Appendix A - Flora and Fauna Survey - Grange Resources

� Reduction in the extent of vegetation communities and associated habitats: the desalination
plant and pipeline has been positioned to avoid or limit impacts to native vegetation, particularly
conservation significant vegetation and important habitats. Up to 15.9 ha of native vegetation
will require removal.
� This clearing includes 0.93 ha of the Priority 3 ecological community – Swamp Yate (Eucalyptus
occidentalis) woodlands in seasonally inundated clay basins (South Coast). Ecologia (2008a)
assessed the extent of the Swamp Yate (Eucalyptus occidentalis) woodlands in seasonally
inundated clay basins (South Coast) within the East Sand Plain Sub-catchment, and identified
the presence of 44 ha of this community in Good to Excellent condition. Taking a conservative
approach (using the 44 ha extent), the 0.93 ha of the Swamp Yate PEC to be cleared for this
Project is estimated to be approximately 2% of that present in the sub-catchment.
� Four Priority species and an unconfirmed Lasiopetalum species were identified from within the
alignment. These were recorded in low densities in four quadrat sites. Given the limited extent of
vegetation clearing associated with the Project and presence of similar habitat surrounding the
alignment (including within the offset site) clearing for the Project is not expected to result in
significant losses to priority species. An additional conservation significant flora targeted search
will be undertaken in Spring 2011 to further assess and map conservation significant flora.
� Fragmentation and barrier effects: given the location along existing tracks and cleared areas and
minimal length of time the trench will be open, further fragmentation or restrictions to fauna
movement are not expected.
� Fauna injury and mortality: through entrapment and vehicle strike during the construction period.
� Dieback and weeds: potential to cause spread and introduction of weeds and dieback.
Mitigation
A general principle of environmental management is to, in order of preference:
� Avoid environmental impacts;
� Minimise impacts;
� Mitigate the impacts; and
� Where impacts cannot be avoided or minimised, compensate for the residual impacts using
other mitigation measures such as offsets.
Potential impacts will be managed through Construction Environmental Management Plans/Project
Environmental Management System (CEMP and PEMS).
Conclusion
Given the extent of native vegetation requiring clearing (15.9 ha) and presence of similar habitats within
the broader area, the project is not expected to result in significant impacts to conservation significant
species or communities, or to the biodiversity of the local or regional area. Furthermore, with appropriate
management, the residual impacts of the Project on flora and fauna are considered to be relatively minor
and localised.
iv