Mount Morgan Mine Upper Mundic Gully TSF EA Amendment

Table 61. SRI assessment – Northern Quoll ( Dasyurus hallucatus )

Significant Residual Impact criteria

Assessment

Lead to a long-term

There is no evidence that the Project area supports an important population of the species. Dens observed within the Project area were not sufficient in number to act as NQ breeding spaces. There is only one record from 2000 from WO within 10 km of the Project area and there are no documented populations of NQ close to the Project area. As such, the Project is unlikely to lead to a long-term decrease in the size of an important population of a species. There is no evidence that the Project area supports an important population of the species. Dens observed within the Project area were not sufficient in number to act as NQ breeding spaces. There is only one record from 2000 from WO within 10 km of the Project area. Though there is 19.95 ha of potential foraging habitat, no breeding places will be affected. As such, the Project is unlikely to reduce the area of occupancy of an important population. There is no evidence that the Project area supports an important population of the species. Dens observed within the Project area were not sufficient in number to act as NQ breeding spaces. There is only one record from 2000 from WO within 10 km of the Project area and there are no documented populations of NQ close to the Project area. As such, the Project is unlikely to fragment an existing important population into two or more populations There is no evidence that the Project area supports an important population of the species. Dens observed within the Project area were not sufficient in number to act as NQ breeding spaces. Potential foraging habitat is around 19.95 ha of the Project area and though this will be cleared, suitable habitat is present throughout the region. As such, the Project is unlikely to adversely affect habitat critical to the survival of a species Northern quolls have a short lifespan, with most females surviving only one or two breeding seasons (DAWE, 2022c). This brief life history increases their vulnerability to disturbance and raises the risk of localised extinction. Breeding habitat for the northern quoll includes rocky area or structurally diverse woodland or forest. As discussed, due to the lack of diverse structural complexity within the project area, or obvious breeding sites, no breeding habitat is predicted to occur. To mitigate potential impacts, pre-clearance surveys will be conducted to identify northern quoll breeding sites, with all clearing supervised by qualified fauna spotter-catchers. As such, the Project is unlikely to disrupt the breeding cycle of an important population There is no evidence that the Project area supports an important population of the species. Dens observed within the Project area were not sufficient in number to act as NQ breeding habitat. As such, the Project is unlikely to modify, destroy, remove, or isolate or decrease the availability or quality of habitat to the extent that the species is likely to decline

Unlikely

decrease in the size of a local population of the species;

Reduce the area of

Unlikely

occupancy of an important population

Fragment an existing important population into two or more populations Adversely affect habitat critical to the survival of a species

Unlikely

Unlikely

Disrupt the breeding cycle of an important population

Unlikely

Modify, destroy, remove, or isolate or

Unlikely

decrease the availability or quality of habitat to the

Project number: 25B061

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