APPENDIX I A-l GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL REPORT THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Stevens (1968) mapped the Queensland coastline between Round Hill Head and Wreck Rock, a distance of approximately 19 kilometres, with particular emphasis on the volcanic rocks occurring immed iately south of Agnes Water. A Mesozoic Volcanic rocks of probable Triassic age occur intermittently along this coastal strip. The rocks are well exposed and reasonably fresh surfaces can be observed. All of the volcanic rocks in this area are considered by Stevens to be one formation, the Agnes Water Volcanics. The formation consists largely of acid to intermediate pyroclastic rocks with minor flows of rhyolite, trachyte and andesite and with minor sandstone and shale. Plant fossils of Triassic age have been identified by Stevens in sedimentary rocks at Workman’s Beach. Sandstones also occur in a very limited situation on the northern side of Rocky Point and on the beach near "The Springs". Banded rhyolites are emphasized by differential weathering along the coastal outcrops. Flow banding is present in the rocks mainly from Fence Point south. Outcrops of Agnes Water Volcanics occur inland and roughly parallel to the coast. These rocks are not subjected to the intense weathering of the exposed coastal outcrops and present different textural features. The present coastline from Agnes Water to Wreck Rock is dominated by rock platforms and cliffs rising to 30 metres cut in the Agnes Water Volcanics. Probably by the late Tertiary the higher coastal rocks were separa ted from the main mass of the Volcanics to the west by a north south trending valley since occupied by the sand body referred to below. At some time during the Quaternary, they may have formed a line of islands just offshore from the then mainland. The Early Quaternary possibly saw the development of at least the first stage of the sand mass development which lies between the inland and coastal outcrops of the Agnes Water Volcanics. The oldest sand body may be Pleistocene in age and may reflect a period of lateritization evidenced by iron colouration in some of the dunes. No carbon dates are available from the sand body. However, it appears from physical features that there are at least three generations of sand within the area. Variations in mineral con stituents also indicate sands of differing ages. Quaternary sand deposits occur along the beaches and in the frontal dune areas as well as surrounding and overtopping the older dune system. Beach rock, a feature of tropical and sub-tropical climates, out crops between Wreck and Top Wreck Rocks. Limonite bands occur at irregular depths within the sand mass. These bands are up to 20 mm thick. An organic debris layer about 0.5 m thick, which is an early stage of peat development, occurs in the Tea-tree swamp to the west of the sand mass. White sand containing minor organic particles lies directly below the organic layer. l.C Heavy Minerals The erosion of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks lying to the east of the Great Dividing Range provided a large volume of quartz sand which was deposited in the near shore zone of the Continental Shelf A sandy shore line along most of the East Coast of Australia re sulted and sand from this shore was blown inland to form the sand masses of the coastal zone. A-2 2.B The sands are essentially quartz, with minute (in average) amounts of rutile, zircon, monazite, ilmenite, tourmaline, garnet and other silicate minerals. All of these minerals are characterized by ex treme chemical stability or low solubility and a high to very high degree of hardness. Because of these properties, they have survived as individual detrital grains. Economic deposits of heavy mineral are fairly rare. However, due to aeolian and eustatic variations, the heavy minerals

have been concentrated in certain parts within this sand body. The con stituent minerals within the heavy mineral concentrates vary from east to west and from north to south in a similar way to heavy mineral concentrations on other parts of the East Coast of Australia D Geomorphology of the Sand Body The sand body within the environmental interaction area consists of a series of vegetated sand dunes. The major dune is roughly parallel to the present shoreline and is flanked to the west by an extensive swamp which drains in a southerly direction to Deepwater Creek. To the east of this large vegetated dune, transgressive type dunes reflecting wind conditions of holocene times run into and, in places, cross the large central dune. Relatively low frontal dunes parallel to the shoreline flank the transgressive dunes to the east. The large central dune reaches a height of 70 metres. The trans gressive dunes to the east reach a height of 30 - 40 metres, and the frontal dunes along the coast reach a height of 10 metres approximately. In most instances, the large central dune has little variation in height along its crest line and generally slopes gradually and uniformly towards the west and relatively steeply to the east. ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS A Mesozoic The proposed mining action does not include areas where these rocks or soils derived from them occur. Cainozoic Geology and Geomorphology The proposed mining of the "Red" Orebody will disturb the older sands of this series but not the younger or Quaternary sands which form the beaches and the frontal dunes. The action of mining and replacement of tailings will destroy the stratification and structure in that part of the dune which is mined. However, much of the series lies outside the "Red" Orebody including some of the highest parts of the dune. Therefore, opportunity exists for future study of the undisturbed stratigraphy and geomorphology of the series. The mining excavation as it proceeds will afford opportunity to study the dune structure and the relationship between the gener ations of sand deposition in a way which is not possible from surface study or even from bore hole intersections. The increase in educational opportunity outweighs the partial loss of structural detail. The interaction is regarded as beneficial. No interaction.

TOPOGRAPHIC REPORT 1. THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Within the area from Workman’s Beach to the southern boundary of MLA 152, sand deposits overlie hard basement rocks of the Agnes Water Volcanics which outcrop strongly along the coast. The subject land.comprises seven main topographic units which are delineated on the Topographic Map (refer Map No. 4) . l.A These seven topographic units are : l.A(i) Shoreline Reefs, isolated rocks and cliffs of the hard Agnes Water Volcanics dominate the shore line and protect it from sea erosion. Well developed wave cut platforms are not present. The longest beaches are south of Fence Point (700 metres), north of Red Rock (800 metres) and south of Red Rock (2,300 metres). At other points along the coast, small beaches occur between rocky points. The total length of shore line is approximately 9,500 metres. None of the shoreline rocks or beaches fall within the lease application areas. l.A(ii) Recent Dunes Vegetated sand dunes of recent age occur between the beaches and the seaward slope of the main dune. They seldom rise above the 10 metre contour line. Sheltered depressions occur behind the frontal dune. This unit has a total area of 77.2 ha., of which 5.1 ha. falls within the mining lease applications. 1.A(iii) Dune Crest Line The crest of the main dune parallels the coast at a distance between 200 and 500 metres, excepting near Rocky Point where it is up to 600 metres inland. length are gentle. The present access track generally follows the crest line and affords good views of the coast. l.A(iv) Seaward Slope The upper part of the slope from the crest line towards the sea is gentle and ranges from less than 5 to 10 degrees (refer Average Slope Maps - Maps 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5). The middle and lower parts of the seaward slope range from 10 to over 20 degrees. They flatten out where they meet the recent dunes at the 10 metre contour or steepen into cliffs at the headlands north of Workman's Beach, at Fence Point, Rocky Point and Red Rock. There are no valleys carved by streams and no evidence of surface run off during heavy rain. This is due to the small catchment and the high infiltration rate of the sand dune. One possible except ion is an area of greater catchment south of The Springs where there are some signs of surface flow in re-entrants between the original overlapping sand tongues. These are not stream cut valleys but surface flow may have contributed to deepening them in remote times. The seaward slope of the dune presents a steep and continuous face to the east excepting in Lot 5 of Portion 11 above The Springs where a track descends to the beach on reasonable grades. Elsewhere, vehicular access to the beach is prohibited by the steep grades. This unit has a total area of 291.6 ha., of which 210.8 ha. lie within the mining lease applications. 1.A(v) Landward Slope From the crest line, the dune slopes gently to the Tea-tree Swamp in the west at angles from 0 to 9 degrees. It all falls within the slope classes less than 5, and 5 to 9 degrees, excepting one small area with slopes to 13 degrees in MLA 152. It varies in elevation between 38 and 74 metres. Grades along its The width of the landward slope ranges from 400 metres in the north mining application area to 1,500 metres in MLA 164 and narrows again to 300 metres in the south. In spite of the large catchment area, there is no surface water flow during rain due to the high infiltration rate. This unit has a total area of 838.7 ha., of which 823.2 ha. lie within the mining lease applications. 1.A (vi) Tea-tree Swamp (Plant Association A)_ A major drainage channel starts within R204 in the north at RL 18 metres and falls to RL 10 at the southern end of MLA 152 - a fall of approximately 8 metres in 8,000 metres. During heavy rain, it receives water from the clay soil areas to the

west. During most of the year, it receives water seeping from the sand dune to the east. The presence of permanent swamp water in the drainage channel is due to the fact the channel intersects the ground water table in the area and is fed by seepage from the sand mass. The swamp does not owe its existence to, nor is it supported upon, an impervious stratum. This unit has a total area of 165.2 ha., of which 154.8 ha lie within the mining lease applications. 1.A(vii) Clay Soil Slopes An extensive tract of country to the west of the tea-tree swamp comprises clay soils derived from the weathering of the Agnes Water Volcanics. It slopes generally to the east at low angles. A small part of this unit lies within the mining lease application area. l.B Elevation The distribution of the highest land in the area is as follows : Area % of Total Area More than 70 m. 7.5 0.5 60 - 70 m. 61.7 4.2 50 - 60 m. 258.6 17.6 Less than 50 m. 1139.4 77.7 Total Area 1467.2 100.0 l.C Slope Classes The distribution of slopes within the area is : Slope Class Area % of Total 1 Less than 5° 810.5 55.2 2 5 - 9° 451.2 30.8 3 10 - 14° 103.2 7.0 4 15 - 19° 48.3 3.3 5 More than 20° 54.0 3.7 1467.2 100.0 It will be seen that 14.0% of the area has a slope greater than 9° and that this occurs in the eastern slope to the sea excepting one small area with slopes to 13° in MLA 152. 2. ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS 2.A General the Seaward Slope 5 and 6 of Portion 11 on Lots unit of the topography. The "Red" and the "Blue" Orebodies affect only a part of the mining lease application area and are discussed separately below. The area of each topographic unit occupied by the "Red" and the "Blue" Orebody is : AREAS OF TOPOGRAPHIC UNITS - ha. Total Within Lease Appcns, Within "Red" Orebody Within "Blue" Orebody Area % Area % Recent Dunes 77.2 5.1 - - - - Seaward Slope 291.6 210.8 36.0 12.3 45.0 15.4 Landward Slope 838.7 823.2 603.0 71.9 - — Tea-tree Swamp 165.2 154.8 - - - — Clay Soil Slopes 94.5 94.5■ - - — — 1467.2 1288.4 639.0 43.5 45.0 3.0 The amount of mineral to be removed is small (less than 1% by volume) and the remaining 99% of the total volume mined remains. Therefore, the volume change is too small to be measured. lower than it is now. A minor change would occur to the land form where vehicular access to the beach is proposed. 2.B(i) Shoreline 2 .B The "Red* 1 Orebody The interaction is slight. 2 .B (v) No interaction. 2.B(ii) Recent Dunes No interaction. 2.B(iii) Dune Crest Line The mining proposes that the affected part of the crest would be replaced to heights generally the same as now existing. The interaction is judged to be minimal. 2.B(iv) Seaward Slope 36.0 hectares or 12.3%of this unit lies within the "Red" Orebody area and occupies the upper part of the slope within slope classes 0-5 and 5-9 degrees and extending locally into slopes steeper than 20 degrees. That part of the Seaward Slope disturbed by mining would be re instated to slopes of 15 degrees maximum. This unit currently prevents vehicular access to the beach being constructed because of the steep grades and risk of erosion if a sealed road were constructed. Landward Slope This unit has an area of 838.7 ha. of which 603.0 ha. lie within the "Red" Orebody. 94.4% of the "Red" Orebody lies within the landward slope. The mining action will replace the sand mass to contours and slopes similar to the topography now existing. While still achieving this similarity, the sand and topsoil can be replaced to give greater diversity of contour which could be ad vantageous in recreation reserve R259 and in the rural residential subdivision in Lot 4, Portion 11. Similarly, a large area of internal drainage near co-ordinates 13000E and 16250 N can be replaced so that it has drainage to the swamp. This would be advantageous to subdivisional development. The dry mill and

stockpile dam sites are located on the western margin of the landward slope where it adjoins the tea-tree swamp. The dry mill site of approximately 24.7 ha. will be raised from a minimum RL 14 m. to 18 m. by a sand fill which, in cross section, tapers from 0 to a maximum of 4 m. This fill will be obtained from the dam excavations. These site works will change the land form locally and to a minor extent. Mining could replace this land form so as to leave a less steep part at co-ordinates 11250 E and 19250 N. Immediately to the south of this point, a prominent ridge descends to the beach. The mining path has been moved to the west of this so that it will remain un disturbed and provide shelter from the prevailing strong S.E. winds. As a result of providing the less steep part in the frontal slope, the crest line would be deflected to the west at this point and would have an elevation of approximately 40 metres or 8 metres The interaction on this topographic unit is minimal. 2.B(vi) Tea-tree SWamp No interaction. 2.B(vii) Clay Soil Slopes No interaction. 2.C 2.A The “Blue” Orebody 2.C(i) Shoreline No interaction. 2.C(ii) Recent Dunes The provision of road access to the dredge pond would cause some Change. 2.C(vii) Clay Soil Slopes No interaction. SUMMARY - "RED" OREBODY Of the seven topographic units, three have an interaction and these are judged to be minimal or slight. 2.B 2.C (iii) Dune Crest Line Interaction slight. Because the seaward slope would be replaced at slopes less than now existing, this land form would be displaced to the west for most of the length of the "Blue" Orebody. SUMMARY - "BLUE" OREBODY • Of the seven topographic units, four have an interaction and these are judged to range from slight to high. Interaction slight. 2.C,(iv) Seaward Slope 45.0 ha. or 15.4% of this unit lies within the "Blue" Orebody. Because slopes after mining would be less than now existing, the area affected would be appreciably greater. Whereas the present slopes range from 5 to over 20 degrees, re quirements of erosion prevention and establishment of vegetation in an exposed situation would require that slopes after mining would not exceed 15 degrees. This topographic unit would be considerably changed and the interaction is judged as high. 2.C(v) Landward Slope The displacement of the crest line to the west noted above would slightly reduce the area of this unit. Interaction slight. 2.C(vi) Tea-tree Swamp No interaction.

A-7 APPENDIX III SOIL REPORT 1. THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT The sandy soils on the main dune systems were sampled at a number of locations distributed over the major ore body. Sampling sites were grouped around bore lines A, 3 36N, C and F in four vegetat ion units : CjA^ C 3 A i' C 3 A 2 and C 4’ Four sections of the pro file to a depth of 2 metres were sampled and analysed chemically and physically. Where surface litter was available in areas that had not yet been burnt, this was also sampled and analysed chem ically. The following chemical analyses were carried out on each sample: phosphorus (acid soluble), phosphorus (total), organic carbon, total organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, pH, total soluble salts, chloride; soluble and exchangeable sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium; iron, copper, manganese and zinc. Samples were physically separated into the following categories : plus 425 microns, 212, 150, 90 and minus 90. Analytical results are given in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. Structurally, these soils are simple, consisting of siliceous sand containing small amounts of organic matter and clay. In the grey sands of the low open forest associations (C^A^ and C 3 A 2^ and - the brown sands of the glassy open forest (C^A^), the coarsest fraction screened, plus 425 microns, yielded weights in the 4-5% range. It is interesting to note that under the vine forest (C 4 ) r this fraction yielded a mean of 30.05% for the 2 metre profile. under grassy open forest than under low open forest. Chemically, the soils are very low in plant nutrients. The low open forest (C-^A^) soils on the main dune, carrying tea-tree, wattles and oak, have the lowest status. Down the profile for example, total phosphorus values range between 5 and 13 p.p.m., potassium values range between 16 and 21 p.p.m. and other cations are also low. The soils of the grassy open forest (C^A^) characterised by Bloodwoods and Moreton Bay Ash are higher in nutrient levels although overall values are still low. For example, total phosphorus values range between 20 and 32 p.p.m. and potassium values range between 14 and 58 p.p.m. Organic matter values are also higher. Vine forest values do not differ markedly from grassy open forest values except that pH is slightly above neutral near the surface and diminishes down the profile. There is no visible profile differentiation based on organic matter concentration in the soil near the surface in any of the soils. It is considered that the frequent fires to which the vegetation growing on these soils is subjected has con tributed to the decline in organic matter and fertility in the soil. Coaldrake (1961) observed that throughout the coastal lowlands (vine forests excluded), fire is the primary deterrent to litter accummulation. Nutrients are solubilised in the ash and lost through leaching, and (on soils other than sands), sheet washing during high intensity rainfalls. 2. The slimes fraction, comprising the fine organic matter and clay particles, indicated by the minus 90 micron values, yielded weights in the 4-6% range under the low open forest associations. The grassy open forest soils gave a mean value of 8.13% and the vine forest 16.17%. The higher values at the coarse and fine end of the range under the vine forest are the most prominent structural features dis tinguishing this soil from those under the other forest assoc iations. It is also of interest that the slimes value is higher ANALYSIS OF INTERACTION The movement of the top 25 cm. of soil during the mining process will involve removal of the soil by scraper and replacement onto the tailings. During movement, a little soil will be lost and disturbance will result in increased activity by soil micro-organisms resulting in mobilisation of part of the plant nutrients in the soil organic A-8 matter, leading to greater

leaching losses of these nutrients. Subsequent re-vegetation procedures will vary in each of the three areas subject to disturbance, i.e., camping and recreation reserves, subdivision land and native vegetation. Each of them in the initial stages will be subjected to the planting of temporary crops, the addition of fertilizer and the planting of seeds and seedlings as the case may be, i.e., grass and trees in the camoing/recreation reserves, pasture and trees in the subdivision area and native trees and shrubs indigenous to the area in the southern area of native vegetation. 3. EVALUATION OF INTERACTION The proposed action will have a negative impact on the soil during and immediately after the mining process. With the commencement of revegetation procedures, a positive impact will commence which will increase with time. This will be due to the increase in plant nutrients in the soil and the associated increase in plant roots and total organic matter content, which in turn, results in improved nutrient and water holding capacity. This nett beneficial impact will be highest in the subdivision area where a tropical grass/legume pasture is to be established. * r—I <1 Vi o w £ H O w w 1-1 H Eh H Eh W § o fa fa £ • co co m o e e r- m o o 0 s « • • • o o 10 ID CM O H o 10 00 01 O o dP rH CM oo’S’CMi-ifnincN’^'O'^ocM’T'S'incN CM • • Ln r-l CM H CM in • • • • 1 o »—i m HOH o OlffL O LA > cd cm r- co o O P o cn fa ro CA ■IA > rH i—i ID rH dP • co oo r- o • £ Cl r- rH o o £ • • • • o o O > m h o rH id oo o o o dP rH o r—1 inO’S’F-cniDCM^r-IC'-COOUJiniDCM • CM 10 O 01 CO CM • • in rH CO rH CM m • • • ♦o cm h m oo o 1 O rH in rH OOH cd o k ’a* n co in oo rH o fa <D H oi dP \o oi in o £ 'f H CM O o • 5 • • • • o g O 00 10 rH O H o ID 00 01 O dP rH o « H in ci m m kOHChM i ’f'X)0>00inCSCMfM(NL£iOr' 0 r- [" r- o r* O 1 CM • • •lDrH*rcnr*inOO • • • cd O O CM in H O rH O V fnA'lA co H o fa L0 rH co dP 1—I o • £ r- o n* o £ 0 CM iH r*> • O O u O . . . o O O 00♦ CM O H O H 1 H dP r- oo ci iH H r*cMf-Hm*rkoaocorHcoTrcMr*r*cNCM s 1 m • • • co H n m H > in • • • w • 1 I! i—i cm in h O ID H m io ta 1 >H fd 10 ID 00 10 CM O o P O 1 fa l^i > m* > H «0 rH 1 fa dP H Eh o M W O 0) rH rH £ £ cd 5 CD rH P O tn O 0 (0 rH C w +> —s •p n cd rH P (1) rH £ cd cd 4J cd rH T5 0 •H +J e cd co OCX O 0 c P cd cd a) <0 +J 0 O -P 0 £ •rH -H rH P n CO CD cd <d' s 5 3 o tn rH £ £ a) P P P C 0 <D 5 CD O O o o a) CD 13 -H £ -H a) £ £ •H tn H g CO 0 CD P c Ch a c H O rH P 5 CD -H 0 a) cd 0) CD cd Cd P cd O -H cd o c C cu tn o O o tn -P -P •P H Tj P h tn 0 Qi c a £ .0 P O -H Z 0 £00 <d cd P o cd •H fa fa O Eh Z Qi Eh O W fa O S h o z N o Eh in cm o o o CM rH in Cl 01 CM rH Mean of results from composite samples taken at 5 locations LOW'OPEN FOREST - ASSOCIATION * ANALYSIS OF SOILS EXPRESSED AS: (DWB) SECTION OF PROFILE SAMPLED 0-10 cm. 30-40 cm. 90-100 cm. 190-200 cm. Phosphorus (acid soluble) Phosphorus (total) Organic carbon Total Organic matter Nitrogen (nitrate) PH Total soluble salts Chloride SX J Iron Copper Manganese Zinc ppm ppm " % % ppm ppm ppm ppm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm CHEMICAL 6 17 0.3 0.6 6 5.8 71 21- 41 22 160 40 39 0.5 0.3 0.7 2 11 ' 0.2 1.0 5 5.8 57 23 23 16 97 33 30 0.3 0.2 1.0 4.3 19.5 0.2 1.9 5 5.7 80 18 41 133 54 22 0.5 0.6 0.2 8 17 0.7 1.0 9 6.0 102 24 17 17 251 58 52 0.6 2.1 0.5 PHYSICAL APERTURE (MICRONS) : % Frac. % Cum. % Frac. % Cum. % Frac % Cum % Frac. % Cum. PLUS 425 212 150 90 MINUS 90 TOTAL : 4.84 51.22 25.88 11.69 6.37 56.06 81.94 93.63 100 4.70 45.17 30.84 12.87 6.42 49.87 80.71 93.58 100 7.00 47.53 28.65 10.84 5.98 54.53 83.14 94.02 100 4.02 46.00 32.48 12.59 4.91 50.02 82.50 95.09 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 TABLE 2 * Results from composite samples taken at 1 location ANALYSIS OF SOILS TABLE 3 : LOW OPEN FOREST - ASSOCIATION C^A^ * EXPRESSED AS: (DWB)

