BGC Contracting Pty Ltd (BGC) has been contracted by Main Roads Western Australia (Main Roads WA) to undertake a shoulder reconstruction on sections of the Great Northern Freeway. A search of the Contaminated Site database (Department of Environment and Conservation, 2009a) did not identify any known sites in the vicinity of the project area. The Lissadell Pastoral Lease runs along both sides of the Great Northern Freeway in the proposed Project Areas.
The Bow River bisects the Great Northern Highway approximately 3 km north of the northern project area (SLK) and numerous intermittent streams are present in the region around both project sites (Figure 2). A Department of Water (DoW) Geographic Data Atlas search indicated that the project area is not located within a public drinking water source area according to the government gazette, but within the Canning-Kimberley groundwater area.
Wetlands
BGC will need relevant approvals where dewatering, extraction of groundwater or alteration of stream banks or abstraction of surface water is required. For Alteration of Beds and Banks – 'Application for 5C Permit to Take Surface Water / Application for 11/17/21 A Permit to Alter Beds and Banks / Application for Amendment of a 11/17/21A Permit to Alter Beds and banks' ( Form C).
Reserves and Conservation Areas
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Vegetation
Vegetation Types
Vegetation Association 825: Grasslands, tall grass savanna woodland; cabbage gum & Eucalyptus foelscheana* over upland long grass & curly spinifex on basalt;. Vegetation Society 833: Grasslands, short bush grass savanna sparse low tree; sprinkled spicy gum over dry short grass on plains; and. Eucalyptus foelscheana has been reclassified to Corymbia foelscheana since the naming of this vegetation association.
Vegetation in a Regional Context
Threatened Ecological Communities
Flora
Threatened Flora
Previous Surveys
Weeds
Previous Surveys
GHD (2007) conducted a vegetation and flora survey along the Great Northern Highway, which starts immediately north of the Northern Project Area (SLK) and extends northwards along the highway for about 15 km. A total of 15 weed species were recorded in the GHD survey area. , comprising about 7% of the total number of plant species. In general, weed invasion was observed to be limited to highway edges, disturbed areas such as old leaseholds, and along streams.
Under the ARRP Act, these plants are a statewide “Priority 1” weed, meaning movement of the plants and their seeds is prohibited, and a “Priority 4” weed in the study area, meaning the spread of infestations from the property is must be prevented. In addition, Parkinsonia is listed as one of twenty "Weeds of National Importance" (WONS), meaning it has been identified as a weed that causes significant environmental damage.
Fauna
- Fauna Habitat
- Threatened Fauna
- Migratory Species
- Introduced Species
Annexes to the Bonn Convention (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals) for which Australia is a Range State under the Convention;. The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their. The Bilateral Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Australia to protect migratory shorebirds and their habitat (ROKAMBA); and.
The Protected Matters Search Tool lists 13 migratory species, protected under the EPBC Act, which may occur in the project areas. Many of these migratory species are considered common in Western Australia and do not have special protection under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
Heritage (non-Indigenous)
Aboriginal Heritage
Noise and Vibration
Dust
Visual Amenity
Public Safety and Risk
Vegetation Clearing
DEC’s Ten Clearing Principles
Clearing in Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Potential Impacts
Flora The search of DEC databases revealed no known populations of declared rare flora (DRF) or priority flora within the project areas. However, three priority species have been recorded in the surrounding region, close to the project areas. Given the small amount of reclamation required in each of the project areas (~1.1 ha), large areas of similar vegetation in the surrounding region (~100% of vegetation types remain within the IBRA bioregions), and the absence of DRF found in flora surveys within the surrounding region, the project is unlikely to have a significant impact on any DRF.
Weeds A number of harmful species have been observed in the vicinity of the project areas, particularly along roads. Weed spread will be a problem that will require management during the cleanup and construction phase. While the clearing of vegetation may have a direct impact on wildlife, the project is unlikely to have a significant impact on the biodiversity value at the level of species and ecosystems in the region.
No World Heritage properties or European Heritage sites of significance are present in the project areas. During the construction phase of the proposed works, activities may cause damage. It is considered that these can be adequately managed under a project-specific Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) (refer to Section 6, Recommendation 6).
Given the remote location of the Project Areas, the potential for construction noise and vibration to cause significant impacts is considered minimal. Visual amenity While the proposed works and vegetation clearance will affect visual amenity, this aspect is not considered to be significant given that most of the project area is unpopulated and the impact will be temporary. Implementation of traffic management and signage to major road standards will be necessary to manage these risks throughout the implementation of the Project.
