Environmental Impact Statement

Transcription

1 RTA Weipa Pty Ltd Volume 1 Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. Project Description 3. Land 4. Climate 5. Water Resources 6. Marine Environmental Impact Statement for South of Embley Project This Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared to meet the assessment requirements for the Project under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

2 This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared to meet the environmental assessment requirements under both State and Commonwealth law. Pursuant to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld), Queensland Coordinator-General has declared the South of Embley Project a significant project for which an EIS is required. This EIS is submitted in order to meet the Coordinator-General s assessment requirements as stated in the Terms of Reference for the Project. Section 1.8 of this EIS contains more information on how to make a submission. Pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has decided that the South of the Embley Project is a controlled action for which an EIS is required. This EIS is submitted to meet the requirements of the tailored EIS guidelines for the Project. Section 1.8 of this EIS contains more information on how to make a submission.

3 Environmental Impact Statement for South of Embley Project RTA Weipa Pty Ltd Volume 1 Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. Project Description 3. Land 4. Climate 5. Water Resources 6. Marine

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5 VOLUME 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION Project Proponent Project Description Project Rationale Relationship to Other Projects Socio-economic Costs and Benefits Project Alternatives Beneficiation Plant Location Port and Stockpile Location Workforce Housing Location of Barge and Ferry Terminals Power Supply Bauxite Beneficiation Technology Water Demand Management Water Supply Initial Tailings Storage Facility Establishment Volume of Dredged Material Disposal of Dredged Material Environmental Impact Assessment Process Purpose of the EIS Objectives of the EIS EIS Process Structure of the EIS Public Consultation Process and Submissions Legislative Framework and Project Approvals State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (Cwlth) Agreement Acts Mineral Resources Act 1989 (Qld) Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (Qld) Land Act 1994 (Qld) Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld) Queensland Heritage Act 1992 (Qld) Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007 (Qld) Water Act 2000 (Qld) Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 (Qld) Wild Rivers Act 2005 (Qld) Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld) Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Qld) Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld) Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (Qld) Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 (Qld) Transport Operations (Marine Pollution) Act 1995 (Qld) Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 (Qld) Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1988 (Qld) PROJECT DESCRIPTION Overview of the Project Location and Tenure Construction Mdptpa Production Capacity Mdptpa Production Capacity Mdptpa Production Capacity

6 2.4 Bauxite Mining Ore Reserves Mine Development and Schedule Mining Equipment and Methods Final Landform Bauxite Processing (Beneficiation) Beneficiation Plant Tailings Product Stockpiles Port Facility and Shipping Facility details Shipping Associated Infrastructure Workforce and Accommodation Transport Water Supply and Management Sewage Power Generation and Supply Mine Infrastructure Areas Telecommunications Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Decommissioning Mine Rehabilitation LAND Land Use Existing Land Use Impact on Existing Land Use Geology Topography Soils Previous Studies Survey Methodology Soil Types Soil Mapping Soil Descriptions Soil Chemical and Physical Properties Particle Size Distribution Salinity Hazard Erosion Potential and Control Erosion Potential Erosion and Sediment Control Erosion Monitoring and Maintenance Land Use Suitability Pre-mine Land Use Suitability Post-mine Land Use Suitability Contaminated Land Potential for Contamination from Existing and Past Uses Contamination Prevention and Control Acid Sulphate Soils Humbug Barge Terminal Hornibrook Ferry Terminal Hey River Barge/Ferry Terminal Rehabilitation Post-Mining Land Use Post-Mining Landform Rehabilitation Strategy Topsoil Management Revegetation Success Criteria