SECTION OF PROFILE SAMPLED 0-10 cm. 30-40 cm. 90-100 cm. 190-200 cm. Phosphorus (acid soluble) Phosphorus (total) Organic carbon Total Organic matter Nitrogen (nitrate) . PH Total soluble salts Chloride Sodium ) t> x. * \ soluble Potassium ) . Magnesium ) exchangeable Iron Copper Manganese Zinc PPm PPm % % PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm ppm ppm PPm PPm CHEMICAL 2 8 1.2 2.4 2 5.2 47 15 18 18 187 58 31 0.4 0.6 0.8 2 5 0.4 1.1 2 5.3 54 39 19 92 24 0.7 0.3 0.4 13 0.1 1.4 3 5.3 37 13 37 16 70 9 12 2.1 0.1 1.7 4 9 1,2 1.8 3 5.3 52 15 17 21 267 60 22 0.5 2 0.9 PHYSICAL APERTURE (MICRONS) : % Frac % Cum. % Frac % Cum % Frac % Cum % Frac. % Cum PLUS 425 212 150 90 MINUS 90 TOTAL : 4.51 73.02 15.29 3.09 4.09 77.53 92.82 95.91 100 4.33 69.37 17.33 3.92 5.05 73.70 91.03 94.95 100 4.15 68.44 18.41 4.56 4.44 72.59 91.00 95.56 100 3.07 64.10 21.55 6.04 5.24 67.17 88.72 94.76 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 * Mean of results from composite samples taken at 3 locations - ' * -* VINE FOREST - COMMUNITY * ANALYSIS ■OF SOILS EXPRESSED AS: (DWB) SECTION OF PROFILE SAMPLED 0-10 cm. 30-40 cm. 90-100 cm. 190-200 cm. Phosphorus (acid soluble) Phosphorus (total) Organic carbon Total Organic matter Nitrogen (nitrate) PH Total soluble salts Chloride Sodium ) Potassium ) so * uble Calcium ) exc h an g ea bi e Magnesium ) * Iron Copper Manganese Zinc PPm PPm % % PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm PPm CHEMICAL 7 35 0.7 1.7 14 7.1 63 24 318 80 347 171 14 0.4 2 1.3 PHYSICAL 5 28 1.2 3.7 14 6.9 68 24 92 73 264 92 25 0.6 9 1.2 3 1.1 2.8 19 6.8 99 36 27 46 567 101 21 0.4 18 0.3 6 18 1.3 2.9 31 6.7 140 49 13 96 804 132 11 0.5 35 1.4 APERTURE (MICRONS) : % Frac % Cum % Frac % Cum % Frac % Cum % Frac % Cum PLUS 425 212 150 90 MINUS 90 TOTAL : 30.95 48.37 3.28 1.22 16.18 79.32 82.60 83.82 100 30.82 49.01 3.34 1.53 15.30 79.83 83.17 84.70 100 26.65 51.24 3.48 1.53 17.10 77.89 81.37 82.90 100 31.78 47.50 3.28 1.35 16.09 79.28 82.56 83.91 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 TABLE 4 * Results from composite samples taken at 1 location EXPRESSED AS : (DWB) ASSOCIATION C 1 A 1 C 3 A 1 C 3 A 2 C 4 Phosphorus (acid soluble) % 0.0095 0.0025 0.0095 0.0071 Phosphorus (total) % 0.0291 0.0268 0.0249 0.0341 Organic carbon % 6.2 5.3 4.8 91.6 Total Organic matter % . 96.6 96.2 96.0 95.8 Nitrogen (nitrate) % 0.0046 0.0039 0.0053 0.0158 pH 4.9 4.9 4.8 5.6 Total soluble salts % 0.2204 0.2180 0.2090 0.4140 Chloride % 0.9700 0.0583 0.8800 0.2000+ Sodium ) % 0.4000+ 0.4000+ 0.4000+ 0.0411 _ . ) soluble Potassium) % 0.2188 0.1660 0.1651 0.1850 Calcium exchangeable % 0.2357 0.9720 0.9964 0.7757 Magnesium % 0.4964 0.2000+ 0.4640 0.4250 Iron % 0.0010 0.0008 0.0013 0.0006 Copper % 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 Manganese % 0.0234 0.0078 0.0066 0.0100+ Zinc % 0.0005 0.0009 0.0004 0.0011 TABLE 5 : A-10 ANALYSIS OF SURFACE LITTER

CLIMATE REPORT The climate of the Shire is mildly subtropic. The coastal region is influenced by occasional cyclonic occurrences, characteristic of this area of Queensland. 1. TEMPERATURE The coastal - fringe has a mean maximum range of 29.4 to 32.2°C (85-90°F) in mid-summer, to 21.1 - 13.9°C (70-75°F) in mid winter. Century temperatures are recorded in the period December-March. Gladstone, to the north of Miriam Vale, re corded an extreme maximum of 40.3°C (104.6°F) on December 6, 1913, whilst Childers, south of Miriam Vale, recorded 42.7°C (109°F). Average minimum temperatures for summer are approximately 21.1°C (70°F) , producing unpleasantly warm nights during the wet season, when relative humidity is high. The Miriam Vale area experiences mild winters, with warm sunny days and cold nights. Winter maximum temperatures are be tween 21.1 - 23.9°C (70 - 75°F), with minimum temperatures 10 - 12.5°C (50 - 55°F). The extreme temperature has not fallen below 0°C (32°F) during the periods records have been kept. No frosts have occurred at Gladstone or Bustard Head. Maximum summer averages fall off sharply in April, although high values are still possible. Minimum temperature values can fall below 10°C (50°F) in April, and such values have been recorded as late as November. The Miriam Vale area can expect one day in March to be over 32.2°C (90°F) , 0.3 days in April, and none in May. Rainfall stations within the Miriam Vale area are recorded on Table 2 (refer also to Table 3). From Tables 2 and 4, it is apparent that between 67-74% of the annual total of rain falls in the six warmer months, October-March. Average monthly rainfalls decrease steadily from March, reaching a minimum in August. (August is the driest month throughout this area.) However, a slight increase is recorded in June. Rainfalls increase monthly after August, reaching a maximum in January and February. (Refer also to Figure 2.) Tropical cyclones affect the coastal area, and it is possible for January and February to experience very high monthly totals. In January 1913, Rosedale recorded 1320.8 mm (52") for the month. Similarly, very high daily rainfalls can be experienced, as in January 1913, when Rosedale received in 24 hours 480.06 mm (18.90"), and Miriam Vale 401.32 mm (15.90"). The tropical cyclone "season" occurs from December to mid April. The Miriam Vale area experiences on an average one tropical cyclone in every two cyclone seasons. Chances of a Tropical Cyclone influencing the Capricornia Coastal Region in 100 years is tabulated below: Table 1 INFLUENCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE J F M A M J J A S 0 N D 7 14 16 6 2 Rainfall of the Miriam Vale area is predominantly of summer incidence, and has a fairly high degree of variability. Rainfall over this area is divided fairly sharply by the line of the Calliope and Dawes Ranges. East of these ranges be tween 762 mm - 1524 mm (30 - 60”) of rain is recorded. The Calliope-Mary Peaks district averages 859 mm (35") . The Capricornia Coastal Region extends from Mackay to Bundaberg. Although no figures are recorded from May- November, tropical cyclones have infrequently occurred in this period. A-12 o M-< z o Wet Days i-4 11 o M3 m Ln m m •fl- M3 oo Ch tn 00 CM tn M0 tn X ’fl- 1-4 CM LA oo tn (X) s 00 Ch tn © d - M3 ’fl- CM tn in X r4 CM z w i-4 1-4 ^4 W o o P ^4 H a W d © P o p 'C >. S \D tn O r-4 co in CM ’fl- LA ’fl- X < O -H in CM d- oo ’fl- oo Ch CM o Ch M3 CM •J > Cfl x o x X m CM i-4 CM t-4 W CM CM ’fl- o cd < cs co cl »fl- tn p X o CM ^4 X in ’fl' ’fl- m M3 X 00 r4 o p- © d ^4 1-4 fH 00 z o S Q V© CM © d CM CM Ct CM M3 LA c M3 CM LA g o •st ’t Ch MO tn CM X IA ’fl- X ’fl' X C3 W S x© CM X X M3 LQ \D CM tn X CO (M ’fl- -J © —I p 1-4 CM ^4 i-4 t-4 ua i—< OC d d ( p 1-4 © u. p c >* c CM X CM tH Ch in LA o ’fl- in Ch o Z tA 00 00 1-4 M3 O ’fl- c Ch ’j 00 o

1—1 > d CM O x© 00 MO tn CM CM CM r-l i-4 CM tn ’t X© a < ci to Ck ’fl- tn P X x© X in d- tn tn tn CM tn ’T LA M3 r4 O M-I © d tn z o & Q 1-4 M3 CM d M3 CM 00 X LA 00 Ch ’fl- co g ^4■ CM in d 1 tn i-4 r4 in Ch X in M3 s c ’fl X LA © in tn tn M3 X CM 'fl- UJ tn CM CM 1—1 i-4 1-4 < Q • MJ © r-H ac d d p p (= p © p X 6 LA d - o X in Oi ’fl’ LA o LA X ’fl- LA tn © -h • H LA Oi © o ^4 ’fl- co CM ’t X o Ch r"4 o > d M3 o CO X in CM CM CM CM ^4 i-4 CM tn ’fl- m a < ci x© CL ’fl- tn p X a 1-4 o X in ’fl- in tn ’fl- M3 X Ch iH O P a) d t-4 1-4 r4 00 z o 3 a UJ _3 i-4 tn oo LA tn CM X ’fl- o CM o 1-4 CM E X o in tn Ch co in ’fl" o M3 00 < E CM in oo m M3 ’fl- tn tn M3 00 tn oo tn CM CM ^4 1-4 ^4 © w d P d tn cfl P- © p c 00 t— t p C X s m in co X co Ch M3 o 00 tn in Ci © ’St Ct t*4 r"4 d- Ch CM tn LA i-4 tn X i—i > d «-< o 00 oo in tn CM CM vH r-4 i-4 CM tn LA x© Z < Ci x Cl ’fl- tn p X tn d’ o 00 X X M3 M3 X co o o O P © d vH i-4 <r4 i-4 rH Z O S CJ ^4 Q tn Ch m Ch Ch Ch co oo i-4 o in o ^4 < • LX g M3 M3 Ch O) X tn ’fl- M3 00 •fl- 00 in W X s ■O oo m 00 X X LA tn •n m \© W LA tn w i-4 i-4 i-4 Q ci © r- OC Ct P d tn ^4 < d p © p tn P C x c to MO oo X i-4 M0 LA o Ch o CM <z> © •<“ •H X tn CM tn o Ch ^4 LA C3 X m tn z > n Ch © X X © tn m CM CM rH i-4 CM CM ’fl- in co « QJ X Ok ’fl- p x X r-4 in < O r4 © X 3 p o 3> z C 33♦ P p X a r4 CM CL P > Z o d © ct$ CL cw 5 5 3 © U © 0) z z »-> P X < X •d •-J < C/3 C z Q Table 2 AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL RAINFALL AND RAIN DAYS J. F. M. A. TOTAL PERIOD 3 8 8 3 22 50 Years Source: Rainfall Statistics Queensland, Bureau of Meteorology, 1966. GROUPING OF OCCURRENCES DECILE RANGE NUMBER OF YEARS PERCENTAGE OF OCCURRENCES Very much below ave. 1 6 7.4 Much below ave. 2 7 8.7 Below ave. 3 12 14.7 Ave. 4-7 34 42.0 Above ave. 8 9 11.1 Much above ave. 9 11 13.6 Very much above ave. 10 2 2.5 81 100 % The occurrence of Tropical Cyclones endangering the Burnett, Mary and Wide Bay Coastal area is tabulated as follows: The great variability of the average annual rainfall results in 33% of the occurrences below the average annual, 7% recorded extremely below the average. The Table below records decile groupings of rainfall occurrences within the Miriam Vale Shire. Table 3 DECILE GROUPINGS OF RAINFALL OCCURRENCES The average rainfall occurs slightly less than 50% average monthly and annual rainfall, plus rain days, are recorded on the following Table (refer Table 4, and also to Figure 3) Agricultural rainfall requirements for the area are considered to be 152.4 mm (16") for the winter period between April-September, and 381 mm (15") of rainfall from October to March. The Miriam Vale area is well situated for receiving these requirements, with a 92% probability of receiving the winter rainfall, and 97% probability of achieving the summer rainfall requirements. Table 4 PERCENTAGE CHANCES OF RECEIVING SPECIFIED MONTHLY AND TWO-MONTHLY AMOUNTS OR MORE OF RAIN MIRIAM VALE MONTHLY 61 YEARS OF RECORD Inches of Rain JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC h 98 99 93 90 77 79 66 66 69 92 87 97 1 95 96 85 80 66 63 48 51 56 79 75 92 2 90 85 73 60 41 45 31 21 26 55 58 83 . 3 82 75 64 40 23 32 21 8 11 35 44 75 4 75 65 52 22 17 23 14 3 5 18 31 64 5 69 59 44 13 13 15 10 - 3 11 21 46 7 51 44 32 6 10 5 7 - - 5 8 23 10 30 31 21 3 7 2 4 - - - - 7 TWO-MONTHLY D-J J-F F-M M-A A-M M-J J-J J-A A-S S-0 0-N N-D 1 100 100 100 98 93 89 77 70 74 92 98 97 2 100 98 97 93 85 73 69 62 53 76 82 95 3 98 96 94 88 68 60 64 50 40 58 72 90 4 96 94 92 80 53 49 53 34 25 40 60 84 5 93 92 87 72 41 39 41 19 13 30 44 77 7 85 86 79 54 25 23 20 11 5 15 29 59 10 62 75 61 38 14 7 10 5 - 3 13 33 15 33 52 40 18 3 2 - - - 5 ROSEDALE WIND The area is not normally subjected to strong winds, although tropical cyclones may cause strong to hurricane force winds along some exposed coastal areas.

Coastal areas experience an afternoon sea breeze each day, giving some relief to the high temperatures and humidity of the summer months. Morning winds in the coastal regions are predominantly S.E., varying from S.E. to S.W. in May to June, and N.E. to S.E. in October to December. Afternoon winds are chiefly N.E. , however, a high percentage of S.E. winds occur from February to June. In winter, winds along the coast vary from a daily average of 22.4Km/h (14 mph), whilst in summer, winds average 32.19Km/h (20+ mph). h 98 98 95 84 77 75 63 61 74 91 88 95 1 91 89 85 67 61 63 49 51 53 75 79 89 2 84 84 74 59 36 44 33 23 30 50 49 77 3 79 74 60 40 24 32 21 7 16 34 35 63 4 72 62 48 30 17 23 14 3 9 23 27 49 5 58 54 39 23 11 16 11 - 5 14 20 33 7 42 42 28 8 5 8 6 - - 5 11 19 10 33 32 16 2 2 4 4 - - - 2 7 TWO-MONTHLY D-J J-F F-M M-A A-M M-J J-J J-A A-S S-0 0-N N-D 1 100 100 100 97 91 91 81 75 75 95 97 97 2 98 99 98 93 77 72 71 59 59 72 83 94 3 96 98 96 82 63 61 59 43 37 54 67 86 4 93 97 90 74 52 50 48 32 22 42 56 79 5 89 95 85 66 42 41 38 20 10 34 46 68 7 80 88 75 54 26 25 20 10 5 21 31 44 10 56 65 61 35 12 7 11 5 2 6 18 26 15 23 49 33 12 3 2 2 • ** 4 s ' MONTHLY 57 YEARS OF RECORD Source: Bureau of Meteorology. MONTH 9 A.M. 3 P.M. Jan S.E. N.E. Feb S.E. N.E.- S.E. March S.E. N.E.- S.E. April S.E. N.E.- S.E. May S.E.- S. N.E.- S.E. June S.E.- S.W. S.E. July S.E.- S.W. N.E. August S.E.- S. ‘ N.E. September S.E. N.E. October N.E.- S.E. N.E. November N.E.- S.E. N.E. December N.E.- S.E. N.E. Table 5 PREVAILING WIND DIRECTIONS (Capricornia Region) The difference between the morning and afternoon speeds is particularly marked in summer. The direction of the gusts associated with cyclonic activity is most likely to be E.S.E., S.E. or E.N.E. Thunderstorm squalls cause winds from E.S.E. and S.E. between January and April, and S.W. and S.S.W. from October to December. The only available recorded information of wind gusts resulting from a cyclone, near the Miriam Vale area, are 16O.9Km/h (100 mph) at Rockhampton on March 2, 1949, and 180.2Km/h (112 mph) at Bowen on April 1, 1958. CLOUD Throughout the area cloud cover is least in winter and early spring, increasing to a maximum in the summer period. On an average, the cloud cover tends to increase during the day in autumn and winter months along the coast, but increases in all seasons during the day further inland. The following Table indicates the cloud situation near the Miriam Vale area. BUSTARD HEAD 28 YEARS TIME J F M A M J J A S 0 N D YEAR 9 am 4.9 4.9 4.3 3.7 3.4 3.5 2.9 2.5 2.9 3.5 3.9 4.5 3.8 3 pm 4.2 4.4 4.0 3.6 3.5 3.8 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.8 3.2 3.9 3.4 GLADSTONE 27 YEARS 9 am 4.3 4.1 3.6 2.7 2.4 3.0 2.1 2.1 2.5 3.1 3.6 3.9 3.1 Table 6 AVERAGE CLOUDINESS (Sale 0-8) DAY J F M A M J J A S 0 N D 1 13.6 13.2 12.6 11.8 11.2 10.8 10.7 11.0 11.6 12.3 13.0 13.5 10 13.5 13.0 12.4 11.6 11.0 10.7 10. 7 11. 1 11.8 12.5 13.2 13.6 20 13.4 12.8 12.1 11.4 10.9 10.7 10.8 11.4 12.0 12.7 13.4 13.6 Latitude 24°S Table 7 HOURS OF DAYLIGHT (In hours, to the nearest tenth, published by Brisbane.) the Survey Office, HUMIDITY Relative humidity for the area is fairly uniform with a maximum 9 a.m. range of 9%, and a 3 p.m. range of 12%. The figures refer to Gladstone, Bustard Head and Bundaberg, the only available data close to the area. Humidity % BUSTARD HEAD J F M A M J J A S 0 N D YEAR 9 a.m. 81 83 82 79 77 74 72 74 76 77 77 79 78 BUNDABERG 9 a.m. 74 75 77. 76 73 74 72 72 72 72 72 72 73 3 p.m. 63 64 63 61 58 59 55 53 55 58 60 61 59 GLADSTONE 9 a.m. 70 71 71 69 70 69 66 67 62 61 63 66 67 3.p.m. 63 63 61 59 57 55 51 53 55 58 61 62 58 Table 8 RELATIVE HUMIDITY SUNSHINE The average number of sunshine hours per month in the area varies from 200 in February-June, 225 in January and the autumn months, with a maximum of 270 in October. Data for Bustard Head

and Gladstone are indicative of the coastal lowlands area, whilst data for Bundaberg show indication of the relative humidity that may be expected further inland. The diurnal variation is small for along coastal areas, decreasing with distance from the coast. Coastal areas likewise experience higher summer humidity, which also decreases with distance from the coast. Prolonged excessively high humidity does not occur as sea breezes during the summer months lower humidity values. EVAPORATION Data on evaporation rates for the Miriam Vale area are not available. Bundaberg is the nearest station with information available, and may be used as a guide for the area. Table 9 AVERAGE MONTHLY RAINFALLS AND POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION - BUNDABERG MONTH AVE.RAINFALL DEFICIENCY BETWEEN AVE. EFFECTIVE RAINFALL $ ESTIMATED MONTHLY EVAPORATION mm inches Jan 200.6 7.9 30.4 1.2 Feb 175.2 6.9 - - March 144.7 5.7 15.2 0.6 April 86.3 3.4 25.4 1.0 May 66.0 2.6 25.4 1.0 June 66.0 2.6 17.7 0.7 July 53.3 2.1 81.2 3.2 Aug 30.4 1.2 50.8 2.0 Sep 38.1 1.5 58.42 2.3 Oct 58.4 2.3 66.0 2.6 Nov 76.2 3.0 73.6 2.9 Dec 129.5 5.1 55.8 2.2 TOTAL 1125.2 44.3 500.3 mm 19.7 inches Evaporation rates for three stations surrounding the Miriam Vale area, as recorded by the Bureau of Meteor ology, are as follows: Table 10 EVAPORATION RATES GLADSTONE J F M A M J J A S 0 N D YEAR mm 127 102 102 76 102 76 76 102 127 140 127 152 1270 ins 5 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 5 5*2 5 6 50. BUNDABERG mm 127 102 102 76 102 76 76 102 102 127 127 152 1270 ins 5 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 50 MANI ( PEAKS mm 152 127 114 89 102 76 76 102 127 140 140 152 1397 ins 6 5 4^ 3*2 4 3 3 4 5 5*2 5*2 6 55 High deficiencies occur in the important growing months, September to January. I I MONT} TEMPERATURE (max & min ): LLBunflaberjg

APPENDIX V 3. GROUNDWATER REPORT INTRODUCTION This report has been prepared at the request of Mineral Deposits Limited to describe in broad detail the hydro- geological conditions in the proposed sand mining project at Rocky Point. The area in question was visited on October 9 and 10 and examined both from the air and on the ground. Several water samples were collected from natural discharge areas, one from the tea-tree swamp and the remainder from springs discharging from the steep coastal flank of the dune. These coastal springs, though not discharging from the Red Orebody, were analysed so as to give a more complete hydrogeological assessment of the sand dune complex. Surveyed section lines across the Red Orebody were auger drilled by Mineral Deposits between August 1968 and May 1969. An aggregate total of 400 holes were drilled across 10 section lines, with some infill drilling in late 1973. Average hole depth was about 15m. The holes were abandoned when encountering either bedrock, clay, ironstone, water or simply at the limit of the drill. The 1:2,500,000 hydrogeological map of Queensland shows the area to be one of fractured rock aquifers within the Gympie Basin, for which insufficient data is available (Reference : Groundwater Resources of Queensland, Explanatory Notes 1:2,500,000 map by Geological Survey of Queensland/Irrigation and Water Supply Commission). The most comprehensive study of a similar sand dune complex is that of the North Stradbroke Water Resources by J. W. Laycock of the Geological Survey of Queensland, Record No. 1972/28. Many of the conclusions from that study can be applied to the Rocky Point dune complex. LITHOLOGY OF DUNES A description of the geomorphology and geology of the dune system is given in separate appendicies of this E.I.S. report. (Refer Appendix I - Geological & Geomorphological Report) . Examination of drilling logs and on-site examination show the main body of the sand mass to be a light brown, fine to medium grained well-sorted quartz sand with rounded grains. Near the coast, clay overlies shallow bedrock. The tea-tree swamp is underlain at shallow depth by humate soils. Both these clayey horizons are outside the Red Orebody. Discontinuous layers of ferruginous sandstone occur at various levels in the dune, near the centre of the Red Orebody. They may be related to precipitation of iron from a perched water table, but without samples no definite evidence of origin can be deduced. Wet seiving analyses of three surface samples from the Red Orebody were made by Mineral Deposits. The resulting grain size gradings are shown on Figure 1. When compared to the Island samples the similarity of the sands is unmistakeable. The Stradbroke Island samples were from a complete vertical section through the sand complex and show no difference in sorting. A comparison made with the Tomago sands at Newcastle. N.S.W., also showed a similar grain size distribution. The Rocky Point sand dune complex can, therefore, safely be assumed to be made up of a uniform fine to medium sand. GROUNDWATER FLOW Aquifer form has been deduced from data collected by Mineral Deposits during its exploratory auger drilling. Cross-sections K, C and 448N, located on Map No. 9, are shown in Sections 10.1, 10.2 & 10.3. Bedrock intersections were only made near the coast and elsewhere on the cross-sections the bedrock profile can only be.estimated. 4. 5. Specific Yield, S 0.2 Reported levels for water table intersections show an irregular pattern. Some intersections have undoubtedly been made on perched water bodies and in other cases the levels shown are representative of the main aquifer in its dry season state. In the wet season, water table levels would probably be 2 to 4 metres higher than as

