Fodder harvesting to support an increase in grazing

Scenario

A cattle producer in south-west Queensland plans to expand fodder harvesting to support more grazing. The proposal includes large-scale mechanical lopping and clearing of 2,000 hectares of mulga woodland, including Category B regrowth.

Site details

• Bioregion: Mulga Lands
• Vegetation: Mature mulga and dense regrowth
• Mapped habitat for the greater bilby
• Mapped habitat for the kowari
• Claypans present, used by migratory species after rain
• Signs of threatened species found on site
• Harvesting planned across multiple paddocks, including areas not previously harvested
• Past harvesting was small-scale, but this is a large expansion

Activity

The producer plans to:

• use machinery to lop and push over large areas of mulga across 2,000 hectares
• harvest beyond strip-harvesting limits
• repeat harvesting more often than allowed under the Queensland code
• clear mulga in long strips to create grazing corridors
• work close to claypans and drainage lines.

The activity is outside the scope of routine fodder harvesting under the Queensland code.

EPBC considerations

• Large areas of mulga would be removed.
• The vegetation may form part of a listed ecological community.
• The activity is not small-scale, cyclical or easily reversed.
• Claypans may support migratory species at certain times.
• There is a high risk of impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), including threatened species.

Outcome

A referral under the EPBC Act is required.

The scale, intensity and location of the activity mean it is likely to have a significant impact on MNES. A detailed self-assessment and referral are needed before the activity can proceed.