7 Maintenance Monitoring Decommissioning and Closure CLIMATE 4.1 Meteorology Temperature Humidity Rainfall Wind Extreme Events Cyclones Flooding Climate Change Adaptation Temperature Rainfall, Water Supply and Flooding Sea Level Bushfires Tropical Cyclones Mitigation Measures WATER RESOURCES Surface Water Surface Water Hydrology Existing Surface Water Users Stream Geomorphology Surface Water Quality Surface Water Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Water Supply Site Water Management Surface Water Supply Mining and Catchment Hydrology Surface Water Quality Impacts Regulatory Requirements Groundwater Regional Hydrogeology Shallow Aquifer Shallow Groundwater Quality Artesian Aquifer Artesian Groundwater Quality Groundwater Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Shallow Aquifer Artesian Aquifer Regulatory Requirements Monitoring Surface Water Shallow Aquifer Artesian Aquifer MARINE Physical Environment and Coastal Processes Bathymetry Existing Coastal Processes and Hydrodynamics Currents and Tides Waves Sediment Movement Marine Protected Areas, Conservation Areas and Biodiversity Areas

8 6.3 Marine Habitats Benthic Habitat Survey Methods Inshore and Offshore Reef Habitats Mangrove Habitat Seagrass Habitat Soft Sediment Habitats Water Quality Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives Marine Water Quality Assessment Methods Short-Term Physical and Chemical Water Quality Assessment Long-Term Water Quality Assessment: Turbidity, TSS and PAR Sediment Characteristics Port Area Dredging and Spoil Disposal Requirements Ferry and Barge Terminals Dredging and Spoil Disposal Requirements Sediment Assessment Framework Port Area Sediment Characterisation Proposed Offshore Spoil Ground Sediment Characterisation Barge and Ferry Terminals Sediment Characterisation Albatross Bay Spoil Ground Sediment Characterisation Marine Fauna Listed Threatened and Migratory Species Whales and Dolphins (Cetaceans) Dugong Sharks and Rays Marine Turtles Sea Snakes Bony Fish and Nektobenthic Marine Invertebrates Macrobenthic Infauna Introduced Marine Species Marine Fisheries Resources Northern Prawn Fishery Gulf of Carpentaria Commercial Fisheries Recreational Fishery Environmental Values Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Marine Altered Coastal Processes Marine Water Quality Impacts Marine Habitat Impacts Marine Fauna Impacts Summary of EPBC Act Significance of Impact Assessments for Threatened and Migratory Fauna Marine Fisheries Resources Impacts Cumulative Marine Impacts Summary of Impact Mitigation Strategies Dredge Management Plan Outline FIGURES Figure 1-1 Locality Map Figure 1-2 Existing Facilities North of the Embley River Figure 1-3 Infrastructure and Conceptual 40-Year Mine Plan Figure 1-4 Infrastructure and Conceptual 40-Year Mine Plan Aerial Photo Figure 2-1 Land Tenure and Local Government Boundaries Figure 2-2 Indigenous Land Use Agreement Area Figure 2-3 Humbug Barge Terminal Figure 2-4 Hornibrook Ferry Terminal Figure 2-5 Hey River Barge/Ferry Terminal Figure 2-6 Port Layout Figure 2-7 Boyd Infrastructure Area Figure 2-8 Norman Creek Infrastructure Area Figure 2-9 Port, Spoil Ground and Mooring Locations

