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EIS Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment Surat Gas Project Arrow Energy has provided cleaner energy to Queensland through coal seam gas (CSG) production in the Surat and Bowen Basins since 2004. Arrow proposes to expand its CSG operations in the Surat Basin through the Surat Gas Project. The need for the project arises from the growing demand for gas in the domestic and global markets and the associated expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export markets. This fact sheet summarises key findings of the Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment undertaken as part of the Surat Gas Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). April 2012 Introduction What did the Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment involve? Guidelines set by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP), formerly the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) protect aquatic resources in Queensland. The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 (EPP (Water)) sets out the objectives for the protection of aquatic environmental values of wetlands and waterways. The Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment involved a desktop study to identify the existing aquatic environment through review of existing data and information for the study area (Figure 1). The desktop study involved a detailed literature review and searches of the following government and nongovernment databases, and other sources: • EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool for listed threatened species and communities. Other legislation relevant to aquatic ecology includes the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act), Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld), Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld), Water Act 2000 (Qld), and Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (Qld). These acts and associated policies and regulations protect aquatic ecology through the: • Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM, an assessment method developed by DEHP. • DEHP’s Wildlife Online database. • The Murray Darling Basin Commission for fish data in the Condamine and Weir Rivers. • A review of recreational fishing clubs, associations and values of the project development area. • Protection of matters of national environmental significance, including listed aquatic species and Ramsar sites. • Protection of native wildlife, which includes individual species of plants and aquatic animals, in addition to habitats and ecosystems. • Management, use and protection of fisheries resources in Queensland. • Sustainable planning, allocation and supply of water resources to ensure the improved security of water resources. • Management of pest animals and weeds. Figure 1 Aquatic ecology sampling sites (Figure 3-2 of the Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment) The Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 and Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC, 2000) provide a framework for assessing water quality through the setting of water quality objectives. The Regional Vegetation Management Code for Brigalow Belt and New England Tablelands Bioregions was adopted for the aquatic ecology impact assessment to ensure riparian vegetation was protected to maintain aquatic ecological values. An Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment was completed by Aquateco Consulting Pty Ltd in accordance with the EPP (Water) and applicable guidelines for the Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project EIS. EIS Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment Field surveys were conducted at sites representative of the aquatic ecosystems of the project development area in November 2009 (early wet season) and May 2010 (post wet season). A field reconnaissance trip assessed 73 sites selected on the basis of land use, and waterway and catchment characteristics. Many of the sites were found to exhibit similar attributes and conditions which led to 11 sites (Figure 1) being identified for assessment of habitat, water quality, and presence of aquatic plants (macrophytes) and animals (fish, reptiles and macroinvertebrates). The targeted sites had significant aquatic ecosystem values such as high value wetlands or critical habitat for listed aquatic species. What are the issues and potential impacts? Managing aquatic ecology Arrow recognises that the aquatic ecology resources of the project development area are important conservation assets and are relied upon for a variety of human and ecological uses. The protection of aquatic ecology values present in the project development area will be achieved by: • Selecting production facility sites away from sensitive locations and implementing a buffer zone around sensitive areas within which project activities will be avoided or limited. • Minimising physical disturbance of stream banks and stream beds to reduce the potential for erosion and sediment movement. • Developing an erosion and sediment control plan to minimise potential impacts when avoidance of disturbance of stream beds and banks is not practicable, including from any discharges of water from project activities. • Developing and implementing handling and storage, emergency and spill response procedures to minimise any impacts that could occur as a result of releases of hazardous materials. • Carrying out corrective actions immediately upon the identification of any contamination of soil or groundwater that has occurred as a result of project activities. • Developing a weed and pest management plan. • Ensuring designs of watercourse crossings and other potential barriers maintain flows and enable fish passage. Potential impacts on aquatic ecology from the Surat Gas Project activities include: • Erosion and increased movement of sediment from earthworks and watercourse crossings. • Decline in water quality and increased algal blooms from sedimentation and barriers or restrictions to flows. • Introduction and spread of introduced species. • Reduced movement of aquatic animals from the installation of temporary or permanent waterway barriers. • Habitat loss and modification from clearing of riparian and in-stream vegetation. The potential impacts are most likely to occur during construction (roadworks and pipeline watercourse crossings), but also in the operations and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the proposed project. Arrow’s environmental protection objectives The environmental protection objectives for aquatic ecology are: • • To avoid or minimise adverse impacts to the aquatic ecology in environmentally sensitive areas, and permanent, semi-permanent and ephemeral watercourses. To control the introduction or spread of new or existing exotic aquatic flora or fauna species. Key Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment findings Aquatic ecosystems of the study area comprise diverse environments with permanent, semi-permanent and highly seasonal flowing water and standing water represented in four drainage basins. The aquatic habitats of the project development area comprise wetlands and permanent, semi-permanent and ephemeral watercourses. Important features include: • Lake Broadwater. • Watercourses (notably the Condamine River) and numerous small swamps and billabongs. • A section of Oakey Creek thought to support an extremely limited distribution of locally threatened fish. EIS Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment In general, the aquatic environments of the project development area are moderately to highly disturbed, as a result of historic land clearing and altered drainage patterns. Existing water quality was poor, with a number of pollutants outside of the relevant water quality guidelines. No nationally or state significant aquatic flora were identified. The fish and aquatic reptile species in the project development area are generally species that tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. However, seven fish species that are considered to be potentially locally threatened were identified, as known to be present or likely to be present, in the project development area. The species are of conservation value, as they are not very tolerant to change. Macroinvertebrates (animals, including insects, that have no backbone and can be seen with the naked eye) in the study area are indicative of watercourses that are significantly degraded due to poor water or habitat quality. These animals are typically characteristic of watercourses experiencing significant impacts from activities such as water extraction, land clearing and farming. Plate 1 below shows the bony bream, one of the most abundant native fish species found in watercourses in the project development area. are effective and monitoring will be undertaken to demonstrate achievement of the environmental objectives by: • Inspecting erosion and sediment control measures following significant rainfall events to ensure their effectiveness is maintained. • Visually inspecting streams and monitoring hydrology and water quality upstream and downstream of crossings immediately prior to, during and after construction of watercourse crossings. • Routinely inspecting project worksites for evidence of pest plants and animals. • Routinely visually inspecting streams and monitoring hydrology and water quality at CSG water discharge points. Inspection and monitoring will be conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines upstream and downstream of authorised locations. • Routinely inspecting spill containment controls and spill response kits. Further reading Surat Gas Project EIS: • Volume 1, Chapter 16, Aquatic Ecology. • Volume 5, Appendix J, Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment. For more information For persons or groups with special communication needs or persons requiring further information about the Aquatic Ecology Impact Assessment, please either contact Arrow directly or view the Surat Gas Project EIS in any of its various media forms (i.e. online book format, downloadable PDFs or hard copy) via the following: Further work Inspection and monitoring of avoidance, mitigation and management measures will be implemented to ensure the residual impacts continue to be low throughout the life of the project. Inspection will be undertaken regularly to ensure mitigation measures Find out more online @ www.arrowenergy.com.au BRISBANE DALBY MORANBAH GLADSTONE AE_058_02_12_V2 Telephone: freecall 1800 038 856 Email: [email protected] Visit: (for both the online book format and downloadable PDFs): www.arrowenergy.com.au