Chapter 9 – Migratory shorebirds and the Australian Painted Snipe

• restricting native plant regeneration through competition; and
• potentially blocking waterways through the spread of aquatic weeds.
ABBOT POINT CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT
For migratory shorebirds and the Australian Painted Snipe, weeds may reduce the populations of floral
species on which they or their prey rely for either feeding or as shelter. Weeds can also monopolise
areas that would otherwise provide foraging habitat.
Areas of the Caley Valley Wetland are currently affected by weed disturbance. The Abbot Point project
has the potential to exacerbate these problems and as such, mitigation and management measures to
reduce the potential impacts of weeds should be implemented across the project area.
Pests
Clearance of vegetation and the construction of roads and rail corridors have the potential to allow
greater access to the Abbot Point project site for pest animals. In particular, this may facilitate greater
accessibility for feral animals that prey on shorebirds, such as feral cats and foxes, and for animals that
are known to degrade wetland habitat values, such as feral pigs.
Areas of the Caley Valley Wetland are currently affected by pest animals. Management of pest animals
has been identified as necessary as part of the management for migratory shorebirds and the Australian
Painted Snipe, and for several other values at the Abbot Point project site.
WATER QUALITY AND HYDROLOGY
Water quality within the wetland and the broader project site is spatially and temporally variable. Water
quality affects the condition and functioning of wetland habitats and the following issues arising from
construction and/or operational activities have the potential to affect water quality:
• increased sedimentation;
• release of contaminants;
• changed connectivity between the wetland and marine/estuarine areas;
• changed connectivity within the wetland; and
• increased water levels upstream of the causeway.
A reduction in water quality may affect water dependant fauna and vegetation, and has the ability to
reduce available food resources for migratory shorebirds and the Australian Painted Snipe.
Many of the surface water impacts are expected to be temporary; for instance, during construction
where hydrological processes may be more affected or where sedimentation impacts are greater as a
result of earthworks. In such instances, the effects on many migratory shorebirds will be less severe as
they tend to use a diversity of wetland habitats; with many species (including the Red-necked Stint and
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper) moving regularly between different habitat zones (BAAM 2012). The exception
to this is Latham’s Snipe. Although this species has been shown to also move between the open and
closed marsh zones it would be more susceptible to any reduction in vegetation cover caused by
hydrological or water quality changes to the wetland system.
Implementation of management measures in relation to potential impacts to surface water quality and
hydrology is considered necessary.
ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA & OPEN LINES 9 - 44