reported. Bearing these factors in mind, estimated water table profiles have also been drawn on the three sections. From these an estimated potentiometric map of the groundwater.flow system has been drawn (refer Map No. 9). The water table surface is similar in form to the ground surface. Groundwater flow is eastward to the sea and westward to the tea tree swamp. The groundwater body is assymetrical in form, there being a greater discharge to the swamp than to the sea. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY AND SPECIFIC YIELD Pumping tests on bores and laboratory tests on samples from Stradbroke Island gave a hydraulic conductivity (K) of 6m/day and specific yield (S) of 0.22. These values are typical of the sand dune aquifers along the East Coast of Australia and similar values will be used in all calculations for the Rocky Point System. Hydraulic Conductivity, K = 6 m/day RAINFALL, ANNUAL MEAN AND CHLORIDE CONTENT Climate including rainfall is dealt wi another section of the report. According to figures from the Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane the median annual rainfall at Miriam Vale is 1188 mm. There has been no study made of chloride content of rainwater in Queensland but studies made in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales gave similar results which are likely to be applicable in Queensland. The results of two such studies are illustrated in Fig. 2. From the curve in that figure it is estimated that rainfall at Rocky Point will have an average chloride content of about 30 mg/1. • METHOD OF RECHARGE Only a proportion of the rain falling on the area of the Red Orebody will percolate down to the water table. Part is inter cepted by the natural vegetative cover and never reaches the ground surface. On entering the soil profile a further part is lost by evapotranspiration and the balance percolates downward to the water table which in the central highest part of the dune complex may be 40 to 50 m below the surface. Infiltration capacity of the sand is high and no runoff is seen even during periods of high intensity rainfall. - WATER QUALITY Four water samples were collected at natural discharge points of the water table aquifer shown on Map No. 9. They were analysed for conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride and bicarbonate (refer Table 1). The chloride content and total dissolved solids are comparable to those recorded by Laycock for Stradbroke Island, although the bicarbonate content at Rocky Point is very much lower. The average chloride content from the four analyses is 57.4 mg/1. 8. QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER REGIME Recharge An estimate of the magnitude of the annual recharge can be made by considering data, collected at the Tomago Sandbeds in New South Wales, and at Stradbroke Island in Queensland. 8.2 At Tomago, Corlette 1944, found that bores pumping at a rate of 4550 m 3 /d reached a state of equilibrium with recharge when their radius of influence was 1200 m. The annual rainfall 6 3 (955 mm) on an area of this radius is 4.4 x 10 M. At equil ibrium, the annual pumpage (1.66 x 10^M 3 ) will be equal to the recharge to the aquifer and is equivalent to 38% of the annual rainfall. In his study on the hydrogeology of Stradbroke Island, Laycock made two estimates of recharge. The first, based upon meteor ological factors, put groundwater recharge at 33% of the annual rainfall; and the second estimate, based upon hydraulic factors, put recharge at 46% of the rainfall. The sands of Tomago and at Stradbroke are physically almost identical to those at Rocky Point so it is likely that ground water recharge will also be similar and should be about 40% of the annual rainfall. As annual rainfall is 1188 mm over the 820 hectares through which the mining path will move, recharge to the

groundwater in that area will at the present time be about 0.4 x 1.188 x 820 x 10^ = 3.90 x 10^ m 3 /year. Median annual rainfall = 1.188 The area of the aquifer from north end of Red Orebody to the south end and from the dune crest line to the swamp = 820 ha 4 .Annual recharge = 820 x 10 x 1.188 x 0.52 = 5.06 x 1q6 m 3 /year Natural Discharge into Tea-tree Swamp Natural throughflow, Q, into the swamp should nearly equal the annual recharge over the area to be mined. The hydraulic conductivity, K, of the saturated sand is taken as 6m/d and the average hydraulic gradient, i, measured through line A-A 1 on the estimated potentiometric map (refer Map No. 9) is 0.019. The length of the discharge path from the northern end of the Red Orebody measured to the southern boundary of Lot 4 Portion 11 is 7800 m. Assuming a saturated thickness, b, of 10 m, the groundwater discharge, Q, from the subject area to the tea-tree swamp can be calculated by application of Darcy's Law. A second estimate of groundwater recharge can be made by com paring chloride content of the groundwater to the chloride content of the rainfall. The average chloride content is 57.4 mg/1 and as these samples, though collected at the surface, are from zones of groundwater discharge and are taken to be representative of the chloride content of the groundwater at Rocky Point. The chloride content of the rainfall has been estimated 30 mg/1. The only source for the chloride ions in the groundwater will be the recharging rainfall, therefore, the rainfall has been concentrated from 30 to 57.4 mg/1, or $ x 100% (52%) of the rainfall is infiltrating to the groundwater body. Q = KxbxLxi = 6 x 10 x 7800 x 0.019 = 8890 m 3 /d = 3.25 x 10^ m 3 /year This is of the order of the annual recharge values calculated by comparison to Tomago and Stradbroke and about 60% of the estimate made by considering the chlorinity data. 8.3 Storage in Aquifer Assuming that the average water saturated thickness of aquifer over the 820 ha is 15 m, the volume of groundwater recoverable from storage is - Aquifer Volume x Specific Yield = 820 x 10 4 x 15 x 0.2m 3 = 24.6 x 10 6 m 3 8.4 Groundwater in Portion 22 Portion 22 is located south of Lot 4, Portion 11 as shown on Map No. 9. Cross-section K (Section No. 10.3) indicates the existence of a groundwater table and an aquifer in the dune. The area is bounded by the dune crest and the swamp and includes approximately 600 ha. Using the same perimeters for the aquifer as those used for Lot 4, Portion 11. e. Specific Yield = 0.2 Assumed Saturated Thickness = 15 m then the groundwater recoverable from storage would be of the order of 600 x 10 4 x 0.2 x 15 e. 18 x 10^ cubic metres and the aquifer recharge of the order of 0.4 x 1.188 x 600 x 10 4 i.e. 2.85 x 10 6 cubic metres/year Bores will be commissioned every 3000 metres or so along the Red Orebody so that water will never have to be pumped too great a distance. Thus general groundwater movement situation when the proposed project is operational can be illustrated by the schematic diagram below. WEST EAST SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF OPERATIONAL GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT DIAGRAMMATIC CROSS SECTION The existence of this water resource could be taken into account in considerations for a future water supply for residential development in the area. 9. PROPOSED ACTIONS Insofar as it concerns the groundwater regime the following actions, described in more detail in Chapter 3.0 of the E.I.S Mining Report, are proposed. The dredge pond will be maintained at the water table or slightly below it. Make up water for the pond will be drawn from the aquifer by bores sited up to 3,000 m from the wet pond. By maintaining the pond at the water table the volume . of make up water required is lower than many other similar mining operations

and is considered to range up to a maximum of 4,500 cubic metres/day. The daily groundwater useatje from bores could average about 2500 cubic metres/day. Tailings will be pumped from the floating concentrator at a minimum pulp density of 65% and when discharged water will drain back from the tailings back into the pond, so as to reduce water loss from the system. At the dry mill a far lower volume of water, estimated to be only 200 cubic metres/day will be used for the wet table concentrator, and to pump the quartz, silicates, ilmenite and zircon magnetics to the tailings dams. Water is recycled from the tailings dams to the tabling section and dry mill pumps. The site of the dry mill is located close to the tea-tree swamp and will be built up above flood level to the 18 metre contour. Effects of Sand Mining Operation on Groundwater Regime Several factors which may be considered to have an influence on the groundwater environment are discussed below. These include: Movement of water from the pond to the aquifer system. Permeability of tailings different to that of the pre-mined sand, reducing the rainfall percolation. Movement of water from the dry mill tailings dam to the tea-tree swamp. Localised overabstraction of groundwater from bores resulting in - incursion of sea water into aquifer; and reduction of outflow into tea-tree swamp. Pollution in the pond could occur by spillage of lubricants from machinery and equipment. Normal safety precautions consistent with adopted sand mining practice will ensure that this is avoided. Where there are l^ers of humate cemented sand in the mining path, slimes may be produced in the pond. If allowed to build up there may be bacterial action of the slimes producing iron in solution and causing a deterioration in groundwater quality. Ferruginous cemented layers are reasonably common in the centre part of the Red Orebody but whether they are the type to produce slimes is not known at this stage. Observations of this aspect should be made during the early phases of the mining operation. If a deterioration of water quality, caused by an increase of iron in solution, is detected during mining, if that increase is beyond the capacity of the aquifer recharge to reduce to acceptable limits, and if the water from that part of the aquifer is to be used for domestic purposes, steps should be taken to remove ferruginous slimes from the pond. The sand in the Red Orebody is made up of clean rounded quartz grains with a small percentage of heavy minerals and occasional iron-cemented layers. Once the heavy minerals are removed from the sand the tailings are dumped behind the path of the dredge. The density of the tailings is actually lower than the original sand and permeability will in fact be greater, percolation of rain will be enhanced and with it recharge of groundwater. After desposition the tailings will gradually revert to their previous undisturbed density and permeability and within about five years these parameters will probably be the same as before mining. However, the lower permeability iron cemented layers responsible for the perched water tables in the system will no longer exist and rainfall percolation will be slightly greater than before. The volumes of water used in the dry mill operation are low. No fluids will be discharged into the swamp. Losses from the system will for the most part be as vertical and lateral seepage from the tailings ponds. Evaporation losses from these ponds can be disregarded. The ponds are in an area of high water table and only a slight groundwater hump will be formed below them balanced by a nearby slight water table depression at the dry mill production bore. No short or long term detrimental effects will ensue from this aspect of the operation. ' 10.4(a) The fresh water/sea water interface is on

the coast at some H distance from the proposed mining path. There is no risk of sea i v ' water contamination in the Red Orebody. (b)i Abstraction of groundwater from bores at average rates of 2500 cubic metres/day will cause localised drawdown and mining of groundwater from storage. In the natural undisturbed state of dynamic equilibrium the aquifer has an estimated groundwater outflow of 3.2 million cubic metres/year into the tea-tree swamp, and in addition has an estimated 24 million cubic metres, recoverable from storage. Projected groundwater demand of 2500 cubic metres/day is equiv alent to 0.9 million cubic metres/year. useage = 0.9 million cu.m/year outflow = 3.2 million cu.m/year recharge = 3.9 to 5 million cu.m/year and storage = 24 million cu.m/year Changes in evapotranspiration losses will be negligible. Thus in average years most of the water demand will be satisfied by natural recharge with some reduction to the outflow into the tea-tree swamp and some mining of water from aquifer storage particularly during dry periods. This will, in part, be overcome during wet periods when surface runoff from the west will recharge the localised lower water table areas on the eastern margin of the swamp. As illustrated by the schematic diagram above, (refer Section 9) there will be no significant loss to the total system, only a change in the movement of water within the system (i.e. bore to pond etc.). The approximate maximum evaporation rate from the water surface of the dredge pond would be: In the short term the use of groundwater will have a minor short term' detrimental effect on the tea-tree swamp. Each borefield has a life of only two years and after abandonment the water table in the depleted areas will soon reattain its former profile. REFERENCES CORLETTE, J.M.C., 1944: Water Supply for Newcastle, N.S.W. from the Tomago Sandbeds. Jounr. Inst. Eng. Aust . 16: 137-147 and 161-171. Geol. Survey of Queensland & IWSC, 1973: "Groundwater Resources of Queensland" , Explanatory Notes & 1:2,500,000 Map. HUTTON, J.T., 1962: Rainwater Analysis - July 1957 - March 1961. CSIRO Soils Divisional Report 7/62 . Laycock, J.W., 1972: "Water Resources of the North Stradbroke Island", Geol. Survey of Qld. , Record No. 1972/28 . LAYCOCK, J.W., 1974: North Stradbroke Island . An unpublished paper presented to a symposium on North Stradbroke. Assumed Evaporation Rate for this area = 1200 mm/year k 0.003 m/day Area of Dredge Pond = 80,000m 2 .’ . Daily Loss = 240 m 3 /day FIGURE 1 Grainsize Gradings for Bore Mo. 17 Stradbroke Island and Three Samples from Rocky Point Key Sample Sample B Sample C Rocky Point Tomago Sands - Stradbroke (Red Orebody) Island SAMPLE NO. CONDUCT* TDS. Cl HC0 3 Swamp Line A 113 166 34.03 0.36 Springs No. 1 145 143 43.96 0.36 Springs No. 2 185 140 56.72 0.36 Camp Spring 317 205 95.00 0.43 TABLE 1 WATER SAMPLE ANALYSES * Conductivity expressed in microsiemens/cm at 250 c TDS, Cl - , HCO3 expressed in parts per million. APERTURE (MICRONS) SAMPLE 'A' Line D 15% West SAMPLE 1 B‘ Line B 47 West SAMPLE 'C* 1000 - - — - 1.1 1.1 600 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 3.7 4.8 500 0.9 1.3 0.8 1.0 5.4 10.2 425 2.3 3.6 2.7 3.7 10.7 20.9 300 14.0 17.6 18.5 22.2 31.2 52.1 212 31.3 48.9 38.8 61.0 27.6 79.7 180 21.7 70.6 18.8 79.8 8.8 88.5 150 5.4 76.0 5.2 85.0 2.3 90.8 106 9.5 85.5 6.9 91.9 2.6 93.4 90 1.8 87.3 0.9 92.8 0.4 93.8 75 0.6 87.9 0.4 93.2 0.1 93.9 -75 12.1 100.0 6.8 100.0 6.1 100.0 TOTAL 100.0 100.0 100.0 TABLE 2 WET SIZING ANALYSES 30 VARIATION IN SALINITY OF RAINWATER IN RELATION TO DISTANCE FROM COAST FIGURE 2 p.p.m, CHLORIDE (1958) HIN6ST0N DATA FROM J. T. HUTTON DATA FROM MILEAGE FROM COAST (1958) SUBMITTED BY LAYTON AND ASSOCIATES FOR MINERAL

DEPOSITS LIMITED. DATE AMMENDMENTS E.I.S. ROCKY POINT SCALE: |DATE: NO: 1 6-1-75

APPENDIX VI NOISE REPORT 1. GENERAL This report has been prepared at the request of Mineral Deposits Limited to advise on the noise levels to be expected with the proposed mining and dry milling operation. For this purpose, a comparison has been made between the existing noise at the rural-seaside location and the expected future noise. A present, the area is completely uninhabited. However, R204 is a Camping Reserve which could have transient residents in the future. Since it is proposed to mine a part of R204, it will be as well to restrict camping within R204 to areas which are sufficiently removed from the noise source so that the noise is attenuated below levels that would cause offense. Once the mining of the northern section of the orebody within Lot 4, Portion 11 is complete, subdivision of that area may be considered. Development east of the dry mill can be restricted to areas sufficiently far removed to reduce the noise to acceptable levels. There will be the additional advantage that the prevailing wind will carry any dry mill noise away from adjacent residences. There are no residences, present or proposed in R259 or Portion 22. 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES Unwanted noise can be a nuisance to residents in the vicinity of industrial plants. To be disturbing, the noise does not have to be of sufficient level to damage hearing. It can be the subject of complaint even if as little as 5 dB(A) above the level that the person would enjoy in the absence of the industrial plant. There is as yet no statutory requirement as to the allowable disturbance to the acoustic environment of residences in Queensland though it is known that the Government is working towards a policy. However, there is an increasing public awareness of environmental quality and a readiness to approach the Courts under the tort of nuisance in the event of any disturbance. The basis of much of the thinking with regard to desired noise levels is contained in the recent Australian Standard Code of Practice, "Noise Assessment in Residential Areas" (AS 1055-1973). This standard defines an Acceptable Noise Level which is,presumably,the maximum level which should be allowed at residential sites due to a disturbing industry. The Acceptable Noise Level for the rural environment at Rocky Point is assessed at 30 dB(A) (refer Section 4 below). The noise from the industrial source will be attenuated as it travels through the atmosphere. The amount of attenuation depends on the temperature and humidity of the air as well as the distance. Thus physical separation of the source and residence will reduce the noise level. Acoustic absorption in a well vegetated ground surface will also reduce the noise level. Obstruction and reflection of the sound by solid objects between the source and the receiver ( the resident) will also reduce the noise level. Such interference could be achieved by natural ground topography or by high trees. Layout of a site with respect to a prevailing wind will also assist as the sound will be attenuated more against the wind direction. The prime axiom of noise reduction is to reduce the noise at its source, i.e. the actual machine that initially causes the noise. Here, it is assumed that the machines within the plant are acoustically treated to an economic level to reduce the noise to the plant operator to the 85 dB(A) Hearing Conservation Level. The noise could be contained within the building using an imperforate cladding of suitable density. However, ventilation problems would result. With imperforate cladding absorptive liners could be required to control internal reflections and noise concentration• 3. 5. Physical separation between the source of noise and the residents is probably the most useful means of ensuring a satisfactory acoustic environment. This principle can be applied with respect to

R204 as already noted. It will automatically follow with respect to mining operations in Lot 4, Portion 11 as that activity will have moved to the south when subdivision proceeds. The amount of separation required is difficult to calculate as it depends on the noise spectrum and the source size as well as factors previously mentioned. BACKGROUND NOISE Background or ambient noise is the lowest level which can be expected at a location at a given time in the absence of the offending noise. It includes natural noise caused by wind and animals as well as the noise of normal human activity at the location. Thus it will include traffic and industrial noises that are accepted as usual. If the offending noise can be temporarily stopped, the background noise at the location being considered can be measured. However, in many cases the background noise level can be' inferred from readings taken in a similar location which is without the offending source. Essentially, the background noise level is that level that a resident could normally expect to enjoy. Background noise levels close to the seashore are considerably higher than most people would normally accept and are caused by the sea-breeze and the surf. These levels are accepted ( as the agents which cause them are considered as desirable amenities (refer Table 1). night-time. In other words, if the plant will cause no annoyance at night, it will be satisfactory in the day as well. The area will be considered as rural so that the background noise will be the lowest that could be encountered. The base acceptable noise level of 40 dB(A) will be adjusted as follows: - 10 dB(A) for night-time (10 p.m. - 7 a.m.) + 0 dB(A) for rural area with neglgible transport Thus the Acceptable Noise Level is 30 dB(A) (i.e. 40-10+0). However, it is important to note that the night-time back ground noise levels reported for similar situations vary from 63 dB(A) at the water's edge with a slight wind and surf height of less than 1 metre to 48 dB(A) some 800-1000 metres inland. The surf noise is predominant on the beach but at the inland location the movement of trees by the wind and the insect noises are more important. DETERMINATION OF ADJUSTED MEASURED NOISE LEVEL The readings were taken with a Bruel and Kjaer Precision Sound Level Meter with Octave Band Analyser, which complies with Australian Standard AS Z38. As the sound is broad-band without impulsive or tonal components and persists while the plant operates, no adjustments to the measured values were made. All the readings reported were obtained in reasonably fine weather with light breezes which are characteristic of sea-side locations. ACCEPTABLE NOISE .LEVEL As it is proposed to operate the plant continuously, the worst time of day in relation to noise annoyance will be The noise arises from vibration within the plant. At times, this vibration could be the cause of annoyance it transmitted through the ground. However, in this instance the machinery 5.B is mainly rotating without heavy out of balance forces and will not produce large amplitudes of vibration. In addition, the sandy soil should provide some damping of any vibrations. Thus, vibration transmission is not a cause for concern. The noise sources are considered separately as follows: 5.A The Dry Mill The dry mill is to be located west of the orebody and it will operate continuously at the one location. Its potential as a source of complaint is examined in this report. A dry mill with concentrate feed rate of about 300 tonnes per day was examined at Rainbow Beach (refer Table 2). The size compares with the approximate 450 tonnes per day rating for the Rocky Point plant. The noise levels in each plant will be similar as similar processes are involved and there is a need to restrict the

maximum noise level in the plant to the Hearing Conservation Level of about 85 dB(A) for operator safety. The effect of size will be to increase the volume of the noise source and the radiated energy, and perhaps to increase the distance required to attenuate the noise to desired levels. At night, the noise of the dry mill is produced by rotating machinery, moving fluids, magnetic vibration, an earth moving machine, etc. Generally, it is fairly steady with a wide band characteristic. The worst frequency (refer Figure 2) is 500-1000 hertz and the level is 84-87 dB(A) at the entrance doors. Undoubtedly, there are noise sources of higher level within the plant but the level quoted is of concern to the noise that is propagated to the environment. The end loader , which operates intermittently on the de-watering floor does cause some fluctuations but these are not significant at any distance from the plant. In the day time, further intermittent noises are produced by the transport vehicles and the operations in the workshop where hammering sounds can be produced. Dredge and Wet Concentrator The dredge and wet concentrator moves through the orebody as the mining progresses. Plants examined were a small plant at Inskip Point (refer Table 3) and plants of 280 tonnes per hour capacity at Crescent Head and Sand Bar (refer Table 4). These plants are small compared to the 1600 tonne per hour plant proposed for Rocky Point but again the noise levels should be similar - only the attenuation distance should be affected. The noise is caused by rotating machinery, moving fluids, falling sand and the cutting action of the dredge. It has a wide band characteristic but the level fluctuates mainly due to the dredge. The level is about 84 dB(A) in the wet concentrating plant while the worst frequency is 4000 hertz (refer Figure 2) . Day and night time noise is much the same as there is a constant production rate. 5.C Transport Transport of the concentrate from the wet concentrator to the dry mill and of the mineral to the rail head is by large semi trailer or truck. Transport vehicles used at Rainbow Beach were measured and showed roadside noise levels of 90-95 dB(A) while accelerating on hill climbing. These vehicles are normal road transport vehicles which must satisfy Main Roads requirements. At Rocky Point, the concentrate haulage of 450 tonne/day will require about 20-25 trips each way for 20 tonne trucks and the haulage of rutile and zircon to Miriam Vale will require about 8-9 trips each way for vehicles of 35 tonne gross weight. The infrequency of such trips and the rapid passing of the noise at any location should not cuase any annoyance to a public which tolerates traffic noise due to its dependence on the motor car. In addition, the road noise only occurs in the day time when less disturbance is caused. 5.D Earth-moving Equipment Earth-moving equipment is uded in the area to be mined for clearing of trees and for reconstructing land contours after mining. Thus, the noise created at any one location is transitory as the mining proceeds through the orebody. The noise level of moist large earth-moving equipment is similar, e.g. a large bull-dozer was measured at Crescent Head and found to have a noise level of 95 dB(A) at close quarters. The noise level fluctuates as the engine is loaded and unloaded during its normal working. The earth-moving is a day-time operation only, and in any case the effect at any one location will be limited to several months. 6 ‘ NOISE REDUCTION Measurements of the distance attenuation were made for several plants (refer Figure 3). These readings were made until the noise source was indistinguishable from the background. It will be seen that plant noise in the range of 84-87 dB(A) has been attenuated to background level in less that 200 metres in the four cases. The

area around the orebody should be preserved so that the vegetation can assist to absorb the noise. The high trees will act in part as obstructions. The wall of the dry mill toward the east should be imperforate to reduce the sound propagated toward future residential development if this is proposed to be in the close proximity of the dry mill alternatively residential development can be located beyond the attenuation distance. A choice between these alternatives could be made after the dry mill is operating and nearer to the time of subdivision. The wet plan tends to build its own obstruction in the sandfill produced by the stacker. As the pond is below ground level, the sound tends to be projected skywards and thus will have a lower level on the land in the vicinity of the pond. The sea breeze will tend to carry the noise from the plants further inland. Thus there is an advantage in having future developments to the east of the dry mill. 7. POSSIBILITY OF COMPLAINTS According to the Australian Standard (Reference 1), complaints will not be likely from the general public as long as the Adjusted Measured Noise Level at the residence does not exceed the Acceptable Noise Level by more than 5 dB(A). In this situation, complaints will be even less likely as many of the residents will be associated with the mining operation in some way and will not be disinterested as would be a member of the general public. Further, the background noise level will be higher than the Acceptable Noise Level for most of the year on account of the surf and wind noises. Thus, the resident would not normally expect the low level of Acceptable Noise for a rural environment. 7.A Dry Mill Noise The dry mill should not be any concern from the noise view point. It is down-wind from the future residential areas with respect to prevailing breezes.- Residential areas can be located beyond the attenuation distance or the dry mill can be protected with imperforate screening to reduce the attenuation distance. 7.B Wet Mill and Dredge Mining within R204 is planned to be completed early in the mining of the Red Orebody. Should R204 be developed for Camping before the mineral is recovered from it, such development should occur in the northern part further than 300 m from the orebody. This distance is greater than that required to attenuate all measured noise to the background level. In. this case, the natural vegetation including trees will be preserved to increase attenuation. Thus it is anticip ated that the worst noise at a camp site will be in the range of 35-40 dB(A), which on a still winter’s night would enable it to be heard. In terms of the Acceptable Noise Level, it is unlikely to cause complaints from the population likely to be living in the area at the time since many of them may be associated with the mining. In any event, the wet mill will be in the relevant area for a relatively short period. Any future subdivision of Lot 4, Portion 11 will occur after the mining equipment has completed its work and is sufficiently far away so as not to be a nuisance. REFERENCES Standards Association of Australia. Australian Code of Practice for Noise Assessment in Residential Areas, AS 1055-1973 . British Standards Association. Method of rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas, BS 4142:1967. . C Transport and Earth-moving These are both day-time operations and, although the source noise at 95 dB(A) is high, should not cause offense. The roads are sufficiently distant and the transport is so relatively infrequent that complaints should not occur. The earth-moving equipment when operating on that part of the orebody closest to possible campsites in R204 would certainly be heard. However, this noise will be intermittent and will not occur at the one place for long periods. It will be tolerated as a

