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To: DAWE Assessments and Support Branch Attention: Simon Votto

Fax No: [email protected] Date: 21 August 2020

CC: Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads From: Jeremy Visser

Ref: F.B24067.001.EPBC Additional Information.docx Pages: 14

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Dear Simon

RE: EPBC 2020/8692 YORKEYS KNOB BOATING INFRASTRUCTURE: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This memorandum provides additional information as requested by the Department of Agriculture, Water

and the Environment (DAWE) for the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) referral EPBC

2020/8692 Yorkeys Knob Boating Infrastructure, Yorkeys Knob, Queensland. It is understood that DAWE

requires further information to enable an assessment of the likelihood of a significant impact on MNES.

Noting the key matters identified in the Request for Additional Information dated 20 July 2020, this

memorandum has been drafted with the intent of providing information on what is perceived to be the major

information gaps/risk areas for the purpose of the referral:

• Dredging

• Acid sulfate soils (ASS)

• Changes in boating traffic

• Ant plant (Myrmecodia beccarii)

• Marine megafauna, shorebirds and seabirds.

Information is also provided below detailing the environmental investigations and assessments undertaken

to date to inform the development of the project and applications for permits as well as the original referral.

1 Environmental Investigations

1.1 Field Data Collection

The following environmental investigations have been undertaken for the project to date:

• Collection of metocean data from a series of tide, wave, pressure and current instruments deployed

between November and December 2018

• Transecting of Half Moon Bay in December 2018 to collect current, tide and bathymetric data

• Collection and analysis of marine sediment in December 2018 in accordance with a sampling and

analysis plan (SAP) approved by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science. The SAP

BMT Commercial Australia Pty Ltd Level 8, 200 Creek Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia PO Box 203, Spring Hill 4004 Tel: +61 7 3831 6744 Fax: + 61 7 3832 3627 ABN 54 010 830 421 www.bmt.org

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bmt.org/

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was prepared in accordance with the National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging 20091 and National

Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999. However, due to the

availability of other sediment sampling data from other parts of Half Moon Bay which indicated material

was mostly free from contaminants, a reduced set of sampling sites was used. The sampling was based

on six cores, undertaken until refusal.

• Collection of side-scan sonar in December 2018, with processing and interpolation to produce benthic

sediment classes and characterisation of benthic habitat.

• Raking along transects in December 2018 to collect marine plants and then estimate density of seagrass

cover and interpolation to determine likely distribution of seagrass.

• Vegetation assessments in December 2018 to ground-truth maps developed based on desktop review.

The assessments were undertaken in accordance with the Methodology for Survey and Mapping of

Regional Ecosystems2 and included identification of any prohibited or restricted invasive matters under

the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld) or locally significant pest species.

• Terrestrial fauna habitat assessment in December 2018 (concurrent with vegetation assessment)

focused on identifying and describing the fauna habitat features of the area and potential occurrence of

various fauna species. Important habitat features and indicators in the area were identified and

described.

These environmental data collection exercises supplemented already published literature and data for the

study area.

1.2 Numerical Modelling

Additional to data collection, numerical modelling of the coastal and fluvial processes of Half Moon Bay and

Half Moon Creek were undertaken. This included baseline modelling to determine metocean and

operational design criteria as well as impact modelling of the proposed structure and alternative design.

The modelling was undertaken using numerical models calibrated using the environmental data collected

in the field (as described above).

The key findings of the numerical modelling were as follows:

• Hydrodynamic changes – within the breakwaters there will be a reduction in currents and significant

wave heights for the 1 in 1 and 1 in 50 year average recurrence interval (ARI) events, creating an

environment consistent with the design specifications of AS3962 Table 4.2.3 Outside of the breakwaters,

there is a slight increase in flood and ebb currents, however these increases are within 0.05 m/s and

not expected to cause any material impact.

• Siltation – there will be a net reduction in siltation volumes in Half Moon Creek and the inner channel

following the development of the infrastructure. Within the breakwaters, there will be an increase in

siltation in the order of 50-200 mm/yr which will be accounted for by maintenance dredging.

