agrimin mackay project level 1 fauna and single … · level 1 terrestrial vertebrate fauna, level...

JANUARY 2017

AGRIMIN

MACKAY PROJECT

LEVEL 1 FAUNA AND SINGLE PHASE LEVEL 2 FLORA ASSESSMENT

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Mackay Project Level 1 Fauna and Single-phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment

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Document Status

Rev. Author(s) Reviewer Date Approved for Issue

Name Distributed To Date

0 A. Craigie, T. Moyle S. Grein 23/12/2016 S. Grein M. Savich 23/12/2016

1 A. Craigie, S.Grein S. Grein 23/01/2017 S. Grein M. Savich 23/01/2017

ecologia Environment (2017). Reproduction of this report in whole or in part by electronic, mechanical or chemical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, in any language, is strictly prohibited without the express approval of Agrimin

ecologia Environment 45 Gladstone Street East Perth WA 6004 Phone: 08 6168 7200 Email: [email protected]

http://www.ecologia.com.au/


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 1

1.2 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................... 1

1.3 SURVEY OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................. 6

2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................. 8

2.1 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................................... 8

2.2 BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION ......................................................................................................... 9

2.3 GEOLOGY AND LANDFORMS...................................................................................................11

2.4 SOILS .......................................................................................................................................13

2.5 REGIONAL VEGETATION ..........................................................................................................15

2.6 PREVIOUS SURVEYS AT THE STUDY AREA ...............................................................................15

3 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 20

3.1 DATABASE SEARCHES ..............................................................................................................20

3.2 POTENTIAL CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT VERTEBRATE FAUNA ............................................25

3.3 FLORA AND VEGETATION ........................................................................................................27

3.4 FIELD ASSESSMENT – LEVEL 1 FAUNA SURVEYS .....................................................................33

3.5 FAUNA HABITAT MAPPING .....................................................................................................34

3.6 STUDY TEAM AND LICENCES ...................................................................................................35

3.7 ANIMAL ETHICS .......................................................................................................................35

4 DATABASE RESULTS ........................................................................................................ 37

4.1 SIGNIFICANT FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES .................................................37

4.2 INTRODUCED FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES ................................................37

4.3 SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION COMMUNITY RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES ................37

4.4 INTRODUCED FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES ................................................37

4.5 SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION COMMUNITY RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES ................37

4.6 FAUNA RECORDS FROM PREVIOUS SURVEYS AND DATABASE SEARCHES .............................40

5 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 41

5.1 FLORA ......................................................................................................................................41

5.2 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT - FLORA ...........................................................53

5.3 VEGETATION ...........................................................................................................................54

5.4 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT - VEGETATION ................................................59

5.5 FAUNA .................................................................................................................................. 105

5.6 FAUNA HABITATS ................................................................................................................. 105



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5.7 FAUNA ASSEMBLAGES ......................................................................................................... 108

5.8 FLORA SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS ............................................................... 112

5.9 FAUNA SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS .............................................................. 113

6 DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 115

6.1 FLORA ................................................................................................................................... 115

6.3 FAUNA .................................................................................................................................. 118

7 CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................. 125

7.1 FLORA AND VEGETATION ..................................................................................................... 125

7.2 FAUNA .................................................................................................................................. 125

9 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 127



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TABLES Table 2-1 – Geology at the study area ...................................................................................................11

Table 2-2 – Soils at the study area .........................................................................................................13

Table 2-3 – Shepherd and Beard vegetation at the study area .............................................................15

Table 2-4 – Flora, vegetation and fauna surveys conducted in the vicinity of the study area ..............17

Table 2-5 – Lake Mackay (Theseus Project) vegetation communities (Outback Ecology 2012a) ..........18

Table 2-6 – Lake Mackay (Theseus Project) fauna habitat (Outback Ecology 2012b) ...........................18

Table 3-1 – Criteria used to assess likelihood of occurrence of significant flora ...................................22

Table 3-2 – Control categories for Declared Pests .................................................................................24

Table 3-3 – Fauna likelihood of occurrence categories ..........................................................................26

Table 3-4 – Vegetation condition scale (Trudgen 1991) ........................................................................31

Table 3-5 – Habitat condition assessment .............................................................................................35

Table 3-6 – Study team and licences ......................................................................................................35

Table 4-1 – Significant flora records from database and desktop searches and likelihood of occurrence .........................................................................................................................38

Table 4-2 – Previous fauna records ........................................................................................................40

Table 4-3 – Significant species recorded from the database searches ..................................................40

Table 5-1 –Floristic summary for the study area ...................................................................................41

Table 5-2 – Most diverse families and genera at the study area ...........................................................41

Table 5-3 – Priority Flora recorded during the survey ...........................................................................44

Table 5-4 – Records representing bioregional range extensions ...........................................................48

Table 5-5 – Records representing significant range extensions (> approx. 100 km) .............................49

Table 5-6 – Locations of Introduced Flora (WGS84 UTM Zone 52) ........................................................51

Table 5-7 – DPaW environmental risk assessment status .....................................................................51

Table 5-8 – Vegetation units recorded within the study area ...............................................................61

Table 5-9 – Local conservation significance of vegetation types at the study area ...............................64

Table 5-10 – Vegetation types at the study area ...................................................................................66

Table 5-11 – Summary of broad fauna habitats in study area ............................................................ 105

Table 5-12 – Flora and vegetation survey limitations ......................................................................... 112

Table 6-1 – Significant fauna and the likelihood of occurrence at the study area. ............................. 118



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FIGURES Figure 1.1 – The Mackay Project study area ............................................................................................ 2

Figure 1.2 – Regional location of the study area ...................................................................................... 3

Figure 1.3 – Indicative disturbance footprint ........................................................................................... 4

Figure 1.4 – Proposed camp access track (50 m buffer) .......................................................................... 5

Figure 2.1 – Rainfall and temperature data for Walungurru Airport ....................................................... 8

Figure 2.2 – Location of the Study Area within the Great Sandy Desert bioregion ...............................10

Figure 2.3 – Geology of the study area ..................................................................................................12

Figure 2.4 – Soils of the study area ........................................................................................................14

Figure 2.5 – Beard vegetation mapped at the study area ......................................................................16

Figure 3.1 – Study area buffers used for database searches. ................................................................21

Figure 3.2 – Quadrat and Mapping Point Locations ...............................................................................29

Figure 4.1 – Significant flora records from DPaW databases .................................................................39

Figure 5.1 – Estimated number of species (Chao 2 Mean) based on 50 x 50 m quadrat data with upper and lower 95% confidence bounds (dashed lines) ............................................................43

Figure 5.2 – Estimated number of species (Chao 2 Mean) based on 3 x 3 m quadrat data with upper and lower 95% confidence bounds (dashed lines) ............................................................43

Figure 5.3 – Tecticornia globulifera ........................................................................................................45

Figure 5.4 – Goodenia virgata ................................................................................................................45

Figure 5.5 – Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) .....................................................46

Figure 5.6 – Stackhousia clementii .........................................................................................................46

Figure 5.7 – Representative habitat photo (Quadrat 65) for Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9] ..........................................................................................................................47

Figure 5.8 – Specimen of Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9] .........................................47

Figure 5.9 – Significant flora locations ...................................................................................................50

Figure 5.10 – *Malvastrum americanum ...............................................................................................51

Figure 5.11 – *Malvastrum americanum location .................................................................................52

Figure 5.12 – Floristic dendrogram from 50 m x 50 m quadrat data .....................................................56

Figure 5.13 – Floristic dendrogram from 3 m x 3 m quadrat data .........................................................58

Figure 5.14 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – Page Index ....................................................87

Figure 5.15 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – A3 ..................................................................88

Figure 5.16 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – A4 ..................................................................89

Figure 5.17 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – B1 ..................................................................90






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Figure 5.21 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – C1 ..................................................................94




Figure 5.25 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – D1 .................................................................98

Figure 5.26 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – D2 .................................................................99

Figure 5.27 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – D3 .............................................................. 100

Figure 5.28 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – D4 .............................................................. 101

Figure 5.29 – Vegetation complexes at the study area – E2 ............................................................... 102

Figure 5.30 – Vegetation types within the indicative disturbance area ............................................. 103

Figure 5.31 – Local extent of vegetation type AdEgTb ........................................................................ 104

Figure 5.32 – Significant Fauna locations ............................................................................................ 111

APPENDICES

Appendix A Conservation Codes ........................................................................................................ 130

Appendix B Fauna recorded during the database searches and current survey ............................... 135

Appendix C Flora Species List ............................................................................................................. 150

Appendix D Conservation Significant Flora Locations ........................................................................ 156

Appendix E Significant fauna coordinates .......................................................................................... 157

Appendix F Quadrat Site Data ........................................................................................................... 158



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ACRONYMS BAM Act Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

BOM Bureau of Meteorology

BIF Banded Ironstone Formation

CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management (now DPaW and DER)

CAMBA China – Australia Migratory Bird Agreement

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation (now DPaW)

DER Department of Environmental Regulation

DoEE Department of the Environment and Energy (Previously DSEWPaC)

DPaW Department of Parks and Wildlife

DSEWPaC Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (now DoEE)

EPA Environment Protection Authority

EP Act Environment Protection Act 1986

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

ESCAVI Executive Steering Committee for Australian Vegetation Information

IA International Agreement

IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia

ICE Incidence-based Coverage Estimators

IPA Indigenous Protected Area

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

NVIS National Vegetation Information System

PEC Priority Ecological Community

ROKAMBA Republic of Korea – Australia Migratory Bird Agreement

SAC Species accumulation curve

TEC Threatened Ecological Community

TO Traditional Owners

TPFL Threatened and Priority Flora database

TPFR Threatened and Priority Flora Report form

TP List Threatened and Priority Flora List

WA Western Australia

WAHERB Western Australian Herbarium Specimen Database

WAOL Western Australian Organism List

WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950



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WONS Weeds of National Significance



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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Agrimin Limited (Agrimin) proposes to develop the Mackay Sulphate of Potash Project (the Mackay Project), located at Lake Mackay on the Western Australia-Northern Territory Border. The Mackay Project currently holds five exploration licenses on the Western Australian side of Lake Mackay and one exploration licence application on the Northern Territory side.

Level 1 Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna, Level 1 Short-range Endemic (SRE) Invertebrate Fauna and First-phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation surveys were conducted to obtain preliminary data to support environmental approvals for the Mackay Project.

Flora and Vegetation

A total of 214 sub-generic vascular plant taxa belonging to 44 families and 115 genera were recorded at the study area. Of these, 22% were annual or short-lived perennial species. Species richness within 50 x 50 m quadrats at the study area ranged from eight to 48 taxa, with a mean species richness of 20.9.

No EPBC Act listed or WC Act listed Threatened Flora taxa were recorded at the study area; however, four Priority Flora taxa were recorded: Tecticornia globulifera (P1), Goodenia virgata (P2), Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2), and Stackousia clementii (P3). Of these, Tecticornia globulifera and Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964), are considered to be of high regional and local signficance. Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9], a potentially novel and conservation significant taxon, was recorded from dune swales. No conservation significant or novel plant species were recorded within the indicative disturbance area.

No Weeds of National Significance (WONS) or Declared Pests (weeds) were recorded at the study area. One environmental weed species, *Malvastrum americanum, was recorded from a single location. This species is considered pose a high potential environmental risk at the study area, but is currently in low abundance.

