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Chapter 19

Environmental Management Plan

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19.0 Environmental Management Plan 19.1 Introduction and Approach This Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was developed to provide advice on the environmental management measures to be considered and included during the design, construction, and operation of the Southern Freight Rail Corridor. The EMP uses information about the existing environment, potential impacts, and proposed mitigation measures from each of the Technical Reports for: • Topography, geology, soils and groundwater; • Nature conservation; • Surface water; • Flooding; • Land use and planning; • Air quality, climate and climatic trends; • Visual impact; • Noise and vibration; • Aboriginal cultural heritage; • European cultural heritage; and • Social impacts. The EMP has been structured to highlight management approaches to prevent, mitigate, and monitor potential impacts during the design, construction, and operational phases. This information can then be reviewed and adopted at each phase of the development of a railway along the preferred alignment.

D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T D R A F T

Southern Freight Rail Corridor Study Draft Assessment Report 26 September 2008 Page 137

19.2 Section 1: Topography, Geology, Soils and Groundwater Environmental

Factor Potential Impact Target Management Objective

Design Construction Operation Prevention • Incorporation of stable

embankments and cuts, with catch drains to minimise longer term erosion.

• Prepare and maintain a project-specific Erosion and Sediment Control Plan;

• Keep land clearance to a minimum; • Avoid wherever possible clearing areas of highly

erodible soils and steep slopes which are prone to water and wind erosion;

• Revegetate and mulch progressively as each section of works is completed. The interval between clearing and revegetation should be kept to an absolute minimum;

• Coordinate work schedules, if more than one contractor is working on a site, so that there are no delays in construction activities resulting in disturbed land remaining destabilised;

• Program construction activities so that the area of exposed soil is minimised during times of the year when the potential for erosion is high, for example during Summer when intense rainstorms are common;

• Stabilise the site and install and maintain erosion controls in accordance with the project-specific Erosion and Sediment Control Plan;

• Keep vehicles to well-defined haul roads, and keep haul roads off sloping terrain wherever practical;

• Design the slope of a cut to minimise the angle of incline; and

• Cultivate the cut surface to increase infiltration of rainfall and decrease the velocity of water across the slope during rain and therefore reduce erosion.

• No specific mitigation measures are considered necessary due to low potential risk.

Contingency Measures

• N/A • Identify and investigate the site of erosion and address in accordance with the project-specific Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.

• Identify and investigate the site of erosion and provide suitable erosion controls, in accordance with the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.

Topography, Geology & Soils

Erosion • Effective erosion and sediment control measures implemented and maintained.

Monitoring • No background sampling required.

• Erosion and sediment control measures documented;

• Daily visual inspection and check sheets maintained; and

• In-situ turbidity (NTU) monitoring of local receiving surface waters, in accordance with the requirements of the project-specific Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.

• N/A



Environmental Factor

Potential Impact Target Management Objective

Design Construction Operation Prevention • Incorporate rock bolting,

retaining walls and stable cuts with associated catch drains as required to maintain slope stability;

• Geological and geotechnical investigations in areas requiring cuts; and

• Geological profile of slopes, with slope stability reports issued prior to undertaking earthworks.

• Construction activities undertaken in accordance with relevant work method statements.

• Visual inspection of susceptible areas following heavy rainfall/landslip inducing event.


• N/A • Identify and investigate the site of mass wasting and provide suitable remediation.

• Identify and investigate the site of mass wasting and provide suitable remediation.


Mass Wasting • No mass wasting/landslip events.


• Mass wasting and landslip control measures documented; and

• Daily visual inspection and check sheets maintained.

• No background sampling required.

Prevention • Inspection of intrusive igneous rock bodies for disseminated sulphides should be conducted as part of the geotechnical investigation.

• Any exposed acid producing material will need to be neutralized and contained according to the Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, Soil Management Guidelines.



• N/A • Divert potentially acidic surface run-off away from local waterways, into established sedimentation basins.

• Neutralise the contained surface run-off by chemical/biological means, in accordance with the Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, Soil Management Guidelines.

• N/A


Acidic Material • No generation of acidic waste water; and

• No generation of acidic material.


• Submission of samples of suspected acidic material to a NATA accredited laboratory for characterization;

• pH monitoring of surface run-off generated from operational construction sites, at times and in locations where generation of acidic runoff is likely; and

• pH monitoring of local surface waters receiving surface run-off from construction sites, at times and in locations where generation of acidic runoff is likely.

• No background sampling required.





Design Construction Operation Prevention • Identification of EMR/CLR listed

Lots to be traversed by the preferred alignment;

• Obtain, where applicable, SMPs for EMR/CLR listed sites;

• Conduct preliminary site investigations of EMR/CLR listed sites to be disturbed during construction;

• Develop SMP/RAP prior to construction commencing on EMR/CLR listed site; and

• An Emergency Spill Containment Plan to be produced.

• Nature, quantity and location of all hazardous materials on-site should be recorded in a manifest;

• Storage areas to consist of a compacted base, bunding to contain spillages and roofing to prevent contamination and infiltration of stormwater (as per AS1940 and AS3780);

• Residual hazardous materials will be removed from the construction site and returned to an appropriate storage area or a suitable waste facility;

• Spillages of all dangerous goods and contaminated materials will be rendered harmless through investigation, collection and disposal at a suitable disposal facility;

• Fill material imported from off-site to be procured from a licensed quarrying facility and accompanied by relevant documentation to verify it is contaminant/ASS frees; and

• Contaminated fill material exported from site will be disposed at a facility licensed for disposal of such material.

• Contaminating events during operation will be accidental and unscheduled. As such, no preventative measures can be adopted.


• If potentially contaminated soils are encountered, a preliminary site investigation should be undertaken; and

• Visual and olfactory observation of all in-situ material excavated during construction.

