Appendix D Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity - Environment ...

D-4. Mine and Camp Area
4.1 Introduction
All mining activities and the site camp will occur within the MLA areas (includes open pit mining, waste rock
dumps, process plant, camp facility, laydown pads, and other associated mining infrastructure/operations). A
total of 415 hectares of vegetation will be removed for mining purposes within the MLA areas (see Figure
11). As this area is going to be highly disturbed by the proposed mining activities, the level of survey effort to
record flora and fauna has been conducted at a high level in order to design or manage the project area to
reduce impact on ecological values. Biological surveys within the MLA areas included:
• Vegetation surveys and mapping to NVIS level 5 which has resulted in a 1:25000 vegetation map for
the MLA areas;
• Terrestrial fauna surveys in Wet and Dry seasons to capture temporal variations in species
assemblages. This included physical bat trapping techniques to target the EPBC listed Bare-rumped
Sheathtail bat;
• Freshwater fish surveys were completed in late Dry season in billabongs and downstream refugia
within the project area; and
• Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems surveys, to determine whether open pit dewatering activities
will impact on surface vegetation.
The majority of the Towns River catchment – which the MLA areas are situated within – consists of flat or
undulating alluvial plains which are inundated to varying degrees. Shallow to moderately deep stream
channels cross the alluvial plains running in a north-easterly direction. The plains are interspersed with low
stony hills and drier rises. The most significant topographic and geological features are narrow, linear, rocky,
quartz sandstone and ironstone ridges which rise to about 30 m. These ridges, which are steep sided in
places, primarily run east-west but form a distinct ‘U’ shape enclosing the eastern boundary of lease area.
The ridges and hills influence the drainage. The majority of the surface flow within the MLA areas flows
predominantly north-east to the Towns River and a minor proportion flows from the southern ridges, southeast
to Magaranyi Creek.
The major landforms within the MLA areas are low ironstone and sandstone ridges, seasonally inundated
melaleuca swamps, creek-lines, and flat sandy plains supporting mixed Eucalyptus and Lancewood
woodlands. The upper and middle reaches of the Towns River meanders through the MLA areas. However,
in the vicinity of the MLA areas the creek lines are ephemeral and usually cease flow during the Dry season
with remaining water being reduced to isolated pools and billabongs.
Client: Western Desert Resources Ltd Page 49 of 150
Doc No. DW120004-C0302-EIA-R-0036
Doc Title: Appendix D – Terrestrial Biodiversity Technical Report