QGC Pty Ltd Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Clearance Contract 109662CNT Date of Issue: Reference No.: 8 th September 2010 B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0
www.egc.com.au Certified with NCSI International ABN 39010952744 Certified Quality Management System ISO 9001 Document Control Summary Sheet Project No.: Title: Status: Project Manager: Author/s: Reviewer: Approved by: Client: Client Contact: B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0 Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Clearance Report M Steffens Bartrim M Steffens Bartrim Dr Kevin Wormington, Rebecca Hendry M Steffens Bartrim QGC Pty Ltd Miss Jacqui Kelleher Level 26, 275 George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Date Issued: DRAFT:27 th July 2010, FINAL:8 th September 2010 Revision : 0 Distribution Record Destination Client: EGC Archives: Copies Provided 1 electronic pdf 1 electronic archive x Brisbane 120 Sherwood Road Toowong, Q, 4066 P.O. Box 2094 Milton, Q, 4064 Ph. (07) 3335 5666 Fx. (07) 3876 7277 Gladstone 100 Goondoon St Gladstone, Q, 4680 P.O. Box 1136 Gladstone, Q, 4680 Ph. (07) 4972 7080 Fx. (07) 4972 7090 Launceston 1/48 George St Launceston, TAS, 7250 Ph. (03) 6331 0238 Fx. (03) 6331 0246 Environmental Ground, Water & Air Consultants Pty Ltd 2007 The information contained in this document produced by Environmental Ground, Water & Air Consultants Pty Ltd is solely for the use of the Client identified on the cover sheet for the purpose for which it has been prepared and Environmental Ground, Water & Air Consultants Pty Ltd undertakes no duty to or accepts any responsibility to any third party who may rely upon this document All rights reserved. No section or element of this document may be removed from this document, reproduced, electronically stored or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Environmental, Ground, Water & Air Consultants Pty Ltd. Date of Revision: 01 04 09 Last Revision Date: 12 08 08 Page 1 of 1
Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Pre Clearance QGC Pty Ltd Contract 109662CNT September 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION... 2 2.0 BACKGROUND... 3 3.0 SCOPE OF WORKS... 3 4.0 RESULTS... 4 5.0 LIMITATIONS... 5 FIGURES Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Area subject to pre clearing Location Diagram Tree Locations APPENDICES Appendix A Appendix B Hollow Trees Field Record Photographs B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0
Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Pre Clearance QGC Pty Ltd Contract 109662CNT September 2010 1.0 INTRODUCTION The QCLNG Operating Company Pty Ltd (QCLNG) engaged Environmental Groundwater and Air Consultants Pty Ltd (EGC) to undertake terrestrial ecology vegetation pre clearance surveys for QCLNG site preparation works on Curtis Island, the QCLNG Project Contract 109662CNT. The services performed included ecological pre clearance field survey on the 13th 14 th July 2010 carried out within the area referred to as Stage 1 or Month1 and consisting of approximately 23 hectares of vegetation located between the proposed Construction Dock to the south and Liar Point access road leading towards the proposed Batch Plant to the north (Figure 1). FIGURE 1 Site Plan (after Bechtel, dwg ref. COK-0000-00091, rev008) This pre clearance report (Stage 1) is summarising the results of field survey carried out by the EGC ecological personnel within the subject area (Figure 2 and 3) and provides recommendations for the pre clearance activities. B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0 Page 2 of 5
Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Pre Clearance QGC Pty Ltd Contract 109662CNT September 2010 2.0 BACKGROUND The BG International Limited (BG) and Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) propose to develop a gas liquefaction facility on Curtis Island, adjacent to Gladstone, initially comprising two processing units, or trains, to be followed by a third train. This component also includes an export jetty and other supporting infrastructure (LNG Component); access channels for shipping vessels (Swing Basin and Channel); and LNG shipping operations to load the LNG and export it to global markets (Shipping Operations). Description of the proposed activities and the associated environmental impacts has been summarised in the QGC draft environmental impact statement supported by a supplementary environmental impact statement, both of which constitute the final environmental impact assessment for the Queensland Curtis LNG Project, and are publicly available at http://qclng.com.au/eis/draft-eis/. The project requires a progressive clearing of the vegetation within the proposed areas of the plant. The five stages associated with the clearing progress are referred to as the following areas: 1. Month 1 (site preparation and roadway area, fuel and LNG tanks) 23 Ha; 2. Month 2 (soil disposal and roadway) 40 ha 3. Month 3 (camp and materials offloading facility) 40Ha; 4. Month 4 (2 nd soil disposal area, construction dock) 50 Ha; 5. Month 10(riparian zone) 4Ha The clearing of all areas will be subject to the Ecological Management Plan for LNG Facility pre clearing Activities, which has been developed by QGC (July 2010) specifically for the project requirements and provides detailed procedures to manage potential impacts to flora and fauna. 3.0 SCOPE OF WORKS The pre clearance survey of the site was conducted prior to any vegetation removal activities in July 2010 by a team of qualified ecologists and scientists experienced in identification of flora and fauna of the local area and in handling of native wildlife. The scope of work conducted by EGC included the following activities: Discussions on Pre Clearing Work Plan Determination of the proposed approach to the work plan consisted of meetings between the EGC ecological team, the QGC Contractor (Bechtel) and QGC representatives/consultants. Consultation Consultation with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) was initiated to B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0 Page 3 of 5
Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Pre Clearance QGC Pty Ltd Contract 109662CNT September 2010 inform the local representatives on the proposed commencement of the clearance activities on the island and seek the potential feedback. Mapping by provision of GPS coordinates and marking of hollow bearing trees All hollow bearing trees were surveyed by handheld GPS to an accuracy of 2m and marked in the field. Each HBT was numbered, utilising the pink paint, symbol H for hollow, N for nest and T for the potential presence of the powerful owl nesting sites (HBT surveyed during the previous surveys and marked for example as T29, remained marked as such for the purpose of consistency). The tree species and size as well as number of hollows in each HBT were recorded. Additional specifics such as scratches and presence/absence of bee hives in the trees were also recorded in order to alert the clearing crew of the potential fauna presence or exposure to bee stings. Photographic documentation of the recorded trees was taken during the field survey and is included in this report. Pre Clearance report This report summarises the results of works performed during Stage 1 (Month 1) ecological field assessment. 4.0 RESULTS The pre clearing ecological field survey was carried out within the Stage 1 area of 23 hectares on the 13 th and 14 th July 2010 by Dr Kevin Wormington (Senior Ecologist), Rebecca Hendry (Ecologist) and Magdalena Steffens Bartrim (Project Manager). The survey identified a total of 159 HBTs (Appendix A, Figure 3), with the predominant hollow trees including stags (58), ironbark E.cerebra (37) and blue gum E.tereticornis (36), followed by spotted gum Corymbria maculat (14) and lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora (22). Minority of hollow trees included swamp box Lophostemon suaveolens (2), stringy bark Eucalyptus excerta (3) and Burdekin plum Pleyogynium timorense (1). A total of 4 trees (marked as T29, T30, T31 and T32) were recorded during the previous ecological surveys as the potential powerful owl nesting sites. No active powerful owl nesting sites were observed during the most recent survey by EGC. Three bird nesting sites (N27, N29, N50, species unidentified) were observed during the recent survey; however they were not active at the time of survey. A total of 22 trees recorded fresh scratches, indicating presence of fauna habitat. No bee hives were encountered in any of the surveyed trees, however as the survey was carried out in winter, they may be not active. The size of HBT s was divided in three categories subject to diameter, these including small (<30cm), medium (30 70cm) and large (>70cm). The HBT stand within the surveyed area consisted mainly of medium (79) and large size trees (61) with minority (19 trees) being classified as small. B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0 Page 4 of 5
Terrestrial Ecology, LNG Facility Site Pre Clearance QGC Pty Ltd Contract 109662CNT September 2010 The size of hollows was evaluated as small (<6cm), medium (6 12cm), large (13 30cm) and extra large (>30cm). The surveyed area was dominated by large and medium hollows (137 trees), with minority of small and some extra large openings. The amount of hollows was determined as <4, 4 to 8 and >8 per each surveyed tree. Majority of the trees (65) indicated less than 4 hollows per tree, with the remaining trees indicating between 4 8 or more than 8 hollows per tree. The density of hollows indicated a very good potential habitat for arboreal species such as gliders and possums and should be taken into consideration during the pre clearing and clearing activities. Woody, fallen branches of various sizes with occasional hollows were also encountered frequently during the survey, however were not recorded. The branches and small logs provide a very good habitat for mammals, reptiles and amphibians and potential relocation should be taken into consideration during the pre clearing and clearing activities. The photographs of all surveyed HBTs are included in Appendix B. 5.0 LIMITATIONS EGC prepared this report for the use of QGC in accordance with generally accepted consulting practice. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. This report has not been prepared for the use by parties other then the client, the owner and their respective consulting advisors. It may not contain sufficient information for the purposes of other parties or for other uses. The scope of this report is related solely to the ecological HBT field investigation undertaken on 13 th and 14 th of July 2010 at the Stage 1, Month 1 LNG facility at Curtis Island. Whilst to the best of our knowledge, information contained in this report is accurate at the date of issue; some conditions can change, limiting use of the report after a protracted delay. Magdalena Steffens Bartrim /Principal Consultant/ ENVIRONMENTAL GROUND, WATER & AIR CONSULTANTS PTY LTD. 8 th September 2010 B1302QGC Rep1 Rev0 Page 5 of 5
FIGURE 2 Location Diagram
FIGURE 3 Tree Locations
Appendix A Hollow Trees Field Record
