QCoal FSC work
Project details
Client: QCoal
Location: Byerwen Mine
Industry: Mining
Business Services Provided: Fauna Spotter Catching of native wildlife for the Byerwen Mine project.
Project details
The Cowie Environmental Services Pty Ltd (Cowie) team have been contracted by QCoal for Fauna Spotter Catching Services for clearing works at their Byerwen Mine, 20km west of Glenden in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
The Scope of the project involves:
- Conducting daily pre-clearance checks of the project site to identify fauna and habitat features.
- Identifying, capturing, and relocating all native fauna during works, including bats and venomous snakes.
- Assessing injured animals and carrying out first aid, transport to a vet or carer, or humane euthanasia.
- Engaging experts to assist with management or relocation of specialist species when required.
- Recording field data (fauna captures and marked habitat features).
- Ensuring compliance with government legislation and with site-specific requirements for fauna management as laid out in relevant Species Management Programs (SMPs), Fauna Management Plans, and environmental assessments.
- Participating in toolboxes, safety briefings, and other meetings with site crews.
- Maintaining constant communication with plant equipment operators via UHF during works.
- Informing relevant environmental advisers if EVNT (Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened) species are located during works.
- Taking fauna, habitat, and site photos for reporting.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Senior Fauna Spotter catcher
This role involves supervising all clearing works that are occurring at the Byerwen Mine for the duration of the clearing process. All fauna that was present were either captured of self-dispersed to adjacent or nearby vegetation away from harm by works or native wildlife and where the captured fauna won’t impact the local community.
- All fauna habitat and structures were investigated before, during and after the clearing process. All habitat structures were left until last and slowly felled or felled the next day to mitigate any harm to ensure the survival of all remaining wildlife.
- All interactions were recorded and kept in a database for further evaluation.
Key Outcomes
- Working out in the field will provide much needed and valuable field experience for all workers involved. This kind of work is enriching as it can improve a fauna spotters species Identification and challenges their knowledge to engage in hands-on learning. Working in the field and being around wildlife can actively improve a spotter animal handling and catching experience when capturing fauna.
- Participating in FSC work ensures that all residual wildlife would not be harmed during any clearing efforts, so Cowie is playing an active role in ensuring the sustainability of wildlife for this area.