The Granny Smith (GS) mine is located 950 km northeast of Perth and 23 km south of Laverton, Western Australia (Figure 1). The GHG processing site and Landfill (TSF) were constructed in 1989 and commissioned in 1990 respectively. Native Vegetation Solutions (NVS) was commissioned by GSM Mining Company Pty Ltd (GSM) to conduct a exploratory flora and vegetation survey of the proposed fourth cell site (TSF4 - study area) in April 2020.
The study area (approximately 331.62 hectares) lies predominantly on the northern side of the Wallaby Haul Road, with some additional infrastructure also expected on the southern side. Actual disturbance footprints were not defined prior to the study's fieldwork; however, the clearing required within the study area boundary was expected to be less than the total study area and predominantly within the eastern half of the study area. This report will include results of the reconnaissance flora and vegetation survey within the proposed TSF4 study area.
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 2 of 52 Flora and Vegetation Exploration of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020.
O BJECTIVES
G EOLOGY AND V EGETATION
C LIMATE
Temperature
Rainfall
Precipitation is relatively even throughout the year, with major precipitation events occurring between December and March (Figure 3). Prior to the 2020 survey, rainfall in January reached its monthly average, with February and March receiving less than average rainfall (BOM, 2020).
ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY
- P ERSONNEL AND R EPORTING
- P RELIMINARY D ESKTOP S TUDY
- Previous Surveys
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Protected Matters
- Threatened Flora and Communities
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Conservation Reserves
- Vegetation Type, Extent and Status
- Wetlands
- Dieback
- S ITE I NVESTIGATION
- Licenses
- Field Methods
- Post-Field Methods
- Mapping
- IBSA Data Package
- L IMITATIONS
Five main vegetation groups were recorded in the study area and were rated as "good" to "very good". Existing disturbances occurring in the study area included historic access roads, tow roads, and transmission line corridors. The Threatened and Priority Plant Database managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) was searched for threatened and priority plants within a 50 km radial area of the study area.
The Endangered and Priority Ecological Communities (TECs and PECs) database was searched to determine the presence of PECs or TECs with Geographic Information System (GIS) data provided for assessment within a 50 km radial area of the study area. Given the extent and nature of the proposed disturbance as well as the existing disturbance, and that the study area is situated within the Murchison (MUR) IBRA region, a flora and vegetation reconnaissance survey was considered sufficient. Opportunistic sampling of plant taxa and vegetation group mapping was also utilized in the study area between relevant sampling sites via walking traverses.
Vegetation mapping was created using GPS-recorded information in the field, cross-checked with vegetation descriptions produced in the field, overlaid with aerial photographs of the study area.
RESULTS
P RELIMINARY D ESKTOP A SSESSMENT
- EPBC Act Protected Matters
- Threatened Flora and Communities
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Conservation Reserves
- Vegetation Type, Extent and Status
- Wetlands
- Dieback
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 12 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020. The creekline is not registered as a body of water in the CPS Native Vegetation Map Viewer database (DWER, 2020). The study area is south of the 26th parallel, but receives an average annual rainfall of 293.1 mm, below the 400 mm threshold.
Therefore, dieback is not considered a problem for this study area, but all measures should be taken to prevent any potential soil contamination (seeds of non-native species, etc.) posing a risk in the study area during seasonally favorable conditions.
F IELD A SSESSMENT
- Threatened Flora
- Vegetation Type, Extent and Status
- Non-Native Species
- Vegetation Condition
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 14 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020. Five major vegetation groups were recorded in the survey area and are in degraded, good or very good condition (on the Keighery 1994 scale, see Attachment 3). Existing disturbance within the study consists of historical extraction of surface resources, transportation routes, infrastructure corridors, access roads and exploration.
The summary of the vegetation groups within the study area is summarized in Table 3 below. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 16 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020. Open shrub Mallee (Muir, 1977) was dominated by Acacia aneura, Acacia mulganeura, Acacia craspedocarpa, Acacia tetragonophylla, Atriplex bunburyana, Maireana pyramidata, Atriplex vesicaria, Cratystylis subspinescens and Atriplex stipitata.
Shrub Mallee (Muir, 1977) was dominated by Acacia aneura, Acacia masliniana, Acacia mulganeura, Acacia burkittii, Acacia tetragonophylla, Atriplex bunburyana, Atriplex codonocarpa, Maireana pyramidata, Rhagodia eremaea, Scaevola spinescens and Sida sp. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 18 of 52 Exploration of flora and vegetation of proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020. Open shrub Mallee (Muir, 1977) was dominated by Acacia aneura, Acacia craspedocarpa, Acacia mulganeura, Acacia quadrimarginea, Eremophila latrobei subsp.
