Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project EIS Community Liaison Group Minutes of meeting. Meeting number: 5 Date: Monday 13 September 2010

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1 Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project EIS Community Liaison Group Minutes of meeting Meeting number: 5 Date: Monday 13 September 2010 Time: Present Apologies 9am - 3pm Kellie Nilsson Dawson Catchment Coordinating Committee Sam Rathbone Landholder (Pipeline) Max Henderson (Dalby Regional Council) Zena Jimba Action Group Ian Herbert Capricornia Conservation Council Peter French (proxy Jeanie) Sam Jerrard Cr Vaughn Becker Taroom District Development Association Doug Adam Adam Clarke Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Upper Dawson Branch) Kathy Liddle & Mark Liddle Landholder Peter MacTaggart SunWater Lee Benson - SunWater Jon Fawcett - SKM Jason Richard - Michelle Watson SKM Samantha Watt SKM Pauline Bourke Terrace Communications Mrs Jeanie Conachan Fitzroy Basin Food and Fibre Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September

2 Housingkeeping Update on Previous Actions SBR Peter has spoken to SBR re fill. They are having ongoing discussions PMP PM confirmed that Probable Maximum Flood is approximately 20,000 m 3 /s, fill dam 2 x in 24 hr and has an approximate Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of 1 in 43,000 PM confirmed that Nathan Road is not to be upgraded. There will not be a road across dam wall Groundwater Jon Fawcett here to speak today. Cecily Nicole Sommerville to contact (SW to organise) DERM representative PM approached DERM to attend. DERM advised that they wouldn t attend to speak about the new WRP until the model is finalised. Draft WRP is to be released later in year. They can t add information now Project Update Dam Design Peter MacTaggart (PM) provided an update on the dam design noting the business case/feasibility design was complete and being costed. The earth fill arrangement was found to be viable as it safer due to the uplift pressures at the dam site. Further geotech investigations are now being undertaken. Pipeline Peter MacTaggart provided an update on the pipeline design. SunWater is currently doing a water hammer assessment to locate associated infrastructure (ie pressure relief valves) but already know where the pumps will be and have spoken to landholders. The alignment has been modified to avoid a mining lease, run parallel to the SGP and avoid vegetation. SunWater is attempting to stay along the road from Chinchilla onward but Optus fibre optic cable in the road reserve is a problem. Query raised regarding whether the pipeline alignment is within the road reserve. PM noted that SunWater hopes to have only 1 pipeline to Wandoan within the road reserve but this will depend on the timing of the Nathan approval and commencement of the Glebe Weir Rasing. Consultation PM provided an update on the consultation that SunWater has completed to date. PM noted that of 149 owners along the pipeline they had spoken to approximately 120 to date and 16 of 21 (with area greater than 2ha) at the dam. Key issues along pipeline are lots of projects and fatigue from landowners, soil stability and questions about the GAB. PM noted that SunWater will move CSG water in pipeline if asked but not core business for SunWater. Key issues in dam area are the project delays and landholder fatigue, snails, questions about location of dam. Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September

3 Project Update (continued) Queries Several queries about the use of the pipeline to transport CSG water. PM confirmed that water could be pumped both ways in the pipeline and noted that CSG companies would need to come to a commercial arrangement with SunWater to move their water. Noted that mining companies need longterm certainty of water supply which CSG water does not provide. SunWater need the CSG operators to provide certainty of water supply. As long as they give this certainty SunWater can defer dam but dam will be needed to maintain mining water supply once CSG water dries up. PM confirmed that the pipeline would be used for Southern CSG, not Western, noting Santos was not part of the equation. PM also confirmed that CSG water would be moved within the pipeline to customers but would not go in the dam or the Dawson. Not part of Nathan project to put CSG water in Dawson. PM confirmed that the water would be treated prior to distribution in the pipeline. No saline water in the pipeline. Query regarding whether water would be available to landholders along pipeline. PM noted that only stock and domestic would be available from pipeline. No water was planned for broad scale agriculture for landowners. Query regarding locations of pump stations. One at dam, 9km along pipeline, halfway between Taroom and Wandoan and one on the range. The rest is gravity fed. Reverse pumping is not designed at this stage. Query regarding powerlines. In air from Nathan Dam to Wandoan, also along road from Taroom to Wandoan. PM to keep Sam Rathbone up to date on powerline along road. Query regarding who are customers. Town water supply is top priority. Approximately 45,000ML/a in pipeline to mining customers Wandoan, Northern, Anglo, Cockatoo, Syntec. Approximately 20,000ML/a delivered via Dawson.. Also a couple of power stations. PM clarified that while only stock and domestic supply will be provided to landowners as compensation, anyone can buy. However, noted that user pays and the project will not get up without the miners. Zena noted that farmers in her area had done a feasibility study for building their own pipeline as they had high-value crop land and could pay for water. PM noted that Psi Delta had done an agricultural water demand study but committed to speak to Zena offline regarding other potential customers. Social Impact Assessment and Cultural Heritage Project PM gave an update on the social impact assessment and cultural heritage work completed to date. Update (continued) Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September