A total of 18 floristic-based vegetation types were described within the study area from 50 m x 50 m quadrat data, in addition to three transitional vegetation units occurring on the lake margin. Of these, four were considered to be of potential local significance. No TECs or PECs were recorded within the study area. Three vegetation types were recorded within the indicative disturbance area, and these are well represented elsewhere within the broader study area, and not considered to be locally significant. One vegetation type occurring within the proposed access track envelope is considered to be of potential local significance as it supports the regionally significant taxon, Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964). However, this vegetation type appears to be well represented outside indicative disturbance envelope.

There was little to no significant disturbance to vegetation within the study area. The most notable disturbance factors were well-established vehicle tracks, minimal localised clearing, and grazing by camels. The impact on vegetation by grazing was minimal where it was observed. Large portions of the study area had been recently burned (within 1-2 years), but were regenerating normally.

Fauna

A Level 1 vertebrate fauna assessment was completed in conjunction with the flora and vegetation assessment. A non-systematic sampling method, including diurnal active searches and camera trapping was conducted as well as targeted searches for potential conservation significant fauna species.

The literature review identified a total of 201 fauna species potentially occurring in the study area. This includes 33 native and six introduced mammal species, 111 bird species, 51 reptiles and one amphibian species. Of the potential species recorded in the literature review, 26 are of conservation significance, comprising 14 mammal, 11 bird and one reptile species.



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Six broad fauna habitat types were identified within the study area; Sandplains, Saline Flats, Dunefields, Samphire, Mulga Woodlands and Stony Rise. In general, Sandplain, Dunefields and Mulga Woodland habitats are considered locally significant due their potential to support local conservation significant fauna.

A total of 57 fauna species were recorded from the study area from direct sightings and indirect evidence such as scats, tracks and calls. These included 11 mammal, 35 bird and 11 reptile species. Two species of conservation significance were recorded from the study area during the current survey: • Rainbow Bee-eater (EPBC Act Migratory, WC Act Schedule 5); and • Northern Marsupial Mole (DPaW Priority 4).

Six additional significant fauna species records were determined from the literature review as having a high likelihood of occurrence within the study area. These included the Greater Bilby, Brush-tailed Mulgara, Great Desert Skink, Oriental Plover, Princess Parrot and the Striated Grasswren with a further two having a medium likelihood of occurrence (Fork-tailed Swift, Eastern Great Egret).



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Mackay Project Level 1 Fauna and single phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

Agrimin Limited (Agrimin) proposes to develop the Mackay Sulphate of Potash Project (the Mackay Project), located at Lake Mackay in the Great Sandy Desert on the Western Australia-Northern Territory Border. The Mackay Project currently holds five exploration licenses on the Western Australian side of Lake Mackay and one exploration licence application on the Northern Territory side.

Agrimin commissioned ecologia to conduct a Level 1 Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna and single-phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment of its Western Australian tenements (the Assessment), in order to obtain preliminary data to support environmental approvals for the Mackay Project. The area to be assessed was approximately 400,138 ha in size (the study area; Figure 1-1). The study area does not include exploration licence application area ELA 30651 on the Northern Territory side of Lake Mackay.

An indicative disturbance footprint for the vegetated lake margin is shown in Figure 1-3, which comprises 11.3 ha (0.002%) of the total study area, with a proposed camp access track alignment (based on width of 50 m) is shown in Figure 1-4, encompassing 402 ha (0.1%) of the total study area.

1.2 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

1.2.1 Guiding Principles

The surveys were designed to comply with Level 2 (flora and vegetation) and Level 1 (fauna) guidelines as described in the following documents:

Flora and Vegetation • Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Guidance Statement No. 51: Terrestrial Flora and

Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2004a); • EPA Position Statement No. 3: Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity

Protection (EPA 2002a); • Technical Guide– Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment (EPA &

DPaW 2015).

Fauna • EPA Guidance Statement No. 56: Terrestrial Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact

Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2002b); • Technical Guide – Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment

(EPA and DEC 2010); • Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Mammals (DSEWPaC 2011b); • Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Bats (DSEWPaC 2011a); • Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Birds (DSEWPaC 2010); and • Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Reptiles (DSEWPaC 2011c).


E 80/4888

E 80/4890 E 80/4887

E 80/4889

E 80/4893

E 80/4995

L 80/87

420000 450000 480000747

0000

75000

00753

0000

75600

00

Drawn: MYScale:Datum: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 52

Figure: 1.1Project ID: 1677Date: 14/07/16

0 1.5 3Kilometres

Agrimin - Mackay ProjectFlora and Fauna Survey 2016

Study Area1:450,000

A4K

Study AreaAgrimin TenementState Border

WA NT

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!( !(

!(

!(

!(

Derby

Wyndham

Bililuna

Katherine

Kununurra

Halls Creek

Alice Springs

Fitzroy Crossing

Yulara

Kiwirkurra

Kunawaritji

124 128 132-28

-24-20

-16

Drawn: MYScale:Datum: GDA 1994


0 25 50Kilometres


Regional Location1:6,500,000

A4K

Study AreaState BorderMajor RoadOther Road

!( Locality

!(

!(

!(

Perth

Darwin

Adelaide

NTSA

WA

440000 480000748

0000

75200

00756

0000

Drawn: ACScale:Datum: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 52


0 1 2Kilometres

Indicative disturbance footprint

1:345,143A4K

LegendStudy areaIndicative disturbance footprint

440000 450000 460000745

0000

74600

00747

0000

74800

00749

0000



0 0.6 1.2Kilometres

Camp access trackalignment (50 m buffer)

1:156,341A4K

LegendCamp Access AlignmentStudy area


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1.3 SURVEY OBJECTIVES

The Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) objectives with regard to the management of native flora, fauna and vegetation are to: • Avoid adverse impacts on biological diversity comprising the different plants and animals and

the ecosystems they form, at the levels of genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; • Maintain the abundance, species diversity, geographic distribution and productivity of

vegetation communities; • Protect Threatened Flora and Fauna consistent with the provisions of the WC Act; and • Protect other flora and fauna species of conservation significance.

The primary objective of this flora and fauna assessment is to provide sufficient information to the EPA to assess the impact of the proposed development on the flora, vegetation and fauna of the study area, thereby ensuring that the EPA objectives will be upheld.

Specifically providing: • A review of background information (including existing environment review and database

searches); • An inventory of flora and fauna species observed at the study area; • An inventory and a map of species of conservation significance recorded or likely to occur

within the study area and surrounds; • An inventory and a map of introduced flora species recorded at the study area; • An inventory of vegetation types and flora and fauna species occurring at the study area,

incorporating recent published and unpublished records; • A map and detailed description of vegetation units (to National Vegetation Information

Systems (NVIS) Level V: Association) occurring in the study area and an assessment of which vegetation units potentially represent TEC or PECs;

• A map and detailed description of fauna habitats at the study area; • A map of the vegetation condition and discussion on the type of disturbances encountered; • An appraisal of the current knowledge base for the area, including a review of previous surveys

conducted in the area relevant to the current study; and • A review of significance, including the conservation status, of species recorded at the study

area.



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2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

2.1 CLIMATE

The Study Area is located in the Great Sandy Desert bioregion of Western Australia. The Great Sandy Desert experiences an arid tropical climate in the north, grading into a temperate-subtropical climate in the south, where it experiences dry conditions with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is generally variable and unpredictable, but occurs typically in summer in the north or in summer or winter where the study area is situated in the south (Tille 2006).

The nearest Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) station for which long term and current rainfall data is available is the Walungurru Airport (Site No. 15664), approximately 80 km south-east of the southern boundary Study Area. The Walungurru Airport station receives a mean annual rainfall of 254.2 mm with most rain falling between December (mean rainfall 44.3 mm) and March (mean rainfall 49.6 mm) (BoM 2016). Mean daily maximum temperatures range from 23.2°C in June to 39.6°C in January (BoM 2016). These data demonstrate a typical southern GSD temperate-subtropical climate, with hot summers with high rainfall, and mild winters.

2.1.1 Rainfall Prior to the Field Survey

Rainfall and temperature data from Walungurru Airport are shown in Figure 2-1 (BoM 2016). The current survey was conducted from 6-13 September 2016, immediately following a higher than average rainfall period in August. Much higher average rainfall was recorded in May and June 2016.

Figure 2.1 – Rainfall and temperature data for Walungurru Airport

0

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45

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Tem

pera

tire

(°C)

Aver

age

Rain

fall

(mm

)

Mean Rainfall 2016 (mm) Mean Rainfall (all recorded years) (mm)

Mean Max Temperature 2016 (°C) Mean Max Temp (all recorded years) (°C)



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2.2 BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION

The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) classifies the Australian continent into regions or bioregions of similar geology, landform, vegetation, fauna and climate characteristics (DSEWPaC (2012a). The study area lies within the Great Sandy Desert (GSD) bioregion (IBRA v.7) (Figure 2-2). The GSD bioregion comprises six subregions, two of which occur in Western Australia: GSD1 (McLarty subregion) and GSD2 (Mackay subregion). The GSD bioregion lies within the broader Sandy Desert Region described by Tille (2006), generally dominated by sandplains and dunefields.

The study area is situated entirely within the Mackay subregion (GSD2), which has an arid tropical climate with summer rainfall, and can be described broadly as inland ‘red-centre’ desert (Kendrick 2001). Red longitudinal sand dunes overlying Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstone support hummock grasslands (Triodia pungens and T. schinzii) with scattered trees of Bloodwoods (Corymbia spp.) and Native Walnut (Owenia reticulata) in addition to scattered shrubs (Acacia spp. and Grevillea spp.) (Kendrick 2001). Desert Oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana) woodland occurs in the southern sections, Gently undulating lateritised uplands support Acacia pachycarpa shrublands and Triodia schinzii hummock grasslands (Kendrick 2001). Calcrete and evaporate surfaces are associated with occluded paleo-drainage systems and include extensive salt lake chains supporting low samphire (Tecticornia spp.) shrublands and Melaleuca shrublands (Kendrick 2001). The subregional area for Mackay is 18,636,595 ha. In Western Australia, the Mackay subregion contains one Wetland of National Significance, Rudall River which drains into Lake Dora and supports riparian zone vegetation and near permanent wetlands along its course, and is threatened by feral animals (camels) and weeds (Buffel Grass). In addition, five broadly categorised wetlands of subregional significance are recognised (Kendrick 2001):

• minor springs wetlands of Percival Lakes;

• minor spring wetlands of other lake systems;

• soaks excavated by Aboriginal people, now no longer maintained;

• salt lakes throughout the region; and

• groundwater associated with calcrete deposits along paleo-drainage lines.


Tanami

Great Sandy Desert

Pilbara

Finke

Gibson Desert

Gascoyne

Murchison

Little Sandy Desert

Central Ranges

Dampierland

Burt Plain

Great Victoria Desert

Ord Victoria Plain

Central Kimberley Sturt Plateau

MacDonnell Ranges

Stony Plains

Stony Plains

Central Ranges

Davenport Murchison Ranges

Sturt Plateau

Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields

-2000000

Drawn: acScale:Datum: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 52

Figure: 2.2Project ID: 1667Date: 31.8.16

K0 40 80

Kilometres

Location of the study area within the Great Sandy Desert bioregion1:5,811,659

A4

LegendStudy area

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!(

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Perth

Darwin

Adelaide

Mackay Project Level 1 Fauna and First-phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment

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2.3 GEOLOGY AND LANDFORMS

The Canning Province, which incorporates most of the Great Sandy Desert bioregion, is situated over phanerozoic sedimentary rocks of the Canning Basin (Tille 2006). The inland landforms of the Great Sandy Desert are predominantly east to west running linear dunes with swales opening locally onto sandplains. Some undulating plains and uplands occur. Among the dunes are areas of small claypans and isolated residual sandstone hills, as well as areas of “ironstone gravels and some breakaways capped by laterite duricrust” (Tille 2006).

