marine and estuarine ecology impact assessment - Arrow Energy

264 Pages·2011·18.43 MB·English

by  Lucy Thomas

APPENDIX 12
ARROW LNG PLANT
Marine and Estuarine Ecology Impact Assessment

MARINE AND ESTUARINE ECOLOGY IMPACT
ASSESSMENT

Arrow LNG Plant

MARINE AND ESTUARINE
ECOLOGY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Arrow LNG Plant

October 2011
CR 7033_09_v6

Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd ABN 65140765902
(formerly Coffey Natural Systems)
Level 2, 12 Creek Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia
T (+61) (7) 3002 0400 F (+61) (7) 3002 0444

coffey.com
Marine and Estuarine Ecology Impact Assessment
Arrow LNG Plant

© Coffey Environments Pty Ltd October 2011

Project director David Gwyther
Project manager Chelsea Kavanagh
Version: Details: Approved: Date:
CR 7033_09_v1 Initial draft to client RL May 2011
CR 7033_09_v2 Second draft to client RL August 2011
CR 7033_09_v3 Third draft to client EW September 2011
CR 7033_09_v4 Forth draft to client EW September 2011
CR 7033_09_v5 Fifth to client EW September 2011
CR 7033_09_v6 Final to client EW October 2011
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Arrow LNG Plant

CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VI
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Purpose and Scope 1
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3
2.1 Proponent 3
2.2 Arrow LNG Plant 3
2.2.1 LNG Plant 3
2.2.2 Feed Gas Pipeline 7
2.2.3 Dredging 8
2.2.4 Decommissioning 9
3. LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT 11
3.1 Commonwealth Legislation 11
3.2 State Legislation 12
3.3 Policies and Subordinate Legislation 15
3.4 Internationally Protected Areas 15
4. STUDY METHOD 17
4.1 Approach to Existing Marine and Estuarine Environment 17
4.2 Approach to Impact Assessment 20
4.2.1 Identifying Impacts 21
4.2.2 Significance 22
5. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES 27
5.1 Introduction 27
5.2 Physical Environment 28
5.2.1 Benthic zone 28
5.2.2 Reef and Rock Substrate 30
5.2.3 Intertidal Mudflats 32
5.3 Flora 32
5.3.1 Saltmarsh 32
5.3.2 Mangroves 33
5.3.3 Seagrass 37
5.4 Fauna 39
5.4.1 Dugongs 39
5.4.2 Turtles 44
5.4.3 Cetaceans 48
5.4.4 Saltwater Crocodiles 50
5.4.5 Fish and Shellfish 51
5.4.6 Sea Snakes 56
5.4.7 Seahorses and Pipefish 57
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5.4.8 Macrobenthic Communities 59
5.4.9 Plankton 60
5.4.10 Introduced Species and Pest Species 60
6. ISSUES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS 63
6.1 Loss and Disturbance of Marine and Estuarine Habitat 63
6.1.1 Direct Construction Impacts 63
6.1.2 Indirect impacts 69
6.2 Impact on Marine and Estuarine Fauna and Flora 75
6.2.1 Boat Strike 75
6.2.2 Underwater Noise 78
6.2.3 Lighting 87
6.2.4 Sedimentation from Propwash 88
6.3 Loss of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Access 88
6.4 Introduced Species and Pest Species 89
6.5 Shipping Activities and Accidents 90
7. AVOIDANCE, MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES 93
7.1 Loss and Disturbance of Marine and Estuarine Habitat 93
7.1.1 Construction 93
7.1.2 Operations 95
7.2 Impact on Marine and Estuarine Fauna 95
7.2.1 Boat Strike 95
7.2.2 Underwater Noise 96
7.2.3 Lighting 96
7.2.4 Dredging 97
7.3 Reduction of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Access 97
7.4 Introduced Species and Pest Species 97
7.5 Shipping Activities and Accidents 98
8. ASSESSMENT OF RESIDUAL EFFECTS 101
8.1 Loss and Disturbance of Marine and Estuarine Habitat 101
8.1.1 Construction 101
8.1.2 Operations 101
8.2 Impacts to Marine and Estuarine Fauna 101
8.2.1 Boat Strike 101
8.2.2 Underwater Noise 101
8.2.3 Lighting 102
8.3 Loss of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Access 102
8.4 Introduced Species and Pest Species 103
8.5 Shipping Accidents and Activities 103
9. CUMULATIVE IMPACT 105
9.1 Loss and Disturbance of Marine and Estuarine Habitat 105
9.2 Impacts to Marine and Estuarine Fauna 108
9.2.1 Boat Strike 108
9.2.2 Underwater Noise 110
9.2.3 Lighting 110
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9.3 Loss of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Access 110
9.4 Introduction of Invasive Species, Shipping Activities and Accidents 111
10. INSPECTION AND MONITORING 113
11. CONCLUSIONS 115
12. REFERENCES 123
13. ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY 133
Figures
1 Site Locality 18
2 Field investigation study area 19
3 Marine and estuarine habitat distribution in the Port Curtis region 29
4 Reef and macrobenthic distribution in the Port Curtis region 31
5 Port of Gladstone - Rodds Bay Dugong Protection Area and seagrass beds in the
Port Curtis Region 41
6 Monitored seagrass beds in the Fishermans Landing area 42
7 Monitored seagrass beds in Rodds Bay 43
8 Turtle nesting sites in the Gladstone region 46
9 Commercial catch for all species and fishery types in Central Queensland waters,
2005 54
10 Commercial catch quantity and gross value of production in grid S30, 1988-2010 55
11 Marine habitat impact areas 65
12 Curtis Island potential marine habitat impact areas 66
13 Marine habitat impact areas tunnel entry shaft and tunnel spoil disposal area 68
14 Marine habitat impact areas Launch Site 4N 70
15 Marine habitat impact areas Launch Site 1 and Calliope River dredging. 71
16 Potential marine habitat indirect impact areas near Curtis Island 72
17 Potential marine habitat indirect impact areas in Calliope River 73
18 Underwater noise projection at Hamilton Point 86

