Commission Secretariat

Phone 02) 9383 2100 | Fax (02) 9383 2133

Email: ipcn@ipcn.nsw.gov.au

Independent Planning Commission NSW

Level 3, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000

Ms Anissa Levy Coordinator-General Environment, Energy and Science Department of Planning, Industry & Environment Email: anissa.levy@dpie.nsw.gov.au Dear Ms Levy

Rix’s Creek Continuation of Mining Project (SSD 6300) I write to request additional information from the Environment, Energy and Science Group (EES) to assist the Commission in its determination of the abovementioned application. In its consideration of the application the Commission seeks EES’ view on the impacts of Option 1 and Option 2 overburden emplacement areas upon the values of Endangered Ecological Communities as defined by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The Commission particularly seeks comment on the two options in consideration of the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Policy for Major Projects 2014 hierarchy of ‘avoid, minimise, offset’. The Commission notes that the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) provided comments dated 20 December 2018 and 30 January 2019. The Commission has identified that the EES may not have had the opportunity to fully comment on Option 1 and Option 2, along with draft recommended conditions for the Applicant’s Option 1 – Overburden Emplacement Storage (Option 1). The Commission notes that OEH’s letter dated 30 January 2019 states:

Table 12 in the RTS Report summarises the ecosystem credit yield for the mining footprint of the continuation of mining project and two options for the North Pit dump area. OEH is satisfied with the BioBanking assessment of ecosystem credit yield for 'Option 2' that was provided with e-mail dated 18 December 2018. OEH has previously reviewed and accepted the BioBanking credit yield for the mining footprint (letter dated 19 March 2018). No further information for the BioBanking calculations and assessment of the mining footprint and the two options for the North Pit dump area is required.

OEH’s letter of 20 December 2018 included recommendations for Option 2 – Overburden Emplacement Area but was silent regarding Option 1. It also provided comments on draft conditions for Option 2 as described in the Department’s Rix Creek South Continuation of Mining Project Final Assessment Report June 2019 but again does not mention Option 1. The Commission now seeks EES’ view on Option 1 versus Option 2, in addition to a review and comment on the information in Attachment A, including any draft recommended conditions for Option 1. The material in Attachment A resulted from the Applicant responding to requests for information from Commission in relation to Option 1 (Attachment B).

Commission Secretariat

Phone 02) 9383 2100 | Fax (02) 9383 2133

Email: ipcn@ipcn.nsw.gov.au

Independent Planning Commission NSW

Level 3, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000

The Applicant provided Option 1 staged biodiversity offsetting plans to the Commission on 18 September 2019 (as Attachment B). This information may be incorporated into any recommended conditions of consent by the Commission if Option 1 is determined. If possible, could you please provide a response to these matters by close of business 26 September 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Summerhayes, Acting Executive Director, on 9383 2128 or at anna.summerhayes@ipcn.nsw.gov.au. Yours sincerely

Anna Summerhayes A/Executive Director Independent Planning Commission 19 September 2019 cc: Mike Young, Executive Director, Energy & Resource Assessments, Department of Planning, Industry & Environment

Attachment A – Department Recommended Conditions of Consent (prepared for Option 1 – Overburden Emplacement Area, adjusted from the Department’s Option 2 – Overburden Emplacement Area recommended conditions) BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity Credits Required

B42. The Applicant must retire the biodiversity credits specified in Table 5 below to offset the biodiversity impacts of the development. The retirement of credits must be carried out in consultation with OEH and in accordance with the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme of the BC Act, to the satisfaction of the BCT.

Table 5: Biodiversity credit requirements

Credit Type Ecosystem Credits

Stage 1 Credits

Required

Stage 2 Credits

Required

Stage 3 Credits

Required

Stage 4 Credits

Required

Total Credits

Required HU906 Moderate/Good Zone 2: Bull Oak grassy woodland of the central Hunter Valley (PCT 1692)

- 4 - - 4

HU819 Moderate/Good Zone 4: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter (PCT 1605)

74 291 66 87 518

HU962 Moderate/Good Zone 5: Grey Box grassy open forest of the Central and Lower Hunter Valley (PCT 1748)

14 - - 14 28

HU819 Moderate/Good derived grassland Zone 7: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter (PCT 1605)

392 458 761 329 1940

HU819 Moderate/Good other Zone 8: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter (PCT 1605)

93 107 44 182 426

HU818 Moderate/Good young Zone 10: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐Grey Box Spotted Gum shrub‐grass woodland of the central and lower Hunter (PCT 2150)

120 - - - 120

HU818 Moderate/Good established Zone 9: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐Grey Box ‐Spotted Gum shrub - grass woodland of the central and lower Hunter (PCT 2150)

788 - - - 788

Total 3824 Notes:

To identify the surface disturbance areas associated with each Stage in Table 5 refer to the applicable figure in Appendix 5, or as updated in the approved Biodiversity Management Plan.

The credits in Table 5 were calculated in accordance with Framework for Biodiversity Assessment of the NSW Biodiversity Offset Policy for Major Projects (OEH, 2014) and may need to be converted to reasonably equivalent ‘biodiversity credits’, within the meaning of the BC Act, if the credits are to be retired in accordance with the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme of the BC Act.

Staged Retirement

B43. Within 12 months of commencing mining operations under this consent, or other timeframe agreed by the Planning Secretary, the Applicant must retire the Stage 1 credits in Table 5.

B44. Prior to the commencement of surface disturbance associated with Stage 2, Stage 3 or Stage 4, or other timeframe agreed by the Planning Secretary, the Applicant must retire the relevant credits for these stages as specified in Table 5.

