Wambo Coal AEMR 2011-2012 - Peabody Energy

2011-2012 AEMR
prior to undermining. The results from that survey
concluded the stand is generally healthy with
respect to Age Classes, Recruitment, Health,
Infestations and Senescence. The stand shows the
typical attributes of a dynamic population which is
self-propagating and is likely to continue to do so
provided no stochastic events impact upon the area.
Underground mining activities below this stand of
Acacia species were completed during the reporting
period. In accordance with the Acacia pendula
Management Plan for LW Panel 4, post inspections
were undertaken on 5 December 2011 by an
ecologist. These investigations were conducted as a
due diligence precaution to compare the condition of
the population with regards to the health,
recruitment, extent and habitat attributes
subsequent to undermining by LW-4.
The stand of Acacia pendula (Weeping Myall) within
the RWEP area is generally healthy with respect to
Age Classes, Recruitment, Health, Infestations and
Senescence. The stand shows the typical attributes
of a dynamic population which is currently
selfpropagating and is likely to continue to do so
provided no stochastic events impact upon the area.
There are large numbers of the parasitic mistletoe
Amyema pendula present on many of the Weeping
Myall trees. In high numbers these mistletoes have
a detrimental effect on the Weeping Myall and have
most likely caused the death of some specimens.
For the complete assessment report, please refer to
Appendix 2G.
3.7.2.3 Remnant Woodland Enhancement
Program
The objective of the Remnant Woodland
Enhancement Program (RWEP) is to help conserve
regional biodiversity, whilst enhancing the habitat
available to flora and fauna. The RWEP will provide
a strategy that gives protection in perpetuity for
RWEP Area A and long-term protection of RWEP
Areas B and C. The RWEP also includes the area
within the area of the WRD rail loop (see Figure
3.18).
During late 2009, WCPL added another area of
approximately 50ha to the Remnant Woodland
Enhancement Program. The additional area offset
construction of the new South Dam. This recent
offset area is now referred to as RWEP Area D (see
Figure 3.18).
2011 Annual Ecological Monitoring Summary
Flora monitoring identified 266 flora species across
34 flora quadrats. Based on these observations, the
current management practices within the RWEP
areas of Wambo Coal Mine is appropriate for the
conservation of flora species. Variation evident in
the results from the six years of monitoring is most
likely related to natural variation in species
distribution, natural variation in species abundance
and variation inherent in the sampling design, and
not due to current management practices. There
was no evidence to suggest that current
management practices or mining activity was having
any effect on the flora species within the RWEP
areas of Wambo Coal Mine.
While no Swift Parrots (Lathamus discolor) or
Regent Honeyeaters (Anthochaera phrygia) were
identified during targeted winter bird surveys, annual
surveys for these species should continue into the
future, particularly during years of heavy eucalypt
blossom when either or both species may occur on
Wambo Coal land.
Diurnal bird monitoring identified a total of 126 bird
species across 26 survey sites and
opportunistically, including nine threatened species.
Current management practises within the RWEP
areas of Wambo Coal Mine appear to be
appropriate for the conservation of bird species.
Variation evident in the results across the years of
monitoring is most likely related to natural variation
in species diversity, natural variation in species
abundance and variation inherent in the sampling
design, and not to current management practises.
One Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), which is listed
as Vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species
Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), responded during
call playback surveys. Owl species targeted by call
playback also included Masked Owl (Tyto
novaehollandiae), Barking Owl (Ninox connivens)
and Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa). Due to the large
home range area of the target owl species, which
each have a home range in the vicinity of or greater
than 1000 hectares and the relatively few (four) call
playback sessions undertaken each year it is not
unexpected that threatened owls species are rarely
detected.
Spotlighting surveys identified the Common
Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) as the
most common arboreal mammal species in RWEP
areas of the Wambo Coal Mine. Across five years of
annual monitoring only four arboreal mammal
species have been identified. The Common
Brushtail Possum was identified each year and the
Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) was recorded for
the first time in 2011. The threatened Yellow bellied
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