transitory situation in much the same way as noise in the construction industry. .D Summary In summary, it would be said that complaints are unlikely as residences and camps can be located sufficiently far from sources of noise. Once the mining has passed particular areas, further development could proceed. TABLE 1 BACKGROUND NOISE LEVEL LOCATION CONDITIONS MEASURED NOISE LEVEL - dB(A) Sunshine Beach, on seaside dune 22.00h, 5ms breeze, surf 0.5m -1 54 Sunshine Beach, on seaside dune 9.00h, 5ms breeze, surf lm 63 Crescent Head, on seaside dune 22.00h, 3ms 1 breeze, surf lm 60 Rainbow Beach, on cliff well above beach 23.00h, 3ms 1 breeze, surf 0.5m 52 Rainbow Beach, in bush,800m from surf, animals prominent 23.00h, 2ms 1 breeze, surf distant 48 Rainbow Beach, in bush 800m from surf lO.OOh, 2ms breeze, surf distant 36 TABLE 2 TABLE 3 Small dredge and wet concentrator at Inskip Point, January 1972. Readings taken at 14.00h in 95m/sec breeze. LOCATION NO. LOCATION DESCRIPTION DISTANCE FROM SOURCE-m MEASURED LEVEL - dB(A) 1 On dredge 0 84 2 At edge of Pond 20 62 3 Downwind 40 54 4 Downwind, source inaudible 100 45 TABLE 4 Dry mill at Rainbow Beach, November 1974. Readings taken at 23.00h in a 3m/sec breeze. LOCATION NO. LOCATION DESCRIPTION DISTANCE FROM SOURCE m MEASURED LEVEL - dB(A) 10 At source 0 83 11 Upwind 20 63 12 Upwind 40 59 13 Upwind 60 57 14 Upwind 80 54 15 ' Upwind 100 51. 16 Upwind 120 48 17 . Upwind 140 46 . 18 Upwind, source inaudible 160 44 19 At source 0 87 20 Downwind 30 62 21 Downwind 60 57 22 Downwind 100 54 23 Downwind, source inaudible 230 45 280 tonne per hour dredge and wet concentrator at Crescent Head, February 1972. Readings taken at 23.00h with slight breeze (less than 2m/sec). LOCATION NO. LOCATION DESCRIPTION DISTANCE FROM SOURCE-m MEASURED LEVEL - dB(A) 5 On wet con centrator 0 84 6 Downwind 50 63 7 Downwind 100 60 8 Downwind 150 53 9 Downwind, source inaudible 200 52 i- floon - i jfiEL-2 Concentra NOISE a Surf Nc b.: Inland h . - r _at.water s. e dge Ul| metr e w civtes: ~j j H •—-I— -f--—:-7~ t- 5 ; ~f j TT"H' “H" - soiro 800m. from surf.: :tt Dry: Mill r-r-i i - H- : Dredge E - _3dB.per Octave H-r- •—i—( ■— r- T + ( ) Rainb.Qw.Heacti or, Sandbdrtq

DENSITIES OF TREES AND TALL SHRUBS BOTANICAL REPORT 1. The region described comprises Camping Reserve R204, Recreation Reserve R259, part Portion 11 and part Portion 22. It extends from the village of Agnes Water in the north, to near Top Wreck headland in the south. The eastern boundary is near the Pacific Ocean and the western boundary is just west of the main north south swamp. A vegetation map was prepared from aerial photographs (flown July, 1974 at 2,150 metres) and boundaries were confirmed or amended, and vegetation units described from ground survey. (Refer Maps 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 & 11.5). There are six communities, some of which have several associations, within this region. Each of these communities and associations is described below. A complete species list is given in the Species List of this report. Those units which lie on the "Red" and the "Blue" orebodies are also delineated. Vegetation units have been grouped broadly in accordance with the method proposed by Specht (1970), in which the height and pro jective foliage cover of the tallest stratum are used. The density of trees and shrubs greater in height than 4 metres was measured in those plant associations on the proposed mining path on the main dunal system, i.e., Grassy Open Forest, C^A^; Low Open Forest C 3 A 1 and Low Open Forest C 3 A 2> It was not possible to record densities of ground cover species and small shrubs as fire occurred before and during the field surveys (July/August and October, 1974). Trees and tall shrubs were recorded on four belts each 5 metres wide on or near bore lines A, 336N, C and F. These sections have been plotted in diagrammatic form to scale. (Refer Sections 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 & 12.4). The density of each species per hectare in each of the three associations is given below. SPECIES SPECIES PER HECTARE C 1 A 1 C 3 A 1 C 3 A 2 Acacia aulacocarpa 24 62 196 Acacia cunninghamii 2 - 41 Banksia aemula 1 - 9 Banksia integrifolia 37 92 25 Casuarina littoralis - - 61 Eucalyptus intermedia 128 92 27 Eucalyptus tessellaris 40 108 4 Leptospermum attenuatum - 15 46 Livistona sp. 6 - - Petalostigma pubescens 2 46 27 Planchonia careya 2 31 - TOTAL: 242 446 436 TABLE 1 2. EXISTING COMMUNITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS 2.A Community : Grassy Open Forest The three associations in this community share the common features of a fairly open canopy - 30% to 70% cover - with heights in the range 14 - 25 metres. They also have the common feature of a grassy floor lacking a well-developed shrub layer. The paucity of shrub species is striking and is undoubtedly due to the frequent occurrence of fire throughout these associations. Only those shrubs and ground cover species, mainly grasses, which have the ability to flower and set seed annually, have been able to survive this regime. This condition is common in south-east Queensland and Coaldrake (1961) has pointed out that on the Coastal Lowlands, the effect of fire is to maintain a grassy understorey at the expense of shrubs on those sites suited to grasses. Within the parameters set for this community, the three associations are differentiated on the basis of topography, edaphic factors and floristic speciation. Species Composition: Trees: 2.A(i) Association C ^A^ : Grassy Open Forest Location: Situated on the higher parts of the main sand dune between the ocean and the swamp. This association occurs on the ore bodies. Elevation : 15 m. - 74 m. Area : * 409.7 ha. (29.2% of total) Area covered by "Red” ore body : 342,8 ha. Area covered by "Blue ” ore body: 16.5 ha. Edaphic Freely draining Factors: surface litter, ically enriched brown sandy soil. Very little No apparent "topsoil" or organ layer near surface. Shrubs : Structure: Two level : well-speciated tree canopy ranging between 10 metres and 25 metres. Scattered

shrubs and well-developed grassy forest floor. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 25 m. 1.5 m. 1.0m. Cover 40-70% 5-10% 100% 4 Acacia aulacocarpa Acacia cunninghamii Acacia penninervis + Alphitonia excelsa Banksia aemula 4 Banksia integrifolia + Casuarina littoralis 4 Eucalyptus intermedia 4 Eucalyptus tessellaris + Eugenia coolminiana + Grevillea banksii + Leptospermum attenuatum Livistona sp. Petalostigma pubescens + Planchonella pohlmaniana + Planchonia careya + Pleiogynium cerasiferum + Breynia oblongifolia + Dodonaea viscosa + Hibbertia linearis + Jacksonii scoparia Lantana camara + Leucopogon leptospermoides Lomandra multiflora + Monotoca sp. + Platysace linearfolia 4 Pteridium esculentum 4 Xanthorrhoea johnsonii + Ziera laxiflora Vegetation : Characteristic species - bloodwood (Eucalyptus intermedia), Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris) Areas are defined on the western boundary by MLA’s 164, 165, 152 and on the eastern boundary by the coastline. Ground Cover: + Ajuga australis 4 Alloteropsis semiallata 4 Cynodon dactylon 4 Cyperus javanicus + Desmodium sp. Dianella caerulea 4 Eragrostis pubescens Fimbristylis dichotoma Ground Cover * Imperata cylindrica (Cont r d) : * Panicum mindenenee + Pseuderanthemum variabile + Setaria pallidifusca * Themeda australis Creepers: + Geitonoplesium cymosum + Stephania japonica 4 Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2.A(ii) Association : Grassy Open Forest Location : Situated on extensive areas of low relief west of the swamp. This association does not occur on the ore bodies. Elevation : 14 m. - 13 m. Area : Edaphic Factors : Structure; 76.3 ha. (5.4% of total) Poorly draining clay-loam soil, subject to annual inundation in the wet season. Two level : open tree canopy at one level, an occasional shrub and a well-developed grass/sedge floor cover. Trees * Melaleuca viridiflora (Cont’d): + Timonius timon a Tristania suaveolans Shrubs: Acacia aulacocarpa Melaleuca nodosa Xanthorrhoea sp. Ground Cover: * Alloteropsis semiallata Dianella sp. 4 Eragrostis sp. * Eremochloa bimaculata * Fimbristylis dichotoma Imperata cylindrica Lomandra multiflora Paspalum orbiculare + Phyllanthus thesioides Stackhousia monogyna * Themeda australis Thysanotus tuberosus + Wedelia spilanthoides * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association Vegetation : Species Composition : TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 14 m. 5 m. 0.5m. Cover 30-60% 2% 90% Characteristic species - Paper-bark Tea-tree (Melaleuca ssp) i Bluegum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) and Swamp Box (Tristania suaveolans). Trees : Eucalyptus tereticornis Melaleuca dealbata 2.A (iii) Association C ^ ; Grassy Open Forest Location : Situated on the main sand dune between the ocean and the swamp. It covers a relatively small area of low topography. Lying between the swamp (association C,-A n ) and the major forest (assoc- o z iation C^A^), it represents a transition zone. This association occurs on the "Red" orebody. Elevation : Area : Area covered by "Red" ore body : 8.0 m. - 41.0 m. 18.0 ha. (1.3% of total) 11.6 ha. 2.B Edaphic Factors : Structure : Vegetation : Freely draining surface litter, ically enriched light grey sandy soil. Very little No apparent "topsoil” or organ layer near surface. Two level : open tree canopy at one level, a rare shrub and a well covered forest floor. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 20 m. 1.0 m. 20 cm. Cover 30-40% 5% 80% The main feature of interest is the occurrence of one of the Paper-bark tea-trees, Melaleuca dealbata a (soapy tea-tree), together with Bloodwood (Eucalyptus intermedia) and Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris). Overall, speciation is very poor. Members of the POACEAE family on the forest floor could

not be fully described due to a fire Trees: Banksia integrifolia 4 Eucalyptus intermedia X Eucalyptus tessellaris Livistona sp. Melaleuca dealbata Shrubs: Petalostigma pubescens Ground Cover: * Ajuga australis Desmodium sp. Fimbristylis Imp er ata cylindrica Lomandra multi flora shortly before the field survey. Species Composition : Pteridium esculentum Common species in this association Community C ^ » Layered Open Forest Location : This community occurs at the northern end of the Elevation : Area: Edaphic Factors : Structure : Vegetation : Species Composition : study area, on Camping Reserve R204 and extends to the southwest. Here, it occupies higher ground west of the swamp and as occasional islands in association C^^^. This community does not occur on the ore bodies. 7 m. - 36 m. 18.2 ha. (1.3% of total) Soils are clayey in nature and derived from country rock. Stones are prolific and cover much of the surface. The community is typically layered, with trees, shrubs and ground cover. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 16 m. 5 m. 1.0 m. Cover 40-70% 40% 60% Characteristic species are Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus creba), Bloodwood (Eucalyptus inter media) a Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris) and the two Boxes : Brush Box (Tristania conf erta) and Swamp Box (Tristania suaveolans). Small pockets containing a few vine forest species e.g., Bolly Gum (Litsea reticulata) j Celery wood (Tieghemopanax elegans) a Cupaniopsis shirleyana occurred in sheltered situations. These were too small to map separately. Trees: Acacia aulacocarpa Acacia cunninghamii Acacia penninervis Alphitonia excelsa Casuarina. littoralis + Eucalyptus citriodora Trees * Eucalyptus creba (Cont'd): Eucalyptus exserta * Eucalyptus -intermedia * Eucalyptus tessellaris Eucalyptus sp. Grevillea banksii + Litsea reticulata A Livistona sp. + Melaleuca dealbata + Planchonia careya + Tieghemopanax elegans Tristania conferta Tristania suaveolans Shrubs: Acacia sp. + Alyxia ruscifolia + Breynia oblongifolia + Cupaniopsis shirleyana + Dodonaea viscosa + Hibiscus heterophyllus Jacksonia scoparia * Lantana camara Lomandra multiflora Notolaea sp. * Petalostigma pubescens Pouteria sericea * Pteridium esculentum + Turraea brownii 4 Xanthorrhoea sp. Ground Cover: A Cynodon dactylon . Dianella caerulea X Eragrostis pubescens 4 Eragrostis sp. * Fimbristylis dichotoma Gahnia aspera + Hibbertia scandens A Imperata cylindrica Lepidosperma later ale + Murdannia graminea * Themeda australis Location: Situated on the eastern slopes of the main sand dune, between the forest and the frontal dune. This association occurs on both ore bodies. Elevation: 2 m. - 68 m. Area: 183.9 ha. (13.1% of total) body: 7.6 ha. Area covered by "Red 11 ore ore body: 28.2 ha. Edaphic Freely draining sandy soil. Little surface litter. Factors: No apparent "topsoil" or organically enriched layer Structure: Primarily two-level with a poorly developed shrub Area covered by "Blue" k-57 Creepers : + Geitonoplesium cymosum Hardenbergia violacea Pandorea sp. Smilax australis * Common species in this community + Comparatively rare species in this community 2.C Community C ^ : Low Open Forest The two associations in this community have a tree canopy in the middle range - 40% to 70% cover - and heights not exceeding 10 metres. The tree layer and ground cover layers are well developed and there is a poorly developed and sparsely speciated shrub understorey. Fire is the dominant ecological factor interacting with both associations and fires are experienced at annual intervals. 2.C(i) Association C ^A^ : Low Open Forest Vegetation : Species Trees: * Acacia aulacocarpa Composition: * Acacia cunninghamii * Alphitonia excelsa * Banksia integrifolia Casuarina equisetifolia 4

Eucalyptus intermedia 4 Eucalyptus tessellaris * Grevillea banksii Harpullia hillii Leptospermum attenuatum Livistona sp. Planchonia careya Tristania conferta Ground Cover : * * + x a + Creepers : Common species in this association layer consisting principally of Lomandra, Lantana, blackboy, bracken. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 10 m. 2 m. 1 m. Cover 40-70% 40% 80% Characteristic species similar to those in assoc iation C^A^ wind-shorn to produce a graded canopy height, i.e., Bloodwood (Eucalyptus inter media), Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris), Coastal Honeysuckle (Banksia integrifolia). Shrubs: + Brachyloma daphnoides + Breynia oblongifolia + Dodonaea viscosa + Hakea gibbosa Jacks onia so oparia Lantana camara Lomandra multi flora Petalostigma pubescens Platy sace linear folia + Psychotria loniceroides 4 Pteridium esculentum 4 Xanthorrhoea johnsonii Alloteropsis semiallata Aristida ramosa Cynodon dactylon Desmodium sp. Dianella caerulea Eragrostis curvula Gahnia aspera Helichrysum sp. Hibbertia scandens Imperata cylindrica Panicum sp. Poranthora corymbosa Setaria pallidifusca Themeda australis Cissus sp. Geitonoplesium cymosum Jasminum didymum Stephania japonica + Comparatively rare species in this association 2 . C (i i) Association C ^A^ : Low Open Forest Location: Situated on the main sand dune between the ocean and the swamp. This association occurs on both ore bodies. Elevation : 11 m. - 57 m. Area : 339.2 ha. (24.1% of total) Area covered by "Red" ore body : 266.2 ha. Area covered by "Blue ” ore body : 0.4 ha. Edaphic Factors: Freely draining grey sandy soil. Very little surface litter. No apparent "topsoil" or en riched layer near surface. Fertility status at a lower level generally than soils under Association C^A^. Structure : Primarily two level (tree canopy and ground cover) with a sparse shrub layer consisting mainly of Platysace linearfolia, bracken (Pteridium esculentum) and small Acacias. Shrubs + (Cont'd ): * + n + * a + + Vegetation : TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 10 m. 2 m. 1 m. Cover 50-70% 25% 100% Ground Cover : t * * * Prominent species Acacia aulacocarpa, Acacia cunninghamii, Leptospermum attenuatum (Wild May), Casuarina littoralis. Many dead standing and fallen trees in evidence. Occasional occurrences of Bloodwood (Eucalyptus intermedia) and rarely Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris). There are indications of fairly wide ecotonal oscill ations between C^A^ and C^A^ 4 * * * 4 Leptospermum semibaccatum Leucopogon sp. Monotoca sp. Petalostigma pubescens Phebalium wombye Platysace linearfolia Pteridium esculentum Xanthorrhoea johnsonii Ziera laxiflora Aguga australis Aristida ramosa Cynodon dactylon Cyperus gavanicus Dampiera stricta Dianella caerulea Eragrostis pubescens Eremochloa bimaculata Fimbristylis dichotoma Gahnia aspera Imp er ata cylindrica Panicum mindenense' Pomax umbellata Themeda austi-alis Species Trees: * Acacia aulacocarpa Composition: * Acacia cunninghamii Alphitonia excelsa Banksia aemula Banksia integrifolia A Casuarina littoralis + Eucalyptus intermedia + Eucalyptus tessellaris Grevillea banksii A Leptospermum attenuatum Shrubs: Brachyloma daphnoides + Hibbertia linearis + Jacksonii scoparia * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2.D Community Location : Elevation : Area : : Closed Vine Forest Occurs as two isolated areas on the main sand dune between the ocean and the swamp. It is thought that such areas are remnants of a more continuous distribution which existed in wetter former times. This community occurs on the Red Orebody. 33 m. - 50 m. 11.7 ha‘. (0.8% of total) Area Covered Edaphic Factors : Structure : Freely draining brown clayey

sand. Moderate surface litter. No apparent "topsoil" or organ ically enriched layer. Ground Cover: Gahnia aspera Lygodium microphy Hum Microsorum punctatum Themeda australis Vegetation : Species Composition : Multi-level with numerous lianes. Very little ground cover due to the closed canopy. TREES, SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 20 m. - Cover 100% — Dense trees and large shrubs entwined with numerous creepers (lianes). Fire absent. Speciation modest compared to, for example, the rain forests of Fraser Island. (Partial List Only) Trees : A er onychia laevis Cupaniopsis shirleyana Viospyros fascieulosa Diospyros ferra, var. germinata Eucalyptus tessellaris Eugenia coolminiana Euroschinus falcata Ficus macrophyIla 2.E(i) Shrubs : Glochidion perakense^ Livistona sp. Micromelum minutum var. supra- axillare Pleiogynium cerasiferum Psychotria loniceroides Saccopetalum bidwillii Teighemopanax elegans Alyxia ruscifolia Carrisa ovata Exocarpos latifolius Notolaea sp. Pouteria sericea Creepers and Lianes : Cissus sp. Eustrephus sp. Ficus sp. Flagellaria indie a Geitonoplesium cymosum Ischnostemma car no sum Smilax australis Smilax glyciphylla Stephania japonica Tetrastigma nitens Community C 5 : Foredune Complex There are two associations in this community. The sandy foredune association occurs along the coastline between the headlands and rock outcrops and on the slopes of the young frontal dunes. Most of the species are pioneering herbs, grasses and creepers. The rocky headlands association occurs on the exposed rock out crops with species richness increasing in more sheltered situations. Location: Elevation: Situated along the coastline between high water mark and the Low Open Forest/Hind Dune Scrub. This association does not occur on the ore bodies 0 m. - 19 m. Area: 41.4 ha. (2.9% of total) Association C ^A^ : Sandy Foredune Unstructured sand with no "topsoil" differentiation. Edaphic Factors: Structure: Three-layered, with two tree species, a number of shrub species occurring in spasmodic groupings Vegetation : and a well developed ground layer of grasses and running plants. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 12 m. 1.5 m. 10 cm. Cover 5-15% 10-20% 40-80% Pandanus and Horse-tail Oak (Casuarina equisetifolia) s form the characteristic tree component on the dunes. Dune couch (Zoisia rnacrantha) forms the major | ground cover. Trees: * Casuarina equisetifolia Pandanus sp. Shrubs: Acacia leiocalyx Cupaniopsis ■anacardioides Duboisia my oporoides Exocarpos latifolius * Petalostigma pubescens + Pittosporum venulosum Pouteria sericea Vitex trifolia Species Composition: Ground Cover : Aristida holathera + Crotolaria linifolia Cynodon dactylon Dampiera stricta Eragrostis sp. Evolvulus alsinoides Helichrysum sp. Ipomoea pes-oaprae Ipomoea cairica Ischaemum triticeum Pomax umbellata Poranthora microphylla Scaevola calendulacea Spinifex hirsutus Ground Cover (Cont'd) : Creeper : Trichoryne elatior Zoisia macrantha Passiflora foetida * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2.E(ii) Association C ^A^ : Rocky Headlands Location : Elevation : Area: Edaphic Factors : Structure : Vegetation: Species Composition : On the headlands and rock outcrops along the coastline. This association does not occur on the ore bodies. 0 m. - 44 m. 21.2 ha. (1.5% of total) Skeletal soils derived from rock. Very variable. Occasional trees, groups of shrubs in more sheltered situations, a ground cover of grasses and sedges. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 8 m. 2 m. 10 cm. Cover 0-10% 10-20% 90% Obvious tree species Horsetail Oak (Casuarina equisetifolia), Pandanus and Cabbage-tree Palm (Livistona) with an occasional stunted Moreton Bay Ash (Eucalyptus tessellaris). Bare areas covered with