Site reference: QGC Curtis Is, Month1, 23Ha Ecologist: Dr K.Wormington, R. Hendry Recorder: M.Steffens Bartrim Datum:GDA Date: 13 14/07/2010 Tree Latitude Longitude Tree Spec. Scientific Name Size (cm ScratcheBees Hollows numbeh. size 1 2376277 15119152 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 4to8 L 2 2376207 15119182 swamp box Lophostemon suaveolens >70 0 0 <4 S 3 2376222 15119123 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 1 0 4to8 M 4 2376218 15119123 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora 30 70 1 0 >8 M 5 2376220 15119220 ironbark E.crebra >30 0 0 <4 S 6 2376287 15119209 stag NA 30 70 0 0 4to8 L 7 2376297 15119211 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 1 0 4to8 L 8 2376250 15119228 peppermint Agonis flexuosa 50 70 0 0 <4 S 9 2376310 15119233 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 10 2376254 15119241 stag NA <30 0 0 1 S 11 2376305 15119305 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 >8 M 12 2376335 15119311 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 0 0 4to8 L 13 2376306 15119310 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 S 14 2376322 15119324 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 0 0 4to8 M 15 2376340 15119324 stag NA 30 70 0 0 1 L 16 2376370 15119368 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 17 2376398 15119272 stag NA <30 0 0 2 L 18 2376346 15119225 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 1 0 >8 L 19 2376325 15119209 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 20 2376313 15119204 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 L 21 2376286 15119165 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 22 2376274 15119196 stag NA 30 70 0 0 1 L 23 2376276 15119194 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 24 2376397 15119337 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 25 2376419 15119383 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 26 2376426 15119398 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 M 28 2376506 15119401 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 <4 L 30 2376544 15119458 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 >8 L 31 2376566 15119452 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora >70 1 0 <4 M 32 2376558 15119514 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 33 2376587 15119467 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 L 34 2376592 15119487 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 S 35 2376594 15119492 lemon scented gum Corymbria citriodora 30 70 1 0 <4 S 36 2376636 15119519 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 37 2376639 15119517 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 38 2376724 15119537 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 L 39 2376809 15119576 stag NA <30 0 0 1 L 40 2376809 15119579 stag NA <30 0 0 1 L 41 2376838 15119591 swamp box Lophostemon suaveolens <30 0 0 1 L 42 2376855 15119600 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 >8 L 43 2376888 15119640 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 44 2376893 1519653 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 45 2376920 15119670 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 46 2376933 15119638 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 M 47 2377009 15119672 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 48 2377197 15119858 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 49 2377245 15119904 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 51 2377261 15120032 spotted gum Corymbria maculata 30 70 0 0 1 M 52 2377302 15120111 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 L QGC Pre clearing Stage 1
Site reference: QGC Curtis Is, Month1, 23Ha Ecologist: Dr K.Wormington, R. Hendry Recorder: M.Steffens Bartrim Datum:GDA Date: 13 14/07/2010 53 2377330 15120087 ironbark E.crebra <30 0 0 <4 M 54 2377387 15120067 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 55 2377400 15120058 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 0 0 <4 M 56 2377398 15120045 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 S 57 2377398 15120027 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 58 2377390 15120031 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 59 2377381 15120036 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 60 2377373 15120040 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 <4 L 61 2377386 15119986 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 4to8 L 62 2377382 15120001 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 <4 M 63 2377386 15119986 stag NA <30 0 0 1 M 64 2377397 15119960 spotted gum Corymbria maculata 30 70 0 0 1 M 65 2377369 15119948 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 66 2377386 15119920 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 S 67 2377362 15119897 stag NA <30 0 0 1 M 68 2377369 15119861 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 69 2377423 15119824 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 L 70 2377422 15119824 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 >8 L 71 2377434 15119817 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 72 2377426 15119847 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 <4 S 73 2377466 15719853 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 4to8 L 74 2377451 15119823 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 >8 L 75 2377456 15119820 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 76 2377497 15119810 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 77 2377490 15119788 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 L 78 2377524 15119823 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 4 Aug L 79 2377532 15119810 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 L 80 2377534 15119861 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 1 0 >8 L 81 2377546 15119839 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 L 82 2377546 15119838 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 >8 M 83 2377533 15119818 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 S 84 2377534 15119823 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 