Published Project View

Project Detail
View Summary Version

View Map

Project number	OEPA:17
Project name	Revised Wiluna Uranium Project
Project status	Current
Proponent(s)	Toro Energy Limited (ACN 117 127 590)
Project location	The project consists of four deposits: Centipede, Millipede, Lake Way and Lake Maitland, south-east of Wiluna.
Project bioregion(s)	Murchison
Assessment criteria	Flora and Vegetation, Subterranean Fauna
Residual impact	Following the implementation of all mitigation measures, the Proposal would have the following significant residual impacts: - Cumulative impact on 1333.2 ha of Tecticornia-dominated vegetation; and - Impact on approximately 168 ha of Hinkler Well Calcrete Priority Eecological Community (component taxa) and 500 ha of the Barwidgee Priority Ecological Community (component taxa); as a result of implementation of the proposal.
Offset conditions	Offset - Tecticornia 17-1 The proponent shall fund and undertake an offset as required in Condition 17- 2 with the objective to counterbalance the cumulative impact on 1333.2 ha of Tecticornia-dominated vegetation as a result of implementation of the proposal. 17-2 Prior to the commencement of ground disturbing activities, the proponent shall prepare a Survey and Research Plan for approval by the CEO on the advice of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, to conserve and improve the scientific knowledge of Tecticornia taxa. The Survey and Research Plan shall include: (1) implementation of further surveys to collect Tecticornia specimens within and outside the Development Envelope within the associated lake system and immediate adjoining areas; (2) conducting research on Tecticornia specimens collected for taxonomic resolution; (3) provision of distribution and abundance data to enable determination of the conservation status of identified Tecticornia taxa including relative representation within and outside the Development Envelope ; (4) storage, preservation and propagation techniques for any Tecticornia taxa and unidentified specimens that have not been shown to occur outside the Development Envelope or the area of groundwater drawdown greater than the predicted 0.5 groundwater drawdown contours as shown in Figure 2 of Schedule 1; (5) ecophysiological characterisation and assessment of habitat requirements of different Tecticornia taxa within and outside the Development Envelope including an assessment of potential impacts from changes in groundwater quality and quantity, and with main emphasis on those taxa identified as occurring within the Development Envelope; (6) conducting research on requirements and techniques for re-establishing Tecticornia vegetation communities and conservation-significant taxa in rehabilitating the Disturbance Area; (7) establishing soil management techniques to ensure preservation of top soils, containing the seed bank, for use in rehabilitation; (8) on-ground works for the establishment of self-sustaining populations of Tecticornia taxa considered to be at risk from this proposal; and (9) identify procedures for reporting to the CEO and the Department of Parks and Wildlife, including the content format, timing and frequency for reporting and provision of data and information against the objective in condition 17-1, in accordance with the requirements of conditions 17-2 (1) to 17-2 (8). 17-3 The proponent shall continue to implement the version of the Tecticornia Survey and Research plan most recently approved by the CEO until the CEO has confirmed by notice in writing that the objective in condition 17-1 has been met. 17-4 The funding required by condition 17-1 shall be a minimum total monetary value of $2,000,000 (GST exclusive) plus CPI from the date of this Statement. Offset - Subterranean Fauna Habitat (PEC) 18-1 The proponent shall fund and undertake an offset as required in Condition 18-2 with the objective to counterbalance the significant residual impact on approximately 168 ha of Hinkler Well Calcrete PEC (component taxa) and 500 ha of the Barwidgee PEC (component taxa) as a result of implementation of the proposal. 18-2 Prior to the commencement of ground disturbing activities, the proponent shall prepare, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the WA Museum, and submit a Subterranean Fauna Research Plan to the CEO. The research questions for the plan should be the following: (1) Improve the knowledge of their taxonomy, distribution and habitat requirements; (2) Develop a better understanding of the impact on subterranean fauna from mining operations; and (3) Identify the key variables to support the ecological function of subterranean fauna. 18-3 The Subterranean Fauna Research Plan shall: (1) Identify research objectives and completion criteria; (2) Include details of project budgets and costs; (3) Identify timeframes and responsibilities for implementation; and (4) Identify reporting procedures, including the content, format, timing and frequency for the reporting of monitoring data against the research questions, in accordance with condition 18-2. 18-4 After receiving notice in writing from the CEO that the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan satisfies the requirements of condition 18-3, the proponent shall: (1) Implement the actions in accordance with the requirements of the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan; and (2) Continue to implement the actions in accordance with the requirements of the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan until the CEO has confirmed by notice in writing that the objective in condition 18-1 has been met. 18-5 The proponent shall monitor the implementation of the plan and provide a written report, including monitoring data, and provide to the CEO within three months of the finalisation of each project. The research findings are to be made publically available. 18-6 The proponent: (1) May review and revise the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan, or (2) Shall review and revise the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan as and when directed by the CEO. 18-7 The proponent shall implement the latest revision of the Subterranean Fauna Research Plan, which the CEO has confirmed by notice in writing satisfies the requirements of condition 18-2.
Statutory process	EP Act Environmental Impact Assessment (Part IV)
Approved project area (ha)	3112.0

Decision(s):

DECISION 1
Date: 2012-10-10	Ministerial statement: 913

DECISION 2

Date: 2017-01-09

Ministerial statement: 1051

OFFSET 1

Condition status: Current

Type(s): Research

Rationale:

Some Tecticornia species may have very specific habitat requirements and a considerable number of specimens collected in the surveys undertaken by the proponent could not be identified as known species within the existing knowledge on Tecticornia species. The identification of Tecticornia species is complex.

Based on the current extent of surveys and taxonomic knowledge of Tecticornia species, the proposal could result in the loss of unidentified Tecticornia species from direct disturbance or groundwater drawdown.

This offset includes survey and research measures to improve the knowledge of Tecticornia species.

Security arrangements:

Governance arrangements:

Survey and Research Plan to be approved by the CEO of the OEPA on advice from the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Offset location:

Approved offset area (ha): None

Bioregion(s):

Delivery agent:

Toro Energy Limited

CONDITION MILESTONE 1
Milestone: The proponent shall prepare a Survey and Research Plan for approval by the CEO, on the advice of the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Timeframe: Prior to the commencement of ground disturbing activities
Complete: No

No implementation milestones defined.

OFFSET 2

Condition status: Current

Type(s): Research

Rationale:

Research offsets must be designed to result in positive conservation outcomes and should address priority knowledge gaps and provide information that will improve environmental assessment of future projects. Research projects are appropriate where there is some uncertainty and new science is required to develop better mitigation measures or predictive tools.

In this case, the offset requires the proponent to undertake research related to the Hinkler Well calcrete Priority Ecological Community and Barwidgee calcrete Priority Ecological Community through a Subterranean Fauna Research Plan. This research should address the following:
- improve the knowledge of subterranean fauna taxonomy, distribution and habitat requirements;
- develop a better understanding of the impact of mining operations on subterranean fauna; and
- identify the key variables which support the ecological function of subterranean fauna.

Consultation with the WA Museum and the Department of Parks and Wildlife is necessary to define the research plan, and the outcomes of the research must be made publicly available.