Appendix D Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity - Environment ...

5.3 Vegetation Surveys
National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) data has been applied across the entire project area (mining
area, haul road route and port facility). Vegetation types are described at NVIS level 3 providing detail on
growth form, height and cover of characteristic species in the dominant stratum (Hnatiuk, et al.
2009). Detailed information including dominant species in the upper and ground stratums and general
landform features are provided in Table 15.
The vegetation map presented in Figure 27 and Figure 28 has identified that the haul road route is set to
traverse large sections of Eucalyptus woodland located on flat to undulating plains (Veg ID 570) located east
of the Limmen Bight River and continuing through to the Bing Bong port facility. This vegetation type is
dominated by Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Corymbia ferruginea and Erythrophleum chlorostachys in the upper
stratum. Intersected by this section of the haul road are also a number of small isolated patches of
Melaleuca nervosa & M. viridiflora woodland (Veg ID 321) on the drainage flats. An area of low floodplain is
also located along the southern section of Rosie Creek, supporting a Chrysopogon (mixed) low tussock
grassland (Veg ID 336) dominated by Eucalyptus microtheca +/- Terminalia platyphylla +/- Ventilago
viminalis. This section of the haul road also crosses two small patches of Corymbia low open woodland
dominated by Corymbia dichromophloia, Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Corymbia ferruginea located on welldraining
upland plains (Veg ID 342) near the Limmen Bight River and Rosie Creek crossings. It is suspected
that the NVIS data applied to the mapping displays inaccuracies as accurate corresponding land form
features displayed within the map are located slightly north east of the Veg ID 342 mapping
boundaries. Detailed location surveys of both the Melaleuca woodland (Veg ID 321) and Corymbia low open
woodland (Veg ID 342) vegetation types have been undertaken by EcOz aimed at minimising impacts and
avoiding these areas and results are shown in the sensitive habitat survey (see Section 5.4.3).
The section of haul road beginning at the mining area and continuing through to the Limmen Bight River fall
almost entirely within Eucalyptus woodland (Veg ID 324) dominated by Eucalyptus tectifica, Corymbia
terminalis and Erythrophleum chlorostachys located on flat to undulating plans. A small area within this
section of the haul road also runs alongside Eucalyptus woodland (Veg ID 570) described above and makes
up the majority of the vegetation traversed by the haul road.
Table 15: NVIS vegetation descriptions of vegetation types in the vicinity of the haul road route
NVIS Level 3 Veg ID Description (adapted from NVIS community descriptions)
Acacia low woodland 391 Upper storey: Acacia shirleyi. Ground: Eriachne ciliata, Paspalidium
rarum, Schizachyrium fragile.
Environment: Lateritic sandstone outcrops, plateaux, breakaways to
north/rises and plains to south; gravelly lithosols, some shallow red, yellow
and black earths; well drained.
Acacia woodland 392 Upper storey: Acacia shirleyi, Eucalyptus spp. Ground: Eriachne ciliata,
Chrysopogon fallax, Paspalidium rarum.
Aglaia (mixed) mid
closed forest
Environment: Lateritic sandstone outcrops, plateaux, breakaways to
north/rises and plains to south; gravelly lithosols, some shallow red, yellow
and black earths; well drained.
1062 Upper storey: Aglaia sapindina +/- Syzygium spp. +/- Calophyllum sil.
Environment: Springs throughout Top End.
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Doc No. DW120004-C0302-EIA-R-0036
Doc Title: Appendix D – Terrestrial Biodiversity Technical Report