Tables
1 Sensitivity of the Environmental Value 23
2 Magnitude of the Impact 24
3 Matrix of Significance of Impact 24
4 Conservation Status of Marine Turtles in Queensland Waters 44
5 Conservation Status of Whales and Dolphins (Cetaceans) in Queensland Waters 48
6 Conservation Status of Marine Sea Snakes in Queensland Waters 56
7 Conservation Status of Marine Seahorse and Pipefish in Queensland Waters 57
8 Estimated Schedule of Disturbance on Habitat Types for the Arrow LNG Plant 64
9 Estimated Type, Number and Frequency of Marine Vessels for the Arrow LNG Plant 76
10 Pile Driving Noise Levels during Various Projects 80
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11 Avoidance and Injury Noise Levels for Turtles, Dugongs and Cetaceans 81
12 Significance and Magnitude of Underwater Noise on Environmental Values in the
Port Curtis Region 87
13 Seasonal Reproductive Periods for Marine Turtles in the Port Curtis Region 87
14 Shipping and Pollution Incidents in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area for
2000 to 2004* 90
15 Magnitude of Shipping Activities and Accidents on Environmental Values in the Port
Curtis Region 91
16 Residual Significance of Underwater Noise on Environmental Values in the Port
Curtis Region 102
17 Significance of Shipping Activities and Accidents on Environmental Values in the Port
Curtis Region 103
18 Estimated Cumulative Direct and Indirect Impact on Environmental Values 107
19 Estimated Cumulative Frequency of Marine Vessels 109
20 Inspection and monitoring for impacted environmental values 114
21 Significance Impacts on Environmental Values for the Arrow LNG Plant 117
Plates
1 Example of Rock Substrate at Hamilton Point 35
2 Example of Salt Couch and Bead Weed along the Calliope River 35
3 Example of Rhizophora along the Calliope River 36
4 Example of Avicennia at Hamilton Point 36
Attachments
Attachment A Terms of Reference Cross Reference Table
Appendices
Appendix A Arrow Energy LNG Plant Estuarine and Marine Ecology Field
Investigations 2010-2011 (Phase I & II)
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