Five geological units have been mapped at the study area as part of the Geological Series of Western Australia. These are presented in Table 2-1 and mapped in Figure 2-3. Units Cz, Np, and P are widespread across the GSD bioregion, while units P and pPm are more localised in the east.

Table 2-1 – Geology at the study area Geological

code Lithology association Area in study area (ha)

& proportion (%) Area mapped in the

GSD (ha) % total extent at the

Study Area*

Cz Sedimentary rocks 348338 (14.29%) 20645766.12 1.69%

nP Sedimentary rocks 3832.62 (28.57%) 1497731.841 0.26%

P Sedimentary rocks 20878.8 (14.29%) 2537116.701 0.82%

pP Sedimentary rocks 23502.68 (28.57%) 367367.98 6.40%

pPm Amphibolite-facies metamorphics 3580.51 (14.29%) 209295.873 1.71%

*For the Great Sandy Desert IBRA region in Western Australia


Cz

pP

pPm

P

nP

nP

nP

nP

pP

nPpPm

nP

P

Pz

mPg

mPg

pPm

mPg

pPx

pP

440000 480000748

0000

75200

00756

0000



0 1.5 3Kilometres

Geology of the study area

1:450,519A4K

Study areaLake bed

GeologyCzPPzmPgnPpPpPmpPx


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2.4 SOILS

Dominant soils of the Great Sandy Desert dunefields and sandplains are red deep sands and red sandy earths, with some red loamy earths and shallow gravels in depressions between dunes (Tille 2006). Hilly areas typically comprise “red loamy earths, with red shallow loams, red shallow sands, stony soils and shallow gravels” (Tille 2006).

Four soils units have been mapped within the study area using the Digital Atlas of Australian Soils (Northcote et al. 1960-1968). These are described in Table 2-2 and mapped in Figure 2-4. Soil unit AB39 is widespread across the GSD, and AB55, AB56, and SV12 are more localised in the east. The study area encompasses a large portion of the SV12 unit (41%).

Table 2-2 – Soils at the study area

Soil code

Description Area in study area (ha) &

proportion (%)

Area mapped in the GSD (ha)

% total extent at the study area*

AB39 Gently undulating plain dominated by longitudinal dunes of varying frequency; some exposures of ironstone gravels on low rises occur in the dune swales

3266.38 (0.82%) 2585491 0.13%

AB55 Broad, very gently undulating upland (tableland) elevated above adjacent dune fields; some low laterite-capped residuals showing exposures of sedimentary rocks

91.2132 (0.02%) 538877.3 0.02%

AB56 Plains extensively covered with longitudinal dunes; some hilly residuals with rock outcrops 74287.7 (18.57%) 479396 15.5%

SV12 Plains studded with salt pans, seasonal lakes 322490 (80.6%) 784094.4 41.13%

*For the Great Sandy Desert IBRA region in Western Australia


SV12

AB56

AB55

AB39

AB55

B41

BA5BA5

BA20

My110BA20

AB53 BA5BB17

BA20

AB53

BA20

440000 480000748

0000

75200

00756

0000



0 1.5 3Kilometres

Soils at the study area

1:450,519A4K

Study areaLake bed

Soil UnitAB39AB53AB55AB56B41BA20BA5BB17My110SV12


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2.5 REGIONAL VEGETATION

The vegetation of Western Australia was mapped at the 1:1,000,000 scale by Beard (1976), and was subsequently reinterpreted and updated to reflect the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) standards (Shepherd et al. 2001).

Five vegetation associations have been mapped using these data at the study area, which are described in Table 2-3 and shown in Figure 2-5. Of these, association 125 (bare areas; salt lakes) is the most common (63.5%), followed by association 134 (mosaic: hummock grassland) (22.3%). Although the study area comprises 35.9% of the total extent of association 125 in the GSD, it is primarily bare salt lakes will little or no vegetation. Unit 2041 is also extensive within the study area, which contains 15.2% of its total extent in the GSD. This unit comprises succulent (mainly Tecticornia spp.) steppes with scrub (Melaleuca spp. and Acacia spp.) over salt flats. Vegetation association 134 is widespread across the bioregion, with 0.65% of its total extent within the study area, and associations 174 and 219 are more localised in the east, but are not well represented within the study area (Table 2-3).

Table 2-3 – Shepherd and Beard vegetation at the study area Association (Shepherd et al. 2001)

Vegetation (Beard 1976) Area in study area (ha) & proportion (%)

Area mapped in the GSD (ha) % total extent at

the study area*

125 Bare areas; salt lakes 253999 (63.48%) 711564.99 35.90%

134

Mosaic: Hummock grasslands, open low tree steppe; desert bloodwood and feathertop spinifex on sandhills / Hummock grasslands, shrub steppe; mixed shrubs over spinifex between sandhills

89371.5 (22.34%) 19282726.53 0.65%

174 Hummock grasslands, shrub steppe; mixed shrubs over soft spinifex 96.887 (0.02%) 1546029.17 0.01%

219 Hummock grasslands, grass steppe; soft & hard spinifex & Triodia basedowii 1.1789 (<0.01%) 36936.02 <0.01%

2041 Succulent steppe with scrub; teatree over saltflats 56672.07 (14.16%) 374315.25 15.22%

*For the Great Sandy Desert IBRA region in Western Australia. Note that their entirety of the GSD has not been mapped.

2.6 PREVIOUS SURVEYS AT THE STUDY AREA

Two flora and fauna assessments have been previously conducted within the current study area, and are summarised in Table 2-4. These include:

• Outback Ecology (2012a): Theseus Project – Level 1 Flora and Vegetation Assessment; • Outback Ecology (2012b): Theseus Project – Level 1 Terrestrial Fauna Assessment; • Desert Wildlife Services (2012): Kiwirrkura Threatened Species Survey 2012 ; and • Desert Wildlife Services (2010): Biological Resources of the Kiwirrkura Region.


134

125

174

2041

39

219

117

440000 480000748

0000

75200

00756

0000



0 1.5 3Kilometres

Vegetation associationsat the study area

1:450,519A4K

Study areaVegetation Association

391171251341742192041

Mackay Project Mackay Project Level 1 Fauna and Single-phase Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Assessment

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Table 2-4 – Flora, vegetation and fauna surveys conducted in the vicinity of the study area

Project area, hectares surveyed and reference

Survey type, effort and timing

Location to study area Number of taxa

Number of taxa per ha

Conservation significant species Weeds Vegetation

communities/fauna habitats

Conservation significant

communities

Theseus Project – Lake Mackay (5,366 ha)

(Outback Ecology

2012a)

Level 1 Flora and Vegetation

Assessment (9 quadrats, 11 relevés),

June 2012)

Within the southern

boundary of the study

area

Taxa below genus level: 141

Genera: 82 Families: 35

0.03 Goodenia anfracta (P1), recorded 1 km from the study area

None, although Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) noted as

occurring at Kiwirrkura.

7 (Table 2-5)

None

Theseus Project – Lake Mackay (5,366 ha)

(Outback Ecology

2012b)

Level 1 Terrestrial Fauna Assessment,

June 2012

Within the southern

boundary of the study

area

Species: 52 Mammals: 15

Birds: 23 Reptiles: 14

0.01 Evidence of Northern Marsupial

Mole (Notoryctes caurinus), Brush-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi)

n/a 4

(Table 2-6) n/a

Kiwirrkura Threatened Species Survey: Kiwirrkura IPA (45,867km2)

Desert Wildlife Services

(2012)

Traditional owner fauna survey

Covers the Lake Mackay

study area

Species:4 Mammals: 3

Birds: 1 N/A

Brush-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi)

Evidence of Northern Marsupial Mole (Notoryctes caurinus)

Evidence of Bilby (burrow system) ~40km northwest of Lake Mackay)

n/a n/a n/a

Biological Resources of the Kiwirrkura Region

45,867m2)

Desert Wildlife Services (2010)

Traditional owner survey

Covers the Lake Mackay

study area

Flora:117 Fauna

Species:117 Mammals: 10 Reptiles: 47

Amphibians: 3 Birds: 57

N/A

Goodenia virgata (Priority 2), Goodenia modesta (Priority 3) and

Dampiera atriplicina (Priority 3).

n/a n/a n/a



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Table 2-5 – Lake Mackay (Theseus Project) vegetation communities (Outback Ecology 2012a)

Unit Description Conservation significant

VC1 Corymbia chippendalei Low Open Woodland over Newcastelia spodiotricha and Dicrastylis doranii (Low) Open Shrubland over Triodia schinzii Open Grassland or Aristida holathera and Paractaenum refractum Scattered Tussock Grasses No

VC2 Senna notabilis, Senna artemisioides, ± Acacia adsurgens, ± Acacia ancistrocarpa, ± Carissa lanceolata Low Open Shrubland (± Eucalyptus gamophylla Scattered Shrub Mallee) over Triodia basedowii and/or Triodia schinzii (Very Open) Hummock Grassland No

VC3 Eucalyptus victrix Low Open Woodland over Melaleuca glomerata, Carissa lanceolata, ± Pluchea ferdinandi-muelleri Tall (Open) Shrubland over Triodia schinzii or Triodia basedowii Hummock Grassland No

VC4 Corymbia chippendalei Scattered Low Trees over Acacia spp. Scattered Low Shrubs over Corchorus sidoides, Tribulus eichlerianus and Aristida holathera Very Open Herbland/Grassland No

VC5 Acacia ligulata, ± Melaleuca glomerata Scattered Low Shrubs over Corchorus sidoides, ± Heliotropium glanduliferum Open Herbland (or Ptilotus obovatus Scattered Low Shrubs) over Triodia basedowii Tussock Grassland No

VC6 Acacia paraneura Tall Woodland over Carissa lanceolata, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Sida fibulifera Low Open Shrubland over Triodia schinzii Hummock Grassland No

VC7 ±Melaleuca glomerata Tall Open Shrubland over Frankenia cordata, ± Osteocarpum salsuginosum, ± Tecticornia verrucosa, ± Tecticornia indica subsp. leiostachya, ±Tecticornia halocnemoides subsp. tenuis Low Open Heath over Eragrostis falcata Scattered Tussock Grasses or Fimbristylis dichotoma Scattered Sedges or Triodia schinzii Hummock Grassland

No

Table 2-6 – Lake Mackay (Theseus Project) fauna habitat (Outback Ecology 2012b) Unit Description Spinifex sand plain Low open shrubland of Acacia spp. and Senna spp. over Hummock grassland of Triodia basedowii and/or Triodia schinzii

Sand dune Low open woodland of Corymbia chippendalei over and open shrubland of Newcastelia spodiotricha and Dicrastylis doranii over a Triodia schinzii grassland with scattered tussock grasses

Saline flats and claypans Low open woodland of Corymbia chippendalei over and open shrubland of Newcastelia spodiotricha and Dicrastylis doranii over a Triodia schinzii grassland with scattered tussock grasses

Mosaic of mulga woodland, saline flats and clay pans Tall woodland of Acacia paraneura over a low open heath of various Tecticornia species with clay pans scatted throughout.