grasses and members of the CYPERACEAE family. Trees: * Casuarina equisetifolia + Eucalyptus tessellaris Livistona sp. 2.F Trees * Pandanus sp. (Cont'd) : Planchoniana careya Shrubs: Acacia cunninghamii Acacia sp. a Grevillea banksii Jacksonia scoparia Lantana camara Ground Cover: + Dendrobium discolor Desmodium sp. Dianella caerulea * Digitaria didactyla A Digitaria sp. Eragrostis pubescens * Fimbristylis sp, Gahnia aspera Helichrysum sp. A Imp erata cylindrica Lepidosperma later ale A Themeda australis Creeper: Hardenbergia violacea * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2.F(i) Association C^A, : Tree Swamp ——————5—x — — '*• Location : The western part of the main swamp system. This association is not on the ore bodies. Elevation : 11 m. - 21 m. Area : Edaphic Factors : Structure : Vegetation : 157.9 ha. (11.2% of total) Peaty surface soil, inundated during the wet season. In dry years, swamp may dry out com pletely. In wet years, surface moisture is present all year. Closed forest; complete canopy cover. Limited shrub and ground layer as a consequence. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 13-20 m. 2m. 1 m. Cover 100% 15% 10% Community Cg : Swamp Areas Swamps of various types occur where the water table intersects the ground surface. Three swamp associations have been diff erentiated according to type of occurrence and speciation. Species Composition : An almost mono-specific tree canopy of a Paper bark tea-tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) with occasional Cabbage-tree palms (Livistona). Glochidion sp. Livistona sp, Melaleuca quinquenervia Trees : * * Two associations occur in the main north-south swamp system : a closed forest of virtually a pure stand of a Paper-bark tea-tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and an open formation of two Paper-bark tea-trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia and Melaleuca dealbata) and Bastard Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) over sedges. The third association occurs where seepage water intersects the ground surface on the eastern slopes of association C^A^ and is subdivided on the basis of speciation. Shrubs: Acacia sp. Lantana camara Melastoma polyanterum Psychotria loniceroides Ground Cover / * Aquatic : * Baumea teretifolia Blechnum serrulatum Cyclosorus dentatus Dianella sp. Imp er ata cylindrica Ground Cover/ Lygodium microphy Hum Aquatic Philydrum lanuginosum (Cont'd): + Rhynchospora corymbosa Stylidium debile Thysanotus tub ero sub * Triglochin procera + Viola hederifolia Vallisneria sp. Creepers: Parsonsia sp. Phyla nodiflora * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2 . F (i i) Association C^ A^ : Tree Swamp Location : The eastern part of the main swamp system. 'This association is not on the "Red” ore body. Elevation : 11 m. - 20 m. Species Trees: * Eucalyptus robusta Composition: Livistona sp. X Melaleuca dealbata * Melaleuca quinquenervia Shrubs: * Banksia robur Leptospermum flavescens * Melastoma polyanterum Pimelia linifolia Ground Cover: Baeckia stenophylla st Baumea teretifolia 4 Blechnum serrulatum 4 Caustis blakei * Gahnia sieberiana 4 Restio tetraphyllus 9 ssp. meiostachyus * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association Area : 123.5 ha. (8.8% of total) Edaphic Factors : Waterlogged peaty soil, poorly aerated and rich in organic matter. Structure : An open tree canopy with a dense ground cover of sedges. Occasional shrubs near the margin. 2.F(iii) Association C ^A : Hind Dune Seepage Areas Along the eastern slopes of the main sand dune west of the frontal dune, a number of small seepage areas occur. Their type and speciation are to be determined by elevation, soil and subsoil factors, magnitude of seepage

and degree of pro tection. Two types were differentiated within the area surveyed. Vegetation : TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 25 m. 2 m. 1.5 m. Cover 10-30% 5-10% 100% 2.F(iii) (a) Association C^ A^ (i) : Hind Dune Seepage Location: At scattered locations along of the main sand dune. This partly covered by the "Blue" the eastern association orebody. slopes is Characterized by a tree layer of two Paper-bark tea-trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia and Melaleuca dealbata) and Bastard Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) over a dense CYPERACEAE layer. Elevation: 6 m. - 34 m. Area: 4.6 ha. (0.3% of total) Area covered by "Blue ” ore body : Edaphic Factors : Structure : 0.2 ha. Waterlogged sandy soil high in organic matter. A fairly dense canopy of two tree species with poorly developed shrub layer and ground cover. TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 10-15 m. 3 m. 0.5 m. Cover 60-90% 20-30% 30- 40% Vegetation : Poorly speciated - Paper-bark tea-trees (Melaleuca ssp.) and Cabbage-tree palm (Livistona sp.) tree canopy the most obvious feature. Trees: * * Banks-ia integrifolia Livistona sp. Melaleuca sp. Shrubs: Acacia cunninghamii * Lantana camara Ground Cover: * Cynodon dactylon Imp er ata cylindrica Ipomoea pes-caprae Oenothera drummondii Creepers and Flagellaria indica Lianes: Pandorea sp. Passiflora sp. Stephania japonica Species Composition : * Common species in this association + Comparatively rare species in this association 2 .F(iii) (b) 3. Association C^ A^ (ii) : Hind Dune Seepage Area Location: Area: On the eastern slope of the main sand dune. This association does not occur on the ore bodies. 0.9 ha. (0.1% of total) Edaphic Waterlogged peaty soil, high in organic matter. Factors : Structure : TREES SHRUBS GROUND COVER Height 8-10 m. - 25 cm. Cover 2-5% - 90% Sedge field with occasional Livistona. Vegetation: Poorly speciated with two members of the CYPERACEAE family, Fimbristylis nutans and Baumea tereti folia dominating. Species Trees: Livistona sp. Composition: Shrubs: Melastoma polyanterum Ground Cover: * Baumea teretifolia Blechnum serrulatum * Fimbristylis nutans Lygodium microphy Hum Paspalum sp. * Common species in this association ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS The two associations which will be subject to the major distur bance through mining are the grassy open forest C^A^ and low 3.A R204 and R259 - CAMPING AND RECREATION RESERVES open forest C^A^ The Y have a combined area of 609 ha. which is 95.3% of the area covered by the "Red * orebody. The remaining area to be disturbed is made up of vine forest and small sections of grassy open forest C^A^ and low open forest C^A^ near the top of the eastern slope. The main paper-bark tea-tree swamp system and all areas west of the swamp will be unaffected by mining operations. However, there will be some disturbance of tree swamp CgA^ due to construction of the plant and storage of ilmenite. The sandy beaches and rocky headlands will not be affected by mining. The vegetation units C^ A^, C3A2 and occur over the three areas subject to disturbance, i.e., the camping and recreation reserves, the subdivision land within Lot 4, Portion 11 and the s’outhern area to be returned to native vegetation, Portion 22. C 3 A i occurs on the mining path only in the recreation reserve and C^A^ occurs only in the southern native vegetation area. Because of the different revegetation procedures and end uses planned for each of these areas, the effect on the botanical composition will correspondingly vary. mining path will be replaced by vegetation of different tree and grass composition and density. This resultant vegetation will be suitable for the designated uses of these reserves and consistent with the anticipated uses

associated with the subsequent rural subdivision of the adjoining Lot 4, Portion 11. The end result of these changes is similar to that which would be expected from the eventual management of these Reserves for Camping and for Recreation if no mining occurred. (ii) Evaluation The proposed action will result in a permanent change to those areas within the mining path. Planted shade and windbreak trees will replace the present tree cover. Intervening areas will be grassed. Approximately 50% of the Reserves will remain undisturbed by mining. The proposed action will have a permanent negative effect on the existing plants but a positive effect on the suitability of the vegetation for the designated uses of the land. 3.B LOT 4, PORTION 11 (Including Subdivision Area) (i) Analysis Vegetation units C^A^, C 3 A 2 and will be affected by mining. It is expected that existing boundaries between these vegetation units will disappear, and subsequent tree planting throughout the mined area will result in a more homogenous composition. The vine forest will be removed and it will not be possible to restore it after mining. Approximately 55% of the area will be affected by the mining proposal. Over most of this area, a legume/grass pasture will be established and considerable amounts of fertilizer applied per hectare. In nature reserves as determined by landscape design, a tree-bush-herb cover planned revegetation procedures are implemented each year, the ecosystem will progress through each serai stage to a new climax condition. Rapid changes will be evident as the cover crop is succeeded by pioneer species which are in turn progressively replaced by young trees and the longer-lived, more permanent shrubs. Eventually, a forest community, with similar speciation and contiguous with undisturbed forest, will be reached. The magnitude of the impact will therefore progressively decline with time until the new forest climax is attained. REFERENCES Blake, S.T. 1968 The Plants and Plant Communities of Fraser, Moreton and Stradbroke Islands. Qd. Nat. (1-3) : 23 - 30 Coaldrake, J.E. 1961 Ecosystem of the Coastal Lowlands, Southern Queensland Bulletin No. 283, C.S.I.R.O., Melbourne, Australia Specht, R.L. 1970 •’Vegetation'’, in "The Australian Environment" C.S.I.R.O. with Melbourne University Press Tommerup, E.C. 1934 Plant Ecological Studies in South-East Queensland Proc. Roy. Soc. Qld. 46 : 91 — 118 will be established without competing grasses. Frequent fires will be virtually eliminated. (ii) Evaluation The proposed action is designed to produce a permanent change to those areas within the mining path and intended for development as a rural residential subdivision. The increase in soil fertility and reduction in frequency of fires will have a favourable effect on the growth and development of planted trees. The establishment of pasture will tend to inhibit the growth of naturally germinating native plants. The proposed action will have a permanent negative effect on the existing plants within 55% of the area and no effect on the remaining 45%. It will have a positive effect on the suitability of the vegetation for a rural/ residential use of part of the area. 3.C PART PORTION 22 - AREA TO BE RESTORED TO NATIVE VEGETATION BOTANY SPECIES LIST FOR ROCKY POINT REGION FAMILY SPECIES, GENUS ANGIOSPERMS ACANTHACEAE Pseuderanthemum variabile ANACARDIACEAE Euroschinus falcata Pleiogynium cerasiferum ANNONACEAE Saccopetalim bidwillii APIACEAE Platysace linearfolia APOCYNACEAE Aluxia ruscifolia Carrisa ovata Parsonsia sp. ARALIACEAE Tieghemopanax elegans ARECACEAE Livistona decipiens Livistona sp. ASCLEPIADACEAE Ischnosterrma camosum ASTERACEAE Helichrysum sp. BARRINGTONIACEAE Planchonia careya

BIGNONIACEAE Pandorea sp. CASUARINACEAE COMMELINACEAE CONVOLVULACEAE Casuarina equisetifolia Casuarina littoralis Murdannia graminea Evolvulus alsinoides Ipomoea pes-caprae Ipomoea cairica SPECIES, GENUS CYPERACEAE Baumea teretifolia Caustis blakei Cyperus javanicus Fimbristylis dichotoma Fimbristylis nutans Fimbristylis sp. Gahnia aspera Gabnia sieberiana Lepidosperma laterals Khynchospora corymbosa DILLENIACEAE Hibbertia linearis Hibbertia scandens EBENACEAE Diospyros fasciculosa Diospyros ferrea, var. germinata EPACRIDACEAE Brachyloma daphnoides Leucopogon leptospermoides Leucopogon sp. Monotoca sp. EUPHORBIACEAE Breynia oblongifolia Glochidion perakense, var. Supra-axillare Glochidion sp. Petalo stigma pubescens Phy Ilanthus thesioides Poranthora corymbosa Poranthora microphylla FABACEAE Crotolaria linifolia Desmodium sp. Hardenbergia violacea Jacksonia scoparia FLAGELLARIACEAE Flagellaria indica GOODENIACEAE Dampiera stricta Scaevola calendulacea SPECIES LIST FOR ROCKY POINT REGION (CONT’D) FAMILY SPECIES, GENUS HELIANTHEAE Wedelia spilanthoides HYDROCRARITACEAE Vallisneria sp. JUNCAGINACEAE Triglochin procera LAMIACEAE Ajuga australis LAURACEAE Litsea reticulata LILIACEAE Dianella caerulea Thysanotus tuberosus Tricoryne elatior MALVACEAE Hibiscus heterophyllus MELASTOMATACEAE Melastoma polyanterum MELIACEAE Turraea brownii MENISPERMACEAE Stephania japonica MIMOSACEAE Acacia aulacocarpa Acacia cunninghamii Acacia leiocalyx Acacia penninervis Acacia sp. MORACEAE Ficus macrophylla Ficus sp. MYRTACEAE Baeckia stenophylla Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus creba Eucalyptus exserta Eucalyptus intermedia Eucalyptus robusta SPECIES LIST FOR ROCKY POINT REGION (CONT’D)... FAMILY SPECIES, GENUS MYRTACEAE Cont’d... Eucalyptus tereticomis Eucalyptus tessellaris Eucalyptus sp, Eugenia coolminiana Leptospermum flavescens Leptospermum semibaccatum Leptospermum attenuatum Melaleuca dealbata Melaleuca nodosa Melaleuca quinquenervia Melaleuca viridiflora Melaleuca sp, Tristania conferta Tristania suaveolans OLEACEAE Jasminum didymum Notolaea sp. ONAGRACEAE Oenothera drummondii ORCHIDACEAE Dendrobium discolor PANDANACEAE Pandanus sp. PASSIFLORACEAE Passiflora foetida Passiflora sp. PHILESIACEAE Eustrephus sp, Geitonoplesium cymosum PHILYDRACEAE Philydrum lanuginosum PITTOSPORACEAE Pittosporum venulosum POACEAE Alloteropsis semiallata Aristida holathera Aristida ramosa Cynodon dactylon Digitaria didactyla FAMILY SPECIES, GENUS POACEAE Cont’d... Digitaria Bp. Eragrostis curvula Eragrostis pubescens Eremochloa bimaculata Imperata eylindrica Ischaemum triticewn Pantoum mindenense Pantoum sp. Paspalum orbiculare Paspalum sp. Setaria pallidifusca Spinifex hirsutus Themeda australis Zoisia maerantha PROTEACEAE Banksia aemula Banksia integrifolia Banksia robur Grevillea banksii Hakea gibbosa RESTIONACEAE Eestio tetraphyllus s ssp. meiostadhyus RHAMNACEAE Alphitonia exoelsa RUBIACEAE Pomax umbellata Psychotria loniceroides Timonius timon RUTACEAE Acronychia laevis Micromelum minutum Phebalium wombye Ziera laxiflora SANTALACEAE Exocarpos latifolius EAMTLY SPECIES, GENUS SAPINDACEAE Cupaniopsis anaoardioides Cupaniopsis shirleyana Dodonaea viscosa Harpullia hillii SAPOTACEAE Planchonella pohlmaniana Pouteria sericea SMILACACEAE Smilax australis Smilax glyciphylla SOLANACEAE Duboisia myoporoides STACKHOUSIACEAE Stackhousia monogyna STYLIDIACEAE Stylidium debile THYMELAEACEAE Pimelea linifolia VERBENACEAE

Lantana camara Phyla nodiflora Vi tex tri folia VIOLACEAE Viola hederifolia VITIDACEAE Cissus sp. Tetrastigma nitens XANTHORRHOEACEAE Lomandra multiflora Lomandra sp. Xanthorrhoea johnsonii Xanthorrhoea sp. PTERIDOPHYTES BLECHNACEAE Blechnum serrulatum DENNSTAEDTIACEAE Pteridium esculentum FAMILY POLYPODIACEAE SCHIZAEACEAE THELYPTERIDACEAE CycZosorus dentatus SPECIES LIST FOR ROCKY POINT REGION (CONT ’D) SPECIES, GENUS Microsorum punctatwn Lygodium microphylZwn (i) Analysis The combined area of both Reserves is 231.1 ha. A total of 118.5 ha. (51.3%) is covered by the "Red" orebody. Vegetation units C^A^, C^A^ and C3A2, with a small area of C^, will be affected by mining. It can be anticipated that existing boundaries between vegetation units will be lost as one of the reasons for their distinction, e.g., soil and subsoil differences, will have disappeared. Tree planting will therefore be homogenous over the mined area. Some differentiation on the eastern slopes of C^A^ can be expected to develop with time due to wind-shearing of the tree canopy. The planting of Carpet Grass over the mined area will inhibit the growth of naturally germinating native plants. In the long term, the existing vegetation from within the

2. 2.A SAMPLING AND ANALYSTS ZOOLOGICAL REPORT INTRODUCTION General A zoological study was made in the general Rocky Point-Agnes Water area to define the present environment and to investi gate possible effects upon it by a mining proposal. The mining proposal lies within an area bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by a freshwater swamp, to the north by the northern boundary of Reserve R204 and to the south by the southern boundary of MLA 152. Within and adjacent to this area, detailed studies were made on the littoral fauna of the rock platforms, the mosquito fauna, the bird fauna in the general area and the estuary, and the mammal fauna in the freshwater, tea-tree swamp the mining path the vine forest in the mining path the transition zone to the east and west of the tea-tree swamp the depauperate rainforest near Seventeen Seventy tea-tree swamp near Seventeen Seventy dry sclerophyll forest near Seventeen Seventy mango trees near Agnes Water From these detailed studies, together with information on other similar areas, an assessment of the probable zoological impact of the sand mining proposal was made. From the same studies and the other information, an assessment of the probable zoological impact of land development in the more restricted area of subdivision within Lot 4, Portion 11 was also made. Limitations of Zoological Study There are two major limitations in the present zoological study, namely lack of seasonal studies and the assessment of mammal populations based on less efficient mammal sampling procedures viz. visual sightings. It is obvious that within the constraints of time, seasonal studies on the subject ecosystem were not possible. Consequently wet season animals, migratory animals and birds, nomadic birds and seed and blossom feeding birds and animals were not all observed during the present dry season. Therefore, this in formation was sought from local residents of Agnes Water. Because of the time-honoured procedure of annual "burning off" during the dry, winter season, in preparation for the spring growth of grasses, the soil profile lacks an organic layer and podsolization is not apparent. Therefore, soil insects are rare, as consequently are those insectivorous animals that feed on such insects. Again "burning off" destroys the brush under growth of typical, dry, open, sclerophyll forests and this is replaced by seeding grasses, bracken, etc. These changes in the typical, open, forest structure are reflected in the changes in the bird and animal fauna, thus small omnivorous and insect ivorous animals, such as rats, mice, bandicoots etc. appear to be rare, while the larger browsing herbivores such as wallabies and kangaroos appear to be numerous. This change in fauna also means that density estimates are less accurate, as the less efficient "sighting techniques" were relied upon instead of the more efficient "trapping methods" (Dowdeswell, 1959; Mosby, 1963) for sightings give estimates which lack a variance, whereas trapping can give estimates based on the capture-mark-release- recapture technique which can be precise and has a variance. The literature applicable to these studies has been examined, but in general terms, ecological data is sadly lacking on estuarine and coastal faunas. Consequently, this deficit will be made good by the inclusion of a section dealing with similar estuarine and coastal habitats for which data has been collected by the consultants. Characteristics of a good sample For a sample to be a good sample, from which statistically valid ecological inferences may be drawn, it must be adequate , homo geneous and unbiased . To obtain data from which meaningful comparisons may be made both within and between appropriate habitats, sampling sites

must be stratified according to hab itats, they must be.proportionately representative, they must be selected randomly and adequacy should be related to the appropriate statistical criteria, for example, species/area curves can determine sample size for the benthic habitat.- While floral and benthic communities are both basically sessile, sampling procedures for flora and fauna differ because of basic differences in their characteristics. Thus a description of any floral community must consider the height and girth of the trees as well as their density. With a benthic community on the other hand, the biomass, especially of living tissue, as well as the density of the populations are important descriptive criteria, however, because of cost criteria, benthic communities are invar iably described in numerical terms. Consequently, sampling for plant communities invariably utilizes transects, whereas sampling in benthic communities involves the use of grabs of known volume. Finally, sampling for mobile animal/bird populations requires very different methods from those utilized for sessile organisms. Typically, bird population densities are estimated with transect counts which can be extremely accurate with wading birds in dis crete localities, but which may be inaccurate for heath birds etc. as they rely upon conversion factors (such as the Yapp transect method). Typically, small cryptic mammals are sampled with traps, system (flora and fauna), the resulting estimates have the qualities of accuracy , precision and fineness and these qualities should clearly be differentiated prior to the init iation of any sampling programme. For example, consider a population of wallabies which is known to number 84. Estimates by observer A over three days could give values of 40, 60 and 152, the mean being 84, while observer B may estimate values of 82, 87 and 83 wallabies on three consecutive counts, again a mean count of 84 wallabies. Both of these means would be accurate, but observer B's estimates would be more precise (they have a smaller variance). Finally, fineness refers to the level of measurement. In general terms the greater the number of replicate samples and the larger each sample, the greater the precision of the estimate and the greater its cost in time, effort and money. Also related to the level of precision in density estimates (and hence also related to cost) are seasonal variations in the densities of migratory birds and in the dis persal of young with terratorial animals. With restrictions imposed by costing and by time relative to seasonal variations, sampling programmes were devised for: benthic communities, (ii) biting insects, (iii) birds and (iv) small mammals. Amphibia and reptiles were not sampled. Hence the literature and extrapolations from data from similar localities were utilized to complete the faunal picture of the proposed mining site, and the related general area (see Figure 1) . capture animals or "trap Con- either break-back traps for sampling without replacement, or cage traps for sampling with replacement. In any case, irrespective of whether the population density is estimated from the rate or from capture-mark-release-recapture method, the may become "trap-shy”, especially with break-back traps prone" particularly noticeable with baited cage traps. sequently, estimations of population density from trappings are inaccurate, unless trapping is continued for considerable periods of time, preferably until the population has been censused Economics of sampling Irrespective of the philosophy of sampling applied to any eco- 2.C Sampling procedures The littoral rock platform at Rocky Point was delineated into two sub habitats, the rock pool and the rock surface (O'Gower and Meyer, 1971). Ten half-metre quadrats were randomly selected in each of the two sub habitats with some

degree of stratification to sample tidal heights, as the probable tidal range is about four metres (Department of the Navy, 1974) . All sessile and mobile animals were counted in each quadrat, while a general survey was made of the littoral fauna at Rocky Point. A general, larval, mosquito survey was made in the Rocky Point/ Agnes Water area and all dry season water bodies, both temporary and permanent were examined. Evening adult collections were made in the tea-tree swamp area, the mining path and the de pauperate vine forest near Seventeen Seventy. From these coll ections biting rates were calculated and graphed. Bird observations were made continuously. A bird transect was made by vehicle along the Agnes Water-Seventeen Seventy road, over a distance of 2.2 kilometres and all Red-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus magnificus) counted on numerous occasions. Censuses of wading birds on a mud flat in the Round Hill Creek estuary were taken on two low tides. The area of the sand flat was approximately ten hectares. Small mammal traps were set in trap lines with 20 traps at 15m. intervals in each line and the lines were set in seven local ities in the area (see Figure 1). The traps were baited with rolled oats in peanut oil (Gordon, 1971) and left in situ for a minimum period of three days. If during this minimum period no animals were caught, the trap lines were removed. If, however, animals were caught, the trap line was continued for five days (Gordon, 1971) . The seven localities were: (i) vine forest in the mining path, (ii) open, dry, sclerophyll forest in the mining path, (iii) tea-tree swamp west of the mining path, (iv) tea-tree swamp near Seventeen Seventy, (v) palm forest near Seventeen Seventy, (vi) open, dry, sclerophyll forest near Seventeen Seventy and (vii) "mango tree area" near Agnes Water. Any animals caught were earmarked and released. D Analysis While many and varied indices have been proposed to mathematic ally describe communities, so that valid comparisons may be made between communities (Greig-Smith, 1964; O’Gower and Wacasey, 1967; Southwood, 1966), some are inappropriate because they rely upon presence/absence data from the sampling, where a single individual -has the same weight in indicating the presence of a species in a given sample, as has a multitude of individuals (see O’Gower and Wacasey, 1967). However, other indices are based upon both the numbers of individuals and the numbers of species in a community and these indices most usefully describe communities, particularly in conjunction with mean densities of individuals and of species. The two most important such indices are : index of diversity (Fisher et al ,, 1943; Margalef, 1951) and index of dominance (O’Gower and Wacasey, 1967). It has been repeatedly noted that if in any given series of samples the number of individuals be plotted against the number of species, the resultant curve is a hyperbola. The upper asymp tote of this curve therefore indicates the number of samples needed to adequately sample a community. If this curve be con verted into a straight line by a log transformation, the slope of this curve is characteristic of the community. It is this slope, described by an appropriate function, that is the basis of the Fisher and Williams Index of Diversity (Southwood, 1966) . The Index describes how diverse is the community with regards to the number of individuals relative to the number of species. Obviously a very diverse community will have a large number of species relative to the number of individuals, whereas a less diverse community will have a smaller number of species relative to the number of individuals. In general, tropical areas have more diverse communities than do temperate areas and in general, a high diversity reflects the