The primary reasons these outcomes were achieved is that the chosen location is effectively an extension

of the existing marina facility rather than the development of a greenfield site.

1 Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2009), National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. 2 Neldner, VJ, Wilson, BA, Dillewaard, HA, Ryan, TS, Butler, DW, McDonald, WJF, Addicott, EP and Appelman, CN (2017), Methodology for Survey and Mapping of Regional Ecosystems and Vegetation Communities in Queensland, Version 4.0, Queensland Herbarium and Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane. 3 AS3962—2001: Guidelines for design of marinas, Table 4.2 Criteria for a ‘Good’ Wave Climate in Small Craft Harbours. Note that Table 4.2 of AS3962 is considered best practice in Australia for the design of boat launching locations. The boating infrastructure is not intended to function as a marina.

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2 Dredging

The total volume to be excavated as part of capital works is 18,000 m3 which will come from the dredge

basin and as required for the construction of the breakwater structures.

The capital dredging will most likely be undertaken by cutter suction dredge and pipeline to the reclamation

area, with material to be dewatered in temporary bunds before placement as part of the reclamation or

removal from site if unsuitable for engineering fill. This unsuitable material would be placed at an approved

receival site, most likely an onshore landfill. Because the volume of material to be removed is low

comparative to the size of the reclamation area, tailwater containment can be achieved easily with

temporary low and flat earth bunds which will comfortably and safely contain the tailwater.

Alternatively, a backhoe dredge and trucks may be employed for the dredging works, either by sealing off

the area with breakwaters and then excavation in the dry or by working from barges. The final methodology

for dredging will be subject to the preferred contractors’ plant and method.

A draft Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) has been developed for the works which

recommends works are limited to 6:00AM to 6:00PM to minimise noise impacts. The timing of the works

will be determined by the dredge contractor but would likely occur in the dry season (February to November)

to assist with dewatering onshore.

Maintenance dredging of 5,000-10,000 m3 of material would be required in the basin every 3-4 years. This

dredging would be undertaken by Cairns Regional Council as part of their existing program of dredging

works. This occurs under Environmental Authority EPPR00795313 and consists of cutter suction dredge

and pipeline to an approved beach nourishment site or to the approved Half Moon Bay dredged material

placement site (offshore). The maintenance works for the proposed project are yet to be included within

Councils existing maintenance approvals however this will occur subject to the capital dredge project

gaining statutory approvals. TMR is not aware of limits on the time of year that the existing maintenance

dredging program is undertaken. Given the proposed works represent a small addition to an existing

program of dredging in the area, works will follow existing arrangements and limitations if they exist.

Any dredging undertaken for the project should be considered in comparison to the scheduled maintenance

dredging undertaken by Cairns Regional Council of Half Moon Bay and surrounds. Based on the current

monitoring and management plan4 for this dredging, the indicative dredging program for the current five-

year period (2019-2023) is as shown in Table 2-1 below. This includes the proposed capital and

maintenance dredging for the project. As can be seen, the volume to be dredged for the project represents

no more than 10% of the total volume of the material targeted as part of maintenance dredging.

4 EcoSustainAbility (2020), Dredging to Half Moon Bay Spoil Ground Monitoring and Management Plan: Maintenance Dredging of Half Moon Bay Channels, Bluewater Harbour, Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay Marina, Version 2.3.2, prepared for Cairns Regional Council, Cairns.

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Table 2-1 Indicative 5-year dredging program for Half Moon Bay comparative to proposed project dredging

Location Volume dredged (‘000 m3)

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Cumulative 2019-23

Dredge Area 1: Zone A Half Moon Creek, Bluewater Harbour canals and marina, Riverside Parade Frontages

55.0 30.0 10.0 30.0 25.0 150.0

Dredge Area 2: Zone B Inner Entrance Channel (Half Moon Creek mouth to Half Moon Bay Marina) and Zone C Outer Entrance Channel (Half Moon Bay Marina to Outer Leads)

91.8 91.8 91.8 91.8 91.8 459.0

Dredge Area 2: Zone B Sand (Half Moon Creek Mouth)

20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 100.0

Dredge Area 3: Zone D Half Moon Bay, marina entrance, fuel wharf and boat ramp, and Zone E inner Half Moon Bay Marina

16.0 4.0 16.0 4.0 16.0 58.0

Annual volume (placed at dredged material placement site)

167.8 125.8 117.8 135.8 117.8 667.0

Yorkeys Knob boating infrastructure project development and maintenance*

- - 18.0 - 10.0 28.0

*Capital dredging for the project is assumed to occur in 2021. The first round of maintenance dredging would likely not

occur until 2024/25 but is shown for comparative purposes.

