November 2004 (PDF 11.6 MB) - Barrick Gold Corporation

Cowal Gold Project – Noise Management PlanThe baseline surveys will be continued at the bird breeding areas during the main bird breedingperiods of August, October and January to provide monitoring data during Project construction andoperations. This data will allow examination of the spatial distribution of breeding species andbreeding activities in relation to the Project. Noise will be added as a variable into the statisticalanalysis to determine if there is a correlation between noise emissions and disturbance to birdbreeding.8.1.2 Bird Behaviour MonitoringAs agreed with NPWS (NPWS, pers. comm., 21 May 2003 and 24 June 2003) bird breeding activitywill be monitored by a suitably qualified person during construction and operation activities thatcoincide with bird breeding periods. This monitoring will be conducted in the bird breeding areaagreed in consultation with NPWS (NPWS, pers. comm., 21 May 2003) and will include observationsand photography from a bird hide or a boat as well as correlation with data collected during thebaseline surveys (Section 5.3.1).While monitoring of bird behaviour will focus on nesting and breeding behaviour, foraging and roostingare also key activities that are linked to breeding success and therefore will be included (NPWS, pers.comm., 24 June 2003).Parameters that will be monitored include (NPWS, pers. comm., 24 June 2003):• abrupt changes of bird behaviour as a result of noise (eg. birds taking flight as a result of a noisestimulus);• differences in behaviour between different species of birds;• the number and proportion of birds that take flight if considered to be in response to noise(relative to the total resident population at the time of monitoring);• the proportion of birds that return if they take flight in response to noise;• the length of time birds are away if they take flight and the likely impact this would have tohatching and fledging of offspring;• the degree to which birds develop tolerance to noise levels over time; and• changes in foraging and breeding patterns in terms of the extent and/or location of foraging andbreeding areas.In accordance with NPWS advice (NPWS, pers. comm., 25 June 2003), a suitably qualified personwill, on the basis of the results of the monitoring outlined above, experience and literature research,come to an opinion as to whether “demonstrable disturbance” of bird breeding is occurring as a resultof Project noise emission. If, at any time during the monitoring programme, a suitably qualified persondetermines that there is demonstrable disturbance, the DEC (including EPA and NPWS) will beinformed as soon as possible. In the event that demonstrable disturbance has been identified,remedial measures will be implemented as directed by the DEC (Section 11).8.2 MONITORING OF NOISE IMPACTS ON OTHER WILDLIFEIn accordance with Consent Condition 8.4(a)(ii), monitoring is to be undertaken in accordance withConsent Condition 3.4(a) to identify whether wildlife is significantly impacted by noise. In addition tomonitoring the impact of noise on bird breeding (Section 8.1), noise has been identified in the FFMPas potentially impacting on threatened fauna usage of the Compensatory Wetland and remainingwetland areas within ML 1535. Threatened fauna usage of these areas will be monitored inaccordance with the FFMP and Compensatory Wetland Management Plan.HAL-02-07/1/NMP01-P/17/11/04 27 BARRICK