C.2.2 Construction
There are several recent, current or potential developments involving construction activity on the island. These include:
- proposed expansion of nine sites for phosphate mining (EPBC referral 2001/487) -
the environmental assessment for this proposed expansion is due to be released in 2004.
- construction of the Asia Pacific Space Centre near South Point - the Centre is primarily located in former mined areas; survey has not located any specimens (APSC 2003), and it is not likely to affect a population. The construction environmental management plan states that any specimens of threatened species identified on the site would be retained (APSC 2003). The Centre will be located above one of the areas offering potential habitat for Asplenium listeri on cliff-tops above the eastern terraces towards South Point.
- associated construction of common use infrastructure including a new port facility between Waterfall and Norris Point on the east coast (referral 2001/435), upgrade of the Linkwater Road between the new port and Lily Beach Road (referral 2001/436) and an expansion of the airport (referral 2001/434) - the environmental assessment reports comment on the presence of a number of endemic and listed plant species but Asplenium listeri was not recorded or expected (GHD 2002a; 2002b; 2003).
- construction of an Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (IRPC) on the central plateau area towards North West Point and associated infrastructure (exempt from the EPBC Act by Ministerial decision 3 April 2002) - this construction was not in a location likely to contain Asplenium listeri. Most of the activity was within a former mined area (ML 138 and ML 139) (Exemption notice April 2002).
- a radio system upgrade for the Australian Federal Police at Murray Hill (referral 2002/718) -
no additional information located
- construction of a mobile phone tower/base station at Limestone Hill near South Point (referral 2002/694) - the environmental assessment report did not record Asplenium listeri (Holmes 2002).
- possible extension or modification of the Christmas Island Tourism Resort and Casino on the eastern coast north of Ethel Beach (closed in 1998 but may be redeveloped) – no additional information located.
None of these developments are likely to affect a known population of Asplenium listeri.
Apart from new developments, there is potential for construction as part of maintenance to be a potential threat, specifically:
- any widening or modification of the Greta Beach Road in the vicinity of Population 2; and
- maintenance or construction for water supply infrastructure that may be potential habitat [see B.2.2 above].