3 Acid Sulfate Soils

Based on the sediment testing undertaken in December 2018, the majority of the material within the dredge

basin is expected to contain potential ASS and would therefore requirement treatment when placed.

However, the natural buffering in this material is high and therefore has a low overall ASS risk.

In accordance with a dredge/cut design, the total dredging area will be approximately 13,000 m2 (1.3 ha).

As the exact measures for management of ASS will depend on dredging methodology, a detailed ASS

Management Plan will be developed by the dredging contractor prior to commencement of dredging. This

will likely focus on confirmation testing and application of in situ management measures for any material

with net acidity. Due to the low volumes of the material and the large reclamation area, any ASS

management required could be undertaken in situ and would not need to utilise an ASS treatment pad.

4 Boating Traffic

There currently exists two marina facilities in the immediate area of the proposed works which house two

public boat ramp facilities, Half Moon Bay Marina and Bluewater Harbour. These facilities have insufficient

parking to meet demand resulting in significant local street parking during peak boating days. The area is

already a highly disturbed area that is heavily used for boating access given these existing uses (see

examples of boating traffic from Google Earth aerials in 2012 and 2014 below) and the areas exclusion

from the Commonwealth Great Barrier Reef Marine Park would indicate that further development of this

area is preferred as opposed to greenfield open coast development of the Marine Park.

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Figure 4-1 Google Earth imagery of Half Moon Bay showing examples of existing boating usage (16 March 2014 and 16 June 2012)

The draft road traffic assessment for the project suggests that on a peak Sunday the facility may typically

be 70% utilised which represents 95 boats. From aerial photos of peak periods the existing public boat

ramp at the Half Moon Bay Marina is approximately 200% utilised with approximately 70 car and trailer

units (CTUs) (half of these parked in local streets) and similarly the Bluewater boat ramp carpark

(immediately upstream) is over 100% utilised during peak periods. This overutilisation is the key demand

driver for the new facility. This is the case because these ramps provide the only all tide ocean access to

the Great Barrier Reef for Northern Cairns.

On this basis the new facility is likely to just spread existing usage to utilise the available carparking for

50% of this likely peak capacity and then generate a conservative increase in the number of trailerable

vessels by 25% in peak periods. Given the high existing use of the area by trailerable and marina based

vessels this increase is not considered a significant impact.

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5 Ant Plant

Based on the December 2018 surveys, there are four colonies of ant plants (Myrmecodia beccarii)

associated with the large Melaleuca leucandendra on Buckley Street near the entrance to the proposed

road access. Additionally, ant plants were identified in two Rhizophora stylosa at the mouth of Half Moon

Bay, southwest of the proposed carpark. All three of these sites were shown in the material provided with

the project referral and are all outside of the proposed infrastructure footprint.

While no other ant plants were identified during the December 2018 surveys, it is possible that individuals

could also occur within the mangrove communities adjacent to the Half Moon Bay Marina, as shown in the

material provided with the project referral. The likelihood of further occurrence is low and would at most be

40-80 individuals, assuming occurring in up to four trees with a colony size of 10-20 individuals. This is

considered conservative, with the likely occurrence much lower. The presence of ant plants in this area

would need to be confirmed through targeted pre-construction surveys.

