Executive Summary Heritage Minerals Pty Ltd has commissioned Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd (WTS) to undergo ecological assessments associated with the proposed Upper Mundic Gully TSF of the Mount Morgan Mines and provide a report detailing the findings. A preliminary desktop assessment was undertaken using a range of databases from various authorities to identify potential Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES). This included any flora and fauna considered endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened (EVNT) under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or the Nature Conservation Act 1999 (NC Act). It also included any fauna species considered migratory or marine under the EPBC Act, and special least concern under the NC Act. Under the NC A Under the EPBC Act, if a proposed action may have a significant impact upon a MNES, then it must be referred for assessment and a decision by the administering authority as to whether it is a controlled action. The EPBC Act defines MNES as the following:
World Heritage Properties; National Heritage Properties;
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• Wetlands of international importance (listed under the Ramsar Convention); • Nationally threatened species and ecological communities; • Migratory species; • Commonwealth marine areas; • The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; • Nuclear actions (including uranium mining); and • A water resource, in relation to coal seam gas and large coal mining developments.
iii Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Heritage Minerals Upper Mundic Gully TSF – Fauna Survey Assessment Report o 11.10.4b (Least Concern – VM Act status, No concern at present – BD Act status) o 11.12.6 (Least Concern – VM Act status, No concern at present – BD Act status) o Confirmed presence of 2 ENVT flora species within the Project area: o Cycas megacarpa (Endangered under NC Act and EPBC Act) Several MSES protected matters were found to be mapped within or nearby to the proposed Project area, therefore requiring further investigation and preparation of an EPBC referral for assessment by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW). The field surveys included camera trapping, bat detectors, active searches, nocturnal surveys, call playbacks and bird surveys. Key Findings Initial surveys by GHD Pty Ltd, through desktop and field assessments identified the following: o Three Regional Ecosystems (REs) mapped across the Project area: o 11.10.2 (Of Concern – VM Act status, Of Concern – BD Act status)
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