4 Groundwater Groundwater Jon Fawcett (JF) gave an overview of the groundwater investigations and modelling undertaken for the EIS. He covered the geological formations governing groundwater and how the team had conceptualised the flows for modelling so they could simulate changes to the flows. Spring locations are not random. Controlled by subsurface structures faults in precipice sandstone. Subsurface structures, faults in precipice sandstone control this. Know why the springs are where they are and not in other places. SKM have used a FEFLOW model with layers for surface alluvium, Birkhead, Hutton, Everton, Precipice (aquifer). Pressure drives system with groundwater moving from high to low pressure. Lots of springs around Glebe as aquitard very thin. Have data for 10s of springs and time data for 2 springs. Have modelled additional pressure from dam with pressure increases of up to 20m at edge of dam, decreasing outside this. Impact localised, more near deep part of dam. As dam goes up/down, pressure goes up/down. Query regarding effects on landholder bores. PM committed to investigate further. Query regarding potential for combined impacts from Santos / Other CSG activities JF confirmed that these activities are too far away to have a combined effect and no record of CSG here. Potential impact of dewatering during construction modelled. Showed small short term impact on 2 springs but no users. JF noted potential mitigation measures may be monitoring and watering of springs during dewatering. And in longterm monitoring of springs / possible new spring sites with re-vegetation and stock management if additional wet areas occur. Boggomoss Snail Studies Boggomoss Snail Jason Richard (JR) gave a summary of field studies on the Boggomoss Snail undertaken since it was discovered in 1990s. Noted additional studies undertaken for EIS, additional populations found and new population estimates based on latest survey and random sampling along transects. Noted that generally discovered within 50m from Dawson River, associated with Carnarvon Palm. Often in leaf litter under Old Blue Gum. 32 live snails found during SKM studies, most under Carnarvon Palm. Key mitigation measure proposed is translocation. John Stanisic is developing strategy. Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September

5 Terrestrial Flora / Fauna Terrestrial Flora/Fauna Lee Benson (LB) gave a presentation on the field studies undertaken for other flora and fauna. Adam Clarke noted that in his opinion removal of the riparian corridor was critical and that SunWater need to replant the corridor around the high water level. around 15m/30m corridor for pipeline. PM confirmed that it is a 15m easement but ask for 30m for access during construction. The 30m used in construction would be rehabilitated and re-grassed/revegetated. The 30m construction corridor can be reduced in sensitive areas or if next to a road reserve. Pipeline alignment tries to avoid sensitive vegetation where possible. Zena noted potential soils issues in her area which would cause issues for bedding. PM committed to SunWater pipeline designers talking to Zena offline. LB spoke about Offsets which are required when there is a residual impact. SunWater looks locally first then for fauna specific offset requirements. This takes a long time and ratios are greater than 1:1. around potential difficulties to obtain offsets when competing with so many other projects. Sam Jerrard questioned if Corroboree Frog was found in field. JR/LB confirmed no but agreed to talk to SJ offline. around riparian corridor offset/revegetation. Adam Clark noted that in his opinion the riparian corridor is more important than Boggomoss snail. Ian Herbert queried what SunWater does if they can t find sufficient offsets. LB noted that they would focus on reinstating the riparian movement corridor. If the offsets are not available, SunWater will decide whether to go ahead with the project or not and then the CG and Federal Minister decide whether the proposed approach is acceptable and if so, provide conditions to SunWater. Aquatic Ecology, Water Quality, Hydrology Aquatic Ecology, Water Quality, Hydrology Michelle Watson gave an overview of the fieldwork done to assess aquatic ecology and water quality, particularly noting that the Fitzroy River Turtle has not been found upstream of Nathan Gorge and not within the project area. Michelle noted that a fish/turtle passage would be provided on the dam. Also water quality within storage would be monitored and release water quantity and quality managed to meet ecological needs. Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September

6 MW provided an overview of dam releases, how these will meet ecological requirements, and how we measure this, particularly related to: Zero flows no connectivity 10cm flows water quality, aeration over riffles 30cm flows fish/turtle movement, baseflow First Post-Winter Flow between baseflow and halfbank flows Flood Flows Questions Wrap up and next steps PM confirmed that compensation for downstream users would be negotiated. General Questions Query from Cr Becker re impacts on Stoney Crossing (alternative crossing for Taroom). How often not available. PM agreed to investigate. General discussion around other design details. PM confirmed that there will be no upgrade of Nathan Road. PM confirmed that Glebe continues to operate during construction, users entitlements maintained. PM agreed to check on potential traffic increases along same roads as SBR. Further discussion around links of project with CSG. PM noted that there are 3 key issues with CSG aquifer impacts, brine and what to do with clean water and SunWater get involved in the clean water issue only. Ian Herbert expressed displeasure that DIP did not attend CLG meeting and asked for this to be passed on. Query regarding possibility /mechanism for local contractor involvement. LB confirmed that there would be a process for registering interest. Adam Clarke raised that he would like the boggomosses to be cored prior to inundation for scientific research benefit. PM agreed to take on notice and look into it. Public Display of EIS PM thanked everyone for coming and asked everyone to come along to the public display sessions and to encourage others to come. SunWater will group regarding timing of public display sessions but there will also be ads in regional and national newspapers. Nathan CLG #5 Minutes 13 September