9 Figure 2-10 Construction Camp Layout Figure 2-11 Mine Access Road Cross Section Figure 3-1 Current Land Use Figure 3-2 Geology and Topography Figure 3-3 Geological Cross Section from East to West (Project Area) Figure 3-4 Stratigraphy Figure 3-5 Mineralised Areas Figure 3-6 Soil Profile Locations Figure 3-7 Soil Mapping Units Figure 3-8 Pre-Mine Land Suitability Figure 3-9 Acid Sulphate Soil Test Pit Sites at Humbug Barge Terminal Figure 3-10 Acid Sulphate Soil Drill Hole and Test Pit Location at Hey River Barge/ferry Terminal Figure 4-1 Wind Rose for Typical Dry Season (June), Weipa Figure 4-2 Wind Rose for Typical Wet Season (January), Weipa Figure 5-1 Weipa Region Catchment Boundaries Figure 5-2 Project Area Catchment Boundaries Figure 5-3 Surface Water Monitoring Locations Figure 5-4 Streamflow in Response to Rainfall Figure 5-5 Geomorphic Assessment Site Locations Figure 5-6 Ward River Estuary Geomorphic Features Figure 5-7 Conductivity Profiles in Upper (WP8) and Lower (WP14) Ward River Estuary Figure 5-8 Boyd Water Management System Figure 5-9 Norman Creek Water Management System Figure 5-10 Dam C Cross Section Figure 5-11 Dam C Spillway Design Figure 5-12 Flow Downstream of Dam C at 15Mdptpa Figure 5-13 Flow Downstream of Dam C at 30Mdptpa Figure 5-14 Flow Downstream of Dam C at 50Mdptpa Figure 5-15 Flow from Norman Creek Catchment Figure 5-16 Norman Creek Flow at Dam C (15Mdptpa) Figure 5-17 Norman Creek Flow at Dam C (30Mdptpa) Figure 5-18 Norman Creek Flow at Dam C (50Mdptpa) Figure 5-19 Ward River Pump Station Schematic Plan View Figure 5-20 Ward River Pump Station Schematic Cross Section View Figure 5-21 Cross Section through Artesian Host Formations Figure 5-22 Groundwater Monitoring Locations Figure 5-23 Dry Season Water Table (November 2007) Figure 5-24 Wet Season Water Table (March 2008) Figure 5-25 Water Table Cross Section Figure 5-26 Groundwater Level in Response to Rainfall MB Figure 5-27 Groundwater Level in Response to Rainfall MB Figure 5-28 Groundwater Level in Response to Rainfall MB Figure 5-29 Groundwater Level in Response to Rainfall MB Figure 5-30 Spring Locations Figure 5-31 Predicted Drawdown Contours 12 GL per annum Scenario Year Figure 5-32 Proposed Surface Water Monitoring Locations Figure 6-1 Beach profile and Proposed Jetty Structure Figure 6-2 Gulf of Carpentaria Bathymetry and Model Boundaries Figure 6-3 Inner Model Flexible Mesh Bathymetry and Model Boundaries with Observational Data Locations Figure 6-4 Global Tide Model Prediction at Outer Model Open Boundary Extents Figure 6-5 Outer Model Water Level Prediction Compared with Weipa Storm Tide Gauge Figure 6-6 Observed Water Levels at Beacon 2 Compared with Gulf Model Prediction Figure 6-7 Measured (ADCP) Data Compared with Inner Model Prediction Figure 6-8 Predicted Peak Flood Tidal Currents at Proposed Port Dredging Are Figure 6-9 Predicted Peak Ebb Tidal Currents at Proposed Port Dredging Area

