Memo To: Miro Rapaic (Flinders Mines), Gavin Edwards (Preston Consulting)

From: Nick Dight

Date: 7 November 2014

Subject: Pilbara Iron Ore Project Level 1 Vertebrate fauna survey of proposed road alignment

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 1

Dear Miro and Gavin,

This memo addresses the Level 1 vertebrate fauna survey of a proposed road alignment for Flinders Mines’ Pilbara Iron Ore Project.

Methodology

The study area was located approximately 130 km east south-east of Pannawonica and was approximately 6 km long by 200 m wide (Figure 1).

Desktop review results from surveys conducted for the Balla Balla Railway Project (Phoenix 2014) were utilised for the current study area as the desktop search area encompasses the current study area. This included the following database searches:

EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool (Department of the Environment 2014b) for a line (21°56'21.98"S 117°34'28.99"E; 21°31'28.99"S 117°46'17.00"E and 20°57'24.98"S 117°38'18.99"E) with a 40 km buffer

DPaW/WA Museum NatureMap (DPaW 2014a) search from three centre points (20°57’02''S 117°38’18''E; 21°31'28'S 117°46'17''E and 21°56’21''S 117°34’28''E ) with a 40 km buffer

DPaW Threatened Fauna database (DPaW 2014b) for a rectangle polygon with the diagonal coordinates of 20°31'24.41"S 117°18'34.21"E (NW point) and 22°22'14.03"S 118°12'7.06"E (SE point)

Birdlife Australia Birdata database (Birdlife Australia 2005–2007) search for a rectangle polygon with the diagonal coordinates of 20°31'24.41"S 117°18'34.21"E (NW point) and 22°22'14.03"S 118°12'7.06"E (SE point).

Six sites were surveyed within the study area on 20 October 2014 by Zoologists Ryan Ellis and Nick Dight. Site descriptions were recorded from each site in order to inform the habitat mapping for the study area and assess the potential for conservation significant species to occur (Attachment 1).

The Level 1 survey and habitat assessment was undertaken in accordance with Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Guidance Statement 56: Terrestrial fauna surveys for environmental impact assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2004). Survey techniques consisted of one person hour of active searching at each site focusing on, but not limited to conservation significant species (Department of the Environment 2014a; DPaW 2013). Active searching involved identification of live animals, raking leaf and bark litter, overturning logs and stones, searching beneath the bark of trees, breaking open dead trees and logs, investigating overhangs and crevices, investigating burrows and recording tracks, diggings, chewings, scats and other signs of activity. Avifauna were surveyed by sightings and call identification.

Likelihood of occurrence for species of conservation significance identified in the desktop review (Phoenix 2014) was assessed based on the habitat assessment and proximity of the study area to previous records of each species.

Memo

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 2

Results

A single habitat type – open and closed shrubland – was recorded within the study area (Figure 1). This habitat type comprised of a mix of small to large shrub species and scattered eucalypts over spinifex on a stony substrate. Condition of the habitat varied but was generally poor with existing tracks and drill lines present (Attachment 1). At two survey sites (sites 4 and 5) vegetation had been burnt, exposing stony substrate (Attachment 1).

No direct evidence of conservation significant fauna was recorded in the study area. The shrublands in the study area provide suitable habitat for Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) , Short-tailed Mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis) and, to a lesser extent, foraging habitat for birds of prey, such as Grey (Falco hypoleucos) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus )and bat species, such as Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantius) and Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) (Table 1).

Open and closed shrubland habitat was observed to be widespread outside the study area in the general vicinity. The study area therefore does not contain any restricted or high value habitats and clearing of these habitats is unlikely to lead to significant impacts on vertebrate fauna.

Yours Sincerely,

Nick Dight

Zoologist

nick.dight@phoenixenv.com.au

08 9345 1608

1/511 Wanneroo Rd Balcatta WA 6021

We s te rnAu s t r a l ia

PERTH

Figure 1Survey sites and habitatof the proposed roadalignment forFlinders Mines

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Coo rdin ate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zo n e 50Projectio n : Tran sverse MercatorDatum: GDA 1994

Clien t: Flin ders Min es LtdProject: Pilbara Iro n Ore Project

This drawing is subject to COPYRIGHT and is property of Phoenix Environmental Sciences — Data sources:

Date: 7/11/2014Author: G. Boutelo up

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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS,USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS UserCommunity

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Study areaOpen an d clo sed shrublan dSurvey sites

Memo

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 4

Table 1 Summary of conservation significant species and likelihood of occurrence in the study area

VU – Vulnerable (EPBC Act); S1 – Schedule 1 (WC Act); P4 – Priority 4 (DEC).

