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Project Detail

Project number OEPA:92
Project name

Newmont Boddington Goldmine
Project status Current
Proponent(s) Newmont Boddington Gold Pty Ltd (Australian Company Number 101 199 731)
Project location

Boddington, WA
Project bioregion(s) Jarrah Forest
Assessment criteria Flora and Vegetation, Terrestrial Fauna
Residual impact

Following the implementation of all mitigation measures, the proposal would have significant residual impacts through the clearing of up to 1,755 ha of native vegetation which results in:

• loss of habitat for Carnaby's Cockatoo, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Baudin’s Black Cockatoo;
• fragmentation of Woylie and Chuditch habitat;
• loss of 618 ha of forest with conservation values currently vested in the Conservation Commission.
Offset conditions

9 Offsets

9-1 To offset the significant residual impact to 1,755 ha of native vegetation which includes: Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby's Cockatoo) and Calyptorhynchus banksii naso (Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo) foraging and breeding habitat, Calyptorhynchus baudinii (Baudin’s Black Cockatoo) foraging habitat; fragmentation of Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi (Woylie) and Dasyurus geoffroii (Chuditch) habitat; and loss of 618 ha of forest with conservation values currently vested in the Conservation Commission, the proponent shall undertake an offset program in accordance with conditions 9-2 to 9-12.

9-2 Within one (1) year of the date of this Statement, the Proponent shall prepare a Land Offset Plan to the requirements of the CEO on advice of the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

9-3 The land subject to the Land Offset Plan identified in condition 9-2 shall contain at least 2,000 hectares of native vegetation in similar condition to the vegetation being impacted by the proposal, or as otherwise agreed by the CEO.

9-4 The Plan identified in condition 9-2 shall:
1) identify the area to be protected and managed for conservation;
2) if any of the vegetation in the area identified is in a degraded condition, identify improvement actions and a timeframe for the actions to be undertaken to improve the condition of native vegetation in that area;
3) demonstrate that individual land parcels are at least 90 hectares in area;
4) be located within fifty (50) kilometres of the proposal development envelope unless otherwise agreed by the CEO;
5) identify the environmental attributes of the land to be acquired which must contain:
a) known foraging and breeding habitat for Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby's Cockatoo), Calyptorhynchus banksii naso (Forest red-tailed Black Cockatoo), and foraging habitat for Calyptorhynchus baudinii (Baudin’s Black Cockatoo) within 6 kilometres of permanent drinking water;
b) habitat for Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi (Woylie) and foraging and breeding habitat for Dasyurus geoffroii (Chuditch);
6) detail:
a) the conservation activities identified in 9-4(2)that will be undertaken, with associated completion criteria;
b) funding arrangements and timing of funding for conservation activities identified in condition 9-4(6a);
c) monitoring requirements for activities identified in condition 9-4(6a);
d) timing arrangements including an agreed end point for protection of land identified in condition 9-3;
e) the role of the proponent.

9-5 In the event that condition 9-3 is unable to be implemented within the timeframe identified in condition 9-4(6d) the proponent shall identify a similar conservation benefit for the species identified in condition 9-1 as provided by the offset in condition 9-3 to be implemented and update the plan identified in condition 9-2 to the satisfaction of the CEO within three (3) months of the end of the timeframe identified in 9-4(6d).

9-6 The area identified in the approved Land Offset Plan shall be placed under a conservation covenant in consultation with the Department of Parks and Wildlife to the satisfaction of the CEO.

9-7 The proponent shall implement the approved Land Offset Plan identified in condition 9-2 until the CEO advises implementation may cease.

Hotham Farm

9-8 Within two (2) years of the date of this statement, or at a date as agreed by the CEO, the Proponent shall ensure 470 hectares of Hotham Farm is protected in perpetuity by an instrument or instruments approved by the CEO.

9-9 The Proponent shall manage the land identified in condition 9-8 in accordance with the Newmont Boddington Gold Overarching Offset Strategy dated 15 November 2013.

9-10 The proponent shall implement the offset identified in condition 9-8 until the CEO advises implementation may cease.

Lands vested in the Conservation Commission

9-11 Within twelve (12) months of the date of this Statement, the proponent shall prepare a Land Exchange Plan, for the approval of the CEO on advice of the Director General of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The Land Exchange Plan shall include:
1) details of land to be ceded to the State for incorporation into the conservation reserve system and vesting in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia;
2) total amount of land to be ceded;
3) a requirement that the total area to be ceded be based on providing an equivalent value to the forest area vested in the Conservation Commission being removed, with a minimum of at least 618 hectares; and
4) a proposed timeframe for the ceding of land to occur.

9-12 The proponent shall implement the approved Land Exchange Plan identified in condition 10-1.

10 Legacy Offset

10-1 The proponent shall implement the offset previously committed to in the now superseded Statement 591 (provide land to the State) as described in Schedule 3 of this Statement to the satisfaction of the CEO within two years of this statement being issued.
Statutory process EP Act Environmental Impact Assessment (Part IV)
Approved project area (ha) 6850.0

Decision(s):

DECISION 1
Date: 2014-06-12 Ministerial statement: 971
OFFSET 1
Condition status: Current
Type(s): Land acquisition, Onground management
Rationale:

To offset for the significant residual impact to Carnaby's Cockatoo, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s Black Cockatoo, Woylie and Chuditch, the proponent will protect 2,000 hectares of land and manage this for conservation. In making a judgement about the adequacy of the offset the value of avoidance, minimisation and rehabilitation actions have been considered in reducing the significant residual impact.