complexity of the community, while a low diversity reflects specialisation in the community, finally a low diversity reflects pollution. While a high diversity indicates that the community contains a large number of species relative to the numbers of individuals it does not differentiate between a community which is dominated by many individuals from a few species, and a community in which many of the species have many individuals. The Index of Domin ance is the ratio of the number of species comprising the median number of individuals, to the mean number of individuals per species. Obviously the smaller the index the more the community is dominated by few species, and conversely, the larger the index the less that community is dominated by few species and such a community would be comprised of many species with many indivi duals. The indices of diversity and of dominance give very good des criptions of communities, and used together with mean densities of both species and of individuals, clearly describe the comm- unities and hence make it possible to statistically compare the sand and sand/mud communities within the Round Hill Creek estuary and between these communities and others in other similar estuaries. Because of the inappropriateness of the dry season for an acc urate assessment of biting insect diversity, density, host preference and extent of breeding habitat, this present study was limited to a survey of actual and potential mosquito breeding sites in the general area. Consequently, the data obtained are not amenable to analysis, other than of a semi- quantitative nature. Bird counts either censused the entire population, e.g. on the sand flats, or they were converted to density estimates using the Yapp transect method (Yapp, 1956) e.g. on the Agnes Water to'Seventeen Seventy road. Other than density estimates based on both samples density x area conversion and the Licoln Index, the mammal trapping data was not analysed. As the densities in all areas were either zero or too low to estimate variances statistical analyses were not warranted. It must be stressed that the Yapp transect method lacks a variance and therefore confidence intervals can not be applied to this estimate. On the other hand, the Licoln Index of the capture-mark-release-recapture technique does have a calculable variance and hence can be used for statistical analysis. Irrespective of whichever density estimate is used the data do not require any analysis, as the animal densities were so low. Because the marsupial sightings fell rapidly each day, density estimates for wallabies were based on the first day counts and were estimated from the Yapp transect method. 3. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING FAUNA A General The fauna in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area can be conveniently considered within a series of more or less discrete communities associated either with specific habitats or in generalized natural animal groupings. The fauna will therefore be described as follows: littoral rock platform community, mosquitoes, amphibia/reptiles, birds and mammals. 3.B Littoral rock platform The rocky headlands in the Rocky Point area have poorly devel oped rock platforms and consequently extensive, statistical rock platform studies (Meyer and O'Gower, 1963; O'Gower and Meyer, 1965; O'Gower and Meyer, 1971) were not undertaken. The two major sub-habitats of rock pool and rock surface app eared to have similar diversities and indices of dominance (Table 1) and appeared to support many of the same animals, albeit in different densities. It seems that certain animals "prefer" pools, while others "prefer" rock surfaces, e.g., Austrocoohlea is dominant in the pools, Bembicium on the rock surface and so on. These differences in densities appear to be comparable with those for more southern

rock platforms. How ever, many of the southern species appear to be absent, while the Rocky Point area supports a range of Nerita species (see Species List 1) which do not occur on the N.S.W. platforms (Daken, 1960). In general terms, the Rocky Point rock plat forms are not particularly striking, nor do they support a littoral community of any great magnitude or diversity (only species noted). 3 .C Mosquitoes and Sandflies As the mosquito survey was made late in the dry season, it was to be expected that relatively few mosquitoes and sandflies would be caught. Ten mosquito species and three sandfly species were recorded. Of these ten mosquitoes, only one Anopheles species was found, Anopheles annulipes, (see Species List 2) , and no doubt, other Anophelines also occur in the area, e.g.. Anopheles banoroftii. In the mangrove environment Aedes vigilax breeds in the salt marshes and doubtless Aedes alternans will be found there under appropriate conditions, while Culex sitiens was caught as an adult, no doubt larvae of this species will be common in brackish waters after the wet season. Finally in the mangrove tree hole breeding species could occur in the post wet season. Within the tea-tree swamps the mosquito Aedes funereus breeds and was dominant and bites in plague proportions during the hour following dusk (see Figure 2), but also can be a pest during daylight hours. In the vicinity of the salt marshes Aedes vigilax is usually a pest both day and night, however, this species can disperse up to 20 miles (O’Gower, personal ob servation) from its breeding site and under appropriate con ditions of rainfall or tide this species breeds in unbelievable numbers (see also Marks, 1947) , thus A. vigilax can be an extreme pest practically everywhere in the area. Adult collections were made at three localities; (i) Tea-tree Swamp, (ii) mining path, and (iii) the tea-tree swamp near Seventeen Seventy. The mosquitoes biting at the mining path were almost exclusively X. funereus but the biting rates were so low that they were not graphed. At the tea-tree swamp however, extremely high biting rates were encountered after dusk (see Figure 2) where the rate is almost 1,000 per 30 minutes. This species suite was almost exclusively A. funereus, but with some Anopheles annulipes and other Aedes and Culex species. While the biting rate at the Seventeen Seventy swamp area was dramatically lower (see Figure 2), nevertheless, the mosquitoes were suff iciently annoying to make the stay unpleasant, but in this locality the proximity of the mangroves meant that sandflies were particularly annoying. The mosquito dominantly caught in this locality was Mansonia uniformis, which breeds in swamps with emergent, succulent vegetation, for the larva has a siphon which is modified for piercing plant tissue for its oxygen require ments, hence, this species is impossible to control using surface tension oils. Regarding sandflies, while three species were recorded biting man, seven species commonly bite man in the mangroves t namely: Culicoides irnmaculatus Culicoides subimmaculatus Culicoides ornatus Culicoides molestus Culicoides marmoratus Lasiohelia townsvillensis Leptoconops sp. (Lee, 1949; Lee and Rye, 1953, 1954, 1962; Rye and Lee, 1962; O'Gower, 1960). While sandflies have not been implicated as disease vectors in Australia, being biting insects, this poss ibility does exist. 3.D Mosquito pests Aedes vigilax, the salt marsh mosquito and Aedes altemans, the Hexham Grey, whose larvae are the specific predator of A. vigilax, breed in salt marshes in pest proportions and disperse large distances, hence these two species will be pest species in the whole area. Apart from swamp species like A. funereus, which has a limited dispersal, three other mosquitoes are

commonly pest species in appropriate localities as these mosquitoes have become "domest icated". Thus, Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue fever, yellow fever, polyarthritis and Aedes notoscriptus both breed in rainwater storage tanks, discarded bottles, jars, tyres, tins etc., while Culex fatigans, the house mosquito, breeds in huge numbers in septic tanks and rests inside cupboards, on ceilings etc. and bites man at night. As Agnes Water, Mineral Deposit's camp and Seventeen Seventy have rainwater tanks, rubbish dumps and septic tanks, all three of these domesticated mosquito species could be expected to occur in the area. The present dry season survey did not, however, indicate their presence. 3.D(i) The salt marsh mosquito The plagues of mosquitoes and sandflies which periodically in vade the Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Water area originate in the salt marshes of the Round Hill Creek estuary and involve the species A. vigilax, While the season of examination was inapp ropriate for the exact delineation of breeding sites, neverthe less, extensive breeding sites were noted along the southern side of the estuary, while adults were in moderate densities in the mangrove swamps and during night catches. The salt marsh mosquito is both a serious pest and a potential vector of disease, being implicated in the transmissions of arbo-viruses, such as epidemic polyarthritis, dengue fever and Murray Valley encephalitis (Doherty et al ., 1963; McLean, 1953; O’Gower, 1960). In the event of an outbreak of one of these diseases, it could be necessary to control breeding temporarily by adding insecticides, such as ’’Abate" to the breeding water. Therefore, any locality characterized by mangroves (Avicennia etc.) and she-oaks (Casuarina) and tea-trees (Melaleuca) in close proximity to estuarine waters must be suspect as salt marsh mosquito and sandfly breeding grounds, but, if in such localities, sedges (Juncus) also occur, such sites must be designated as potential breeding grounds for A. vigilax. D (i i) Freshwater swamp mosquitoes Emergent vegetation, floating algal mats and leaves of water plants characterize the breeding site, for such mosquitoes as Anopheles amictus, Anopheles annulipes* Anopheles bancroftii 3 all potential vectors of malaria and all possibly present in the area; Culex annulirostris 3 the proven vector of Murray Valley encephalitis (Doherty et al., 1963); Mansonia uniformis, a vector of filariasis, plus other species, e.g., Aedes funereus, which are not known to be disease vectors but which form part of the mosquito nuisance species suite. D(iii) Domestic mosquito species The three domesticated mosquito species are: Aedes notoscriptus wh?ch breeds in rainwater tanks, tree holes, discarded tyres, tins, etc; Aedes aegypti which breeds in similar habitats; and Culex fatigans 3 which breeds in septic tanks. A. aegypti is the proven vector of dengue and yellow fevers, while C. fatigans is known to transmit filariasis. 3.D(iv) Mosquito control 3.E As it is virtually impossible to control the breeding of A. vigilax by biological means e.g. fish etc., one of the other two available methods must be used, namely either the use of chizaical insecticides, or the physical alteration of the salt marsh breeding habitat, by draining/reclamation techniques. Because of the dangers of residual insecticides, such as D.D.T., and B.H.C. etc. etc. in minute quantities (o.005 ppm) to fish, insecticidal control of mosquito breeding in salt marshes should not be contemplated, if there is any risk of contamination (Mellanby, 1967; and later authors), unless there is a very real risk of a public health hazard, such as an outbreak of malaria (extremely unlikely) or of Murray Valley encephalitis (highly unlikely). In such circumstances, a "safer" insecticide such as "Abate" could be used (Cyanamid, Aust. P.L.). As the wet lands of Zostera 3

Posidonia 3 Thalassia and sand and mud flats, and the mangroves support many juvenile stages of fish and inverte brates, any insecticidal treatment against salt marsh mosquitoes must necessarily affect the adjoining estuarine ecosystem. Thus, insecticidal control of A. vigilax cannot be contemplated. As permanent fresh water swamps usually develop balanced comm unities, mosquito breeding does not usually become prolific and the introduction of surface feeding fish usually further reduces such breeding. However, unless such bodies of water have "clean edges", marginal emergent vegetation and floating algal mats provide some suitable habitats for mosquito breeding. Again, the creation of hoof prints by cattle, horses etc. or of wheel ruts or borrow pits provide temporary bodies of water suited for breeding dense populations of mosquitoes, as such bodies of water usually lack predatory insects or fish. Again, draining and filling swamps are the only sure way of eliminat ing mosquito breeding in such areas, but, unless there are serious medical reasons for such action, e.g., the draining and filling of swamps in Cairns during World War 2, other biological criteria must first be considered, apart from the huge expense involved. The control of domestic mosquitoes is a relatively simple matter, thus rain water tanks should have well-fitting, screened inlets and overflows; septic tanks should be properly sealed (fibre glass tanks are ideally suited for this purpose) and the breathing vents should be screened with screen guards; finally rubbish dumps should regularly be cleared or covered to elim inate temporary breeding sites in tins, jars etc., while dis carded car tyres should be disposed of. Amphibia and reptiles Because it was not possible to survey and sample the amphibia and reptiles in the area in the time available, this study was not attempted. Of the amphibia, only the cane toad was seen. Lams novaehoZZandiae ChZidonias Zeucopterus PhaZacroeorax suZeirostris PhaZacroeorax varius PhaZacroeorax meZanoZeucos Egretta sacra Ardea pacifica Ardea novaehoZZandlae Egretta alba Butorides 8triatu8 Xenorhyn asiaticus Threskiornis moZucca VaneZZus miZee Charadrius aZexandrinus Numenius phaeopus Numenius arquata CaZidris ruficoZZis Tringa hypoZeucos Limosa Zapponica Esacus magnirostris CaZidris acuminata Podiceps novaehoZZandiae HaZjaetus Zeueogaster Pandion haZiaetus HaZcyon chZoris Of the 24 reptiles recorded for the area, four lizards and five snakes were actually seen during the study. Impressions are that the area supports a large reptilian community which, no doubt, relies upon a large amphibian population which, in turn, could be supplied by the tea-tree swamp and the swamp near Seventeen Seventy. Birds The distribution and abundance of birds are determined mainly by the availability of suitable habitats of resting and nesting sites and of abundant food supplies (Lack, 1966). While pred ation tends to govern bird populations to some extent, intra specific competition for food and resources has a greater effect on bird density. Finally, the extant population is the end result of ecological interactions from the preceeding season. Many Australian species are, however, adapted to the harsh environment and are able to delay breeding until more suitable conditions prevail or, alternately, they can limit clutch size (Macdonald, 1973). In general terms, a high density of birds reflects a diversity of habitat, while a low diversity reflects a harsh or adverse environment. In this study, the birds observed are arbitrarily designated as either estuarine or woodland birds, there being no heath of any consequence, i.e. Estuarine birds The following species were positively identified in and around the Round Hill Creek estuary, namely : Silver gull White-winged

black tern Little black cormorant Pied cormorant Little pied cormorant Reef heron White necked heron White faced heron Egret Mangrove heron Jabiru White ibis Masked plover Red capped dotterel Wimbrel European curlew Red necked stint Sandpiper Bar tailed godwit Beach stone curlew Sharptailed sandpiper Little grebe White breasted sea eagle Osprey Mangrove kingfisher All of these species are moderately common and only a further eight estuarine birds have been noted previously (Jeffries, personal communication) in the area, but no doubt, further studies will reveal other species also visit this estuary, for example, on the Richmond River, 59 bird species may be classified as estuarine birds, of which 39 are designated as common to moderately common (Richmond Naturalists Club, 1973) . The sand flats on the northern side of the lower estuary form a discrete area of approximately ten hectares and counts of wading birds showed seven species of birds present on two low tides, with 34 and 39 birds seen (see Table 2). As wading birds fre quently visit different sand flats, hourly censuses could give a better indication of bird feeding than single daily censuses. Of course, this argument could be expanded so that hourly counts could be made on a series of sand flats, but, with banded birds, multiple counts of the same birds could be possible unless all counts were done simultaneously (Smiths Lake Reports, 1972) . Under the circumstances, and with the limited time for study, these censuses gave indicative values for estuarine bird dens ities, however, follow-up studies in the post-wet season could be most informative. 3.F(ii) Woodland birds 3.G(i) Because of the pressure of work within a limited period, ex tensive bird watching in the woodland was not possible, and this was reflected in the sighting of only 37 species out of the 100 species noted in the area (Jeffries, personal commun ication) . Notwithstanding the above, it was a general impression that, with certain exceptions e.g., Red tailed black cockatoo, the bird density was comparatively low. The bird species suite seem to be dominated by Noisy friar birds (Philemon corniculatus ) while larger predatory birds e.g. hawks etc. were abundant, the predatory Blue-winged kookaburras (Dacelo leachii) were numerous and predatory crows (Corvus orru) 3 Currawongs (Strepera graculina) and pheasants (Centropus phasianimus) were frequently seen. These birds reflect the diversity and density of the prey fauna in the area, hence, it must be con cluded that small animals, reptiles, insects etc. are not particularly prevalent in the area (see also Section 3.G). A vehicle bird transect between Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy over a distance of 2.5 km. showed large numbers of Red-tailed black cockatoos to be present along the road side. (See Table 3). As these birds had a decidedly clumped pattern of distribution on the roadside, the application of the Yapp transect method for density estimates was not justified and these roadside counts are therefore taken as censuses. There is no doubt that the Red-tailed black cockatoo was present in large numbers in this area at this time of the year. As the Red-tailed black cockatoo feeds on the seeds of Eucalyptus, Acacia, Banksia, Casuarina, Hakea and Grevillea and as there was a band of Acacia bordering the road, no doubt this tree .distrib ution explained the presence of large numbers of these birds (Forshaw and Cooper, 1973). The lack of water fowl in this area is due no doubt to the dry seasonal lack of free bodies of water. Thus, a post-wet season study should reveal many more water birds in the area (Frith, 1967) . Mammal densities were estimated using either trap lines for small mammals and marsupials e.g. rats and bandicoots, or vehicle transects for larger marsupials

e.g. wallabies and kangaroos. Animals other than those observed during the study were noted by local residents (Jeffries, personal communication) . Twenty-one species of monotremes and marsupials have been noted in the area (see Species List 3). Of these species, the pop ulation dynamics of only the short-nosed bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) is known (Gordon, 1971) , but as this species is a fairly large insectivorous marsupial, its dynamics should apply equally to the smaller marsupials, while extrapolations from studies on the red kangaroo and euro and on the bandicoot could be applied, with reservations, to the local wallabies and grey kangaroo. Of the 21 species recorded in the area (Jeffries, personal communication; Marlow, 1958; Morcombe, 1972; Troughton, 1973), 12 were sighted during the study. Of the seven mammals recorded for the area, including feral and introduced mammals but not domestic mammals, five species were noted during the study. Of all species of marsupials and mammals, only a single Rattus fuscipes was caught in seven trap lines, each composed of 20 traps set over a minimum period of three days. On the other hand, vehicle transects indicated that larger marsupials were present in relatively large densities. Small mammals Small mammal traps, baited with rolled oats and peanut oil (Gordon, 1971), were set in lines of 20 traps at 15 m. inter vals in seven localities, in which the habitats ranged from dry, open, sclerophyll forest, to vine forest, to tea-tree swamps (see Figure 1). As no small mammals were caught after three days in six of the localities, these traplines were dis continued. In the seventh trapline, in a tea-tree swamp near Seventeen Seventy, one Rattus fuscipes was caught on two con secutive occasions, but this animal was subsequently eaten by a fox which apparently was attracted to the trap. That the traps were catching is apparent from catches of cane toads (Bufo) at all localities plus a Rail (Rallus pectoralis) at the tea-tree swamp (see Table 4). The apparent lack of small mammals in the area is attributed to the annual "burning off" of low vegetation and the elimin ation of organic humus in the soil with the consequence that soil living insects are almost entirely absent. There is, however, an area of swampy land south of the proposed mining path which appears to be suited to bandicoots and rats, as it does not seem to have been fired for many years. This area will be examined in detail at a later date. It must therefore be concluded that the proposed mining area appears to support ex tremely small populations of small, ground-living mammals. On the other hand, evening observations would seem to indicate that arboreal marsupials, such as possums and gliders, and mammals, like the flying foxes, could be reasonably plentiful at certain places (possums and gliders), or at certain times (flying foxes). However, there are very real difficulties in estimating the densities of arboreal marsupials because of their nocturnal behaviours, consequently, there are no accurate density estimates for these animals recorded in the literature and it is therefore not possible to indicate whether or not the area supports unusual (high or low) numbers of arboreal mar supials. Because of the somewhat open nature of the dry, sclerophyll forest in the area, it would however, seem unlikely that populations of these animals would be dense. Finally, arboreal marsupial populations are limited by the availability of suitable habitats, e.g. hollow tree trunks and, consequently, the sparse tree cover in this wooded area would preclude the presence of too many suitable habitats for arboreal marsupials. In summary therefore, it is anticipated that the blossom of the mahoganys, tea-trees etc. could attract reasonable numbers of flying foxes (no sign of a

flying fox camp was seen during the study) at certain times of the year, but the numbers of arboreal marsupials would probably not be great because of the sparse tree cover of the open, dry, sclerophyll forest dominating the mining path (see Appendix IV, Botanical Report). 3.G(ii) Larger mammals Five kilometre vehicle transects through (i) the mining path and (ii) west of the tea-tree swamp showed wallabies and kang aroos (Maeropus rufogriscus 3 Macropus parryi and Macropus giganteus) to be present in reasonable numbers in the area. The vehicle transects through the mining path on three consecutive mornings (0600 hours) showed 4, 3 and 2 M. rufogriscus to be present (see Table 5). Applying the Yapp transect density estimate to the first of these values, we obtain a density of 2.74 wallabies per square kilometre in the mining path heath area. Vehicle transects through the open grassy woodlands on the western side of the tea-tree swamp showed 18 M, parryi and M. giganteus to be present on the first of two consecutive mornings (0600 hours) and 4 M. parryi on the second morning. Applying the Yapp transect density estimate to the first of these values, we obtain a density of 11.36 wallabies/kangaroos per square kilometre on the open grassy woodland beyond the tea-tree swamp. (See Table 7 for a calculation of the Yapp transect density estimation). Before examining the densities of these four larger marsupials in more detail, it is as well to indicate differences in dis persal behaviours of these animals. M. rufogriscus/W. bicolor graze on low herbiage, grasses, etc. but tend to remain in the same area in which they feed (see Table 5) . M, parryi tends to live in rocky outcrops but moves to the open grassy woodlands to feed in the mornings and afternoons, returning to the outcrops at evening. M. giganteus migrates great distances to areas where grass is young and plentiful. These animals may therefore occur in large numbers in one locality at one time. For example, Elliott (1974, personal communication) reported densities of about 70 M, giganteus per square kilometre for periods of weeks during the late winter/early spring when fresh young grass was plentiful after an early winter "burn-off", but this density falls to less than ten kangaroos per square kilometre for much of the rest of the year as the animals migrate to other local ities (Marlow, 1958; Elliott, 1974, personal communication). With these behaviours in mind, the estimated density of V. bi-color and M,rufogriscus of about 2.74 wallabies per square kilometre of sandy heath/open, dry, sclerophyll forest probably reflects the true density of these wallabies in the mining path area. As it was not possible to always differentiate between M. parryi- and M, giganteus in the open grassy woodland to the west of the tea-tree swamp, estimates of the two densities are not easy, however, on known sightings of these two marsupials, a rough estimate for M. parryi is about four wallabies per square kilometre and about seven kangaroos per square kilometre (see also Table 5). The density of M. parryi could be close to the estimated density. As the area of suitable habitat appears to be quite extensive, no doubt this marsupial is quite plentiful in the area. The estimated density of M. giganteue is probably accurate and reflects the numbers of grey kangaroos feeding on the young grasses west of the tea-tree swamp area. The var iation in densities of wallabies/kangaroos between the proposed mining area and the area west of the swamp is due to the fact that the latter has a clay-based soil supporting a dry sclero- phyll forest which has been somewhat cleared for grazing, whereas the soil in the former is too "poor" to warrant any clearing to improve pastures. 3.H Summary The number of animal species recorded and

observed in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area is 260 (see Table 6). (vii) The amphibia and reptiles are not well known but doubt less, they are both diverse and dense. However, in general terms, the poor soil supports little ground insects and hence, the food pyramid has a narrow base, therefore, the reptilian fauna is not expected to be as diverse and as dense as areas with better soils. (viii) The terrestrial birds reflect the rather poor biotic environment in the area, while the estuarine birds are present in low numbers due, no doubt, to the poor, benthic fauna in this small, shallow estuary (unpublished data). (ix) Small marsupials and mammals are in very low densities. This paucity in numbers is due to the destruction of humus from "burning off" and the subsequent lack of soil insects etc. (ii) Because of the lack of seasonal studies, this number must be exceeded. (iii) Dry season mosquito surveys do not reflect the species suite to be encountered in the post-wet season. (iv) As it is highly improbable that any insect-borne disease will affect the community in the area, mosquito control, other than for domestic species, is not warranted. Except in the case of an extreme health hazard, mosquito breeding habitats should NOT be sprayed with insecticides because of the danger to estuarine and freshwater fish etc. The rock platforms in the area are poor examples and support only a limited community of littoral invertebrates. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ROCKY POINT/AGNES WATER AND SIMILAR AREAS A General Valid comparisons between geographically separated but eco logically similar ecosystems, such as estuaries, heaths, forests, etc., cannot be based on the presence or absence of various animal species, nor can valid comparison be made between different habitats in similar localities, using the presence or absence of certain species of animals. In other words, species criteria and so-called indicator species show geographical and habitat differences and cannot therefore be logically used to differentiate between localities or habitats. Consequently, the only valid comparisons are those based on productivity, or on densities, statistics and descriptive community indices (Loya, 1972; O'Gower and Wacasey, 1960), or on hierarchial synoptic clustering systems (Stephenson et al , 1970). However, presence/ absence data used in clustering analysis are not applicable to prediction and are also quadrat size dependant (Greig-Smith, 1964), (x) Large marsupials and mammals are in very low densities in the proposed mining areas, but are in significantly higher densities west of the mining path. This difference is related to the difference between the "poor" heath/woodland on the dunes relative to the open grassy woodland on the flats and hills. therefore all the estuarine and rock platform comparisons are based on statistical and mathematical indices, while terrest rial animal and bird populations and estuarine bird populations have been compared using transect analysis or censuses. Because of the dearth of published data relating to coastal ecosystems in eastern Australia, most of the data available is that collected by the consultants. The assessment of the rock platforms will be made relative to rock platforms in Sydney (Meyer and O’Gower, 1963; O’Gower and Meyer, 1965, 1971). The birds and mammals of the area will be compared with those from Smiths Lake and Ballina, as comparable studies have been made in these areas. 4.B 4.C Comparison Between Rock Platforms The rock platforms in the area can be better described as rock outcrops and they are "topographically inferior" to the Sydney rock platforms. Hence, if one compares the densities of six species of littoral gastropods from Sydney (Meyer and 0’Gower, 1963) with the densities of six comparable littoral gastropods from this area