10 Figure 6-10 Depth-averaged Measured Current Speed and Direction at Study Site Figure 6-11 Boyd Point Wave Data Statistics during Tropical Cyclone Nelson Figure 6-12 Tropical Cyclone Nelson Wind Field 5 February Figure 6-13 SWAN Wave Model Boundaries with an Example of Tropical Cyclone Wind Field Figure 6-14 Modelled Highest Significant Wave Height at Proposed Port vs Measured at Buoy Figure 6-15 Modelled Mean Wave Direction at Proposed Port vs Measured at Buoy Figure 6-16 Modelled Wave Direction Frequency of Occurrence at Proposed Port Site.6.14 Figure 6-17 Sub-tidal video survey locations Figure 6-18 Reef habitat between Boyd Point and Thud Point Figure 6-19 Sponge, soft coral and hard coral cover between Pera Head and Boyd Point Figure 6-20 Seagrass Meadow Type and Cover Embley and Hey River Estuaries, Figure 6-21 Seabed at the Proposed New Spoil Ground Figure 6-22 Location of water quality survey locations Figure 6-23 Salinity Measured (October 2007) at Surface, Mid and Bottom Depths Figure 6-24 ORP Measured (October 2007) at Surface, Mid and Bottom Depths Figure 6-25 ph Measured (October 2007) at Surface, Mid and Bottom Depths Figure 6-26 Temperature Measured (October 2007) at Surface, Mid and Bottom Depths Figure 6-27 Turbidity Measured (October 2007) at Surface, Mid and Bottom Depths Figure 6-28 Turbidity as NTU-e Measured at Project Locations Figure 6-29 Turbidity and PAR Results for the Proposed Port Are Figure 6-30 Turbidity and PAR Results for Pera Head Figure 6-31 Turbidity and PAR Results for the Proposed New Spoil Ground Location Figure 6-32 Scatterplot of Mean Daytime PAR (μm/m2/sec) against TSS (mg/l) Figure 6-33 Recorded Ambient Turbidity Event Durations December 2007 to March 2008 Pera Head Figure 6-34 Recorded Turbidity Event Durations December 2007 to February 2008 Boyd Point Figure 6-35 Turbidity (NTU-e) and Wind Direction at Project Turbidity Logger Locations Figure 6-36 Turbidity, Spring and Neap Tidal Phases at Project Turbidity Logger Locations 6.49 Figure and 2009 Sediment Sampling Sites at the Port Berth and Departure Area 6.54 Figure Sediment Sampling Locations at the Port Berth, Departure Apron, Departure Channel Areas and Proposed New Spoil Ground (inset) Figure 6-39 Longitudinal Sediment Profile along Dredging Footprint Figure 6-40 Particle Size Distribution at the Proposed Port Dredging Area during 2007 and 2009 (top) and 2010 Surveys (bottom) Figure 6-41 NAGD Metals Contaminant Concentrations and Percentage Fines Content from Inshore to Offshore in 2010 Survey Figure 6-42 Particle Size Distribution for Proposed Spoil Ground Samples Figure 6-43 Sediment Sampling Locations and Detailed Seagrass Video Transects at Hornibrook Ferry Terminal Figure 6-44 Sediment Sampling Locations and Detailed Seagrass Video Transects at Humbug Barge Terminal Figure 6-45 Sediment Sampling Locations and Detailed Seagrass Video Transects at Hey River Barge/Ferry Terminal Figure 6-46 Particle Size Distribution within the Hornibrook Terminal Dredging Area Figure 6-47 Particle Size Distribution within the Humbug Terminal Dredging Area Figure 6-48 Particle Size Distribution within the Figure 6-49 Particle Size Distribution Results for the Albatross Bay Spoil Ground Figure 6-50 Nesting Locations for Hawksbill Turtles (top) and Green Turtles (bottom) Figure 6-51 Nesting Locations for Loggerhead Turtles (top) and Flatback Turtles (bottom) Figure 6-52 Nesting Locations for Olive Ridley Turtles (top) and Leatherback Turtles (bottom) Figure 6-53 Location of Turtle Nesting Activity May July 2007 and April Figure 6-54 Permitted Fishing Area of the Northern Prawn Fishery Figure 6-55 Total Catch of Banana Prawns for Each Area of the Northern Prawn Fishery, Figure 6-56 Prawn Catch Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria Region of the Northern Prawn Fishery Figure 6-57 Recreational fishing spots near port area infrastructure and proposed spoil ground Figure 6-58 Dredge Time Series Adopted for Mud Transport Model Runs Figure 6-59 Above Background TSS Concentration Time Series Extract at