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3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 DATABASE SEARCHES

Using a buffered shapefile of the study area (Figure 3-1) searches of the following databases were undertaken in August 2016, to determine species and communities of significance previously recorded in the vicinity of the study area: • Department of Environment (DoE) EPBC Act Protected Matters Database;

• Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), Threatened and Priority Flora Database (TPFL) (Search reference 18-0716FL);

• DPaW Threatened and Priority Flora List (TP List) (Search reference 18-0716FL);

• DPaW Western Australian Herbarium Specimen Database (WAHERB) (Search reference 18-0716FL) (buffer 50 km);

• DPaW Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities Database (Search reference 02-0816EC) (buffer 50 km);

• Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (AVH);

• DPaW/WA Museum NatureMap database (WA);

• DPaW Threatened and Priority Fauna database (WA);

• BirdLife Australia Custom Atlas Bird List (national);

• Department of Lands and Resources Management database (NT);

• Natural Resources Maps Species Atlas (NT); and

• WA Museum Invertebrates databases (three databases; WA).


400000 500000 600000730

0000

74000

00750

0000

76000

00770

0000



0 5.5 11Kilometres


Database Searches1:1,500,000

A4K

Study AreaState Border

National Database Search AreasDotE - Protected MattersNCRIS - Atlas of Living Australia

State Database Search Areas

!

! !

!

WAM - SRE InvertebratesDPaW/WAM - NatureMapDPaW - T/P ECs, T/P Fauna, T/P FloraNT DLRM - NT Species Atlas

!( Study Area Centroid

WA NT


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3.1.1 Significant Flora

Significant flora as described in EPA Guidance Statement 51 (EPA 2004a) and the EPA/DPaW Technical Guide – Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment (EPA/DPaW 2015) includes Threatened and Priority Flora as well as range extensions, keystone species, relic species, potential new species, restricted subspecies, varieties or naturally occurring hybrids, local endemics or poorly reserved species. A Threatened and Priority Flora Report (TPFR) Form will be completed for each population of significant flora recorded within the study area.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth of Australia)

At a Commonwealth level, Threatened Flora are protected under the EPBC Act, which lists species that are considered Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Conservation Dependant, Extinct, or Extinct in the Wild (see Appendix A for more detail).

Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Western Australia)

At State level, Threatened Flora species are protected under the WC Act. These are taxa which have been adequately searched for and are deemed to either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection in the wild, and are gazetted as Threatened (Declared Rare) Flora. Threatened Flora are further categorised by DPaW according to their level of threat using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list criteria (IUCN 2001): • Critically Endangered: considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild;

• Endangered: considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild; and

• Vulnerable: considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

These taxa are legally protected and their removal or impact to their surroundings cannot be conducted without Ministerial approval, obtained specifically on each occasion for each population (refer to Appendix A for conservation category definitions).

Priority Flora

DPaW maintains a list of Priority Flora species, which are considered poorly known, uncommon or under threat but for which there is insufficient justification to be listed as Threatened, based on known distribution and population sizes. A Priority Flora species is assigned to one of five priority categories (Appendix A). A likelihood of occurrence of the significant flora recorded during the database searches was assessed based on distribution and known habitat preference using the criteria shown in Table 3-1.

Table 3-1 – Criteria used to assess likelihood of occurrence of significant flora Likelihood Criterion

Recorded The taxon has been recorded within the study area

Highly likely Due to the proximity of previous records (<10 km) and the presence of suitable habitat, the taxon is considered highly likely to occur within the study area

Likely Given the presence of suitable habitat and moderate proximity (10-20 km) of previous records, the taxon is considered likely to occur within the study area

Possible The habitat specificity of the taxon is broadly defined or undefined and there are records within 50 km of the study area. There is insufficient information available to exclude the possibility of occurrence within the study area

Unlikely The habitat specificity of the taxon is well defined from previous records and the habitat is considered unlikely to be present within the study area; or there are no records within 50 km of the study area


http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/categories-and-criteria


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Other Significant Flora

In addition, flora species can have ecological significance without being listed as a Threatened or Priority Flora species. In Guidance Statement 51 (EPA 2004a) the following characteristics are listed as reasons for flora to be considered of significance:

• Having a keystone role in a particular habitat for threatened species, or supporting large populations representing a significant proportion of the local regional population of a species;

• Being of relic status;

• Possessing anomalous features that indicate a potential new discovery;

• Being a range extension (> 100 km) or at the extremes of the distribution range of a species, or an isolated outlier;

• Being a restricted subspecies, variety or naturally occurring hybrid;

• Being locally endemic or of restricted distribution; or

• Being poorly reserved.

3.1.2 Introduced Flora

Weeds of National Significance

At a national level, there are 32 weed species listed as Weeds of National Significance (WONS). The Commonwealth National Weeds Strategy: A Strategic Approach to Weed Problems of National Significance (DSEWPaC 2012b) describes broad goals and objectives to manage these species.

A search of the EPBC Act Protected Matters Database was conducted for WONS previously recorded at the study area.

Declared Pests

The purpose of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) is to prevent serious animal and plant pests and diseases from entering WA and becoming established, and to minimise the spread and impact of those that are already present. The BAM Act (and associated regulations) replaces the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (and associated regulations). The BAM regulations were enacted on 1 May 2013, placing organisms into one of four categories: • Permitted organism (listed under Section 11) permitted in Western Australia subject to

regulations;

• Prohibited organism (listed under Section 12) prohibited in Western Australia subject to regulations (i.e. is a Declared Pest for the whole of State);

• Permitted organism: permit required (under Regulation 73) must not be imported unless in accordance with an import permit; and

• Permitted organism: Declared Pests (under Section 22) can apply to part of or the whole of the State.

The current Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) was published on 1 May 2013 (Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, (DAFWA (2013)) and lists organisms in each of these categories. Unlisted organisms must not be imported (unless in accordance with an import permit and regulations). The BAM Act further categorises Declared Pests in one of three control categories in Table 3-2.



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Table 3-2 – Control categories for Declared Pests

Category Description

C1 - Exclusion Pests assigned to this category are not established in Western Australia and control measures are to be taken, including border checks, in order to prevent them entering and establishing in the State

C2 - Eradication Pests assigned to this category are present in WA in low enough numbers or in sufficiently limited areas that their eradication is still a possibility

C3 - Management

Pests assigned to this category are established in WA but it is feasible, or desirable, to manage them in order to limit their damage. Control measures can prevent a C3 pest from increasing in population size or density or moving from an area in which it is established into an area which currently is free of that pest

*Source: BAM Act 2007 and WAOL (DAFWA 2013)

Environmental Weeds

A third and much more extensive categorisation of weeds was developed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM, now DPaW) in an Environmental Weed Strategy (CALM 1999). Species are evaluated and rated based on the following criteria: • Invasiveness: Ability to invade bushland in good to excellent condition or ability to invade

waterways;

• Distribution: Wide current or potential distribution including consideration of known history of widespread distribution elsewhere in the world; and

• Environmental impacts: Ability to change the structure, composition and function of ecosystems. In particular an ability to form single-species stands.

To advance the above categorisation, the Invasive Plant Prioritization Process was developed in 2011 by the Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC (2011). The new criteria for weed species categorisation are summarised as follows: • Potential distribution: Area of potential habitat in the region that could be occupied or the

area at risk of invasion by the weed (limited, moderate, high, extensive, unknown);

• Current distribution: Area of habitat in the region currently occupied by the weed (limited, moderate, high, extensive, unknown);

• Survey effort: Survey effort of the IBRA region (nil 0%, some 0-25%, patchy 25-50%, extensive 50-75%, complete 75-100%);

• Abundance: Density class across one or more IBRA regions in the DEC region (occasional, common, abundant);

• Ecological impact: Impact of species within the region (low, medium, high, unknown);

• Impact attributes: List of known ecological impact attributes;

• Invasiveness: Rate of spread of a weed in native vegetation (slow, moderate, rapid, unknown);

• Feasibility of control: The longer a coordinated program takes to achieve its desired goal, the more expensive and less feasible it become (low, medium, high, unknown);

• General trend: General trend in distribution and abundance across the region (decreasing, increasing, stable, unknown); and

• Status: Define whether the species is outside the regions, emerging, established, or unknown.

A review of surveys conducted in the area was undertaken for previous environmental weed records.



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3.1.3 Significant Vegetation

Nationally Listed Threatened Ecological Communities

Ecological communities are naturally occurring biological assemblages associated with a particular type of habitat (DEC 2010). At a national level, flora and Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) are protected under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. An ecological community may be categorised into one of three sub-categories: • Critically Endangered: if it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the

immediate future;

• Endangered: if it is not critically endangered and is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future and

• Vulnerable: if it is not critically endangered or endangered, and is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

State Listed Threatened Ecological Communities

DPaW also maintains a list of state listed TECs which are further categorised into three subcategories, much like those of the EPBC Act. Within the Western Australian classification, an ecological community will be listed as Vulnerable "when it has been adequately surveyed and is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of total destruction or significant modification in the medium to long-term future”.

State Listed Priority Ecological Communities

DPaW maintains a list of Priority Ecological Communities (PEC). PECs include potential TECs that do not meet survey criteria, or that are not adequately defined.

3.2 POTENTIAL CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT VERTEBRATE FAUNA

As described in EPA Guidance Statement 56 (EPA 2004b) fauna species may be considered conservation significant if they area: • Protected by international agreement or treaty (i.e. migratory fauna); • Specially protected (Threatened, categories provided in Appendix A); or • Priority Fauna (categories provided in Appendix A). Other reasons that fauna species may be significant include: • Short range endemics; • Species that have declining populations or distributions; • Species at the extremes of their range, or isolated outlying populations; and • Species that is undescribed.

After the results of the literature review, database searches and survey results were compiled, fauna species that are listed under current legislative frameworks were identified. Three conservation lists have been developed at national (EPBC Act) and State level (WC Act and DPaW priority list).

The likelihood of a conservation significant species being present within the project was determined by examining the following:

• fauna habitats and their condition known to exist within the study area;

• distance of previously recorded conservation significant species from the study area;



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• frequency of occurrence of conservation significant species records in the region; and

• time passed since conservation significant species were recorded within, or surrounding, the study area.

Each conservation or biologically significant species potentially occurring in the study area, was assigned a likelihood of occurrence based on the below category (Table 3-3). The level of available information for each species was also taken into consideration so that species are not allocated a low likelihood of occurrence because of insufficient survey information or cryptic behaviours and ecology.

Table 3-3 – Fauna likelihood of occurrence categories

RECORDED Species recorded during current survey

HIGH Species recorded within, or in proximity to, the study area within 20 years; suitable habitat occurs in the study area

MEDIUM Species recorded within, or in proximity to, the study area more than 20 years ago. Species recorded outside study area, but within 50 km; suitable habitat occurs in the study area

LOW Species rarely, or not recorded, within 50 km, and/or suitable habitat does not occur in the study area



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3.3 FLORA AND VEGETATION

3.3.1 Field Methodology

The single-phase Level 2 flora and vegetation field survey was conducted at the study area between September 6 and 13 2016. Survey methodologies were in accordance with the Technical Guide – Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment (EPA & DPaW 2015).

The survey was conducted by sampling flora within bounded 50 m x 50 m quadrats, supplemented by a series of traverses and releves along which changes in vegetation type and disturbance were periodically noted, and additional plant species were recorded opportunistically. Opportunistic collections during traverses are a more time efficient method of maximising the floristic inventory and thus increasing the probability of locating taxa of potential significance. However, standardised quadrats allow the vegetation to be consistently sampled and characterised facilitating multivariate analysis of vegetation associations. Both methods contributed to the delineation of fine scale vegetation units and a floristic inventory of the study area. To assist description of vegetation types and vegetation mapping, a series of points were taken opportunistically where location and dominant species were recorded.