L 85 2377585 1519829 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 86 2377597 15119826 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 0 0 4to8 M 87 2377623 15119807 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 0 0 <4 M 88 2377653 15119801 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 S 89 2377679 15119775 stag NA >70 0 0 <4 L 90 2377737 15119867 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 91 2377737 15119867 blue gum E.tereticornis <30 1 0 1 M 92 2377746 15119875 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 1 L 93 2377770 15119864 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 94 2377773 15119861 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 S 95 2377792 15119875 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 S 96 2377810 15119882 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 97 2377809 15119902 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 L 98 2377801 15119908 stag NA 30 70 0 0 4to8 L 99 2377797 15119910 stag NA 30 70 0 0 4to8 M 100 2377852 15120010 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 1 M 101 2377196 15119719 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 102 2377192 15119699 stag NA >70 0 0 4to8 L QGC Pre clearing Stage 1
Site reference: QGC Curtis Is, Month1, 23Ha Ecologist: Dr K.Wormington, R. Hendry Recorder: M.Steffens Bartrim Datum:GDA Date: 13 14/07/2010 103 2377218 15119671 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 104 2377278 15119651 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 <4 L 105 2377287 15119664 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 <4 S 106 2377301 15119649 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 <4 M 107 2377313 15119657 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 L 108 2377319 15119668 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 L 109 2377318 15119669 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 110 2377317 15119664 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 111 2377321 15119662 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 L 113 2377371 15119668 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 <4 M 114 2377343 15119630 stag NA >70 0 0 <4 M 115 2377358 15119613 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 116 2377362 15119516 stag NA >70 0 0 <4 XL 117 2377369 15119519 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 >8 L 118 2377358 15119501 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 119 2377422 15119650 stag NA >70 0 0 <4 M 121 2377458 15119666 burdekin plum Pleiogynium timorense 30 70 0 0 <4 S 122 2377539 15119725 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 123 2377594 15119741 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 M 124 2377877 15120033 spotted gum Corymbria maculata 30 70 0 0 4to8 M 125 2377869 15120021 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 126 2377516 15119727 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 L 127 2377445 15119812 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 128 2377402 15119788 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 L 129 2377443 15119812 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 M 130 2377431 15119858 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 M 131 2377310 15119833 stag NA <30 0 0 1 M 132 2377308 15119901 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 S 133 2377238 15119832 spotted gum Corymbria maculata >70 0 0 <4 M 134 2377256 15119759 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 L 135 2377356 15119768 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 136 2377353 15119765 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 137 2377367 15119768 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 L 138 2377373 15119751 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 4to8 M 139 2377380 15119745 stag NA 30 70 0 0 >8 M 140 2377400 15119696 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 141 2377439 15119795 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 M 142 2377439 15119717 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 M 143 2377443 15119737 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 M 144 2377450 15119714 stag NA 30 70 0 0 <4 M 145 2377440 15119693 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M 146 2377444 15119725 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 M 147 2377470 15119685 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 4to8 M 148 2377328 15119698 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 <4 M 149 2377256 15119727 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 4to8 M 150 2377246 15119713 stag NA >70 0 0 >8 L 151 2377213 15119788 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 >8 L 152 2377202 15119788 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 <4 L 153 2377202 15119788 stag NA >70 0 0 4to8 L 154 2377220 15119849 blue gum E.tereticornis 30 70 0 0 <4 M QGC Pre clearing Stage 1
Site reference: QGC Curtis Is, Month1, 23Ha Ecologist: Dr K.Wormington, R. Hendry Recorder: M.Steffens Bartrim Datum:GDA Date: 13 14/07/2010 155 2377145 15119678 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 >8 L 156 2377249 15119646 ironbark E.crebra 30 70 0 0 <4 M 157 2377300 15119621 stag NA <30 0 0 <4 M N27 2376435 15119394 string bark Lusicarpus augustifolius 30 70 0 0 0 0 N29 2376514 15119422 ironbark E.crebra >70 0 0 4to8 S N50 2377277 15119995 peppermint Agonis flexuosa 30 70 0 0 1 M T29 2377164 15119786 stag NA >70 1 0 >8 L T30 2377165 15119766 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 1 0 >8 L T31 2377428 15119691 blue gum E.tereticornis >70 0 0 4to8 XL T32 2377361 15119680 stag NA >70 0 0 <4 XL Hollow Size: S <6cm M 6 12cm L 13 30cm XL >30 QGC Pre clearing Stage 1
Appendix B Photographs