The Project includes a new disturbance area to provide additional tailings storage in a facility known as Upper Mundic Gully TSF. Operation of the Mundic Gully TSF is required to future proof the site wide tailings/water balance capacity and reduce environmental impacts due to uncontrollable releases to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). The proposed location of the Upper Mundic Gully TSF is displayed in Figure 2 . The Upper Mundic Gully is a highly disturbed and modified environment that no longer free drains due to the historical placement of waste rock material and operation of a human made tunnel. A waste rock dump, referred to as the ‘Western Dump’ occupies a significant portion of the Upper Mundic Gully valley. There is no evidence that rehabilitation methods have been applied to this feature, and it is likely that the Western Dump is contributing ARD seepage into the environment. The Upper Mundic Gully TSF is proposed to tie into portions of the Western Dump to an extent that is practicable which will ultimately seal the currently exposed rock face and further reduce potential ARD seepage into the surrounding environment. The historical impact area of the Mount Morgan Mine total is calculated to cover an area of 459.7 ha. The total footprint of the Upper Mundic Gully TSF is 43.4ha. Potential impacts associated with the project have been reduced by selecting a footprint that incorporates 11.97 ha of the Western Dump. Nevertheless, 31.46ha of vegetation disturbance will occur due to the project. This area of vegetation to be cleared is considered to constitute supporting habitat for the local C. megacarpa occurrence. The loss of C. megacarpa habitat will be compensated for via a land based offset, with details provided in a separate stand-alone offset area management plan. Purpose and objective of plan The purpose of this translocation plan is to outline the actions, roles and responsibilities, and performance outcomes to maximise the long-term success of the translocation activities. The overarching objective of this plan is to maintain the existing viability of the local occurrence of C. megacarpa by achieving no net loss of individuals of the species in the wild. 1.3 This plan has been developed in accordance with the Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia (Commander et al., 2018), the National Multi-Species Recovery Plan for Cycads (Queensland Herbarium, 2007) and consideration of learnings from previous translocation programs involving species from the order Cycadales. Heritage minerals have decided to undertake the translocation of these individuals despite the determination of the current area occupied being “Not in the Wild” and the grandfathering provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ( EPBC Act ) meaning such translocation and management is not a legal requirement.
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Mundic Gully TSF Translocation Project - Cycas megacarpa
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