11 Pera 1 and Boyd Figure 6-60a Dredge plume dispersion model (median and 80th percentile cases) for port area dredging and disposal at the proposed new spoil ground (Period 2) Figure 6-61 Location of modelled time series extracts Figure 6-62 Time Series Extract from the Plume Model over the Nine-Month Dredge Period Figure 6-63a 5 mg/l Percentage Exceedance Plots for Dredge Period 2 (top) and Dredge Period 3 (bottom) Figure 6-64 Median case sediment deposition predicted during dredge Periods 2, 3 and Figure 6-65a Light availability prediction for Boyd Point and Pera Head Reefs. Includes ambient, Period 2, Period 3 and Period Figure 6-66 Infauna monitoring locations at the proposed offshore spoil ground TABLES Table 1-1 Indicative Production Scenario for EIS Table 1-2 Project Approvals, Permits and Licences Table 2-1 Land Parcels and Tenure Table 2-2 Construction Equipment Table 2-3 Operations Workforce Table 2-4 Average Annual Water Balance Table 3-1 Soil Types identified in the Project area Table 3-2 Erosion Potential and Erosion and Sedimentation Control Table 3-3 Land Suitability Classes Table 3-4 Land Suitability of the Project area Table 3-5 Environmental Management Register and Contaminated Land Register Status Table 3-6 Project Notifiable Activities Table 3-7 Results of Acid Sulphate Soils Tests Humbug Barge Terminal Table 3-8 Results of Acid Sulphate Soils Tests Hey River Barge/ferry Terminal Table 4-1 Climate Averages Eastern Avenue Station, Weipa Table 4-2 Rainfall Averages Aurukun Station Table 4-3 Tropical Cyclone Category Descriptions Table 4-4 Tropical Cyclones on the Eastern Coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria Table 4-5 Measured and Modelled Water Levels above Lowest Astronomical Tide Table 4-6 Flood Design Criteria for Land-based Infrastructure Table 5-1 Catchment Areas Table 5-2 Project Area Creek Characteristics Table 5-3 AWBM Calibration Parameters Table 5-4 Partitioning of Annual Rainfall Table 5-5 Northern region Project area stream types Table 5-6 Mean Streamflow at Dam C Table 5-7 Sampling Location by Category and Catchment Table 5-8 Sampling Location, Habitat and Catchment Table 5-9 SoE Project Freshwater Stream Quality Statistics Table 5-10 SoE Project Freshwater Tree Swamp Stream Quality Statistics Table 5-11 SoE Project Estuarine and Marine Water Quality Statistics Table 5-12 Comparison of Fresh Water Quality in Tropical Streams Table 5-13 Average Annual Water Demand Table 5-14 Average Annual Water Supply Table 5-15 Tailings Storage Facility Design Criteria Table 5-16 Water Supply Dam Summary Table 5-17 Effect of Dam C on Monthly Downstream Flow at 15Mdptpa Table 5-18 Effect of Dam C on Monthly Downstream Flow at 30Mpdtpa Table 5-19 Effect of Dam C on Monthly Downstream Flow at 50Mpdtpa Table 5-20 Effect of Pumping from Ward River on Monthly Downstream Flow Table 5-21 SoE Project AWBM Water Balance Characteristics Table 5-22 Impact of Mining on Catchment Discharge Table 5-23 Monitoring Bore Network