References

Birdlife Australia. 2005–2007. Birdata. Birdlife Australia, Carlton, Vic. Available at: http://www.birdata.com.au

Department of the Environment. 2014a. EPBC Act list of threatened fauna. Australian Government, Department of the Envrionment, Canberra, ACT. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl#other_animals_vulnerable (accessed 13 May 2014).

Department of the Environment. 2014b. Protected matters search tool. Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra, ACT. Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/pmst/index.html

DPaW. 2013. Threatened and priority fauna rankings (18 September 2013). Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, WA.

DPaW. 2014a. NatureMap. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, WA. Available at: http://naturemap.dec.wa.gov.au/

DPaW. 2014b. Threatened Flora, Fauna and Ecological Community Data Searches. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, WA. Available at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/flora_fauna_tec_searches_feb2012.pdf (accessed 15 June 2014).

Species EPBC

Threatened species

WC Act DPaW

List

Likelihood of

occurrence Summary of records and occurrence

BIRDS

Burhinus grallarius Bush Stone-curlew

P4 Possible May occur in shrubland habitat within the study area.

Falco hypoleucos Grey Falcon

S1 VU Possible

May occasionally forage within the study area and surrounds. No suitable nesting habitat was identified within the study area.

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon

S4 SP Possible

May occasionally forage within the study area and surrounds. No suitable nesting habitat was identified within the study area.

MAMMALS

Leggadina lakedownensis Short-tailed Mouse

P4 Possible May occur in shrubland habitat within the study area.

Macroderma gigas Ghost Bat

P4 Possible May occasionally forage within study area. No potential roost sites were identified within the study area.

Rhinonicteris aurantius Orange Leaf-nosed Bat

VU S1 VU Possible May occasionally forage within study area. No potential roost sites were identified within the study area.

Memo

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 5

EPA. 2004. Guidance for the assessment of environmental factors (in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986). Terrestrial fauna surveys for environmental impact assessment in Western Australia. No. 56. Environmental Protection Authority, Perth, WA. Available at: http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/EPADocLib/1850_GS56.pdf (accessed 7 September 2012).

Phoenix. 2014. Terrestrial fauna surveys for the Balla Balla Railway Project. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd, Balcatta, WA. Unpublished report prepared for Preston Consulting on behalf of Rutila Resources Ltd.

Memo

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 6

Attachment 1 Survey site descriptions

Site 01: Open shrubland with sparsely scattered eucalypts to 10 m over scattered patches of mixed shrubs to 3m over mature spinifex to 1 m. Scattered patches of sparse vegetation with exposed gravelly surface.

Site 02: Open shrubland with sparsely scattered eucalypts to 10 m over scattered patches of mixed shrubs to 3m over mature spinifex to 1 m. Scattered patches of sparse vegetation with exposed gravelly surface.

Site 03: Low open shrubland with scattered eucalypts to 12 m over scattered patches of small or medium shrubs to 2m over spinifex to .5 m. Patches of young spinifex growth with scattered areas of exposed stony substrate. Rehabilitated drill pads and tracks present.

Memo

Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ABN: 60 131 288 938 7

Site 04: Burnt shrubland with scattered eucalypts to 10 m over small shrub and spinifex regrowth to .5 m. Large areas of sparse vegetation with exposed stony surface.

Site 05: Burnt area with scattered eucalypts with regrowth to 8 m over sparse regrowth shrubs and spinifex regrowth to .5 m. Large areas of sparse vegetation with exposed stony substrate.

Site 06: Open shrubland on low stony rise with scattered eucalypts to 10 m over mixed shrubs to 1.5 m over spinifex to .75 m. Vegetation not dense with scattered areas of exposed stony substrate. Exposed base rock at top of stony rise.