BHP Billiton – Illawarra Coal Projects

Biosis Research has been involved in ecological and archaeological/heritage assessments associated with the coal mining industry in the Southern Coal Fields for over five years. We undertook the terrestrial ecological studies for the Dendrobium Coal Mine EIS and the subsequent Species Impact Statement for BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal. This major new mine was approved in 2001, with the need to monitor and ameliorate the potential effects of subsidence of the land surface caused by longwall mining on natural and cultural heritage values. BHP Billiton has engaged Biosis Research to develop and undertake the monitoring program.

Matt Richardson, of our Sydney office, is leading our team. The project is measuring variation in ecological values over time, including vegetation type and condition, invertebrate presence and diversity, and bird, reptile and amphibian presence and diversity. Potential effects on Aboriginal cultural and archaeological sites are being monitored by our archaeologists, led by Jamie Reeves, in consultation with local Aboriginal people.

BHP Billiton has commenced rehabilitating a number of disused mine surface facilities. This work often involves the closure and rehabilitation of sites within the Sydney Water Catchment Special Areas requiring specialist vegetation rehabilitation at the completion of the works. Nathan Smith in our Sydney Office has extensive experience in bush regeneration and site rehabilitation works and is coordinating the revegetation works at these sites.

Other projects our team has been involved in the Southern Coal Fields include:

• West Cliff Area 4 Development Application - Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• Delta Colliery Longwall 14 Development Application – Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• Dendrobium Colliery Long Term Ecological and Cultural Heritage Monitoring Project

• Douglas Colliery Area 7 Environmental Impact Statement - Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• Appin Colliery Area 3 Development Application - Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• Dendrobium Colliery Operational Phase Natural and Cultural Heritage Management Plans

• Elouera Colliery Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Project

• Tahmoor Colliery Longwall Development Application - Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• West Cliff Colliery Area 5 Development Application - Terrestrial Ecology and Cultural Heritage Assessment

• Elouera Colliery Ecological Monitoring of Upland Swamps

• Nebo Colliery and Wongawilli Colliery Ventilation Shaft Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Project

• Dendrobium Colliery Environmental Impact Statement – Terrestrial Ecology Assessment

• Natural and Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment for surface exploration activities associated with West Cliff, Appin,

• Douglas, Cordeaux, Elouera and Dendrobium Collieries.

Musselroe Wind Farm – Hydro Tasmania has recently received development approval from the Tasmanian and Federal Governments to constructed a 140 kW wind farm at Musselroe on the north east tip of Tasmania. The approval also covers a 46 km powerline to provide grid connection. Biosis Research has conducted all the avian assessments for the project, including extensive modelling of the potential risk of birds colliding with the wind turbines using our own state-of-the-art modelling software. This work was a key element in obtaining approval, due to the significant wetlands and wading bird habitat that occurs near the project area.

We are now working closely with Hydro Tasmania on a four year bird monitoring program. This work, led by Ian Smales of our Melbourne office, involves intensive data collection by our field team over a range of seasons, with the data being analysed (including further modelling) to verify the risk predictions and fine-tune final design of the wind farm to minimise any potential impacts on birds.

Crookwell II Wind Farm - Biosis Research has been working with Gamesa Energy Australia on the cultural heritage assessment and management of the Crookwell II wind farm. Crookwell II is the largest wind farm so far approved in NSW. The approval process included a significant archaeological component, assessing impacts to Aboriginal archaeological sites and cultural heritage values within the wind farm development area. Working with the Pejar Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Biosis Research archaeological team, lead by Jamie Reeves, carried out excavations that identified Aboriginal cultural heritage sites at a landscape level. The outcomes of this work allowed detailed management strategies to be developed for the entire wind farm area, an approach that was praised by the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation. The work continues, with more detailed excavations planned as part of the construction schedule.

Environmental and Cultural Heritage Investigations of the North and South 2005 Exploration Drilling Areas - Biosis Research was recently commissioned by Comalco Aluminium Ltd to undertake environmental and cultural heritage investigations during exploratory drilling programs on mining leases in Western Cape York Peninsula, near Weipa. Working with traditional owner groups and the wider Comalco team this project required the natural and cultural heritage survey of four remote mine lease areas. The surveys were designed to provide baseline ecological, archaeological and cultural heritage data at a landscape level. Survey work of this nature has not been conducted previously for management purposes on the Western Cape. Our team was able to bring extensive remote area experience and data collection expertise to the project, and the surveys make an important contribution to Comalco’s knowledge of the lease areas. This knowledge will be used by Comalco to manage the natural and cultural heritage values of the mine lease areas.

Timber Harvesting Audits - Biosis Research has conducted a large number of timber harvesting audits (over 200) for Local Government and the State of Victoria through the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). These audits assess compliance under the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production. Regular audits of plantation forestry in Gippsland have contributed to the development of a standard assessment and reporting procedure in consultation with Local Government and Industry.

Biosis Research has also undertaken the ecological auditing for a number of audits to assess the potential for private plantation companies to achieve international certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) criteria for sustainable forestry, in association with the US-based audit firm SmartWood.