Project 1
Project 2
Project 3

Project 1

Description

PIRSA, in collaboration with the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) (external site, opens in new window), is developing an improved, scientifically based methodology for assessing economic and biodiversity values of the land within the State’s parks and reserves. This methodology includes preparing comprehensive mineral and/or petroleum prospectivity reports for specified areas matched to detailed assessment of biological associations, ecosystems and sensitive sites. In order of priority, these targeted areas are:

• Yellabinna–Yumbarra region.
• Gawler Ranges National Park region.
• Olary Ranges–Bimbowrie (proposed reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (external site, opens in new window).
• Stony deserts within the Gawler Craton.

The specific outcomes for this project are:

• Development of a framework to assist the decision-making process using sound scientific methodologies to simultaneously assess the biodiversity and economic values of an area to ensure balanced multiple land use decisions are made.
• The information gathered will also assist in the development of conditions for undertaking exploration, monitoring and rehabilitation and to guide future minimum impact mining exploration and development.
• All relevant environmental and geological data gathered will be located on a GIS database that can be readily updated. The GIS database will provide the mechanism to map and monitor the change in an area to anticipate future conditions, decide on a course of action, or to evaluate the results of an action or policy, thereby enabling the assessment of triple bottom line (TBL) outcomes.

Achievements 

• Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements between PIRSA and DEH for this project were agreed to and signed off.
• A broad five-year plan was received from DEH outlining the proposed activities necessary to meet the defined objective.
• A biological survey guidelines and manual was established.
• DEH recruited an additional four scientific officers, one technical officer and one administrative officer
  to undertake the vegetation mapping, biological surveys and consequent data entry, analysis and report production.
• DEH purchased equipment necessary to undertake field operations.
• Vegetation maps and data defining vegetation communities adjacent to existing mapped areas were produced using satellite and aerial imagery in conjunction with ground data, in the Yellabinna–Yumbarra–Gawler Ranges region.
• Potential vertebrate survey sites within the Yellabinna–Gawler Ranges region have been identified from vegetation maps.
• DEH has engaged staff and consultants for the biological survey and monitoring activities of the priority areas of Yellabinna and Bimbowrie. Two final reports have been completed: Vegetation survey report — Bimbowrie Station; and Bimbowrie fauna survey report — Survey # 193. PIRSA has published the Geology and mineral prospectivity of Bimbowrie Station (.pdf 18.1Mb, opens in new window). Along with previous studies for Yellabinna, additional draft reports related to this Theme were subsequently completed for other areas of South Australia including Woomera, Nullarbor and Lake Gairdner.
• Biodiversity mapping for the greater Yellabinna area has commenced, including preparation of vegetation community maps; completion of helicopter supported field surveys; and surveying of potential vertebrate survey sites within the Yellabinna and Gawler Ranges areas. DEH has commenced preparation of draft management plans for the parks of the Yellabinna Region.
• Vegetation mapping for the far west, including Maralinga Tjarutja lands, Yellabinna and Eyre Peninsula was progressed through combining Theme 1 work with a scheduled DEH program of biological surveys.
• PIRSA undertook fieldwork to compile a more complete dataset of historic and existing mine workings, detailing their location, extent and status with regard to safety and rehabilitation in Bimbowrie pastoral station. Geological mapping was also undertaken to better delineate mineral prospectivity in the proposed conservation park.
• DEH has begun preparing a management plan for the proposed Bimbowrie Conservation Park, based to a large extent on biodiversity and PIRSA reports undertaken as part of Theme 1.
• The biological survey program completed vegetation mapping and fauna reports for areas of Yellabinna, eastern Nullarbor, and Gawler Ranges.
• DEH continues with preparation of key reserve management plans for reserves in areas of exploration interest, including the Yellabinna complex of reserves, Witjira National Park, and Bimbowrie Conservation Park.
• DEH commenced ten-year reviews of Innamincka and Simpson Desert Regional Reserves for tabling in Parliament.

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Project 2

Description

To revise and publish the Multiple Land Use Policy (MLUP) for South Australia. This will be achieved consultatively with other relevant state government agencies and stakeholders. In support of this policy the triple bottom line (TBL) contributions that the South Australian minerals industry puts into the economic, environmental and social impact areas will be determined. A unique product to South Australia will be the identification and comparison of broad economic, environmental and social contributions to the state.

