BHP : Yeerabiddy Rail Works Draft Validation Notice Appendix 2

Central Pilbara Hub

Targeted Matters of National

Environmental Significance

Vertebrate Fauna Survey

Biologic Environmental Survey

Report to BHP WAIO

May 2023

CPH Targeted MNES Vertebrate Fauna Survey

Document Status

Revision No.	Author	Review / Approved for	Approved for Issue to
Issue	Name	Date
	Andrew Hide,	Chris Knuckey,
1	Debbie Gleeson,	Alice Taysom	29/08/2022
Ryan Ellis
	Verity Steptoe
2	Debbie Gleeson	Chris Knuckey,	Alice Taysom	31/10/2022
Andrew Hide
3	Penny Booshooft	Andrew Hide	Alice Taysom	23/12/2022
Brighton D'Rozario
4	Verity Steptoe	Andrew Hide	Alice Taysom	11/05/2023

"IMPORTANT NOTE"

Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd ("Biologic"). All enquiries should be directed to Biologic.

We have prepared this report for the sole purposes of BHP WAIO ("Client") for the specific purpose only for which it is supplied. This report is strictly limited to the Purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and will not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter.

In preparing this report we have made certain assumptions. We have assumed that all information and documents provided to us by the Client or as a result of a specific request or enquiry were complete, accurate and up to date. Where we have obtained information from a government register or database, we have assumed that the information is accurate. Where an assumption has been made, we have not made any independent investigations with respect to the matters the subject of that assumption. We are not aware of any reason why any of the assumptions are incorrect.

This report is presented without the assumption of a duty of care to any other person (other than the Client) ("Third Party"). The report may not contain sufficient information for the purposes of a Third Party or for other uses. Without the prior written consent of Biologic:

1. This report may not be relied on by a Third Party; and
2. Biologic will not be liable to a Third Party for any loss, damage, liability, or claim arising out of or incidental to a Third Party publishing, using, or relying on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report.

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In this note, a reference to loss and damage includes past and prospective economic loss, loss of profits, damage to property, injury to any person (including death) costs and expenses incurred in taking measures to prevent, mitigate or rectify any harm, loss of opportunity, legal costs, compensation, interest and any other direct, indirect, consequential or financial or other loss.

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CPH Targeted MNES Vertebrate Fauna Survey

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary	9
1	Introduction	14
	1.1	Background	14
	1.2	Survey Objectives	14
	1.3	Conformance	14
2	Existing Environment	17
	2.1	Biogeography	17
	2.2	Climate	17
	2.3	Geology	17
	2.4	Soils	18
	2.5	Land Systems	21
	2.6	Surface Hydrology	24
	2.7	Pre-European Vegetation	24
	2.8	Land Use and Tenure	27
3	Desktop Assessment	28
	3.1	Methods	28
	3.1.1	Database Searches	28
	3.1.2	Literature Review	28
	3.2	Results	33
4	General Field Methods	38
	4.1	Survey Timing and Personnel	38
	4.2	Climate and Weather	39
	4.3	Habitat Assessments and Mapping	42
	4.4	Targeted Searching and Sampling	42
	4.5	Opportunistic Fauna Records	42
	4.6	Assessment of Significance	43
	4.6.1	Fauna Habitats	43
	4.6.2	Significance of Species Occurrence	43
5	Fauna Habitats	48

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CPH Targeted MNES Vertebrate Fauna Survey

5.1	Fauna Habitats of the Study Area	48
5.2	Habitat Features of the Study Area	55
5.2.1	Caves	55
5.2.2	Water Features	58
6 Target Species	60
6.1	Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)	60
6.1.1	Species Profile	60
6.1.2	Previous Records	61
6.1.3	Survey Methods	61
6.1.1	Survey Results	67
6.1.2	Discussion	67
6.2	Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)	68
6.2.1	Species Profile	68
6.2.2	Previous Records	69
6.2.1	Survey Methods	69
6.2.1	Survey Results	73
6.2.2	Discussion	73
6.3	Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia)	74
6.3.1	Species Profile	74
6.3.2	Previous Records	75
6.3.3	Survey Methods	75
6.3.4	Survey Results	82
6.3.5	Discussion	82
6.4	Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas)	83
6.4.1	Species Profile	83
6.4.2	Previous Records	85
6.4.3	Survey Methods	86
6.4.4	Survey Results	89
6.4.5	Discussion	91
6.5	Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)	92
6.5.1	Species Profile	92
6.5.2	Previous Records	92

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CPH Targeted MNES Vertebrate Fauna Survey

6.5.3	Survey Methods	94
6.5.4	Survey Results	97
6.5.5	Discussion	97
6.6 Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos)	98
6.6.1	Species Profile	98
6.6.2	Previous Records	99
6.6.3	Survey Methods	99
6.6.4	Survey Results	103
6.6.5	Discussion	103
6.7 Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus subsp. barroni)	104
6.7.1	Species Profile	104
6.7.2	Previous Records	104
6.7.1	Survey Methods	105
6.7.2	Survey Results	109
6.7.3	Discussion	109

	6.8	Other Fauna of Significance	............................................................................... 111
	6.9	Constraints and Limitations	............................................................................... 113
7	Conclusion	115
	7.1	Northern Quoll	115
	7.2	Greater Bilby	115
	7.3	Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat	116
	7.4	Ghost Bat	116
	7.5	Night Parrot	117
	7.6	Grey Falcon	117
	7.7	Pilbara Olive Python	118
8	References	119
9	Appendices	134

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