Quadrat Based Sampling

A total of thirty one 50 m x 50 m quadrats were established and sampled within the study area (Figure 3-2). Additionally, six transects, each consisting of six 3 m x 3 m quadrats (36 quadrats) were established in transitional vegetation associated with the lake margin in order describe changes in vegetation from the upper lake margin profile to the edge of the playa. This approach is consistent with the recommended survey intensity for salt lakes as described in the Technical Guide (EPA & DPaW 2015). Quadrat locations were selected using a combination of aerial photography, topographic features, landforms, and field observations to represent the diversity of vegetation and habitats present.

Two 50 m x 50 m quadrats and six 3 m x 3 m quadrats were sampled within the 11.3 ha (0.002% of the total study area) vegetated portion of the indicative disturbance footprint on the lake margin. Due to logistical constraints, only one quadrat was surveyed within the ~402 ha (0.1% of total study area) proposed camp access track alignment.

All quadrats were marked with a steel fence dropper at the north-west corner, and at each the following data were recorded: • Site number and location (GPS co-ordinate for the north-west corner);

• Photograph taken from the north-west corner;

• Size and shape of quadrat;

• All observed vascular flora species and observable presence or absence of reproductive material for each;

• Dominant growth form, height, and cover for each species, compatible with NVIS Level V;

• Vegetation condition assessment (Table 3-4), and description of disturbance;

• Estimated time since fire;

• Landform and soil descriptions;

• Rock type and abundance;

• Slope and aspect.



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Site information for each quadrat is presented in Appendix F.

Conservation Significant Species and Additional Flora Searches

Priority Flora species identified from the database searches were targeted during the field survey, using previously recorded locations as well as known habitat preferences. Due to the large size of the study area, searches for conservation significant species involved opportunistic records taken during traverses walked between quadrats. Introduced species and species not already recorded within quadrats were also recorded opportunistically to supplement the species inventory. Threatened and Priority Flora Report Forms will be submitted to DPaW, along with representative specimens, for new populations of significant flora species recorded.

Specimen Collection and Identification

At least one specimen per taxon was collected during the field survey. Specimen identification was undertaken with reference to current taxonomic literature and herbarium reference specimens. Scientific names used in this report follow species concepts currently adopted by the Western Australian Herbarium. Specimens that were believed to differ significantly from typical materal were indicated with ‘affinity’ (aff.). Specimens that could not be adequately identified to genus or species level due to the absence of flower or fruit structures required for positive identification were indicated with a question mark, but were not considered to be otherwise anomolous. Anomolous specimens that could not be adequately identified were submitted to the Western Australian Herbarium for identification or confirmation.


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00755

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0 1.5 3Kilometres

Sampling Locations

1:450,519A4K

LegendStudy area

Site Type!( 3 x 3 m!( 50 x 50 m!( Mapping Point


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3.3.2 Species Accumulation Curve (SAC) Analysis

Sampling adequacy was assessed by conducting a species accumulation curve (SAC) analysis. This provides a theoretical basis for understanding the relationship between sampling effort and the accumulation of species, and therefore provides a means of estimating survey effort adequacy. As sampling effort increases, the rate at which new species are recorded is reduced until ultimately the number of species recorded reaches the number present. At the point where there is a minimal increase in species richness with continued sampling effort, the sample size is considered adequate. The incidence-based coverage estimators of species richness, ICE Mean and Chao 2 Mean, are used to estimate a species accumulation curve for the study area. Separate analyses were conducted on 50 x 50 and 3 x 3 m site by species matrices using EstimateS v. 9 (Colwell 2009).

3.3.3 Vegetation Delineation and Mapping

Data Analysis

Hierarchical clustering using quadrat floristic data provides an objective means of delineating vegetation units and provides insight into the relationship between communities based on the degree of similarity in species composition.

Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted in R statistical software (R Development Core Team 2016). The Jaccard dissimilarity measure was used to calculate a dissimilarity matrix using the presence-absence site by species data, separately for the 50 m x 50 m and 3 m x 3 m quadrats. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) was then used to construct a dendrogram from the dissimilarity matrix, in which sites that are clustered more closely are more similar floristically overall. Taxa were removed from the data or grouped together if they could not be confidently identified to species level and there was a possibility of confusion with other similar taxa. As all quadrats were assessed during the same survey and season, annual species were retained in the dataset as they can be important for discriminating vegetation units in some cases.

Description of vegetation units

The dendrogram recovered from the cluster analysis was used to assist in the interpretation of the vegetation communities occurring within the study area, which were delineated primarily by overall floristic similarity.

When defining vegetation units, dominant species and correlated environmental variables such as landform were also considered. Consequently, as the cluster analysis does not include environmental variables or preferentially weight dominant species, sites considered to belong to the same described vegetation unit sometimes do not strictly cluster together in the dendrogram.

Vegetation units were described, as far as practicable, based on the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) methodology (ESCAVI 2003), and to three hierarchical levels:

• Broad Floristic Formation (Level III) - the dominant growth form, cover, height and dominant land cover genus for the upper or dominant stratum;

• Sub-Formation (Level IV) – the dominant growth form, cover, height and dominant genus and Family for the three traditional strata (upper, middle and ground); and

• Association (Level V) – the dominant growth form, height and cover for up to three species for three traditional strata (upper, middle and ground).



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Vegetation mapping

Vegetation mapping is the delineation of plant communities or vegetation units based on distinctive characteristics that these communities share such as the vegetation structure, dominant species and species composition. Extrapolative vegetation mapping based on aerial imagery, in addition to ground-truth data provided by quadrat assessments and vegetation mapping points, was used to map the vegetation of the study area at a scale of 1:40000.

Only a single salt lake “island” was able to be surveyed with quadrats and the dune crest and swale vegetation types occurring on this island (represented by single quadrats) were distinctive from similar non-island vegetation. Because of this lack of replicated quadrat data, mapping of island vegetation was restricted to that island.

3.3.4 Vegetation Condition Assessment

Vegetation condition was based on the scale developed by Trudgen (1991) (Table 3-4). Vegetation condition was assessed at each quadrat, and also periodically while walking traverses between quadrats. Vegetation condition mapping is not required if it does not vary broadly across a site, or if condition changes are small and isolated (EPA & DPaW 2015).

Table 3-4 – Vegetation condition scale (Trudgen 1991)

Vegetation Condition Criterion

2. Excellent Pristine or nearly so, no obvious sign of damage caused by European man

3. Very good Some relatively slight signs of damage caused by the activities of European man e.g. damage to tree trunks by repeated fires, the presence of some relatively non-aggressive weeds or occasional vehicle tracks

4. Good More obvious signs of damage caused by the activities of European man, including some obvious impact to vegetation structure such as caused by low levels of grazing or by selective logging. Weeds as above, possibly plus some more aggressive species

5. Poor Still retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it after very obvious impacts of European man such as grazing or partial clearing or very frequent fires. Presence of some more aggressive weeds

6. Very poor Severely impacted by grazing, fire, clearing or a combination of these activities. Scope for some regeneration but not to a state approaching good condition without intensive management. Usually with a number of weeds species including aggressive species

7. Completely degraded Areas that are completely or almost completely without native vegetation e.g. areas that are cleared or parkland cleared with their flora comprising weed or crop species with isolated native trees or shrubs

3.3.5 Assessment of Flora and Vegetation Significance

Any significant flora and vegetation communities recorded at the study area were assessed, where relevant regional data were available, for National, State, regional and local significance.

National significance refers to those features of the environment which are recognised under legislation as being of importance to the Australian community. Specifically, species and TECs listed under the EPBC Act are regarded as nationally significant.

State significance refers to those features of the environment that are recognised under State legislation as being of importance to the Western Australian community. Specifically, species listed as Threatened and communities as TECs or PECs under the WC Act are of State significance.



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Regional significance addresses the representation of species and habitats at a biogeographic regional level. Species or vegetation communities that are restricted to the Great Sandy Desert bioregion and whose distributions are limited or unknown are considered regionally significant.

Flora species of regional significance in this context are defined as Priority Flora species that are restricted within the Great Sandy Desert IBRA bioregion or are present within the GSD but are highly restricted elsewhere.

Accurate assessment of regional significance of the vegetation communities present within the study area requires sufficient regional vegetation community data to be available, and described at a similar level to the current study. The only broad source of vegetation mapping available across the Great Sandy Desert is that conducted by Beard (1976) (and digitised by Shepherd et al. (2001)), at a scale of 1:1,000,000. As it is completed at such a large scale it does not accurately represent the mapped communities at the study area. Therefore, an accurate regional assessment of vegetation significance cannot be made.

Local significance is when a species or vegetation unit is confined to a specialised habitat type that is uncommon and potentially restricted to the local area and whose disturbance or removal may lead to local extinction. A local vegetation conservation assessment was conducted based on the known distribution of the community, its distribution within the study area, the presence of significant flora species, and whether or not it is part of a known significant community (i.e. TEC, PEC etc.).



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3.4 FIELD ASSESSMENT – LEVEL 1 FAUNA SURVEYS

The survey methods adopted by ecologia are aligned with the EPA’s Guidance Statement No. 56 (Environmental Protection Authority 2004) and Position Statement No. 3 (EPA 2002). Low-intensity fauna sampling suitable for detection of vertebrate fauna of conservation significance, both within and outside of potential impact areas associated with the Project, including:

3.4.1 Avifauna Surveys

Thirty minute set-time (ie post–dawn and near-dusk) surveys were used to document the avifauna assemblages present at each of the fauna sites. During each set-time survey the number of individuals of each species seen while actively searching similar habitat within 500 m of the survey site was recorded. This approach accords with the survey methodology for the ongoing Birds Australia Atlas of Australian Birds project.

Survey effort concentrated on survey sites within three hours of dawn, as this time is deemed to be the optimal times for recording most bird species. Opportunistic records during the day and near dusk were also collected, as they may yield species less frequently observed in the early morning, e.g. diurnal raptors.

3.4.2 Bat Echolocation Recording

Bat echolocation calls were recorded using SM2BAT 384 kHz long term passive recorder. The SM2BAT has a high sampling frequency, enabling the full spectrum of calls to be recorded without being transformed, allowing greater accuracy and sensitivity. The SM2BAT was programmed to record from dusk to dawn for each night that was surveyed.

Any bats observed whilst deploying or collecting the SM2BAT units were counted and identified where possible. Echolocation calls recorded during the survey were analysed and bat species identified by Bob Bullen (BatCall WA). SM2BAT recorders were placed at three separate locations, two of them for two consecutive nights and one for three consecutive nights.

3.4.3 Opportunistic Sampling

3.4.3.1 Camera Trapping

Twenty Reconyx camera traps were used at significant habitat features and in areas of fauna activity (e.g. around burrows, runways, diggings). These cameras were set up for four nights each and were baited with a peanut butter bait ball which was replaced after the second night.

3.4.3.2 Targeted Conservation Significant Fauna Surveying

Prior to the commencement of survey activity, the preferred habitat of the conservation significant species that potentially occur in the study area was determined. These habitats were identified and targeted during survey activities using both systematic survey sites and opportunistic surveys.

On the basis of the fauna habitats identified during the survey, specific opportunistic searches as well as the deployment of motion camera traps were used to determine the presence of potential conservation significant species occurring.

Nocturnal Searching

Nocturnal searches of the study area were conducted using a combination of transects and opportunistic ground searches using head torches and hand held spotlights to uncover nocturnal species, including geckos, snakes, frogs and birds.



