Appendix D Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity - Environment ...

• Fine scale vegetation mapping (1:25,000 scale) – delineating and describing vegetation types;
• Habitat characterisation – either confirming existing land system mapping or characterising particular
areas either relating to fauna assessments or survey for notable habitat; and
• Local assessment for the presence of weed species.
A summary of the levels of vegetation assessment applied to each of the three key development areas is
presented in Table 2.
All levels of vegetation mapping and habitat characterisations have followed the Northern Territory
Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping (Brocklehurst et al. 2007), with some
minor modifications. Vegetation mapping and habitat characterisation comply with descriptions to NVIS
Level V, which encompasses a description of the broad structural formation (e.g. woodland, canopy height
and projective cover) and the dominant species in three strata (Upper overstorey, Midstorey and Ground
Layer). In all cases disturbance attributes such as grazing, fire and introduced plants have been recorded as
part of the vegetation assessments which enables some interpretation of vegetation condition.
Weed assessment has focused on detecting weed presence along accessible road sides and some limited
surveying within high value habitats along the haul road. Recording weed presence aligns with the
Guidelines for Weed Data Collection in the Northern Territory – Version 3 (2010) whereby the weed density
(in terms of cover) is estimated within a nominated area (a 25m x 25m quadrat in most cases).
The following outlines the focus and justification for vegetation assessment for each the proposed
development envelopes.
Mine and Site Camp Area
Given the MLA areas are potentially targeted for substantial disturbance (inclusive of alteration to ground
water levels and rehabilitation with altered substrates) vegetation mapping has been refined to NVIS level V
at 1:25,000 scale. The main purpose and objectives for mapping and surveying the vegetation within this
development area have included:
• Providing a fine scale map and description of the existing vegetation types to NVIS level V; and
• Scoping the potential for notable species (i.e. rare, threatened or restricted in range).
The resultant vegetation map and assessment compliments additional environmental studies for the Mine
and Camp site including:
• Interpreting surface flows, presence of wetlands and seasonally inundated areas;
• Identifying the range aquatic ecosystems present within the potential impact zone and hence
targeting surveys to examine the values of these systems;
• Providing a base map for interpreting the presence of likely ground water dependent ecosystems;
and
• Providing a basis for defining potential rehabilitation objectives and targets.
Haul Road
Land Systems and Vegetation Types
The proposed haul road traverses 165km and crosses several land system and vegetation types. The
majority of land systems which the transport route plans to intersect are extensive and common within the
Gulf area and the Northern Territory. The main purpose of vegetation assessment for this potential
development zone has been to confirm and supplement existing land system mapping at (1:250,000 scale by
Aldrick et al. 1990) and primarily focus on delineating and characterising notable habitats (or those preferably
avoided) within a 6km wide corridor of the potential transport route (3km either side of the centre line). The
notable habitats targeted included: rocky ridges, tributaries, water bodies and vegetation types inclusive of
rainforest, monsoonal vine thicket and riparian vegetation.
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Doc No. DW120004-C0302-EIA-R-0036
Doc Title: Appendix D – Terrestrial Biodiversity Technical Report