Achievements 

• Engagement with over 50 stakeholders involved in the generating of a MLUP.
• Formation of a high level stakeholder reference group, including senior industry, government and community representatives.
• Over 30 papers have been written covering different aspects (employment, health and safety, greenhouse) of the contribution of the minerals industry in the state.
• The contributions identified and measured have been profiled utilising multidimensional spider diagrams.
• The PACE funding has contributed to the timely assessment of exploration licence applications over reserves and assessment of on-ground exploration activities in reserves.
• A memorandum between the Minister for Environment and Conservation and the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy (external site, opens in new window) has been finalised regarding agreed consultation of proposals for co-managed parks that may affect exploration and mining.
• Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) (external site, opens in new window) and PIRSA have commenced revision of an administrative agreement for the Petroleum Act, and commenced preparation of an administrative agreement for the Mining Act, to facilitate timely assessment of proposals and reduce red tape.
• Significant work was undertaken to develop agreed processes or best practice guidelines for exploration and extraction in reserves and other environmentally sensitive areas (e.g. mound springs). The parameters for operating in mound springs are near finalisation and best practice guidelines in reserves to be established in 2009.
• A draft MLUP and an accompanying Discussion Paper has been circulated among PIRSA staff and received comments have been incorporated. The documents are being prepared to present to PIRSA executive for endorsement to consult with DEH and other agencies within government.
• The draft TBL report was been completed by PIRSA. The objective of TBL reporting for the South Australian minerals industry is to measure and monitor the industry’s progress towards greater sustainable development. This comprehensive document includes a large number of individual papers investigating specific impacts of the minerals industry value chain on various issues within the headings of Social, Economic and Environment.
• The South Australian Mineral Financial ScoreCard has been extended to a TBL scorecard — combining financial measures with social contributions and environmental impacts. Over 50 additional performance measures have been identified covering the labour market, resource use, energy inputs, land use, air and water quality and waste. Identifying the South Australian minerals industry contribution to these measures has demonstrated the importance and contribution that the sector makes to South Australia’s economy and communities.

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Project 3

Description

Best-practice methodologies are to be identified and developed to minimise environmental impacts of exploration and mining activities. This involves collaboration with the University of Adelaide (UA) and Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) (external site, opens in new window) on specific research projects looking at environmental impacts of exploration activities, with the aim of identifying and developing best practice methodologies for industry and government.

Achievements

• The Grant Agreement between PIRSA and the UA was agreed to and signed off.
• A university Theme 1 Research Reference Group established.
• The scope of the research projects and priority areas for research were identified.
• Divisional Research Scholarship was advertised and an Honours Graduate was employed to undertake research gap analysis.
• DEH has commenced the design and preparation of web pages for the DEH website to provide information for mining companies on exploration and mining in reserves, for publication in 2009.
• PIRSA provided sponsorship to a national environmental conference to strengthen links between the UA’s environmental departments.
• Two University of Adelaide PhD students, Lindy Scott and Joanne Lee, completed major research projects investigating key impacts of mineral exploration activities on the vegetation and small fauna elements of the mallee–dune fields ecosystem in the Pinkawillinie Conservation Park (CP).
• Lindy Scott’s project, ‘A study of the ecology of the vegetation of the mallee system and dunes of Pinkawillinie Conservation Park with emphasis on the impact of mining exploration on the ecosystem’, aimed to investigate the vegetation ecology of the mallee and dunes in an area of Pinkawillinie CP where both current and historical mineral exploration has occurred. The changes identified in this preliminary study indicated that there were definite differences in the vegetation on the tracks, to that in the undisturbed area. The tracks supported no mature perennial plants, but annual seedlings exhibited a greater diversity and coverage on the tracks than off and decreased along the tracks from the swale to the crest. The soil was more compacted on the tracks than off and held more moisture in the upper layer, which would suit the growth of shallowly rooted annuals. Nutrients, pH, conductivity and ant predation showed no significant difference between the disturbed and undisturbed areas or along the tracks. Perennial seedlings grew and survived most successfully on Track 3 which was the sandiest and the least compacted of the three tracks. Further data will provide more detail on these results and an investigation into organic carbon levels and mycorrhizae in the soil may be included.
• Joanne Lee’s project, ‘The impacts of mineral exploration on small faunal assemblages, Pinkawillinie Conservation Park’, will look at whether tracks created during mineral exploration impact upon small vertebrate fauna in this mallee region. Specific aspects to be addressed included, understanding aspects of the ecology of arid/semi-arid species, the impacts of tracks on small arid zone fauna, habitat variables and trapping design. A diverse range of species were trapped that are new records for the park, including Thorny Tailed Gecko (Strophurus assimilis), a small skink species (Cyclodomorphus melanops), Western Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus concinnus) and the endangered Sandhill Dunnart (Sminthopsis psammophila). Despite this success, more data is needed before any influence of exploration tracks on the populations may be determined. Further work includes micro-tracking the movements of several small mammal species and trials to determine foraging behaviour on and off tracks.

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