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Diurnal Searching

Both targeted and opportunistic sites were searched by hand for cryptic species, which comprised searching beneath the bark of dead trees, breaking open old logs, stumps and dead free-standing trees, investigating burrows and over-turning logs and stones. Sites were selected on the basis of fauna habitat (targeting uncommon habitats or habitats poorly represented by trapping sites) and their possibility of harbouring conservation significant fauna.

Fauna were also recorded while searching, travelling and during trap establishment within the study area during the day and night. Tracks, diggings, scats, burrows and nests were recorded where possible.

3.5 FAUNA HABITAT MAPPING

A helicopter was used to broadly delineate fauna habitats at a landscape scale. The helicopter survey totalled approximately 75 km of transects across the site.

A fauna habitat type broadly describes an area of habitat that is distinguishable in its vegetation, soil characteristics and land features from its surroundings, and is likely to host a different fauna assemblage to that found in other fauna habitats. Mapping including a particular focus on significant habitat features and habitat types that may host fauna of conservation significance and restricted refugia that may support SRE invertebrate taxa. Fauna habitat types were identified, which have been described and delineated using the following existing information:

• IBRA subregions;

• aerial photography;

• vegetation associations (Beard 1981; Shepherd et al. 2002);

• land systems (van Vreeswyk et al. 2004); and,

• on-ground observations.

During the survey, other information was also collected, including:

• landform;

• vegetation type and structure;

• soil characteristics (soil structure and substrate);

• composition of terrestrial fauna species; and,

• habitat condition



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Table 3-5 – Habitat condition assessment

Habitat Condition Criteria

Excellent Pristine or nearly so, no obvious sign of damage caused by modern humans or introduced fauna (cattle, feral cat, dog and rabbit). No signs of recent, extensive fires.

Very Good Some relatively slight signs of damage caused by the activities of modern humans. eg. damage to tree trunks by repeated fires, no significant signs of introduced fauna or occasional vehicle tracks.

Good

More obvious signs of damage caused by the activities of modern humans, including some obvious impact to vegetation structure such as that caused by low levels of grazing or by selective logging. Some tracks or secondary evidence of introduced fauna. Some signs of recent fires.

Poor Still retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it after very obvious impacts of modern humans such as partial clearing or very frequent fires. Presence of introduced fauna.

Very Poor Severely impacted by grazing, introduced fauna, fire, clearing or a combination of these activities. Scope for some regeneration but not to a state approaching good condition without intensive management.

Completely Degraded Areas that are completely or almost completely without vegetation communities and are heavily impacted by extensive fires and/or introduced species e.g. cow paddock

3.6 STUDY TEAM AND LICENCES

The flora, vegetation assessment and fauna assessment undertaken by ecologia was planned, coordinated, executed and reported by those summarised below in Table 3-6. The DPaW licence numbers to take flora for scientific purposes are also provided.

Table 3-6 – Study team and licences Project Staff Name Qualification Role Project Role

Dr Mike Young PhD (Zoology) Project Manager, Principalzoologist Project management, fauna field assessment

Dr Andrew Craigie PhD (Botany) Senior Botanist / Taxonomist Flora & vegetation field assessment, plant specimen identification, reporting (flora)

Talitha Moyle B. Nat. Res. Man Senior Zoologist Reporting (fauna)

Shaun Grein B. App Sc, Post. Grad. Dip

Managing Director, Principal Scientist

Project Management, quality assurance, reporting

Licences - “Licence to Take Flora for Scientific Purposes” The flora, vegetation assessment and fauna assessment described in this report was conducted under the authorisation of the following licences issued by DPaW: Name Licence Number Valid until Dr Mike Young 01-000001-1 31/10/2016 Dr Andrew Craigie SL011876 30/04/2017

3.7 ANIMAL ETHICS

Surveying was conducted as per ecologia’s Animal Ethics Code of Practice, which conforms to Section 5 of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (NHMRC 2004).

In all cases, fauna were identified in the field, and not captured during the survey.



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4 DATABASE RESULTS

4.1 SIGNIFICANT FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES

The DPaW database searches returned three conservation significant plant records within the study area buffer (Figure 4.1). Based on records from other state herbaria, an additional three taxa have been recorded within or in close vicinity to the study area (Table 4.1). One taxon (Goodenia anfracta P1) was recorded within the current study area by Outback Ecology (2012a). Overall, one conservation significant species has been recorded from within the study area, and four were considered likely or highly likely to occur based on proximity of previous records and the presence of suitable habitat (Table 4.1).

Eleocharis papillosa (P3) has been recorded from the north-eastern end of Lake Mackay in the Northern Territory. This is species listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. It occurs in temporary wetlands and in fresh or semi-saline swamps, and potentially occurs within the study area.

4.2 INTRODUCED FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES

No weeds of National significance or Declared Pests (weeds) were recorded during the database searches. Two environmental weed species have been recorded from the vicinity of the study area: *Aerva javanica (Kapok Bush) and *Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass).

4.3 SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION COMMUNITY RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES

No Commonwealth or State listed TECs or PECs have been recorded within the study area buffer. Figure 4-1).

4.4 INTRODUCED FLORA RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES

No weeds of National significance or Declared Pests (weeds) were recorded during the database searches. Two environmental weed species have been recorded from the vicinity of the study area: *Aerva javanica (Kapok Bush) and *Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass).

4.5 SIGNIFICANT VEGETATION COMMUNITY RECORDS FROM DATABASE SEARCHES

No Commonwealth or State listed TECs or PECs have been recorded within the study area buffer.



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Table 4-1 – Significant flora records from database and desktop searches and likelihood of occurrence

Status Taxon Source IBRA Region Habitat Distance from study area

Likelihood of occurrence

P1 Goodenia anfracta Outback (2012) No PERTH records Semi-saline samphire flats. Recorded Recorded

P1 Rothia indica subsp. australis TPList, PERTH, CANB Dampierland, Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara. Sandy soils. Sandhills and sandy flats. Recorded Highly likely

P2 Goodenia virgata TPList, PERTH Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert. Red sandy loam. Near salt pans. < 10 km west Highly likely

P3 Atriplex flabelliformis AD, DNA Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara, Tanami. Clay loam, loam. Saline flats or marshes. < 10 km east (NT) Highly likely

P3 Stackhousia clementii AD Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Pilbara. Skeletal soils. Sandstone hills. < 10 km west Highly likely

P3 Goodenia modesta TPList, PERTH Central Ranges, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Tanami. Red loam, sand. ca. 20 km south Likely

P3 (V) Eleocharis papillosa PERTH, DNA Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Murchison, Pilbara. Wetlands, freshwater or semi-saline swamps ca. 30 km east (NT) Possible

PERTH = Western Australian Herbarium, AD = State Herbarium of South Australia, DNA = Northern Territory Herbarium, CANB = Australian National Herbarium


GF

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74500

00750

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75500

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0 3 6Kilometres

Signficant flora locationsfrom DPaW database searchesand additional records

1:800,000A4K

Study areaDPaW database searches!( Goodenia modesta (P3)!( Goodenia virgata (P2)!( Rothia indica subsp. australis (P1)

Additional records!( Atriplex flabelliformis (P3)!( Eleocharis papillosa (P3/V)!( Goodenia anfracta (P1)GF Stackhousia clementii (P3)


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4.6 FAUNA RECORDS FROM PREVIOUS SURVEYS AND DATABASE SEARCHES

A total of 202 species were recorded from database searches, including 111 birds, 51 reptiles, 39 mammals and one amphibian. Twenty-six of these species are considered conservation significant species (Table 4-3). Fourteen listed mammals, one reptile and 11 bird species were recorded to having the potential to occur within or surrounding the project area. Nine of the bird species are EPBC listed Migratory (IA).

Table 4-2 – Previous fauna records Survey location and author(s) Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians

Biological survey

Theseus Project, Outback Ecology (2012) 10 23 9 0

Kiwirrkura IPA, Desert Wildlife Services (2012, 2010) 11 81 47 3

Databases

DPaW NatureMap 16 47 32 0

Birdlife Australia Birdata 0 79 0 0

DPaW Threatened and Priority Fauna Search 5 2 1 0

DoE Protected Matters Search 4 8 1 0

Atlas of Living Australia 34 106 37 0

NT species Atlas 31 46 14 0

NT Fauna 16 61 25 1

Table 4-3 – Significant species recorded from the database searches Status Taxa Common Name Source Extinct

Bettongia lesueur graii Burrowing Bettong

(inland) Atlas of living, NT database search, NT Fauna Bettongia penicillata penicillata

Brush-tailed Bettong Atlas of living, NT database search

Lagorchestes asomatus Central Hare-wallaby Atlas of living, TPList (DPaW), NM Conservation dependent Phascogale calura

Red-tailed Phascogale TPList, NM, Atlas of living, NM

Endangered Lagorchestes hirsutus

Rufous Hare-wallaby (NT ssp) Atlas of living, NT database

Pezoporus occidentalis Night Parrot MNS Vulnerable Dasyurus geoffroii Western Quoll TPList Liopholis kintorei Great Desert King Sink TPList, NM, MNS

Petrogale lateralis ssp.

Black-footed Rock-wallaby (MacDonnell Ranges Race) Atlas of living, NT database seraches

Macroderma gigas Ghost Bat Atlas of living, NT fauna Polytelis alexandrae Princess Parrot MNS Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilby MNS, Report Priority 4 Amytormis striatus Straited Grasswren NM

Dasycercus blythi Brush-tailed Mulgara TPList, NM

Notoryctes caurinus Northern Marsupial Mole TPList, NM

Migratory/ Marine

Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift MNS Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater TPList, NM Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover TPList Glareola maldivarum Oriental Pratincole MNS Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow MNS Motacilla cinerea Grey wagtail MNS

Motacilla flava Western Yellow Wagtail MNS

Ardea alba Great Egret MNS Ardea ibis Catlle Egret MNS Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover MNS Glareola maldivarum Oriental Pratincole MNS



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5 RESULTS

5.1 FLORA

5.1.1 Species Composition and Richness

A total of 214 sub-generic vascular plant taxa (including species, infraspecific taxa, and phrase names) were recorded from the study area during the current survey. Of these, 48 (22%) were annual or short-lived perennial species, four were Priority Flora species and one was introduced. The high diversity of annual species is indicative of above average rainfall preceding the survey.

The broad composition of the flora of the study area is summarised in Table 5-1. A complete list of taxa recorded, including opportunistic collections and partially identified specimens, is included in Appendix C.

Table 5-1 –Floristic summary for the study area

Number of sub-generic taxa recorded Number of families Number of genera Number of families

represented by a single taxon

Number of genera represented by a single

taxon

214 44 115 21 76

The families and genera represented by the greatest number of taxa are listed in Table 5-2. The most diverse families were the Fabaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Poaceae. The most diverse genera were Acacia (Fabaceae), Sida (Malvaceae), and Tecticornia (Chenopodiaceae). Species richness within 50 m x 50 m quadrats at the study area varied from eight to 48 taxa, with a mean species richness of 20.9 ± 8.6 (n= 31). Quadrat 111, having the highest species richness (48 taxa), was located on a recently burnet (2-5 years) claypan plain.