As noted in the referral material, if encountered, ant plant individuals would be translocated to suitable

nearby habitat (i.e. other mangroves in the immediate area) or to a nursery site for later relocation if a

suitable recipient site is not immediately available. Translocation of ant plants often occurs in Far North

Queensland and, most recently, was undertaken successfully at the mouth of Richters Creek (<3 km to the

southeast) as part of the development of a dredged material pipeline corridor for the Port of Cairns Shipping

Development Project. The exact translocation methodology will need to be determined by a suitably

qualified ecologist but will include the following elements:

• Sawing off of the host branch on which ant plants are attached, rather than physically removing ant

plants from the host branch

• Securing the cut branch by natural fibres to a new host as quickly as possible (<20 minutes)

• Smaller ant plants (<50 mm diameter) with minimal root development can be physically removed from

the host branch but will need to be resecured to the new host with grafting tape to maintain close contact

between plant and host.

Note that any impact to ant plants would require a Protected Plant Clearing Permit, Impact Management

Plan and Relocation Plan under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, all of which need to be

developed and implemented by a suitably qualified ecologist.

6 Marine Megafauna and Shorebirds

Table 6-1 below lists all the threatened and migratory species identified for the project area by the Protected

Matters Search Tool (PMST). This includes an assessment of the likelihood of the species’ occurrence.

Further discussion on two main fauna groups, marine megafauna and shorebirds and seabirds, are

provided below.

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Table 6-1 Listed threatened and migratory species identified for project area by PMST

Common name Scientific name Listing Type of presence (from PMST) Assessment of occurrence

Shorebirds and seabirds

Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area International migratory shorebirds are either known or likely to occur in the project area, utilising the various intertidal flats and associated habitats within Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay.

These are discussed further below.

Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Red knot Calidris canutus EN, Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea CR, Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos Mi Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

Bar-tailed godwit (baueri) Limosa lapponica baueri

VU, Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Northern Siberian bar-tailed godwit

Limosa lapponica menzbieri

CR, Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

Eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis

CR, Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Common greenshank Tringa nebularia Mi Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

White-bellied storm-petrel (Tasman Sea)

Fregetta grallaria grallaria

VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Seabirds are either known or likely to occur in the study area based on suitability of foraging habitat offshore and roosting habitat throughout the Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay complex.


Common noddy Anous stolidus Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Fork-tailed swift Apus pacificus Mi Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Greater frigatebird Fregata minor Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Little tern Sternula albifrons Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

Marine megafauna

Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area As the relevant area of potential impact represents shallow, nearshore and estuarine waters, whales are considered not relevant to the assessment. Blue whale Balaenoptera

musculus VU, Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae


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Australian snubfin dolphin Orcaella heinsohni Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area Inshore dolphins are likely to occur in the project area as individuals.

These are discussed further below. Indo-pacific humpback dolphin

Sousa chinensis Mi Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area

Killer whale Orcinus orca Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area While there is potential for killer whales to occur in the Cairns region, any such occurrences are typically anomalies and it is generally considered unlikely that the species will occur.

Dugong Dugong dugon Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area Dugong are known to occur in the Cairns region and individuals may transit through the project area.

This species is discussed further below.

Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta EN, Mi Breed likely to occur within area Marine turtles are known or likely to occur in the project area as individuals as the area is within the known distribution and occurrence of each species.


Green turtle Chelonia mydas VU, Mi Breeding known to occur within area

Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea

EN, Mi Breeding likely to occur within area

Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata


Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea EN, Mi Breeding likely to occur within area

Flatback turtle Natator depressus VU, Mi Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area

Salt-water crocodile Crocodylus porosus Mi Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Crocodiles are known to occur in the Cairns region and could occur from time to time within Half Moon Creek or Half Moon Bay.

This species is discussed further below.

Freshwater sawfish Pristis pristis VU, Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area Sawfish are considered highly unlikely to occur within the area as there are no known occurrences in recent history of sawfish within Half Moon Creek, Half Moon Bay or the surrounding area.

Green sawfish Pristis zijsron VU, Mi Breeding likely to occur within area

Narrow sawfish Anoxypristis cuspidata

Mi Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

White shark Carcharodon carcharias

VU, Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area While there is potential for white sharks and porbeagles to occur in the Cairns region, any such occurrences are typically anomalies and it is

Porbeagle Lamna nasus Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

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generally considered unlikely that the species will occur.