Recommendations and Approvals Required
Report Limitations
Department for Environment, Water, Cultural Heritage and Art (2009a) Act on environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity Protected Matters Search Tool. GHD (2007) Report for the Great Northern Highway Reconstruction Projects: Bow Reconstruction Projects – Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (Doc. Honolulu Zoo (2009) Radjah Shelduck available online at http://www.honoluluzoo.org/radjah_shelduck.htm at [11/05/09].
DRAF
Flowering Time 1
Taxa that are not considered threatened, but are subject to a special conservation program, the termination of which would result in the species being threatened within five years. The Burdekin Duck is found in the coastal tropics of northern Australia from the Fitzroy River in Western Australia to Northern Queensland (Honolulu Zoo 2009). The global population is thought to be stable and the species is considered to be of least concern on the ICUN Red List (Birdlife International 2008c).
Their distribution is widespread in northern areas particularly in the Pilbara and Kimberley (Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2009b). Vulnerable Priority 4 This species is found along waterways within the Kimberley and east to the lower reaches of the Victoria River in the Northern Territory. The species was found in searches of the DEC database for the region, however it was not recorded in the EPBCA Protected Matter Search for the area.
The species is unlikely to occur in the Project Areas due to the lack of suitable habitat. The species is unlikely to sustain populations in the immediate project area due to the lack of suitable habitat. The species has been recorded from the Bow River, north of the Project Areas (GHD, 2007).
In the Ord River catchment it is believed to be confined to the main Ord channel below Kununurra Dam and in the Pentecost River. Due to the lack of suitable habitat, it is unlikely to occur in the project areas. Information about the coverage of this report and qualifications regarding the data supporting this report is contained in the caveat at the end of the report.
Summary
EPBC Act Protected Matters Report 11 May This report provides general guidance on matters of national environmental importance and other matters protected by the EPBC Act in the area you have selected. You may want to print this report for reference before moving on to other sites or websites. The Australian Natural Resources Atlas at http://www.environment.gov.au/atlas can provide further environmental information relevant to your chosen area.
Information about the EPBC Act, including guidelines for meaning, forms and application process details can be found at.
Matters of National Environmental Significance
This report provides general guidance on matters of national environmental interest and other matters protected by the EPBC Act in the area you have selected. If you propose to undertake an activity that may have a significant impact on one or more matters of national environmental importance, you should consider the Administrative Guidelines on Significance - see.
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act
Extra Information
Details
Caveat
Acknowledgments
The copyright in the information contained herein is and remains the property of the State of Western Australia. Sites submitted to the Department are assessed under the direction of the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites. Copyright in base map information shall at all times remain the property of the Commonwealth of Australia, Geoscience Australia - National Mapping Division.
This project is not considered to be inconsistent with this clearing principle given the desk information available, especially given the extent of vegetation in the IBRA region (see Table 3). Method Desktop assessment of available information, including the EBPC Act 1999 Protected Matters Search Tool and DEC database search near the project site. Comments This project is not considered to be inconsistent with this clearance principle given the available desktop information, including the remaining extent of the regional vegetation associations.
The results of a search of DEC's Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) database and the EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool concluded that no TECs have previously been recorded in the project area. Method Desktop assessment of available information, including DEC database search near the Study Area. e) Local vegetation should not be cleared if it is significant as a remnant of native vegetation in an area that has been extensively cleared. Comments This project is not considered to be potentially in conflict with this clearing principle given the remaining extent of the regional vegetation associations.
Shepherd (2005) finds that none of the vegetation associations in the project area are below the EPA threshold of 30% and in fact all are recorded at 100% of pre-European vegetation size. Methodology Desktop evaluation of available information. g) Native vegetation should not be felled if the clearing of vegetation is likely to cause significant soil degradation. Only a nominal amount of vegetation will be removed as part of the proposed project and is unlikely to be of a sufficient magnitude to result in significant soil degradation.
Native vegetation should not be cleared if the clearing of vegetation is likely to have an impact on the environmental values of any adjacent or nearby conservation areas. Methodology Desktop evaluation of available information. i) Native vegetation should not be cleared if the clearing of vegetation is likely to cause deterioration of surface or ground water quality.