Table 5-2 – Most diverse families and genera at the study area

Sub-generic taxa per family Sub-generic taxa per genus

Fabaceae (30 taxa) Acacia (12 taxa)

Chenopodiaceae (25 taxa) Sida (8 taxa)

Poaceae (23 taxa) Tecticornia (7 taxa)

Malvaceae (19 taxa) Ptilotus (7 taxa)

Asteraceae ( 16 taxa) Eremophila (6 taxa)

Goodeniaceae (11 taxa) Sclerolaena (6 taxa)

Amaranthaceae (8 taxa) Eragrostis (5 taxa)

Myrtaceae (8 taxa) Aristida (4 taxa)



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5.1.2 SAC analysis

Based on data collected from 31 (50 m x 50 m) quadrats surveyed in the study area, predicted species richness (excluding lake margin vegetation), as estimated by ICE Mean and Chao 2 Mean, is 228 and 226 taxa respectively. The total number of taxa recorded from 50 x 50 m quadrats was 186, representing between 81.5% and 82.3% of the predicted species richness for the study area (excluding lake margin vegetation). A plot of the Chao 2 Mean indicates a slightly upward trend in species richness at 31 sites, suggesting that overall species richness may be underestimated with the current survey effort (Figure 5-1).

Based on data collected from 36 (3 m x 3 m) quadrats surveyed in the lake margin vegetation, predicted species richness, as estimated by ICE Mean and Chao 2 Mean, is 50 and 47 taxa respectively. The total number of taxa recorded from 3 x 3 m quadrats was 38, representing between 76% and 80.8% of the predicted species richness in salt lake margin vegetation. A plot of the Chao 2 Mean indicates species richness estimate plateaus at around 12 sites, suggesting that the Chao 2 Mean estimate is reasonable (Figure 5-2). Due to the small size of the 3 x 3 m quadrats, the full range of species within the lake margin vegetation us unlikely to have been sampled within then; however, every effort was made to collect species opportunistically if not already recorded in quadrats to supplement the species list.



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Figure 5.1 – Estimated number of species (Chao 2 Mean) based on 50 x 50 m quadrat data with upper and

lower 95% confidence bounds (dashed lines)

Figure 5.2 – Estimated number of species (Chao 2 Mean) based on 3 x 3 m quadrat data with upper and

lower 95% confidence bounds (dashed lines)

0

50

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536

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5.1.3 Significant Flora

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth of Australia)

No EPBC Act listed Threatened Flora taxa were recorded at the study area.

Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Western Australia)

No WC Act listed Threatened Flora taxa were recorded at the study area.

Priority Flora

Four Priority Flora taxa were recorded from the study area: Tecticornia globulifera (P1), Goodenia virgata (P2), Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2), and Stackhousia clementii (P3). Abundance and habitat details are provided in Table 5-3. Individual locations are mapped in Figure 5-9 and provided in Appendix D.

Table 5-3 – Priority Flora recorded during the survey

Taxon (Status) Number of locations (estimated number

of individuals) Habitat in the study area Known bioregional distribution

Tecticornia globulifera (Priority 1) 2 (1000+) Lower lake profile (island) Pilbara, Gascoyne

Goodenia virgata (Priority 2) 6 (146) Sandplains, saline flats, dune swales, salt lake

margin

Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert

Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (Priority 2) 1 (1) Orange sandplains Little Sandy Desert

Stackhousia clementii (Priority 3) 2 (30) Salt lake margin Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Great

Victoria Desert, Murchison, Pilbara



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Tecticornia glubulifera (P1) (Figure 5-3) (identification confirmed by K. Shepherd at W.A. Herbarium) was recorded only from the southern end of one of the visited islands (Figure 5-9). At this site it was locally abundant and dominant only in the highly saline lower lake profile, where it occurred with few other species (Tecticornia calyptrata, T. halocneomoides subsp. longispicata, Maireana luehmannii, and Eragrostis falcata). These records are regionally significant as this species has only been previously recorded from Fortescue Marsh in the Pilbara and Weelarrana Lake in the Gascoyne (Shepherd and van Leeuwen 2011).

Figure 5.3 – Tecticornia globulifera

Goodenia virgata (P2) (Figure 5-4) was recorded at six locations within the study area, and in a variety of habitats, including sandplains, saline flats, dune swales, and on the lake margin (Figure 5-9). This species has been recorded previously from saline habitats in close vicinity of the study area. It is known to grow on sandy soils and on the margins of salt lakes, and in Western Australia has a distribution extending from the Gascoyne to the Great Sandy Desert.

Figure 5.4 – Goodenia virgata



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Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2) (Figure 5-5) (identification confirmed by T. Macfarlaine at W.A. Herbarium) is known only from one location east of Newman in the Little Sandy Desert, where it was recorded from a silty sandplain. This record from the study area is therefore of regional signficance, is one of only a few known records of this taxon, and represents a significant range extension. It was recorded from the southern section of the study area along a proposed access track envelope where it grew on orange clayey-sand in vegetation dominated by Eucalyptus gamophylla, Allocasuraina decaisneana, and Triodia basedowii (Figure 5-9). Only one plant was observed.

Figure 5.5 – Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964)

Stackhousia clementii (P3) (Figure 5-6) was recorded from two locations on the lake margin in the western section of the study area (Figure 5-9). This species has been recorded previously from the eastern edge of Lake Mackay, in the vicinity of the current records. Note that this previous record is lodged at the State Herbarium of South Australia (Specimen catalogue number AD157905), and was therefore not returned in by DPaW database searches.

Figure 5.6 – Stackhousia clementii



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Other Significant Flora

Two specimens collected during the survey belong to an unknown and potentially new taxon, designated here as Newcastelia aff bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9]. This taxon was recorded from two quadrats (Q63 and Q65) in the western section of the study area (Figure 5-9), on orange sandy soils in dune swale vegetation dominated by Acacia ligulata, Acacia melliodora, Acacia sp. Lake Mackay (P.K. Latz 12836) and Triodia (T. pungens or T. schinzii) species. Typical associated species included Allocasuarina decaisneana, Grevillea stenobotrya, and Dicrastylis doranii. It has morphological affinities with Newcastelia bracteosa but is anomolous because of its smaller leaves and calyx indumentum; however, the specimens collected were in fruit and important corolla characters were not available for comparison to other known species (M. Hislop, W.A. Herbarium, pers. comm.). This taxon was not observed within the proposed development area. Specimens of this taxon will be lodged at the Western Australian Herbarium.

Figure 5.7 – Representative habitat photo (Quadrat 65) for Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9]

Figure 5.8 – Specimen of Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9]



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Bioregional Range Extensions

Twenty-seven positively identified taxa recorded from the study area have not been previously recorded from the Great Sandy Desert (based on current records from the Western Australian Herbarium), and therefore represent significant range extensions. Specimens representing these taxa will be lodged at the Western Australian Herbarium.

Table 5-4 – Records representing bioregional range extensions Taxon Current bioregion distribution (based on WA Herbarium records)

Centipeda thespidioides Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Nullarbor, Pilbara

Einadia nutans subsp. eremaea Central Kimberley, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Yalgoo

Eragrostis setifolia Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Nullarbor, Pilbara, Tanami, Yalgoo

Eremophila latrobei subsp. filiformis Central Ranges, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami

Eremophila longifolia

Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Nullarbor, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami, Yalgoo

Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata Central Kimberley, Murchison, Nullarbor, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara

Indigofera colutea Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Tanami, Victoria Bonaparte

Indigofera georgei Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Pilbara

Leiocarpa semicalva Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Pilbara

Muelleranthus stipularis Central Ranges, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison

Nicotiana rosulata Avon Wheatbelt, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Nullarbor, Pilbara, Yalgoo

Pluchea dunlopii Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Pilbara, Yalgoo

Sclerolaena cuneata Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Pilbara, Yalgoo

Senna pleurocarpa subsp. pleurocarpa Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Mallee, Murchison, Nullarbor, Pilbara, Yalgoo

Sida rohlenae subsp. rohlenae Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami, Victoria Bonaparte

Sida sp. Rabbit Flat (B.J. Carter 626) Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Pilbara Stackhousia clementii (P3) Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Pilbara

Stackhousia sp. swollen gynophore (W.R. Barker 2041) Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Pilbara

Stemodia florulenta Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Tanami, Yalgoo

Swainsona tanamiensis Dampierland, Gascoyne, Pilbara, Tanami Synaptantha tillaeacea var. hispidula Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert Tecticornia globulifera (P1) Gascoyne, Pilbara Tecticornia halocnemoides subsp. longispicata Great Sandy Desert, Murchison, Pilbara Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2) Little Sandy Desert

Tribulopis angustifolia Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Tanami, Victoria Bonaparte

Tribulus sp. saline flats (P.K. Latz 4530) Central Ranges

Triumfetta winneckeana No specimens lodged at Western Australian Herbarium, but has been recorded from Great Sandy Desert.



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Other Range Extensions

Forty-three positively identified taxa recorded from the study area (excluding bioregional range extensions listed above) represent significant range extensions of approx. 100 km or greater (Table 5-5) based on Western Australian Herbarium records. Several species are represented by nearby records that are lodged other herbaria, and therefore do not represent actual range extensions.

Table 5-5 – Records representing significant range extensions (> approx. 100 km)

Taxon Nearest current Western Australian record from WA Herbarium from the study area

Abutilon macrum Approx. 200 km south Allocasuarina decaisneana Approx. 250 km south Bergia henshallii Approx. 225 km north-north-west Bulbostylis barbata Approx. 200 km south Calocephalus platycephalus Approx. 175 km south Calotis hispidula Approx. 175 km south Corchorus sidoides Approx. 200 km south Cucumis argenteus Approx. 200 km south Dodonaea coriacea Approx. 200 km south Dysphania rhadinostachya var. rhadinostachya Approx. 200 km south Eragrostis falcata Approx. 250 km south-south-west Eragrostis laniflora Approx. 150 km south Eremophila willsii Approx. 175 km south Eriachne aristidea Approx. 175 km south Euphorbia australis var. erythrantha Approx. 200 km south Euphorbia tannensis subsp. eremophila Approx. 200 km south Euphorbia wheeleri Approx. 200 km west Goodenia armitiana Approx. 200 km north Goodenia maideniana Approx. 100 km south Heliotropium ammophilum Approx. 450 km west Hibiscus leptocladus Approx. 300 km north-west Lawrencia glomerata Approx. 175 km south Neobassia astrocarpa Approx. 125 km west-north-west Newcastelia spodiotricha Approx. 200 km north-west *Malvastrum americanum Approx. 300 km south Paractaenum refractum Approx. 250 km west-north-west Pluchea rubelliflora Approx. 275 km north-north-west Pterocaulon sphacelatum Approx. 200 km south Scaevola basedowii Approx. 100 km south Scaevola collaris Approx. 150 km south Sclerolaena fimbriolata Approx. 400 km west Setaria surgens Approx. 250 km north-west Sida sp. sand dunes (A.A. Mitchell PRP1208) Approx. 100 km south Tecticornia calyptrata Approx. 150 km south Tecticornia tenuis Approx. 150 km south Tecticornia pergranulata subsp. elongata Approx. 150 km south Tribulus hirsutus Approx. 100 km west Tribulus macrocarpus Approx. 200 km south


!(

!(

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!(

!(

GF

GF

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(!(

!(

450000 500000745

0000

75000

00755

0000



0 1.5 3Kilometres

Significant Flora Locations

1:450,519A4K

Legend!( Goodenia virgata (P2)!( Stackhousia clementii (P2)!( Tecticornia globulifera (P1)!( Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2)

GF Newcastelia aff. bracteosa [A. Craigie 1677.65.9]Study area


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5.1.4 Introduced Flora

Weeds of National Significance (WONS)

No Weeds of National Significance were recorded at the study area.

Declared Pests (WAOL)

No Declared Pests (Plants) were recorded at the study area.