The 2,000 hectares will be local and like-for-like and contain similar values to those being impacted. The likely site is subject to agreement with third parties, so the condition has been developed to capture this site, or if no agreement can be reached, allow for an alternative site to be used as an offset.

To be considered a suitable offset site, the site must have the following values:
- known foraging and breeding habitat for Carnaby's Cockatoo, Forest red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and foraging habitat for Baudin’s Black Cockatoo and be within 6 kilometres of permanent drinking water;
- habitat for Woylie and foraging and breeding habitat for Chuditch;
- if the offset is made up of multiple sites, each site must be at least 90 hectares; and
- if the likely site is not available, each site must be within 50 kilometres of the mine.

Should the land being acquired be degraded, it should be rehabilitated to provide new habitat for the species being impacted. There is value in the recreation of habitat, particularly foraging habitat for Black Cockatoos. The proponent has already demonstrated its ability to recreate this type of habitat in its rehabilitation of previously mined areas. Since there is an increased risk associated with recreating habitat, if the proponent identifies areas containing degraded habitat, the proponent will need to demonstrate how this has been accounted for in determining how much benefit is likely to be generated.
Security arrangements:

The intention is to place the land subject to this offset under a conservation covenant.
Governance arrangements:

To be finalised in the Land Offset Plan (see condition 9-2). Once approved, this Plan will be made publicly available.
Offset location:

Within 50 kilometres of the development site.
Approved offset area (ha): 2000.0
Bioregion(s): Jarrah Forest
Delivery agent:

CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone:

Condition 9-2
Within one (1) year of the date of this Statement, the Proponent shall prepare a Land Offset Plan to the requirements of the CEO on advice of the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
Timeframe:

12 June 2015
Timeframe (date): 2015-06-12
Complete: No
  • No implementation milestones defined.
OFFSET 2
Condition status: Current
Type(s): Onground management, Rehabilitation
Rationale:

To offset the significant residual impacts to Carnaby's Cockatoo, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Baudin's Cockatoo, Woylie and Chuditch, the proponent will undertake a land protection and rehabilitation project.

The offset will be undertaken on Hotham Farm and involve 470 hectares of habitat protection including 300 hectares of rehabilitation of cleared pastoral land.

This offset will link existing remnant vegetation patches creating a contiguous vegetated area of around 470 ha. In addition to the direct benefit of habitat restoration and linkage, the objectives of the pastoral restoration works is to provide the following conservation benefits:
1. Provide a foraging resource for black cockatoos within 10 years of restoration.
2. Provide this resource within a short distance of established Jarrah / Marri Forest (i.e. black cockatoo breeding habitat) and permanent water resources. This has been shown to be an important aspect for the breeding ecology of these species in the Northern Jarrah Forest (Finn 2011).
3. Provide foraging and refuge habitat and linkage for mammal species such as the Woylie, Chuditch and Brush-tailed Phascogale.
Security arrangements:

The offset site will be placed under a conservation covenant

Governance arrangements:

Objections and Completion Criteria are detailed in the attached Offsets Strategy.
Offset location:

Hotham Farm, Boddington
Approved offset area (ha): 470.0
Bioregion(s): Jarrah Forest
Delivery agent:

Document attachments:
CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone:

Condition 9-8 Within two years, ensure 470 hectares of Hotham Farm are protected under a conservation covenant.
Timeframe:

Timeframe (date): 2016-06-12
Complete: Unknown
  • No implementation milestones defined.
OFFSET 3
Condition status: Current
Type(s): Land acquisition
Rationale:

To offset the significant residual impact from the loss of 618 hectares of State Forest, the proponent will replace this with an equivalent area to be added to the conservation estate. A minimum of 618 hectares is required if the land to be added is in similar condition and of similar environmental value to that being lost. This will result in no net loss of State Forest.

This offset will be prepared in consultation with the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Security arrangements:

Land to be added to State Forest.
Governance arrangements:

The land will be managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife in accordance with normal State Forest procedures.
Offset location:

To be determined.
Approved offset area (ha): None
Bioregion(s):
Delivery agent:

The Proponent and Department of Parks and Wildlife.
CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone:

9-11 Prepare a Land Exchange Plan for the approval of the CEO of the OEPA on advice from the Director General of the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Timeframe:

Timeframe (date): 2015-06-12
Complete: Unknown
  • No implementation milestones defined.
OFFSET 4
Condition status: Current
Type(s): Land acquisition
Rationale:

This offset relates to the proposal (Boddington and Hedges Gold Mines - Ministerial Statement 591). The proponent commitment states -

12. Identify in consultation with the [Boddington Gold Mine Environmental Management Liaison Group] BGMEMLG and [Department of Parks and Wildlife] CALM and provide to the State, for incorporation into the conservation estate:
• preferably land of comparable conservation value and approximately equal to the area of State Forest affected by [Boddington Gold Mine] BGM mining and additional residue disposal activity, or
• land of comparable conservation value and approximately equal to the area of State Forest affected by additional residue disposal operations
Security arrangements:

Land to be added to the State Forest.
Governance arrangements:

The land will be managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife in accordance with normal State Forest procedures.
Offset location:

Approved offset area (ha): None
Bioregion(s):
Delivery agent:

The Proponent and Department of Parks and Wildlife
CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone:

Finalise offset site with the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Timeframe:

Complete: No
  • No implementation milestones defined.

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