Australian Garnet Pty Ltd

Menari Mineral Sands Deposit

Onshore Environmental recently completed a Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation survey of the Menari Mineral Sands Deposit at Balline, approximately 35 km south of Kalbarri in the Mid-West region of Western Australia.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd

Consolidated Vegetation Mapping of Pilbara Tenements

BHP Billiton Iron Ore has been undertaking baseline flora and vegetation surveys on most of its Pilbara tenements since the 1990s. These surveys have generally involved the preparation of vegetation maps, developed using different techniques and/or nomenclature. During 2013/14 Onshore Environmental was commissioned to review a total of 162 baseline surveys and consolidate all previous vegetation mapping into one consolidated regional Geographic Information System (GIS) database. A total of 218 vegetation associations classified under 53 broad floristic formations were described and mapped at a scale of 1:20,000 from 430,000 hectares of BHP Billiton Iron Ore's Pilbara tenure.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd

Nyiyaparli Ethnobotanical Project

Ethnobotany is the study of relationships between plants and people. Onshore Environmental was invited by BHP Billiton Iron Ore to participate in the Nyiyaparli ethnobotanical project. Botanists from Onshore Environmental worked with Nyiyaparli people to document traditional knowledge of plants recorded at the Marillana Pastoral Lease, 150 km north of Newman. The resultant booklet will be used to promote Nyiyaparli culture and for further education and training purposes. Dr Jerome Bull has completed post-graduate studies in the area of plant-animal interactions and has a personal interest in biogeography and the bush food industry.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd

Targeted Survey for Lepidium catapycnon at Karijini National Park

Lepidium catapycnon is one of only three plant species occurring within the Pilbara bioregion that is currently listed as Threatened Flora under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. To better understand potential regional impacts of mining on this taxon, BHP Billiton Iron Ore commissioned Onshore Environmental to undertake a targeted survey for Lepidium catapycnon within suitable habitat at Karijini National Park. There were eight populations of Lepidium catapycnon supporting approximately 1,345 plants confirmed to occur across the entire extent of Karijini National Park.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd

Baseline Flora and Vegetation Surveys

Onshore Environmental has completed a total of 53 Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation surveys at BHP Billiton Iron Ore's Pilbara tenements since 2009, and operated as the preferred contractor since January 2011.

Cameco Australia Ltd

Kintyre and Kintyre Rocks Projects

Botanists from Onshore Environmental completed a combination of baseline flora and vegetation surveys and targeted significant flora surveys at Cameco's Kintyre and Kintyre Rocks uranium projects, situated between the Little Sandy Desert and Great Sandy Desert. The survey results will be used during impact assessment prior to proposed exploration programs commencing.

Cape Mountain Bikers Club

Zone 6 Meelup Regional Park

The Meelup Regional Park (MRP) is a 572 ha A Class Reserve extending along the coastline from Dunsborough to Bunker Bay and vested in the City of Busselton with the gazetted purpose of conservation and recreation. Onshore Environmental completed a baseline flora and vegetation survey within Zone 6 of the park (56 ha), which includes the old Dunsborough waste disposal site and a number of decommissioned gravel pits. The aim of the survey was to provide supporting information to the Cape Mountain Bikers, Meelup Regional Park Committee and Department of Parks and Wildlife on flora and vegetation conservation values and management requirements associated with the proposed construction of a formally managed mountain bike circuit at the site.

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd

Wheatstone Natural Gas Project

Baseline flora and vegetation surveys were completed by a team of botanists from Onshore Environmental over 2,660 ha at Ashburton North (south of Onslow), associated with approval for construction and operation of the Wheatstone multi-train liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant and a domestic gas (Domgas) plant.

City of Busselton

Dunsborough Regional Boating Facility Planning Study

With boating demand in the Dunsborough region currently exceeding capacity of the existing boat launching facilities and growth in population and boating demand expected into the future, the need for a new boating facility has been identified by the City of Busselton. Onshore Environmental was engaged to undertake Level 1 flora and vegetation surveys at four sites short-listed by a working group as potential new boat ramp sites. The flora and vegetation values at each of the four sites will be considered as part of the wider planning study.

Department of Transport

Augusta Boat Harbour

A two season Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation survey was completed by Onshore Environmental at the coastal ridge near Cape Leeuwin in south-west Western Australia, identified as the preferred site for construction of the Augusta Boat Harbour. There was associated mapping and management planning for the Threatened plant taxon Kennedia lateritia, which occurred at the site as one of only two known natural populations.

Department of Transport

Port Geographe Marina

Onshore Environmental was commissioned by the Department of Transport to undertake a Level 1 flora and vegetation survey of land adjoining the Port Geographe Marina, ahead of the proposed re-alignment of the existing breakwater. The survey confirmed that no conservation significant flora or vegetation would be impacted during construction.

Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd

Muja South Project

Griffin Coal is proposing to extend existing coal production at Collie by developing its Muja South coal reserve. Six botanists from Onshore Environmental were involved in an extensive targeted search for the now Threatened plant taxon Caladenia sp. Collie (E. Bennett s.n. PERTH 08396051), an orchid that was recorded within the Muja South project area during baseline surveys. The targeted program extended the known extent and confirmed numbers of plants within populations from Collie, including the identification of a number of new populations not previously recorded. There was a significant amount of data collected during the targeted survey on the preferred habitat requirements for this orchid, including soil, geology, topography, fire age, and response to disturbance.

Iron Ore Holdings Ltd

Buckland Iron Ore Project

Onshore Environmental has completed extensive baseline flora and vegetation surveys for five prospective iron ore deposits located south of Pannawonica, including associated haul roads connecting deposits to the port at Cape Preston. The majority of this work utilised a helicopter to access the remote study areas.

Jones Cinewest Drive-Ins Pty Ltd

Residential Development for Busselton Drive-In Site

Onshore Environmental was commissioned by the owner of the Busselton Drive-In to undertake a baseline flora and vegetation survey, an off-set development plan, and then oversee a Commonwealth referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The referral was approved within four months of commencing the action to Department of Environment in Canberra.

Lamboo Resources Ltd

McIntosh Graphite Project

A two season Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation survey was recently completed at Lamboo Resources McIntosh tenements, situated 100 km north of Halls Creek in the south-east Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Paladin Energy Ltd

Manyingee Uranium Project

Onshore Environmental completed a two season Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation survey of three leases supporting the Manyingee uranium resource, situated 85 km south of Onslow in the western Pilbara region of Western Australia. The survey results supported a Native Vegetation Clearing Permit required to support continued exploration at the site.

Pluton Resources Ltd

Irvine Island Iron Ore Project

Two season Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation surveys were completed across the entire extent of Irvine Island situated at the northern end of the Yampi Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Additional targeted significant flora searches and vegetation mapping was completed at twelve surrounding islands in the Buccaneer Archipelago as well as the mainland to provide regional context. The field survey work completed at a remote location, in mountainous terrain, and under difficult climatic conditions. The majority of the survey was completed on-foot with a helicopter and boat utilised at defined drop-off and pick-up locations on each island.

Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd

Greenbushes Mining Leases

Onshore Environmental completed a Level 2 baseline flora and vegetation survey of ten mining leases (10,060 hectares) that encompass the current active mine site as well as large areas surrounding the mine which incorporate State Forest, privately owned farmland, plantation timber, and the Greenbushes Town. Survey results are being used in long term planning for mining and rehabilitation activities at the site.