| Project name | West Erregulla Exploration Program. Warrego Energy Pty Ltd proposes to clear up to 70 hectares of native vegetation within a total boundary of approximately 8,575 hectares for the purpose of a seismic survey and appraisal well. The project is located approximately 41 kilometres south of Dongara, in the Shire of Mingenew and Three Springs. |
| Assessment criteria | (a) it comprises a high level of biological diversity., (b) it comprises the whole or a part of, or is necessary for the maintenance of, a significant habitat for fauna indigenous to Western Australia., (c) it includes, or is necessary for the continued existence of, rare flora., (e) it is significant as a remnant of native vegetation in an area that has been extensively cleared. |
| Residual impact | Loss of 70 hectares of native vegetation that:
- includes 70 hectares of feeding habitat for Carnaby’s Cockatoo. The majority of the vegetation is in Pristine (Keighery, 1994) condition with other areas ranging from excellent to degraded condition;
- 44 hectares of habitat for the Threatened Flora species Thelymitra stellate, Paracaleana dixonii and Eucalyptus crispata; and
- comprises a vegetation association (Beard vegetation association 379) that has been extensively cleared (24 per cent remaining). |
| Offset conditions | 9. Offset
If part or all of the clearing to be done is or may be at variance with one or more of the clearing principles, then the Permit Holder must implement an offset in accordance with conditions 9(a) and (b) of this Permit with respect to that clearing:
(a) Determination of offsets:
(i) in determining the offset to be implemented with respect to a particular area of native vegetation proposed to be cleared under this Permit, the Permit Holder must have regard to the offset principles contained in condition 9(b) of this Permit;
(ii) once the Permit Holder has developed an offset proposal, the Permit Holder must provide that offset proposal to the CEO for the CEO’s approval prior to undertaking any clearing to which the offset relates, and prior to implementing the offset;
(iii) clearing may not commence until and unless the CEO has approved the offset proposal to which the clearing relates;
(iv) the Permit Holder shall implement the offset proposal approved under condition 9(a)(iii); and
(v) each offset proposal shall include a direct offset, timing for implementation of the offset proposal and may additionally include contributing offsets.
(b) For the purpose of this condition, the offset principles are as follows:
(i) direct offsets should directly counterbalance the loss of the native vegetation;
(ii) contributing offsets should complement and enhance the direct offset;
(iii) offsets are implemented only once all avenues to avoid, minimise, rectify or reduce environmental impacts have been exhausted;
(iv) the environmental values, habitat, species, ecological community, physical area, ecosystem, landscape, and hydrology of the offset should be the same as, or better than, that of the area of native vegetation being offset;
(v) a ratio greater than 6:1 should be applied to the size of the area of native vegetation that is offset to compensate for the risk that the offset may fail;
(vi) offsets must entail a robust and consistent assessment process;
(vii) in determining an appropriate offset, consideration should be given to ecosystem function, rarity and type of ecological community, vegetation condition, habitat quality and area of native vegetation cleared;
(viii) the offset should either result in no net loss of native vegetation, or lead to a net gain in native
vegetation and improve the condition of the natural environment;
(ix) offsets must satisfy all statutory requirements;
(x) offsets must be clearly defined, documented and audited;
(xi) offsets must ensure a long-term (10-30 year) benefit; and
(xii) an environmental specialist must be involved in the design, assessment and monitoring of offsets. |
