When beginning mining activities at Curragh, as well as subsequent mine pit advancement, it has been necessary to clear Brigalow vegetation. The vegetation is an acacia harpophylla-dominant and co-dominant ecological community, declared as endangered under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).
Challenge
To compensate for the clearance of this vegetation – and as part of the conditions of approval to clear Brigalow – we established a brigalow offset in 2014 on private property near Nebo.
Solution
Through the execution of an Offset Deed and Voluntary Declaration, the offset secures and protects approximately 543 ha of Brigalow ecological community, 285 ha of non-Brigalow vegetation and 18 ha of non-remnant areas. The offset also has the potential to provide habitat for several EPBC Act-listed species, including the squatter pigeon, ornamental snake and the yakka skink.
Outcomes
As part of the establishment of the offset, a management plan was developed to guide the ongoing management, monitoring, and reporting requirements for the offset area. Baseline environmental monitoring was conducted, and has been conducted at three-year intervals since, to measure how the offset is progressing over time and assess the effectiveness of management measures.
In 2023 was the fourth monitoring cycle. Monitoring undertaken focused on fauna, flora, and invasive species, within and surrounding the offset area. Findings showed the offset is in good condition and supports a range of fauna including the EPBC Act-listed ornamental snake (pictured) and squatter pigeon, which were sighted during the field surveys.