(Table 1), the following values are obtained: 4.D Locality/wave-action Rocky Point/exposed Cape Banks/exposed Cape Banks/sheltered Botany Bay/calm Density/sq.m. 125.60 306.77 1418.16 459.51 As the exposed platform at Rocky Point receives about the same amount of wave-action as does the sheltered platform at Cape Banks, it is obvious that the Rocky Point, littoral, rock plat form fauna is considerably less dense than Cape Banks, littoral, rock platforms. This difference is related not only to the topography of the platforms, but also to tidal range (less than 2m in Sydney and nearly 4m in Rocky Point) and to the higher, summer insolation, temperature and desiccation related to the difference in latitude between these two localities, for it is well known that temperature related to desiccation affects the distribution and abundance of littoral invertebrates, (Lewis, 1964; MacGinite and MacGinite, 1968; Meyer and O’Gower, 1963; O'Gower and Meyer, 1965, 1971). Comparison Between Amphibia and Reptiles The amphibia of the area are virtually unknown, hence, com parison between this area and other localities are not possible. While some reptiles have been noted in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area (see Species List 3), a detailed study has not been made in this respect. However, 33 species of reptiles have been recorded in the Smiths Lake area with its extensive sand dune ecosystem, but only 24 reptile species have been recorded in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area. No doubt the species list for this locality will be increased with further study in the area. Comparison Between Birds Extensive bird observations in the Smiths Lake area (N.S.W.) show 135 species of birds to be present (Cooper, 1973; personal communication). Some of these species are residents (84 species), some are nomadic (14 species), some are seasonal migrants (22 species) while some are merely visitors (8 species) In the Richmond River area, 275 species of birds have been recorded (Richmond River Naturalist Club, 1973) and in a brief field study of comparable duration to that at Agnes Water, 54 bird species were recorded in the Ballina area. Of the 125 bird species recorded in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area, 62 species were sighted during the present study (see Species List 3). On the basis of these comparable data, it must be deduced that the bird fauna of the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area is not as extensive as that in the Richmond River area, but it must be larger than that in the Smiths Lake area. Considering the differences in latitude between these three localities, the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area seems to be depauperate in bird species. While considerable information is available on the feeding behaviour of birds e.g. the Smiths Lake birds may be classified as follows : FOOD Seashore Lake Edge Open Forest Heath Blossom/fruit 4 5 Seeds 1 9 2 Insects 9 6 46 6 Aquatic life 13 Fish 2 5 Predation 2 1 12 6 HABITAT Little data is available on bird densities, or areas of terr itory, with the exception of such studies as those by Parry (1970) on Kookaburras, and Frith (1967) on waterfowl. Estimates of cormorant densities on Smiths Lake have been as high as 30 birds per square kilometre. Estimates of estuarine wading birds on the sand flats of Burraga Island in the Shoalhaven River gave a density of about 60 birds per square hectare with 12 species of birds represented. Estimates of estuarine wading birds on sand flats at Ballina gave a value of 21 birds per square hectare with 12 species represented. Estimates of wading birds on the sand flats of the Round Hill Creek estuary gave a value of 10 birds per square hectare, representing seven species. It therefore appears that the Round Hill Creek estuary supports a bird community which is significantly inferior to those in estuaries at

lower latitudes. The explanation of this dis crepancy obviously is directly related to the paucity of the benthos of the Round Hill Creek estuary (unpublished data). 4.E Comparison Between Mammals From studies on: (i) bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) at Smiths Lake and Ballina; (ii) rats (Rattus fuscipes and Rattus lutreolis) at Ballina and Rocky Point/Agnes Water; (iii) wallabies (Macropus parryi 3 Macropus rufogriscus, Wallabia bicolor) at Rocky Point/ Agnes Water and Wallis Lake; and (iv) kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). at Rocky Point/Agnes Water and near Miriam Vale, the following densities per square kilometre have been estimated, using either trap lines or vehicle transects : SPECIES Agnes Water I. macrourus 0 Rattus sp. 16.7 W. bicolor 2.74 M. nifogriscus M, parryi 11.36 M. giganteus > M. giganteus Rocky Point/ Miriam Vale Smiths Lake Wallis Lake Ballina - 123.5 - 1,714 - - - 10,570 - - 33.97 - - - - - 74.0 LOCALITY From these data, it is strikingly obvious that the densities of the smaller mammals are some orders of magnitude less than comparable habitats in other localities, e.g. Smiths Lake and Ballina. The densities of the larger marsupials in the Agnes Water area are also significantly lower than those in other localities such as Wallis Lake and Miriam Vale vicinity. These differences stress the influence that “poor" soils of the sand dune habitat plus regular "burning-off" have on marsupial densities. 4.F Summary From the above discussion, the following points are apparent: The r.ock platforms in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area are decidedly inferior to those in the Sydney area in both density and diversity of the littoral invertebrates. These differences are due to topography, tidal range and insolation/ desiccation. The bird diversity of the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area is not as great as would be expected of a semi-tropical locality. The density of birds, both terrestrial and estuarine, is much lower than would be expected, and this reflects the poor quality of the general environment. The mammal/marsupial density in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area is significantly, and for some species, dramatically, lower than that found in the Smiths Lake/Wallis Lake area, the Ballina area and near Miriam Vale. The general conclusion is that the environment of the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area is inferior and reflects the com pounding effect of regular ’'burning-off" on "poor" sand dune communities. 5. 5.A ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT Generally The proposed mining of the sand dunes in the Rocky Point area will have a limited impact on the ecosystem because : (i) the ecosystem only supports a limited animal community; (ii) (i£i) (iv) (v) mining activity only affects a relatively small area of the environment in the long term; mining only affects a very small area of the environment at any one time, as mined areas are regenerating while unmined areas are left intact; the proposal to regenerate the mined area into a grazing parkland type of environment, with improved pastures, irrigation and fertilization will ultimately improve the poor soil in the dunes and this should decrease the likelihood of the periodic "burning-off" continually destroying the soil humus; the development of pastures will benefit herbivorous marsupials and will increase the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. 5.B On the Local Fauna The impacts that mining will have on the local fauna relate -*-o the following activities : the destruction of the cover vegetation in that part of the area occupied by the mining path; the construction of storage facilities for the minerals; the regeneration of the sand dunes into a grazing/ parkland ecosystem; subdivision of the area into small rural holdings. C Impact on Insects In terms of this environmental impact study, insects may be grouped into: soil insects and

blossom insects. The proposed mining of the sand dunes will destroy the existing vegetation within the mining path and so destroy part of the food source of blossom insects. On the other hand, the soil is so "poor”, as a result of repeated "burning-off", that the regeneration of the soil from fertilization, irrigation and rural develop ment after mining will have a beneficial impact on soil insects. This beneficial impact will, in turn, affect insectivorous animals. The alteration of ground cover from that existing, which is mainly bracken and blady grass, or pasture grasses, will have a slight initial detrimental impact, but with the establishment of improved pastures, herbivorous insects should increase, so improving the food supply of insectivorous animals. This effect will be beneficial to the terrestrial fauna. Finally, the destruction of the existing vegetation and its replacement with a more open pasture/parkland will have a slight detrimental effect on blossom insects and this will consequently have a detrimental effect on blossom-feeding birds. D Impact on Littoral Invertebrates The proposed mining activities will have no effect upon the littoral fauna of the rock platforms in the Rocky Point area. 5,E Impact on Amphibia The proposed mining will not touch the extensive tea-tree swamp which supports practically all the amphibia in the area. 5.F Impact on Reptiles The destruction of the existing vegetation will have a slight detrimental impact upon reptiles,but as they are highly mobile this impact will be minimal, for the reptiles will simply migrate to unmined areas. When the mined area has been re stored to an open grassy parkland, the environment will be suited to the return of the reptiles and as the soil will have been improved by the revegetation programme, soil insects should be more abundant and hence, the environment should, be able to support more reptiles. 5.G Impact on Birds Again, the destruction of the existing vegetation in the mine path will have a slight detrimental impact upon birds, both blossom-feeding and insectivorous birds. The restoration of the mined area into open grassy parkland will benefit predatory birds. 5.H Impact on Mammals 5.J As the mining path apparently lacks any small mammals, due no doubt to the extremely "poor" nature of the soil, any mining activity will not have any detrimental effects upon small mammals, in fact, the reverse will apply for the revegetation programme will improve the soil which will result in an in creased soil insect fauna and this will decidedly benefit small insectivorous mammals. impact on herbivorous marsupials. Finally, the reconstruction of the mined area into a rural development and the increased urbanization in the area to meet the needs of the mining work force will have a general detrimental effect, but settlement will also tend to restrict the present uncontrolled use of the heath by the general public. Upon balance therefore, it seems likely that the presence of people will have the usual detri mental effect upon the environment, while there appears to be no solution to this problem, the planned rural development could help control some of these detrimental effects in that the unrestricted movement of people on the dune area could be halted. Summary Because of the poor soil in the mining path and because the revegetation programme should (i) improve this soil, (ii) eliminate regular "burning-off’ 1 , (iii) increase grazing area for herbivorous marsupials, it must be concluded that there will be a net beneficial impact on the environment on the successful completion of the revegetation programme after mining. The final reduction in tree density in the mine path will have a slight detrimental effect upon the numbers of nomadic blossom-feeding birds visiting the area. With regards to the larger herbivorous

marsupials, the des truction of the existing vegetation will have only a very slight effect upon wallabies, as these animals are highly mobile and can seek food elsewhere. With revegetation, these larger marsupials will have a greatly increased source of permanent food and this will have a strong beneficial impact on these animals. 5.1 General Considerations The magnitude of the impacts at time NOW can be readily predicted, but the importance of these impacts in the FUTURE depend entirely upon the success of the revegetation programme and hence, there must be a considerable time lag before some of the beneficial effects become apparent. On the other hand, the sowing of improved pastures will have an immediate beneficial SPECIES LIST 1 Littoral invertebrates on rock platforms in the Agnes Water area. Polychaeta Crustacea Chthamalus antennatus Tetraclita rosea Tetraclita squamosa Thalamita sp. Eriphia sebana Grapsus albolineatus Mollusca Acenthopleura spinosa Austrocochlea eons trie ta Bembicium nanum Morula marginalba Nerita atramentosa Nerita chamaelon Nerita aostata Nodilittorina pyramidalis Cellana tramoserica Ellisiphon denticulata Montfortula conoidea Notoacmaea petterdi Patelloidea saccurina Planaxis sulcatus Saccostrea cucullata var. omasa r- SPECIES LIST 2 Mosquitoes and Sandflies collected at Agnes SPECIES Anopheles annulipes Mans onia uniformis Mansonia xanthogaster Uranotaenia pygmaea Aedes funereus Aedes vigilax Cutex annulirostris Culex fraudatrix Culex hilli Culex sitiens Leptoconops sp. Culicoides subimmaaulatus Culiooides marmoratus ADULTS yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Water. LARVAE yes yes yes yes yes yes yes * Anhinga rufa Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Darter Little black cormorant 4 Phalaerocorax varzus Pied cormorant 4 Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little pied cormorant 4 Egretta sacra Reef heron 4 Ardea pacifica White necked heron 4 Ardea novaehollandzae White faced heron 4 Egretta alba Egret 4 Butorides striatus Mangrove heron 4 Xenorhynchus asiaticus Jabiru 4 Threskiomis molucca White ibis 4 Threskiomis spinicollis Platalea regia Straw-necked ibis Royal spoonbill 4 Nycticorax caledonicus Dendrocygna eytoni Cygnus atratus Tadoma radjah Anas superciliosa Nankeen night heron Grass whistle duck Black swan Burdekin duck Black duck 4 Chenonetta jubata Wood duck 4 Biziura lobata Aquila audax Haljaetus leucogaster Musk duck Wedge-tailed eagle White-breasted sea-eagle 4 Pandion haliaetus Osprey 4 Falco subniger Aviceda subcristata Alectura lathami Black falcon Crested hawk Brush turkey 4 Cotumix pectoralis Stubble quail 4 Turnix velox Little quail 4 Turnix varia Grus rubicunda Rallus pectoralis Painted quail Brolga Lewin water rail 4 Gallinula tenebrosa Vanellus novaehollandiae Vanellus miles Dusky moorhen Spur-winged plover Masked plover 4 Charadrius alexandrinus Red-capped dotterel 4 Charadrius mongolus Charadrius melanops Numenius phaeopus Mongolian dotterel Black-fronted dotterel Wimbrel 4 Numenius arquata European Curlew Birds (Cont*d ). Water. Emu Pelican Black cormorant Pseudechzs Pseudechis Pseudonaja Vermicella SPECIES LIST 3 Animals and birds recorded at Agnes Lizards Amphibolurus barbatus Chlamydosaurus kingii Delma fraserii Diporiphora australis Egemia bungana Egemia whitii Lialis burtonis Physignathus lesuerii Sphenomorpkus taeniolatus Var anus giganteus Varanus gouldii Snakes Boiga irregularis Demanaia psammophis Dendrelaphis punctulatus Drysdalia coronoides Morelia spilotes variegata Natris mairii Oxyur anas scutellarzs australis porphyriaaus testilis annulata Tortoise/Turtle Chelonia my das Emydura krefftii Birds Dromaius novaehollandiae Pelecanus conspicillatus

Phalacrocorax carbo Birds (Cont’d). Tringa hypoleucos Calidris ruficollis Limosa lapponica- Esacus magnirostris Calidris acuminata Podiceps novaehollandiae Lotus novaehollandiae Chlidonias leucopterus Dupetor flavicollis Haematopus ostralegus Eupodotis australis Rallus phillipensis Macropygia amboinensis Ptilinopus superbus Chalcophaps indica Geopelia striata Geopelia humeralis Histriophaps histrionica Leucosarcia melanoleuca Aprosmictus erythropterus Alisterus scapularis Trichoglossus haematodus Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Glossopsitta concinna Calyptorhynchus lathamt Calyptorhynchus magnificus Calyptorhynchus funereus Cacatua galerita Platycereus adscitus Cuculus pallictus Seythrops novaehollandiae Centropus phasianinus Eudynamys scolopacea Ninox novaeseelandiae Podargus strigoides Alcyone azurea Sterna hirundo Halcyon pyrrhopygia Sandpiper Rednecked stint Bar-tailed godwit Beach stone curlew Sharp-tailed sandpiper Little grebe Silver gull White-winged black tern Black bittern Pied oystercatcher Bustard Banded land rail Brown pigeon Purple-crowned pigeon Green-winged pigeon Peaceful dove Bar-shouldered dove Flock pigeon Wonga pigeon Red-winged parrot King parrot Rainbow lorikeet Scaly-breasted lorikeet Musk lorikeet Glossy cockatoo Red-tailed cockatoo Yellow-tailed cockatoo Sulphur-crested cockatoo Pale-headed rosella Pallid cuckoo Channel-billed cuckoo Pheasant cougal Koel Bookbook owl Tawney frogmouth Azure kingfisher Common tern Birds (Cont’d ). Halcyon macleayi Halcyon sancta Halcyon chloris Dacelo gigas Dacelo leachdi Eurystomus orientalis Merops ornatus Hirundo neoxena Petrochelidon oriel Coracina novaehollandiae Petrochelidon nigricans Zoothera dauma Pomatostomus temporalis Psophodes olivaceus Malurus cyaneus Malurus melanocephalus Petroica cucullata Petroica rosea Rhipidura leucophrys Rhipidura fuliginosa Myiagra rubecula Myiagra inquieta Monarcha rrelanopsis Neositta leucocephala Pardalotus rubicatus Pardolotus punctatus Climacteris picumnus Nectai-inia jugularis Dicaeum hirundinaceum Zosterops lateralis Philemon comiculatus Myzomela obscura Myzomela sanguinolenta Lichmera indistincta Meliphaga fusca Meliphaga lewinii Entomyzon cyanotis Manorina melanocephala Poephila guttata Red-backed kingfisher Forest kingfisher Sacred kingfisher Mangrove kingfisher Kookaburra Blue-winged kookaburra Dollar bird Rainbow bird Welcome swallow Fairy martin Black-faced cuckoo-shrike Tree martin Ground thrush Grey-crowned babbler Eastern whipbird Blue wren Red-backed wren Hooded robin Rose robin Willie wagtail Grey fantail Leaden fly catcher Restless fly catcher Pearly-winged flycatcher White-headed sitella Red-browed pardalote Spotted pardalote Brown treecreeper Yellow-breasted sunbird Mistletoe bird Eastern silvereye Noisy friar bird Dusky honeyeater Scarlet honeyeater Brown honeyeater Fuscous honeyeater Lewin honeyeater Blue-faced honeyeater Noisy miner Zebra finch Birds (Cont'd) . Poephlla blchenovii Sphecotheres vlellloi Dlcurus bracteatus Corcorax melanorbamphos Struthldea clnerea Double bar finch Southern figbird Spangled drongo White-winged chough Apostle bird 4 Artamus leucortynchus Cractius nigrogularis Cractlcus torquatus Gyrrmorhlna tlblcen Strepera gracullna Serlculus chrysocephalus Corvus ceallae White-breasted woodswallow Black-throated butcherbird Grey butcherbird Black-backed magpie Pied currawong Regent bowerbird Crow a Corvus coronoldes Raven - Alluroedus crasslrostrls Gralllna cyanoleuca Green catbird Mudlark a Monotremes Hachyglossus aculeatus Echidna 4 Marsupials Xepi/pri/mras rufescens Antechlnomys lanlger Dasyoldes bymel Dasyurus maculatus

Rufous rat kangaroo Feather-tailed mouse Crest-tailed marsupial rat Tiger cat 4 Dasyurus vlverrlnus Eastern native cat Isoodon macrourus Isoodon obesulus Slender nosed bandicoot Short nosed bandicoot 4 Macropus glganteus Grey kangaroo Macropus parry I Pretty faced wallaby * Macropus nlfogrlscus Brush wallaby 4 Perameles nasuta Petaurus brevlceps Petrogale Inomata Long nosed bandicoot Sugar glider Rock wallaby 4 Phascogale tapoatata Phascolaretos clnereus Brush tailed phascogale Koala Pseudochelrus peregrlnus Scholnobates Volans Sminthopsis murlna Ring tailed possum Greater glider possum Marsupial mouse Marsupials (Cont *d ). Trlchosurus vulpeca Wallabla bicolor Mammals Pteropus gouldll Rattus fusclpes Rattus lutreolls Feral Mammals Anls antartlcuB Fells cattus Lepas europaeus Vulpes vulpes Brush tailed possum Swamp wallaby Fruit bat Bush rat Eastern swamp rat Dingo Cat Hare Fox * Observed during study Not seen recently Census of birds on a typical sand flat in the Round Hill estuary Descriptive statistics and community indices for littoral invertebrates on the rock platform at Rocky Point (per 0.5m. sq.) SPECIES Habitat and Statistic Rock Surface Rock Pool X S.D. X S.D. Chthamalu8 170.00 187.73 Austrocochlea 0.37 0.74 9.00 9.65 B&nbicium 4.71 4.57 3.75 3.37 Nerzta 0.37 0.74 5.75 7.22 Plcmaxi.s 2.33 4.41 2.25 5.25 Morula 3.42 5.02 4.50 3.77 Montfortula 2.00 5.29 5.12 12.95 flodilittorina 16.28 40.92 - Notoaemaea 1.57 2.14 0.37 0.74 Ellisiphon - 2.71 3.81 Aaanthopleura - 0.37 0.74 Saccostrea 5.85 7.55 24.87 52.8 Indices 1.37 1. 46 I.D. 0.16 0. 26 Species November Day 1 Day 2 Big pied cormorant 2 3 Curlew 6 7 Bar-tailed godwit 6 8 Banded plover 1 1 Masked plover 1 1 Sandpiper 4 7 Wimbrel 14 12 No. of species 7 7 No. of individuals 34 39 —Tir •• * rt, o 0 rt 3 O ft cd 7/11/74 7/11/74 CJ> \ t—* -J 4^ 5/11/74 5/11/74 4/11/74 Date H K K H R N 0 0 0 0 0 0 PJ CD CD P> p) CD Cb Qj Ch Cb Cb Cb rt rt rt rt rt rt o 0 0 0 O 0 cn w tn tn cn tn ro CD CD CD CD CD 0 < < < < < o CD CD CD CD CD CD CD 3 3 3 3 3 3 rt rt rt rt rt rt rt R- (D CD CD (D CD CD 0 CD CD CD CD CD CD 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 tn CO tn OT tn tn K CD CD CD CD CD CD P> < < < < <: < U* CD CD CD CD CD CD H- 3 3 3 3 3 3 rt rt rt rt rt rt rt CD rt O e CD s 3 3 pm u H- NJ NJ NJ NJ NJ NJ <n » • • • • • rt CH in tn CH LH CH P> X ►x* X X x* X 3 3 § 3 3 3 g o CD to h 4 H H H H- CO CH cn .U <y> R o o o CH O o £b to H- H Cb ♦rt K W cd o rt a. o rt <n H- 3 rt 5* (D > us 3 CD tn s: p rt CD K P R CD P> TABLE 4 Animals caught in trap lines (n = 20) at selected localities (see Figure 1) in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area. Locality Day 1 2 3 4 5 M.D. Swamp 1 Bufo — 1 Rail Transition - - 1 Bufo Mine path - - - Vine forest 1 Bufo - 1 Bufo Cabbage palms 1770 - - - Paper barks 1770 1 R. fuscipes 1 Bufo 1 R. fueczpes 1 Bufo — Open forest 1770 - - — Mango forest Agnes 3> l CD Marsupial transect counts in the Rocky Point area* Numbers of animal species observed and recorded in the Rocky Point/Agnes Water area. Date Habitat Location am/pm Distance Animals 1/11/74 mine path am 5.0 km 4 2/11/74 mine path am 5.0 km 3 1 3/11/74 mine path am 5.0 km 2 1 4/11/74 sth. of swamp am 5.0 km 18 213 5/11/74 sth. of swamp am 5.0 km 4 ( footnote) Animals Number of Species Observed Recorded Mosquitoes and ♦sand flies 13 0 Rock platform littoral invertebrates 22 0 Estuarine benthic invertebrates (unpublished data) 41 0 Amphibia 1 1 Reptiles 9 22 Birds - estuarine 28 36 - terrestrial 34 97 Marsupials/monotreme 6 21 Mammals 5 7 TOTAL: 159 184 Total number of species (observed and recorded) 260* ( footnote) DOES NOT include the extensive amphibia of ♦the swamps and no doubt, many more reptile and bird species occur in this area. Calculations of animal densities using the Yapp transect method. Yapp, W.B., 1956. The

