Released on Friday, 24 June 2011 20:47

The existing Irvine Island environment has been subject to extensive environmental studies to establish baseline information and support planning for environmental management. 

Summary of environmental values and potential impacts is listed below.

Terrestrial environment

• No Matters of national environmental significance (MNES), declared rare terrestrial flora or ecosystems on the island
• Four State Priority species were recorded
• Vegetation is predominately low open woodland with low open forest in the valleys
• No significant permanent water
• Small areas of Pandanus near water and mangroves on the east of the island

Marine environment

• Inter-tidal coral and Intertidal sediments in shallow bays
• Steep drop offs to deep water outside of the bays
• Narrow beaches, inundated at high tides (no turtle nesting)
• Saltwater crocodiles
• Whales

Key impacts

• Clearing and excavation
• Tailings and waste disposal
• Discharges from dewatering and desalination
• Construction of MOF and ship-loading (no dredging)
• Increased shipping

Management strategies

Comprehensive rehabilitation

• Backfill pits
• Re-contour pits and waste dump
• Reseed
• Offshore processing of concentrate
• No dredging
• Controlled discharge
• Quarantine Management Plan
• Cultural Heritage Protection