Whale shark Rhincodon typus VU, Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area As the relevant area of potential impact represents shallow, nearshore and estuarine waters, whale shark are considered not relevant to the assessment.

Reef manta ray Manta alfredi Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area Manta rays are more commonly associated with reef and pelagic habitat and therefore are not considered relevant to the project area. Giant manta ray Manta birostris Mi Species or species habitat may occur within area

Other species

Southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii

EN Species or species habitat known to occur within area Unlikely to occur as there is no suitable habitat in the project area

Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus

VU Species or species habitat known to occur within area There is suitable habitat in the project area and surrounds for woodland and coastal bird species. However, the proposed clearing for the access track would represent a negligible impact to the overall habitat availability for these species within the broader region. No nesting habitat is known to occur and could be managed through the use of spotter-catchers and other pre-construction management actions associated with the clearing.

Therefore, these species are not considered relevant to an impact assessment.

Grey falcon Falco hypoleucos VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus


Australian painted snipe Rostratula australis EN Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Masked owl (northern) Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli

VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Oriental cuckoo Cuculus optatus Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Barn swallow Hirundo rustica Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Black-faced monarch Monarcha melanopsis Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Spectacled monarch Monarcha trivirgatus Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Rufous fantail Rhipidura rufifrons Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Osprey Pandion haliaetus Mi Species or species habitat known to occur within area

Opal cling goby Stiphodon semoni CR Species or species habitat may occur within area The opal cling goby and listed amphibian species are all dependent on freshwater environments. As there

Australian lace-lid Litoria dayi VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

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Waterfall frog Litoria nannotis EN Species or species habitat may occur within area are no such environments in the project area, these species are not considered relevant.

Common mistfrog Litoria rheocola EN Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus EN Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Other than the spectacled flying-fox and water mouse (see below) none of these mammals are expected to be supported by habitat occurring within project area. These species typically occur in extensive coastal woodland communities which do not correlate with the communities known within the project area.

Spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus gracilis

EN Species or species habitat may occur within area

Koala Phascolarctos cinereus

VU Species or species habitat may occur within area

Semon’s leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros semoni VU Species or species habitat may occur within area

Ghost bat Macroderma gigas VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Black-footed tree-rat (north Queensland)

Mesembriomys gouldii rattoides

VU Species or species habitat may occur within area

Large-eared horseshoe bat

Rhinolophus robertsi VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Bare-rumped sheath-tailed bat

Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus

VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

Spectacled flying-fox Pteropus conspicillatus

EN Species or species habitat known to occur within area Colony known to occur within Ray Howarth Park, with individuals likely to overfly the project area, as shown in referral material.

Water mouse Xeromys myoides VU Species or species habitat may occur within area It is possible that water mouse occur within the mangrove habitats of the project area. However, while targeted surveys were not undertaken for water mouse, there was no evidence of water mouse identified during the December 2018 surveys within the area to be impacted. Even where the species did occur, majority of mangrove habitat within the project area and surrounds will be retained and no key impacts to the species are expected.

Therefore, this species is not considered relevant to an impact assessment.

Haines’s orange mangrove

Bruguiera hainesii CR Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Haines’s orange mangrove is known to occur in the Cairns region and could occur within the project area. However, while targeted surveys for the species were

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not undertaken, based on the December 2018 surveys it is unlikely these species occur within the actual impact area.

The total loss of suitable habitat for the species from the project works will be negligible comparative to the available mangrove habitat throughout the local area.

Ant plant Myrmecodia beccarii VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Known to occur, as shown in referral material and discussed above.

Canarium acutifolium VU Species or species habitat may occur within area These species could occur within the local area but are unlikely to be in the impact area as they are more closely associated with freshwater swamps and riparian areas which are not present. While targeted surveys were not undertaken, based on the December 2018 surveys it is unlikely these species occur within the actual impact area.