Environmental Weeds

*Malvastrum americanum (Spiked Malvastrum) (Figure 5-10) was recorded from a single location, in a clay depression dominated by Eucalyptus victrix and Acacia aptaneura (Figure 5-11), where approximately 50 plants were observed. This species is a perennial herb, typically a weed of riparian zones and moister depressions. Location information is presented in Table 5-6.

The DEC environmental risk assessment status this species is presented in Table 5-7. Based on these rankings this species has potential to have a high ecological impact at the study area.

Figure 5.10 – *Malvastrum americanum

Table 5-6 – Locations of Introduced Flora (WGS84 UTM Zone 52)

Taxon Easting Northing Estimated number of plants observed

*Malvastrum americanum 441434.91 7491628.02 50

Table 5-7 – DPaW environmental risk assessment status

Taxon

Envi

ronm

enta

l Ra

ting

Curr

ent

Dist

ribut

ion

Abun

danc

e

Ecol

ogic

al

Impa

ct

Inva

sive

ness

Feas

ibili

ty o

f Co

ntro

l

Gen

eral

Tre

nd

Stat

us

*Malvastrum americanum Mod High Abundant High Rapid Low Increasing Established


!(

450000 500000745

0000

75000

00755

0000



0 1.5 3Kilometres

Introduced Flora Locations

1:450,519A4K

Legend!( *Malvastrum americanum

Study area


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5.2 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT - FLORA

5.2.1 Flora of National and State Significance

No taxa listed under the EPBC Act or of National significance were recorded at the study area, and no taxa listed under WC Act or of State significance were recorded.

5.2.2 Flora of Regional Significance

Flora species of regional significance in this context are Priority Flora species that are restricted to the Great Sandy Desert (GSD) IBRA bioregion or are present within the GSD but are highly restricted elsewhere.

Tecticornia globulifera (P1) has a highly restricted distribution in the Pilbara and Gascoyne bioregions. The records at Lake Mackay therefore represent a significant range extension of over 800km. Because of its restricted known distribution, it is considered to be regionally significant.

Goodenia virgata (P2) has a scattered but widesperad distribution in Western Australia, and has been recorded from the Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, and Little Sandy Desert. It is also widely distributed in central Northern Territory. This species is not considered here to be regionally significant.

Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2) is known only from a single location in the Little Sandy Desert. The record of this taxon from the study area represents a highly significant range extension of over 500km, and because of its restricted known distribution, it is considered to be regionally significant.

Stackhousia clementii (P3) is widely distributed, but with few records, in Western Australia, occuring in the Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, and Pilbara bioregions. This species has been recorded from the Great Sandy Desert, but these specimens are lodged at the State Herbarium of South Australia, and are therefore not recovered by DPaW database searches. Due to its wide distribution in Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Terriroty, it is not considered to be regionally significant.

5.2.3 Flora of Local Significance

Based on available data, Tecticornia globulifera (P1) is restricted to the highly saline lower salt lake margins of islands in Lake Mackay. This species was only observed on one of the two islands visited during the field survey, although it is likely to be present in similar vegetation on other islands. Because of its restricted local distribution, it is considered to be locally significant.

Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964) (P2) was only recorded in a vegetation type that is considered to be locally significant (see Section 5.4.4) within the study area. Because of its restricted local distribution, it is considered to be locally significant.



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5.3 VEGETATION

Results of the hierarchical cluster analysis of 50 m x 50 m quadrats indicated good concordance between overall floristic similarity and landforms present within the study area. The dendrogram (Figure 5-12) shows clustering of quadrats into seven broad vegetation groups, namely:

1. sandplain vegetation south of Lake Mackay dominated by various eucalypt, Acacia, and Triodia species;

2. dune vegetation dominated by Corymbia chippendalei (not present on island dunes), Acacia sp. Lake Mackay (P.K. Latz 12836), and Newcastelia spodiotricha;

3. variable dune swale vegetation typically dominated by Acacia, Melaleuca or Allocasuarina species;

4. island dune swale vegetation dominated by Allocasuarina decaisneana; 5. island dune swale vegetation dominated by Acacia ligulata, Melaleuca glomerata, and

Triodia pungens; 6. saline flats and depressions dominated by Frankenia cordata and/or Tecticornia indica subsp.

leiostachya; and 7. claypan plain vegetation dominated by Melaleuca glomerata and/or Senna artemisioides

subsp. oligophylla.

Based on the assessment of clustering patterns in the 50 m x 50 m quadrat dendrogram, in addition to numerous sampling points taken to assist vegetation mapping, 18 vegetation types have been described within the study area. The distributional patterns of many dominant Acacia species were complex across the study area, particularly in the sandplains vegetation to the south of Lake Mackay, where species including A. ligulata, A. adsurgens, A. ancistrocarpa, A. elachantha, and A. pruinocarpa appear in different combination in any given area. Similarly, the four dominant Triodia species at the study area (T. basedowii, T. salina, T. schinzii, and T. pungens) also show complex distributional patterns. The distribution of eucalypt dominated sandplain vegetation (other than that dominated by E. gamophylla) was patchy. Consequently, a number of vegetation types are described to encompass different combinations of dominant species observed within floristically similar quadrats.

Due to the complexity of the vegetation patterns within the study area and recent fire history, most vegetation types could not be adequately distinguished using aerial imagery. Therefore, the described vegetation types were compiled into more broadly defined vegetation complexes for the purposes of mapping (Table 5-8). The mapped vegetation complexes are floristically similar, reflect the grouping recovered by the cluster analysis, and are correlated with landform.

The Sandplain Complex consists of six floristically similar vegetation types dominated by Eucalyptus and Acacia species over Triodia tussock grassland. The vegetation types EgCo and AT are clearly the dominant units within the study area, while the remaining units are comparatively sparse.

The Dune Complex is broadly homogenous throughout the study area and is dominated by Corymbia chippendalei, Acacia ligulata, and Acacia sp. Lake Mackay (P.K. Latz 12836). In island vegetation, Corymbia chippendalei was observed to be absent, but is otherwise floristically similar.

The Dune Swale complex is consists of three floristically similar vegetation types, differing primarily by the relative dominance or presence of Melaleuca glomerata, Eucalyptus gamophylla, and Allocasuarina decaisneana. Comparable dune swale vegetation types on islands were floristically distinctive, in part, by the dominance of Triodia pungens.

The Saline Flats and Depressions Complex is broadly homogenous across the study area, consisting of two floristically similar samphire vegetation types, distinguished primarily be the presence or absence of dominant Frankenia cordata.

The Claypan Plain Complex is also broadly homogenous, consisting of two floristically similar vegetation types dominated by Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla or Melaleuca glomerata.



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The most widespread complex within the study area was the Sandplain Complex, making up 16.3% (65, 458 ha) of the study area, followed by the Dune Complex making up 11.6% (46, 500 ha). Claypan plains, saline flats and depressions, and lake margin vegetation, were comparatively restricted, making up 3.2%, 0.9%, and 1.7% respectively (Table 5-8).

Vegetation types are summarised in Table 5-8, along with the vegetation complexes to which they belong. Vegetation type descriptions, and representative photographs, are presented in Table 5-10, and vegetation complexes are mapped in Figure 5-14 to Figure 5-26.



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Figure 5.12 – Floristic dendrogram from 50 m x 50 m quadrat data



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Lake Margin Vegetation

Transects were established across the profile of the lake margin to assist in the description vegetation zonation patterns, where quadrats, 3 m x 3 m in dimension, were positioned along the transect were broadly divided into ‘upper’, ‘mid’, and ‘lower’ zones. Results of the hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that quadrats in the upper and lower zones of the lake margin typically clustered together, and therefore tended to be more floristically similar. Quadrats designated as mid-zone quadrats tended to cluster more sporadically within clusters characterised by ‘upper’ or ‘lower’ quadrats (Figure 5-13).

Although Tecticornia species often dominate vegetation on salt lake margins, they require fresh water to germinate, and species have varying germination requirements with respect to salinity. Species are therefore often closely associated with different zones across the lake profile (Datson 2005). Fewer Tecticornia species were observed in the comparatively less saline upper lake profile, where Frankenia cordata, Scaevola collaris, and Triodia salina were commonly dominant (Table 5-8, Table 5-10). Only Tecticornia indica subsp. leiostachya and T. calyptrata were occasionally observed in the upper profile. The highly saline lower lake profile adjacent to the playa bed was typically species poor and dominated by Tecticornia halocnemoides subsp. longispicata and, on the visited island, Tecticornia globulifera (Table 5-8, Table 5-10). The interzone between the upper and lower profile tended to be floristically intermediate and was typically dominated by species including Maireana luehmannii, Lawrencia glomerata, Surreya diandra, Scaevola collaris, and Tecticornia calyptrata (Table 5-8, Table 5-10).

Due to the variation in the width of the vegetated lake margin across the study area, and the inability to satisfactorily distinguish them from aerial photography, these zones have been mapped as a broader lake margin vegetation complex (Figure 5-14 to Figure 5-26).



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Figure 5.13 – Floristic dendrogram from 3 m x 3 m quadrat data



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Vegetation within the indicative disturbance footprint and proposed access track

The indicative disturbance footprint on the vegetated portion of lake margin comprises 11.3 ha (0.003%) of the total study area. Three vegetation types were recorded within this footprint (Figure 5-30):

• Dune crest vegetation dominated by Corymbia chippendalei (Cc); • Dune swale vegetation dominated by Eucalyptus gamophylla, Acacia ligulata, and Acacia sp.

Lake Mackay (P.K. Latz 12836) (EgAlALM); and • the lake margin vegetation complex.

Negligible portions of vegetation on the edge of the lake islands are intersected by the indicative plant feed trench, but it is assumed that these will not in reality traverse vegetated areas. There were no vegetation types assessed as being unique to the indicative disturbance area, nor were there any conservation significant flora species recorded within it.

The vegetation types present within the disturbance area are considered to be well represented and widespread within the broader study area. The dune complex vegetation within the area represents 0.02% (10.3 ha) of that mapped within the study area, and the lake margin complex vegetation represents 0.01% (0.99 ha).

The proposed camp access track comprises approximately 402 ha (0.1%) of the total study area. The proposed alignment was viewed from a helicopter, and one quadrat was able to be installed. Based on these observations, much of the vegetation within it was considered to be widespread in the broader study area, consisting primarily of the widespread sandplain and dune vegetation types EgCo, AT, and Cc. However, one vegetation type occurring within the proposed access track (AdEgTb) is considered to be of potential local significance (see below, section 5.4.4) as it supports the regionally significant taxon, Thysanotus sp. Desert East of Newman (R.P. Hart 964). This vegetation type was delineated from aerial imagery, and its local extent had been mapped in Figure 5-31. Based on this, AdEgTb has a local extent of 1324 ha, of which 24 ha (1.8%) is intersected by the proposed access track buffer.

5.3.1 Vegetation Condition

Broadly, there has been little to no disturbance to the vegetation within the study area. Vegetation condition at all but one quadrat, and that observed while walking traverses between them, was assessed as pristine or nearly so. The most notable disturbance factors within the study area were well-established vehicle tracks, minimal localised clearing, and grazing by camels. The impact on vegetation by grazing was minimal where it was observed. Only one introduced species (*Malvastrum americanum) was observed at a single location, where it was present in low abundance. Large portions of the study area had been recently burned (within 1-2 years), but were regenerating normally. For these reasons, and because much of the vegetation at the study area was not observed in the field, vegetation condition has not been mapped.

5.4 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT - VEGETATION

5.4.1 Vegetation of National Significance

No TECs, or vegetation units likely to be TECs, were located at the study area and therefore no vegetation units of National significance were recorded.


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