theory of line transects. Bird Study 3:93-104 Macropus counts on line transects 18 animals seen over 5.0 km at 48 km.p.h. i.e. 18 animals seen in 14 mins. Applying the Yapp formula: Z 2R(U 2 + W 2 ) where D z R density/unit area no. of encounters per hour (18 x 4.28) effective visual radius between observer and observed (100m) average speed of observer (24 km.p.h.) average speed of observed (24 km.p.h.) then D 18 x (60/14) 2(100/1000) (24 2 + 24 2 )1s 11.36 animals per square kilometre 6 Littoral Rock Platforms — sampled Wallaby Transects • • • • Bird Transects ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES MINERAL DEPOSITS LIMI PTY. LTD. TED FOR DATE AMMENDMENTS g ROCKY POINT ZOOLOGICAL SAMPLING SCALE: date FIG. i 21 Lee, D.J., 1949: Aust.J.Sci, 12:74. 22 Lee, D.J. and Reye, E.J., 1953’- Proc.Linn.Soc.N.S.W., 78:352 23 Lee, D.J. and Reye, E.J.,1954: Proc.Linn.Soc.N.S.W., 79:233 24 Lee, D.J. and Reye, E.J.,1962: Proc.Linn.Soc.N.S.W., 87:352 25 Leopold, J.R., Clarke, F.E., Hanshaw, B.B. and Balsley, 1971: Geol. REFERENCES Barnes and Green (Eds) 1971* The estuarine environment. Applied Science. Cooper, W., 1973- Personal communication. Dakin, W., I960: Australian seashores. Angus and Robertson, Darnell, R.M., 1967: Estuaries (Luff Ed.) A.A.A.S. Pub).83: 376-382. Department of Environment N.S.W: Guidelines for application of Environmental Impact Policy in N.S.W. 1973- Department of Navy: Australian National Tide Tables, 1974. Doherty, R.L., Whitehead, R.H., Gorman, B.M., and O'Gower, A.K., 1963: Aust. J. Sci ., 26:183 Dowdeswell, W.H., 1959: Practical animal ecology. Methuen. Fisher, R.A., Corbet, A.S., and Wi11iams, C.B., 1943: J• anim. Ecol ., 12:42. Forshaw, J.M., and Cooper, W.T., 1974: Parrots of the world. Lansdowne. Frith, H.J., 1967: Waterfowl in Australia. Angus and Robertson. Gordon, G., 1971: Ph.D. Thesis, U.N.S.W. (bandicoots). Greig-Smith, P., 1964: Quantitative plant ecology. London. Heald, E.J., 1971: U.Miami Sea Grant Bull No.6 Holme, N.A., and McIntyre, A.D., 1971: Methods for the study of marine benthos. I.B.P. Handbook No.16. Jackson, J.B.C., 1973: Bui 1.mar.Sci ., 23:313 Jeffries, R.L., 1971: The estuarine environment. (Barnes and Green Eds.) Applied Science. Jeffries, A., 1974: Personal communication. Keefe, C.W., 1972: Cantb.mar.Sci ., 16:163 Lack, D., 1966: Population studies of Birds. Oxford. Survey Circl. 645, U.S.Dept Int. Wash. D.C. Lewis, J.R.,. 1964: The ecology of rocky shores. English Univ. Press. Loya, Y., 1972: Mar.Biol ., 13:100 Macdonald, J.D., 1973: Birds of Australia. Reed. Macginite, G.E., and Macginite, N., 1968: Natural History of Marine Animals McGraw-Hill. Macnae, W., 1968: Adv.mar.Biol .,6:73 Margalef, R., 1951: Gen.System ., 3:36 Marks, E.N., 1947: Queensland mosquitoes, U.Q'land Bookshop. Marlow, B.J., 1958: Wildlife Res ., 1958:72. Marshall, N., 1970: Marine Food Chains (Steele Ed.) Maxwell, W.G.H., 1968: Atlas of the Great Barrier Reef. Elsevier. McLean, D.M., 1953: Aust.J.expr.Biol ., 9:481 Mellanby, K., 1967: Pesticides and pollution. Fontana Meyer, G.R., and O'Gower, A.K., 1963* Aust.J. mar.freshw. Res ., 14:176 Moore, H.B., Davies, L.T., Fraser, T.H., Gore, R.H. and Lopez, N.R., 1968: Bull.mar.Sci ., 18:261 Morcombe, M., 1972: Australian marsupials and other native mammals. Lansdowne. Mosby, H.S. (Ed.) 1963: Wildlife investigational techniques. Wildlife Society. Odum, W.E., 1971: U.Miami Sea Grant Bull .,No.7 O'Gower, A.K., 1960: J.expr.Biol.Med ., 38:1 0‘Gower, A.K. and Meyer, G.R., 1965: Aust.J.mar.freshw.Res ., 16:205 O'Gower, A.K.and Meyer, G.R.,1971: Aust. J.mar.freshw.Res ., 22:35 0‘Gower, A.K., Nicol, Patricia, Hutchings, Patricia, 1973: unpublished data. O'Gower, A.K., and Wacasey, J.W., 1967: Bui 1.mar.Sci ., 17:175 Reye, E.J. and Lee, D.J., 1962: Proc.Linn.Soc-N.S.W ., 87:377 Richmond River Naturalists Club, 1973:

Birds of the Richmond River Smiths Lake Field Station Report, 1972 Southwood, T.R.E., 1966 : Ecological methods. Methuen. Stephenson, W., William, W.T., and Lance, G.N., 1970: Ecol- Monogr .,40:459 Straughan, D., 1972: J.expr.mar.Biol.Ecol ., 9:165 Teal, J.M., 1962: Ecology , 38:185 Thompson, J.M. , 1959: Aust.J.mar.freshw.Res ., 10:366 Troughton, E., 1973: Furred animals of Australia. Angus and Robertson Williams, R.B., and Murdock, M.B., 1969: Proc.2nd Symp.Radio Ecol., U.S. Atom Energy Comm. T.I.D. Yapp, W.B., 1956: Bird Study , 3:93

1. land tenure : The majority Flinders, is Crown Land, COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT REPORT ASPECTS OF LAND FABRIC including Land Tenure, Land Use, Transportation and Public Utilities. of the Parish of Uxbridge, County of with only 9% of the Parish being free Located at the south-east corner, Deepwater Creek and its adjacent properties form the Deepwater Creek Fauna Reserve of 4,080 ha. Within this reserve area, an extensive Macadamia Nut Plantation of some 380 ha is located south of Toowong Hill. The northern section of this reserve (1,710 ha) plus two adjacent land holdings, comprise an area outlined as a proposed National Park. The total area of this park would be 4,182 ha. hold tenure. The Crown Land (91% of the area) is held under a multitude of leaseholds. As at December 1971, the land tenure by average was as follows: TENURE HECTARES* PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL AREA Grazing Farm 13,534.3 44.0 3 _Grazing Homestead 10,812.8 35.0 ’ Perpetual Lease Selection 1,496.9 5.0 ; Leasehold Special Lease 411.6 1.2 ’ Agricultural Farm 120.6 0.3 ’ Occupation Licence 1,710.6 5.5 Freehold 2,738.1 9.0 TOTAL AREA 30,824.9 100.0 Within the Parish are four water reserves with a total of 367 ha. One such reserve is also set aside as a camping reserve. An added 97 ha to the north of Rocky Point is also reserved for camping purposes. Located between the camping reserve and Rocky Point is a Recreation Reserve of 134 ha. A smaller recreation reserve of 6.5 ha is located at Wreck Point. At present, however, both such reserves are accessible with difficulty and hence are vacant areas of land. 4. * Approximate by Metric Conversion. In addition to the above area, there is an added 141 ha of land set aside as recreation reserves, of which some 134 ha is contained by R 259 which constitutes part of the subject land. Lot 4, Portion 11 of the subject land is freehold tenure, while the area to the north of Lot 4 consists of two crown reserves (R 259 and R 204) and to the south is leasehold tenure being Portion 22 (refer Land Tenure Map - Map No.13). 2. land USE : Grazing is the dominant form of land utilisation within the Parish of Uxbridge. This activity involves large land holdings within the area. The subject land is currently not utilised, part being formally used for low intensity cattle grazing purposes. 3. transportation : The absence of a reasonable standard of road access currently gives rise to a somewhat isolated situation with respect to the subject land and the remainder of the Shire. The towns of Miriam Vale and Lowmead located on the Bruce Highway, provide nodal access to the subject land via poorly developed gravel road links with Agnes Water, a distance of some 60 km and 63 km respectively. These roads are not all- weather links with almost all creek crossings subject to flooding during periods of high runoff. public utilities : Neither the subject land nor its immediate surrounds are currently serviced by public utilities. The nearest electricity reticulation is approximately 60 Km from the area and the nearest P.M.G. telephone land line is some distance away from the subject land. ASPECTS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC including Population, Workforce, Education, Housing, Commerce and Industry, Community Services and Tourism and Recreation. A total of 48.5% of the permanent residents have not moved between the intercensal years 1966-1971. Of the remainder, 35% have moved into the area from other parts of Queensland, and a further 10.6% have moved only within the same statistical division of Rockhampton. The examination of aspects of population, workforce, education and housing has relied upon statistics from the latest 1971 Census of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (formerly the Bureau of Census and Statistics). The

subject land is located within the Bureau's Census LGA 187, C.D's 3 and 4 . Although the actual area under consideration is much smaller than the total area of the two C.D's, an overall picture of the general characteristics of the study area can be gauged. population .- In 1971, the two C.D's had a total population of 199 persons, comprising 105 males, and 94 females. However, the number of persons defined as permanent residents of the area was only a total of 160, or 80.5% of the population sampled by the 1971 Census. This permanent population represents only 11.3% of the resident population of the entire Shire. Of the 199 persons recorded in the C.D's at the time of the Census, some 13.5% were Queenslanders from outside the shire. Married persons account for 50% of the population, with 83% of females over 18 years married. Persons born overseas comprised only 5%, which in part accounts for the fact that all the children in the area are born of Australian parents. An analysis of the age distribution of the population reveals that there is a concentration of the population in the 25-35 year age group. In fact,, of the male population over the age of 15 years, 34% are aged between 25-35 years. It is interesting to note that every male between the age of 15-35 years is in the labour force. Also evident is the fact that only 26% of the women aged over 15 years are in the labour force. workforce : The lack of female workforce is reflected by the fact that 84% of the women over 18 years indicated that their major activity was home duties, which is characteristic of a rural environment. The following Table indicates the usual major activity of the residents within the C.D's: Table 1 MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF RESIDENTS NO.OF MALES % OF TOTAL MALES NO.OF FEMALES % OF TOTAL FEMALES Working 68 65% 8 9% Home Duties - - 43 45% Non-school Child 10 9.5% 23 24.5% Child at School 14 13.5% 16 17% Full Time Student - - - - Other 13 12% 4 4.5% TOTAL 105 100% 94 100% The breakdown of the total population of the study area reveals the following: OCCUPATIONAL STATUS MALES FEMALES Employer 14 3 Self Employed 12 4 Wage Earner 41 6 Unpaid Helper 1 1 Unemployed - - Not in the Labour Force 37 80 The labour force of the C.D’s represents only 12% of the Shire's labour force. Within the labour force of the C.D's, an analysis of the various industries concerned, reveals that 68% of the workforce are engaged in primary production. This compares with only 43% of the Shire's population being primary producers. The Table below indicates the importance of primary industry within the Shire and the C.D's. The C.D's do not include any service towns, as the town of 1770 is purely a small holiday settlement. Therefore, the Shire with its few small towns, has a greater percentage of workers in construction, wholesale and retail, entertainment and recreation, and communication. Table 2 INDUSTRY OF EMPLOYED PERSONS INDUSTRY MALE FEMALE TOTAL % OF TOTAL Agric.Forestry,Fishing 47 9 56 ■68 237 49 286 43 Mining 3 - 2 4 4 - 4 0.5 Manufacturing 2 - 2 2.5 32 4 36 3.5 Construction 6 - 6 7 144 - 144 21.5 Wholesale S Retail 1 — 1 1.5 27 20 47 7 Transport 6 Storage 3 1 4 5 25 3 28 4 Public Administration 2 1 3 4 7 - 10 1 .5 Community Services 1 1 2 2.5 3 10 23 3.4 Entertainment § Recreation — 1 1 1.5 8 25 33 5 Finance § Bus Services - - - 4 - 4 0.5 Communications - - - 5 2 7 1 Other 3 - 3 4 34 12 46 7 . Study Area - C.D's 3 and 4 . Whole Shire of Miriam Vale The large land holdings within the C.D's engaged in beef production account for the workforce and represents a small fraction of the total Shire workforce. A total of 22% of the males are employed by a government organisation, possibly Local Government. Of the combined males'and females' figures, 47 persons are employed in

agriculture. This accounts for 56% of the males and 50% of the females employed in farming. The balance of the labour force as evidenced above, is spread over a wide range of jobs. education : Of the total population of C.D's 3 and 4 (199 persons), 10 boys and 23 girls are not of school age. This female imbalance is evident on the Age-Sex distribution of the population. A total of 14 boys and 16 girls are at present attending school, which represents only 9.6% of the total school population for the Shire. An analysis of the population who have completed school reveals that only one male and 3 females have completed Grade 12. A further 44% of the women, and 50% of the men have only completed primary school. As a result, the number of qualified people within the popualtion is relatively small. There are in fact only 9 people with trade qualifications, 3 technicians and 1 non-degree tertiary graduate. housing : Within C.D's 3 and 4, there is a total of 201 houses/ dwellings. However, the majority of these, 69%, are classified as unoccupied private houses which reflects the incidence of holiday homes within the area. These two C.D's account for 91.5% of the holiday homes for the Shire. This dominance of holiday homes results in the area of the C.D's containing 30.6% of all the dwellings of the Shire. However, only 13% of the occupied houses within the Shire are found within the C.D's. constructions, area. A total incidence of flats 55% of the A majority of 88% of the houses are separate with only 2 non-private dwellings within the of 90% of the population live in houses, the and caravans being exceptionally low. Only occupants of the houses are the actual owners. Of the occupied houses, 75% were built before July 1966, 50% are of timber, and 35% are fibro-cement. Houses having more than three bedrooms account for only 55% of the total. A total of 50% of the houses have only one car. The following Tables summarise the services and facilities of occupied houses: The area is a cattle growing district which occupies some of the permanent population (.refer Section 6 above) . To the south of the subject land a Macademia Nut Plantation is in commercial production. . The closest existing township to the subject land which provides the normal range of convenience goods is Miriam Vale (some 60 km distance). community sevices : These are non-existent in the general area surrounding the subject land. A small number of services, such as a Primary School and Churches etc., are located in Miriam Vale. SERVICE % OF DWELLINGS Flush Toilet to Public Sewer - Flush Toilet, Other (Septic) 36.6% Sanitary Pan Collection 30.0% Other 33.4% Table 3 SERVICES FACILITIES NO. % OF TOTAL OCCUPIED Gas only 3 Electricity only 31 51% Gas & Electricity 17 28% Neither 4 Not Stated 5 Television 23 38% Table 4 FACILITIES tourism & recreation : There are no formally developed recreational facilities in this area although a camping reserve (R 204) and a recreations reserve (R 259) have been set aside (refer Map No.13). The small settlement of Agnes Water and the beaches to the•south provide surfing facilities which are not available north of Gladstone nor between Bundaberg and Tin Can Bay. This fact being the result from the presence of the Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island off these locations respectively. Because of this surf/ocean oriented attraction, the local area does present a-desirable area for holiday development given an allied improvement in road access (refer Section 3) . The area presents no outstanding tourist attractions apart from the beaches.Round Hill Head and the Town of 1770 approximately 6 km to the north of the subject land are of historical significance because of Cook’s landing there. It is not considered that this is of major attraction to potential visitors visitors to the area, coupled

with the inaccessibility of the area, particularly from the main transport routes of the Bruce Highway and Railway (approximately 60 km to the west). commerce & industry : The commerce of the town of 1770 is centred on boating and fishing in a very minor way as well as a store to meet the needs of a small local community. Agnes Water has no commercial development at all. ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY PROCESSES including Visual Aesthetics, Life Style and Amenities. visual aesthetics : The subject land is not visible from any existing accessible area (such as Agnes Water, Town of 1770 ..... or Round Hill Head), and therefore background and midground views of the subject land are non-existent. Similarly, there are no vantage points likely to become accessible or developed in the near future that could offer these views. Foreground views can be obtained in limited areas of extremely small sections of the subject land at any one time. This is the result of the influences of the existing topography, vegetation density (previously described) and the general inaccessibility of the area. life style & amenities : The subject land is contained in a predominantly rural area which has lent itself to limited "development" as a retreat for a retirement community (e.g. Agnes Water and Town of Seventeen Seventy) as well as a holiday community. Council records reveal that the majority of owners of beach huts are permanent residents from outside the Shire, namely Bundaberg, Brisbane and Toowoomba, with a minority from the southern states. Other aspects (refer sections 8 and 11) previously described, provide a general picture of the life style and amenities of this area. interest/value ASPECTS : There are no known historical, archaeological or scientific areas or features within the subject land. The area of Round Hill Head, some 12km to the north is the closest historical interest area (refer Section 11).

APPENDIX X THE STUDY GROUP The Study Group comprised the following teams and personnel: STUDY DIRECTOR - MR P.C. HOLLINGSWORTH, B.E., M.I.E.Aust., L.S., STUDY CO-ORDINATOR - MR D.C. LOW CHOY, Geographer, of Peter Hollingsworth, Consulting Engineer. EARTH SUB-SYSTEM Geology and Geomorphology Topography and Earth Resources Soi Is HYDROLOGICAL SUB-SYSTEM Surface Water Groundwater Hydrology ATMOSPHERIC SUB-SYSTEM Climate Noise MR L.G. JOHNSON, B.Sc.(Geo I),A.M.A.I.M.M., Senior Geologist, Mineral Deposits Limited. MR C.O. NEWEY, B.Sc., M.A.I.M.M., Director £ Manager Planning £ Development, Mineral Deposits Limited. MR J.W. LEWIS, M.Sc.(Agr), Company Ecologist, Mineral Deposits Limited. - MR P.C. HOLLINGSWORTH, B.E.,M.I.E.Aust.,L.S Peter Hollingsworth, Consulting Engineer. -MRP. WINCUP, B.Sc.,A.M.A.I.M.M., Groundwater Hydrologist, Layton £ Associates Pty. Ltd., Consulting Mining Engineers and Geologists. MR D.C. LOW CHOY, Geographer, Peter Hollingsworth, Consulting Engineer. Dr N.R. Sheridan, B.E., M.Sc.(Birmingham) Ph.D., M.I.Mech.E., F.I.E.Aust., University of Queensland. Flora Fauna MR J.W. LEWIS, M.Sc.(Agr), Company Ecologist, Mineral Deposits Limited. DR A.K. O'GOWER, M.Sc., Ph.D., retired Associate Professor, School of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, now Principal of Ecological Consulting Services A-80 Land Fabric 8 Community Processes Aspects Socio-Economics - MR D.C. LOW CHOY, Geographer, Peter Hollingsworth, Consulting Engineer. MR D.C. LOW CHOY, Geographer, Peter Hollingsworth, Consulting Engineer. MR G.R.F. GIBSON, B.Econ., Economist, Donald McLeod Consulting Services Pty. Ltd. MR C.O. NEWEY, B.Sc., M.A.I.M.M., Director £ Manager, Planning £ Development, Mineral Deposits Limited. MR J.W. LEWIS, M.Sc.(Agr), Company Ecologist, Mineral Deposits Limited.

3

J 405W 38SW J 36 SW 34 SW 32 SW 30 SW 1 28SW - -J 26 SW J 24SW I 22SW 22SW 20 SW 18SW 16SW 14SW 12SW 10 SW 8SW 6SW 4SW LEGEND 5 Casuarirxa Httoralis 12 Trifytan.ia : auaveolans 6 Banksia aemula. 13 Livistona sp. NO. NAME 7 Acacia cunningharnii 14 Jacksonia scoparia 1 Eucalyptus intermedia 8 Banksia integrifolia 15 Flanchonia careya. 2 Eucalyptus tessellaris 9 Petalostigma pubescens L6 Ficus sp. 3 ■Acacia aulacocarpa 10 Melaleuca quinquenervia. 17 Alphitcmia excelsa 4 Leptospermum attenuatum 11 Eucalyptus.robusta 18 Grevillea banksia CR 5204 MINERAL DEPOSITS LIMITED D&te Amendments E. I. S. ROCKY POI NT VEGETATION CROSS SECTION LINE A Sheet i of 4 Scale H 1' 792 Date ; 6 1 - 75 No= J2- |

34SW 32SW 30 SW I 28SW 26SW 24SW 22SW 20SW 18SW 16 SW 16SW 14SW 12 SW 10SW 8SW 6SW 4SW I2SW LEGEND 5 Casuarzna Izttoralzs 12 Iristania suaveotan s 6 Banksza aemula 13 Livistona sp. NO. NAME 7 Acacia. cunnznghamiz 14 Jaaksonia scoparia 1 Eucalyp tus intermedza 8 Bcmkeia zntegrzfolia 15 Planchonia careya 2 Eucalyptus tes sellar i-s 9 Petalo3tigma pubescens 16 Ei-cus sp. 3 Acacia aulacocarpa 10 Melaleuca quznquenervta 17 Alpkitonia excelsa 4 Leptospermum attenuatun 11 Eucalyptus robusta 18 Grevillea banksza 2NE ate Amendments E. I. S. ROCKY POINT VEGETATION CROSS □SECTION LINE 336 Sheet z of 4 . . V (-600 Seale- H 1792 Date -.6- l 75 NO= |2 - 2 MINERAL DEPOSITS LIMITED

82SW 80SW 78 SW 76SW 74 SW 72SW 70SW 68SW 66SW ' 64 SW 62SW 60SW 58SW 56SW 54SW 52SW 50SW 40 SW LEGEND 5 Casuartna ZuttoraZis 12 Tristanim suaveotans CR 5204 Banks'Ll! aernucia 13 Ltvistcma. sp. 6 NO. NAME -r / Acac-La cunnvngliajnii, 14 Jacksonia scoparia mineral DEPOSITS LIMITED 1 Bucci typ t us i n bertnedici 8 Bariksia -vntegrifol'Ln 15 Plario'honia careya Date Amendments E. I- S. ROCKY POINT 2 Bueadsyptus tcsseZlaris 9 Petatastigma. pubescens 16 Ficus sp. VEGETATION CROSS SECTION AZphitonia exceZsa LINE C 3 Acauta. atiLaaocarpa, 10 MeZaZeuca quinquenervza 17 4 Leptoapermun attenuatum n Euacztyptus robusta 18 Grevittea. banksia Sheet s of 4 Scaled j : yg^Date ; 6 I 75 |no: |2 3

1 L 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 J 66SW 64SW 62SW 60SW 54SW 52 SW 58SW 56 SW 48SW 46SW 44SW 42SW 40 SW 38SW 36SW 34SW LEGEND 5 Casuarina littoralis 12 Tristania suavcolons 6 Banksia aenula. 13 Litiistona sp. NO. NAME Z Acacia cunninghamii 14 Jacksonia scoparia 1 Ezicalyptus intermedia 8 Banksta integrifolia 15 Planohonia careya 2 Eucalyptus tessetlaris 9 Petalostigma pubescens 16 Ficus sp. 3 Acacia au.Zacoca.rpa 10 Melaleuca. quinquenjzrcia 17 Alphitonia excelsa 4 Lepiospcvmum attenuatuM. 11 Eucalyptus robusta 18 Grevillea banksta 32 SW t 30 SW mineral deposits limited Date Amendments E. I. S. ROCKY POINT VEGETATION CROSS SECTION LINE F Sheet 4 of 4 Scale-.HH'^° 2 a | Date: 6 l 75 (no* (2 4