Lesser swamp-orchid Phaius australis EN Species or species habitat may occur within area

Phaius pictus VU Species or species habitat likely to occur within area

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6.1.1 Shorebirds

As noted above, international migratory shorebirds are either known or likely to use the intertidal flats and

roosting habitat that occurs throughout the Yorkeys Knob region. Adopting a conservative approach and

short of conducting targeted surveys for these species, all ten listed species are assumed to occur. This is

short of the number of species necessary to constitute the area as ‘important habitat’ under the threshold

in EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21 Industry guidelines for avoiding, assessing and mitigating impacts on

EPBC Act listed migratory shorebird species.5 The number of shorebirds identified during field survey also

was not sufficient to represent 0.1% of the flyway population of any one species nor to represent an

ecologically significant proportion of any one species.

The potential impacts of relevance to the migratory shorebird species from the works are:

• Loss of foraging and roosting habitat

• Disturbance of foraging activities during critical months for species migration

• Significantly increased disturbance associated with additional boat traffic and dredging activities once

the facility is operational.

At present, the total intertidal area to be lost from the works is negligible comparative to the shoals available

throughout Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay as well as the broader habitat complexes of the north

Cairns region. The intertidal area is actually the product of historical maintenance dredge material

placement and is highly disturbed habitat that is not known to support significant intertidal foraging

opportunities. The actual value of this area to shorebirds is therefore considered to be low and not of

relevance in assessing impacts at a population or regional scale. Similarly, the total area of supratidal

habitat to be lost is negligible and not anticipated to be regularly utilised by these bird species, comparative

to other abundant habitat in the region.

As discussed above, construction is expected to occur within drier months of the year and could overlap

with foraging activities by migratory shorebirds occurring between February and April. Given the actual

impacts would be limited to the intertidal and supratidal habitat, it is unlikely that this overlap would be of

significance to locally occurring shorebirds due to the low value of these habitats. Controls to restrict noise

impacts to surrounding areas would be implemented as part of the CEMP for the works and expected to be

sufficient to prevent significant impacts from occurring.

Boat traffic and dredging increases have both already been discussed, with the key conclusion that the

project represents a minor increase only in both activities. These increases are considered insufficient to

pose a broader risk to shorebirds in the north Cairns region. Additionally, as boat traffic is expected to

increase regardless of the project, any potential impacts associated with boat traffic for the broader region

would not be directly attributable to the project.

Based on the above, significant impacts to international migratory shorebirds are not considered likely from

the project’s construction or operation.

6.1.2 Seabirds

As for shorebirds, it is conservatively assumed that all listed seabird species could occur within the project

area. These species would utilise the intertidal habitat for roosting purposes, with foraging occurring in

nearshore and offshore waters. The numbers of birds occurring in the project area, however, would be

insufficient to represent an ecologically significant proportion of the population of any of these species.

Additionally, no nesting or critical lifecycle activities for any seabird species is known or expected to occur

5 Department of the Environment and Energy (2017), Industry guidelines for avoiding, assessing and mitigating impacts on EPBC Act listed migratory shorebird species, EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

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within the project area. Breeding areas for these species along the east coast are generally well known and

tend to occur in larger colonies.

The potential impacts to these species are similar to that for shorebirds, including the loss of roosting habitat

and increases in disturbance from additional boat traffic and dredging. As for shorebirds, the available

habitat for seabirds in the impact area consists of a highly disturbed intertidal area and small proportion of

supratidal coastal vegetation which is well represented and abundant in the broader region.

Considering the habitat suitability of the project area and the conclusions of impacts for shorebirds, impacts

to seabirds are not considered likely from the project’s construction or operation.

6.1.3 Inshore Dolphins

Both the Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa

chinensis) are known to occur in the Cairns region.6 These species are known to congregate and occur in

small, largely isolated metapopulations across the north of Australia,7 however the size and spatial

distribution of the Cairns metapopulations are. Based on habitat studies, the species are both known to

prefer shallow nearshore waters close to river mouths. Therefore, while there have not been confirmed

records for Half Moon Bay, it is assumed that individuals could occur.

Potential impacts to these species from the project relate to the increased risk of strike or acoustic

disturbance associated with additional boat traffic and dredging activities. As has been discussed

previously, the net increase in these activities attributable to the project is low comparative to what is already

occurring in the area. Therefore, the project is not considered likely to pose a risk of significant impact to

these species.