The open scrub (Muir, 1977) was dominated by Acacia aneura, Acacia masliniana, Acacia mulganeura, Acacia burkittii, Acacia tetragonophylla, Atriplex bunburyana, Atriplex codonocarpa, Maireana pyramidata, Rhagodiaines, and Acacia. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 20 of 52 Proposed TSF4 Reconstruction Flora and Vegetation Survey, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020. This vegetation set consisted of land surface reserves, haul roads, infrastructure corridors, access roads and exploration historical.
Overall, vegetation condition was determined to be "good" with areas affected by historical disturbances in "degraded" condition, while undisturbed areas within the Mulga drainage line were in "very good" condition. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 22 of 52 Discovery Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4 Granny Smith Mine - April 2020.
DISCUSSION
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 24 of 52 Proposed TSF4 Discovery Flora and Vegetation Survey, Granny Smith Mine- April 2020. NVS, (2011), Level 1 Flora and Vegetation Survey- Barrick Granny Smith Discharge Pipeline, Lavertonpar 2 Prev, reported pub 0 Sep 2 for Granny Smith Mine. NVS, (2012), Phyllanthus baeckeoides (P3) Target flora search- August 2012, Unpublished report prepared for Granny Smith Mine and Keith Linbeck and Associates.
NVS, (2014), Targeted Survey of Threatened Flora of GSM Power Station, Unpublished Report Prepared for Granny Smith Mine. NVS, (2017), Targeted Threatened Flora Survey of HV Powerline- April 2017, Unpublished Report prepared for Granny Smith Mine. NVS, (2019), Flora and Vegetation Reconnaissance Survey of Proposed GSM Solar Farm- October 2018, Unpublished Report prepared for GSM Mining Company Pty Ltd.
NVS, (2020), Granny Smith Childe Harold Creek Mine Vegetation Monitoring Impact Study - Phase 6, October 2019, Unpublished report prepared for GSM Mining Company Pty Ltd. Hopkins, (2002), Land Use and Vegetation in Western Australia- National Land and Water Resources Audit Report, Technical Report 250, Western Australian Department of Agriculture.
GLOSSARY
Listed as threatened under section 19(1)(b) of the BC Act in accordance with the criteria set out in section 21 and the ministerial guidelines. Published under schedule 2 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2018 for endangered fauna or the Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice 2018 for endangered flora. Listed as vulnerable under section 19(1)(c) of the BC Act in accordance with the criteria set out in section 22 and the ministerial guidelines.
Published under Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Conservation (Special Protected Fauna) Notification 2018 for Vulnerable Fauna or the Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notification 2018 for Vulnerable Flora. Listed by order of the Minister as extinct in accordance with section 23, subsection of the BC Act. 1, as extinct or extinct in the wild. Species where "there is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died", and listing is otherwise in accordance with the ministerial guidelines (section 24 of the BC Act).
Published as Presumed Extinct under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2018 for Extinct Fauna or the Wildlife Protection (Rare Flora) Notice 2018 for Extinct Flora. Listed by order from the minister as specially protected under § 13, subsection of the BC Act. Meet one or more of the following categories: species of special conservation interest; migratory species; whales; species subject to international agreement; or species that otherwise need special protection.
Migratory species listed under the BC Act are a subset of migratory animals known to visit Western Australia that are protected under international agreements or treaties, excluding species listed as threatened. Listed as protected migratory birds under an international agreement under schedule 5 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notification 2018. Published as Conservation Dependent Fauna under schedule 6 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notification 2018 specially protected) 2018.
Published as Other Specially Protected Fauna under Schedule 7 of the 2018 Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice. Priority code assessment is based on the Western Australian distribution of the species unless distribution in WA is part of a contiguous population extending to contiguous states, as defined by the known distribution of locations.
RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DATABASE SEARCH RESULTS
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 28 of 52 Reconnaissance flora and vegetation survey of proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine- April 2020. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 30 of 52 Reconnaissance flora and vegetation survey of proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine solution, April 20 Native Vegetation Solutions. 32 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020.
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Calytrix praecipua 3 Unlikely, Suitable habitat, however habitat is widely sought Eremophila annosocaulis 3 Unlikely, Suitable habitat, however habitat widely sought Eucalyptus nigrifunda 4 Unlikely, Lack of suitable habitat. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 40 of 52 Proposed TSF4 Native Flora and Vegetation Survey, Granny Smith Mine- April 2020. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 42 of 52 Proposed TSF4 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey, Granny Smith2020.
Native Vegetation Solutions Page 44 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine- April 2020. Native Vegetation Solutions Page 46 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine Solution, April 20 Native Vegetation Solutions. 48 of 52 Reconnaissance Flora and Vegetation Survey of Proposed TSF4, Granny Smith Mine - April 2020.
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