12 Table 5-24 SoE Project Groundwater Quality Results Table 5-25 Artesian Aquifer Monitoring Bores Table 5-26 Artesian Water Quality Table 5-27 Abstraction Scenarios Table 5-28 Predicted Drawdown Table 5-29 Spring Factor Multipliers from GAB-ROP Table 5-30 Spring Factors Table 5-31 Proposed Surface Water Monitoring Program Table 5-32 Monitoring Regime Table 6-1 Weipa Tidal Planes Table 6-2 Benthic Habitat Surveys Table 6-3 Inshore Reef Areas and Extent of Dominant Benthic Assemblages Table 6-4 Summary of Project Long-Term Data Collection Program Table 6-5 Dissolved Metal Concentrations in Water Samples, October Table 6-6 Nutrient and Chlorophyll-a Concentrations in Water Samples, October Table 6-7 Summary of Background Turbidity Data Table 6-8 Statistical Summary of PAR at Project Logger Locations Table 6-9 Predicted Mean Light Regimes and Light Attenuation Coefficient (Kd m ) for Varying Ambient TSS Conditions and Depth Intervals ( 12 to 1mLAT) 6.45 Table 6-10 Summary of 2010 Inshore Particle Size Distributions Table 6-11 Summary of 2010 Offshore Particle Size Distributions Table 6-12 Summary of Sediment Quality for Metals and Organotins Port Berth and Departure Area in 2007 and Table 6-13 Summary of Sediment Quality for Metals Port Berth, Departure Area and Departure Channel Area in Table 6-14 Summary Results for DAE Analysis on Metals Port Berth and Departure Area in 2007 and Table 6-15 Summary Results for DAE Analysis on Metals Port Berth Area, Departure Apron and Departure Channel in Table 6-16 Summary Results for Elutriate Analysis of Metals Port Berth Table 6-17 and Departure Area in 2007 and Summary Results for Elutriate Analysis of Metals Port Berth, Departure Apron and Departure Channel in Table 6-18 Summary of Sediment Particle Size at the Proposed Spoil Ground Table 6-19 Summary of Sediment Quality for Metals at Proposed Spoil Ground in Table 6-20 Comparison of Sediment Quality between Proposed Spoil Ground and Port Area Table 6-21 Summary of Sediment Particle Size within the Hornibrook Terminal Dredging Area Table 6-22 Summary of Sediment Quality Hornibrook Terminal Table 6-23 Results of SPOCAS Acid Sulphate Soils Tests Hornibrook Terminal Table 6-24 Summary of Sediment Particle Size within the Humbug Terminal Dredging Area.6.84 Table 6-25 Summary of Sediment Quality Analysis Results Humbug Terminal Table 6-26 Results of SPOCAS Acid Sulphate Soils Tests Humbug Terminal Table 6-27 Summary of Sediment Particle Size within the Hey River Terminal Dredging Area Table 6-28 Summary of Arsenic Total, Elutriate and Dilute Acid Extraction Results Table 6-29 Summary of Sediment Quality Analysis Results Hey River Terminal Table 6-30 Results of SPOCAS Acid Sulphate Soils Tests Hey River Terminal Table 6-31 History of Disposal at the Albatross Bay Spoil Ground ( ) Table 6-32 Port of Weipa 2008 Maintenance Dredging Sediment Characterisation Table 6-33 Summary of Sediment Particle Size at the Albatross Bay Spoil Ground Table 6-34 EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool Coordinates Table 6-35 Threatened and Migratory Marine Species Status Table 6-36 Sea Turtle Foraging Characteristics Table 6-37 Sea Turtle Tracks and Associated Nests in the Survey Area, 2007 and April Table 6-38 Taxa Richness and Abundance of Macrobenthic Infauna at the Three Survey Sites Table 6-39 Five Dominant Macrobenthic Infaunal Taxa at the Three Survey Sites Table 6-40 Potential Impacts During Construction and Operation Table 6-41 Dredge Material Characteristics Used in Plume Modelling Table 6-42 Adopted Spill Rates (kg/s) for the Dredging Scenario Table 6-43 Dredge Event Duration and Median Plume TSS Concentration Above Background at Pera

13 Table 6-44 Above Background TSS Summary Statistics for Plumes at Inshore Locations Table 6-45 Above Background Total Suspended Solids Summary Statistics for Dredge Plumes at the Proposed Spoil Ground and Nine Mile Reef Table 6-46 Summary Statistics - Sediment Deposition (mg/cm 2 /day) Table 6-47 Annual Siltation Depth of Port Area Based on Wave Exceedance Table 6-48 Hard Coral Habitat for Overall Reef Areas, Boyd Point, Pera Head and Reefs South of Thud Point During Ambient, Dredging Period 2, Period 3 and Period Table 6-49 Summary of Main Potential Impacts on Marine Fauna Table 6-50 Lighting Plan Table 6-51 Summary of proposed construction impact management and monitoring activities Table 6-52 Summary of proposed operations impact management and monitoring activities PLATES Plate 3-1 Red Kandosol soil Plate 3-2 Tall Darwin stringybark and bloodwood woodland on the Kandosol soils