6.1.4 Marine Turtles and Dugong

There are no seagrass meadows within Half Moon Bay nor is there any known coral reefs within 5 km of

the site. The beaches within the project area are also heavily disturbed and do not support suitable nesting

habitat for marine turtles. Based on these constraints, marine turtles are not expected to regularly occur

within Half Moon Bay or Half Moon Creek and therefore are unlikely to be subject to material risk from the

infrastructure construction or maintenance.

Similarly, due to the lack of seagrass meadows in the area, dugong are not expected to congregate in the

project area and therefore are not under material risk of habitat loss.

The key potential impact to these species from the project relates to the increased risk of strike associated

with additional boat traffic and dredging activities. As has been discussed previously, the net increase in

these activities attributable to the project is low comparative to what is already occurring in the area.

Therefore, the project is not considered likely to pose a risk of significant impact to these species.

6.1.5 Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is known to occur in the north Cairns region, including sightings in rivers and

estuaries throughout the area.8 Nesting and other significant habitat are not known to occur in the project

6 See records in Parra, GJ (2006), Resource partitioning in sympatric delphinids: Space use and habitat preferences of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Journal of Animal Ecology 75: 862; and Parra, GJ, Corkeron, PJ and Marsh, H (2006), Population sizes, size fidelity and residence patterns of Australian snubfin and Indo-pacific humpback dolphins: Implication for Conservation, Biological Conservation 129: 167. See also stranding records as published by Queensland Department of Environment and Science: https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/caring-for-wildlife/marine-strandings/data-reports/annual-reports. 7 Brown, AM, Kopps, AM, Allen, SJ, Bejder, L, Littleford-Colquhoun, B, Parra, GJ, Cagnazza, D, Thiele, D, Palmer, C and Frere, CH (2014), Population Differentiation and Hybridisation of Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific Humpback (Sousa chinensis) Dolphins in North-Western Australia, PLOS-One 9(7): 1. 8 See for example discussion in two recent Environmental Impact Statements for the north Cairns region: Cairns Shipping Development Project and Aquis Resort.

https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/caring-for-wildlife/marine-strandings/data-reports/annual-reports

https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/caring-for-wildlife/marine-strandings/data-reports/annual-reports

http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Cairns%20Shipping%20Development/Revised%20draft%20EIS/Chapters/chapter-b7-marine-ecology.pdf

http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Cairns%20Shipping%20Development/Revised%20draft%20EIS/Chapters/chapter-b7-marine-ecology.pdf

http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Active%20Projects/Aquis%20Resort%20at%20the%20Great%20Barrier%20Reef/EIS/Aquis%20EIS_DIGITAL_Chapter%207.pdf

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area and are unlikely due to the existing disturbance, although suitable habitat does occur further upstream

in Half Moon Creek. The lack of suitable habitat means that the project is unlikely to have any habitat-

related impacts to crocodiles in the area.

Crocodiles may also be at risk from boat strike and dredging, although strike incidents involving crocodiles

are rare. However, as discussed previously, the net increase in these activities attributable to the project is

low comparative to what is already occurring in the area. Therefore, the project is not considered likely to

pose a risk of significant impact to these species.

6.1.6 Summary

In summary of the above, the immediate project area and surrounds does not provide high value habitat

for any listed threatened or migratory shorebird, seabird or marine megafauna species, primarily due to the

existing disturbance of the site. Any fauna occurring in the area would be individuals that move across the

range of habitats available in the broader region. This lack of high value habitat diminishes the likelihood

that any disturbance in the project area would be of relevance to the population status of these species.

A substantial increase in boat traffic and dredging would have the potential to impact on at least some of

these species, especially where there was a significantly increased risk of vessel strike. However, the total

increase in these activities is anticipated to be low to negligible in the context of existing and projected

boating demand for the north Cairns region (with or without the project) and the existing maintenance

dredging undertaken through Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay by Cairns Regional Council.

For these reasons these species were not specifically highlighted within the referral material previously

provided for the project.

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