine turtle nesting. Suitable nesting habitat is situated at the mouth of the Skardon River

approximately 12 km downstream. Coastal beaches in the Mapoon and Skardon area provide

suitable and regionally important turtle nesting habitat, with beaches north and south of the

Skardon River entrance demonstrating nesting activity (RPS, 2014; Dr Riku Koskela pers. comm.).

The following provides a brief summary of each species. For more detail refer to Appendix B3 –

Marine Ecology and Coastal Processes.

Flatback Turtles are the most common nesting species in the proposed development area and the

species nests only in Australia. Flatback Turtles in the region nest all year round, although peak

nesting occurs from May through to September. Along the part of Western Cape York that has been

surveyed, the beach between Port Musgrave and the Skardon River has the greatest prevalence of

nesting for this species (Table 6-7). The most significant rookery in the Gulf of Carpentaria is Crab

Island which is approximately 27 km south-west of Bamaga, and 75km north of the Project site

(Limpus et al., 1983). Other significant rookeries in the Gulf of Carpentaria include the Wellesley

and Sir Edward Pellew Islands (Limpus, 1995). In the north-western Torres Strait significant

rookeries occur at Deliverance Island, Kerr Islet and Turu Cay (Limpus et al., 1989) (over 100 km

from the Project site).

Within the Marine bioregional plan for the Northern Marine Region these areas have been identified

as ‘biologically important areas’ (BIAs). The Plan describes implementation of an 80 km buffer


6-31

around these locations for management consideration (DSEWPaC, 2012). The nearest BIA for

Flatback Turtles includes Crab Island located approximately 85 km to the north of the Project site.

It is highly likely that Australia has the largest remaining breeding population of Olive Ridley Turtles

in the southeast Asia–western Pacific region (Limpus, 2008a). Low density nesting occurs along the

northwestern coast of Cape York Peninsula between Weipa and Bamaga (Limpus et al., 1983). Olive

Ridley Turtle populations on western Cape York are at significant risk from the foraging activities

of feral pigs (Whytlaw et al., 2013). Olive Ridley Turtles nest year round, although most nesting

occurs during the dry season, from April to November. Low-density nesting occurs along the north

western coast of Cape York Peninsula between Weipa and Bamaga (Limpus et al., 1983).

Hawksbill Turtles are generally associated with reef habitats. They feed principally on various

species of sponge, but they may also feed on algae, soft corals and macro-zooplankton such as

jellyfish and comb-jellies (e.g. Meylan 1988; Berube, 2010). Hawksbill Turtles are known to nest

along western Cape York beaches, although the high density nesting locations are in Torres Strait

(Long (Sassie) Island, Hawkesbury Island and Dayman Island) and islands in the northern Great

Barrier Reef (e.g. Boydong Island and Milman Island) (Limpus, 2009). Nearshore coral reef habitats

may provide feeding grounds. DSEWPaC (2012) identifies a BIA surrounding the mainland coast of

Western Cape York Peninsula north of the Cotterell River. The Cotterell River is located

approximately 40 km north of the Skardon River.

The important nesting locations (BIAs) for Green Turtle in the Gulf of Carpentaria are the Wellsley

Islands, eastern Arnhem Land, Groote Eylandt and the Sir Edward Pellew Islands (Limpus 2008b).

Western Cape York is not an important nesting location. Adult green turtles eat mainly seagrass and

algae, although they will occasionally eat other items such as jellyfish and sponges (Read and

Limpus, 2002; Arthur et al., 2007). Green Turtle is unlikely to be found near the Project area as no

extensive beds of seagrass occur at, or adjacent to the proposed BLF location. Paddle Grass may be

found as thin meadows of low density fringing the adjacent mangrove communities within the

immediate subtidal zone. Algae and other macrophytes are also present. The biomass of seagrass

and algae is unlikely to be suitable to support green turtles, even for a short period of time.

In Australia, the Loggerhead Turtle occurs in the waters of coral and rocky reefs, seagrass beds and

muddy bays throughout eastern, northern and western Australia (Limpus et al. 1992). While nesting

is concentrated in southern Queensland and from Shark Bay to the North West Cape in Western

Austra

Metro Mining Appendix H2 - Metro Mining Community and Chapter 6 - Marine Ecology ... ·...

Documents

Transcript of Metro Mining Appendix H2 - Metro Mining Community and Chapter 6 - Marine Ecology ... ·...