B45. With the agreement of the Planning Secretary, the Applicant may adjust the staging of credit retirements in Table 5 and the associated surface disturbance areas. Any adjustments must be agreed, and the relevant credits must be retired, prior to the commencement of the associated surface disturbance.

B46. The Applicant may seek the agreement of the Planning Secretary to carry over surplus retired credits to satisfy requirements of a later stage. This may occur where approved clearing for an earlier stage was not undertaken, but the impact has already been offset.

B47. The biodiversity credits associated with any undisturbed areas agreed under condition B46 may be removed from the total credit obligations in Table 5.

B48. Prior to commencing construction of the cut and cover tunnel, the Applicant must ensure that any biodiversity impacts relating to disturbance during construction of the tunnel and the temporary side track road have been offset to the satisfaction of OEH.

Attachment B – Information provided by the Applicant on 18 September 2019 Appendix 5 Biodiversity Offsets (Option 1)

Level 3, 175 Scott Street

Newcastle NSW 2300

T 02 4907 4800

E info@emmconsulting.com.au

www.emmconsulting.com.au

H180448 | RP#3 | v1 1

17 September 2019

Geoff Moore Chief Development Officer The Bloomfield Group PO Box 4 East Maitland, NSW 2323

Re: Rix's Creek Continuation Project - Staged Offset Requirements for Option 1 Overburden Emplacement

Dear Geoff,

Rix's Creek Continuation Project (RCCP, SSD 6300) is currently under assessment by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC). EMM Consulting Pty Ltd (EMM) has previously provided assessments of credit requirements arising from two overburden emplacement options (Option 1 and Option 2), including a trade‐off study assessing the benefits of Option 1 versus Option 2 (EMM 2018) and an assessment of credits required based on the staging of disturbance associated with Option 2 (EMM 2019).

The IPC has requested additional information on the staged timing of credits for disturbance for Option 1. Table 1 provides an analysis of the impacts and associated offset requirements based on the staged development of the Option 1 overburden emplacement area, as shown in Figure 1.

Table 1 RCCP overburden emplacement Option 1 – staged impacts and offset requirements

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Grand Total

Vegetation zone details Area Credits Area Credits Area Credits Area Credits Area Credits

HU906_Moderate/Good_Zone 2: Bull Oak grassy woodland of the central Hunter Valley

0.10 4

0.10 4

HU819_Moderate/Good_Zone 4: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter

1.49 74 5.88 291 1.34 66 1.75 87 10.46 518

HU962_Moderate/Good_Zone 5: Grey Box grassy open forest of the Central and Lower Hunter Valley

0.38 14

0.41 14 0.79 28

HU819_Moderate/Good_derived grassland_Zone 7: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter

15.90 392 18.57 458 30.88 761 13.35 329 78.70 1940

HU819_Moderate/Good_other_Zone 8: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Native Olive shrubby open forest of the central and upper Hunter.

3.30 93 3.78 107 1.56 44 6.44 182 15.08 426

HU818 Moderate/good_young_Zone 10: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Grey Box ‐

3.96 120

3.96 120

H180448 | RP#3 | v1 2

Table 1 RCCP overburden emplacement Option 1 – staged impacts and offset requirements

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Grand Total

Spotted Gum shrub ‐ grass woodland of the central and lower Hunter

HU818 Moderate/good_established_Zone 9: Narrow‐leaved Ironbark ‐ Grey Box ‐ Spotted Gum shrub ‐ grass woodland of the central and lower Hunter

20.17 788

20.17 788

Disturbed/exotic 105.13 0

105.13 0

TOTAL 150.33 1481 28.33 860 33.78 872 21.95 612 234.39 3824

We trust this information addresses the request made by the IPC. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Nathan Garvey Associate Director ngarvey@emmconsulting.com.au

EMM 2018, Rix's Creek Continuation Project – Ecological assessment of overburden dump locations, letter to The Bloomfield Group from EMM Consulting Pty Ltd, Sydney, dated 21 November 2018.

EMM 2019, Rix's Creek Continuation Project ‐ Staging of biodiversity offset, letter to The Bloomfield Group from EMM Consulting Pty Ltd, Sydney, dated 15 January 2019.

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GDA 1994 MGA Zone 56Source: EMM (2019); DFSI (2017); GA (2015)

RCCP staged offset areas (option 1)

Rix's Creek Continuation ProjectRCCP overburden optionassessment - biodiversity

Figure 1

KEYOption 1Main roadWatercourse/drainage line

Option 1 stagingStage 1

! ! ! !

! ! ! !

! ! ! ! Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4

Plant community typeZone 2: PCT 1692 (Bull Oak grassy woodland)Zone 4: PCT 1605 (Narrow-leaved Ironbark-Native Olive shrubby open forest)Zone 5: PCT 1748 (Grey Box grassy open forest)Zone 7: PCT 1605 (Narrow-leaved Ironbark -Native Olive shrubby open forest of the centraland upper Hunter - derived grassland)Zone 8: PCT 1605 (Narrow-leaved Ironbark -Native Olive shrubby open forest of the centraland upper Hunter - other)

Zone 9: PCT 2150/HU818 (Narrow-leavedIronbark - Grey Box - Spotted Gum shrub - grasswoodland of the central and lower Hunter -moderate/good - established)Zone 10: PCT 2150/HU818 (Narrow-leavedIronbark - Grey Box - Spotted Gum shrub - grasswoodland of the central and lower Hunter-moderate/good - young)Disturbed/Exotic