• Preliminary site investigation of land exposed to leaked or spilled potentially hazardous substances/material.

Contaminated Land

Land contamination by on-site construction activities or by

export of contaminated material from site

• No contamination of land.

Monitoring • No background sampling required. • Submission of samples of suspected contaminated material to a NATA accredited laboratory for characterization.

• Submission of samples of suspected contaminated material, generated from operational activities, to a NATA accredited laboratory for characterization.

Groundwater Degradation of groundwater resource

• No variation to local groundwater levels due to construction; and

• No contamination of local groundwater system.

Prevention • Conduct a census for potential unregistered groundwater wells located within 250m radius surrounding locations where dewatering is to be undertaken;

• Identify surface water bodies sensitive to groundwater movement (i.e. dams); and

• Identify all local users of groundwater resources within a 1km radius of the preferred alignment.

• Comply with Emergency Spill Containment Plan in the event of a spillage/leak of potentially hazardous substances;

• Contain poor quality discharge water and treat prior to disposal, subject to achieving water quality guidelines; and

• Subject as few sites as possible to dewatering activities.






Design Construction Operation Contingency

Measures • N/A • Investigate the nature of any

spilled/leaked potentially hazardous/contaminating substances; and

• Investigate the extent of any spillage/leakage of potentially hazardous/contaminating substances.

• N/A

Monitoring • Conduct a detailed groundwater quality investigation using the existing registered bore hole network prior to commencing construction.

• Gauge daily groundwater levels in nearby privately owned (with permission) and registered bore holes; and

• Should groundwater quality in the immediate vicinity degrade, monitor down-gradient groundwater quality and downstream surface water quality.

• Conduct groundwater quality sampling, using the existing registered bore hole network, following a major spillage/leakage event.



19.3 Section 2: Nature Conservation Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Avoid all endangered regional

ecosystem unless there is no suitable alternative; and

• Co-locate services, drainage systems and service road to reduce area of vegetation clearing required.

• Minimise construction activities within remnant vegetation;

• Locate all construction sites, such as site office, soil stockpiles, machinery/equipment storage within existing cleared areas or disturbed area; and

• Impose strict no-go zones for construction workers and machinery within endangered vegetation.

• Implement an offset management plan that specifies how the offset will be managed to ensure it achieves or maintains remnant regional ecosystem status and ecological equivalence, if required under statutory policy.


• Research viability of compensatory planting;

• Develop M. irbyana management and rehabilitation plan; and

• Prior to clearing, collection of seeds from local trees for propagation and use in seed mixes, in particular M. irbyana and Marsdenia coronata.

• All vegetation to be removed is clearly marked and clearing contractors briefed on clearing requirements; and

• Educate all contractors on the importance of the vegetation and ensure no encroachment on surrounding vegetation.

• N/A

Nature Conservation

Direct loss of critically endangered Melaleuca irbyana

vegetation community and species

• Compliance with the EPBC Act, NCA, VMA, and EPA; and

• Maintain the current extent of endangered M. irbyana vegetation community.

Monitoring • N/A • Daily visual inspection of vegetation clearing boundaries.

• In conjunction with QPWS, institute a Monitoring and Reporting Program in accordance with the Offset Management Plan.

Nature Conservation

Direct loss of ‘of concern’ Eucalyptus crebra, Corymbia citriodora and Lophostemon

confertus regional ecosystem


• Maintain the current extent of ‘of concern’ vegetation communities.

Prevention • Avoid all of concern regional ecosystem unless there is no suitable alternative;

• Railway tunnel designed to promote the retention of remnant vegetation through the Mount Flinders Range; and

• Co-locate services, drainage systems and service road to reduce area of vegetation clearing required.


• Construction techniques employed for tunnel construction to promote the retention of remnant vegetation;


• Impose strict no-go zones for construction workers and machinery within remnant vegetation.

• Implement an offset management plan that specifies how the offset will be managed to ensure it achieves or maintains remnant regional ecosystem status and ecological equivalence.






Measures • Research viability of compensatory

planting; • Develop a management and

rehabilitation plan; and • Prior to clearing, collection of seeds

from local trees for propagation and use in seed mixes, in particular E. crebra, C. citriodora, and L. confertus.



• N/A


• Perform a Monitoring and Reporting Program in accordance with the Offset Management Plan.

Prevention • Avoid all essential habitat unless there is no suitable alternative; and

• As with the clearing of regional ecosystems, co-locate services, drainage systems and service road to reduce area of vegetation clearing required.



• Impose strict no-go zones for construction workers and machinery within endangered vegetation.

• Implement an offset management plan that specifies how the offset will be managed to ensure it achieves or maintains essential habitat status and ecological equivalence.


• Research viability of offset planting to achieve compensatory essential habitat.



• N/A

Nature Conservation

Direct loss of essential habitat for threatened M. irbyana, Petrogale penicillata, and Phascolarctos cinereus


• Maintain the current extent of ‘of concern’ vegetation communities.


• Perform a Monitoring and Reporting Program in accordance with the Offset Management Plan.

Nature Conservation

Loss of Koala Conservation Area

• Compliance with the EPBC Act, NCA, VMA, and EPA.

Prevention • Avoid all Koala Conservation Area unless there is no suitable alternative.

• Minimise construction activities within areas supporting koala preferred feed trees and habitat.

• N/A






Measures • Alignment to avoid koala preferred

feed trees and pass through the most disturbed areas within the KCA.

• Undertake all clearing activities in accordance with a Habitat Management Plan;

• Clearing of koala habitat trees (Genera Angophora, Corymbia, Eucalyptus, Lophostemon, Melaleuca) must comply with sequential clearing conditions (s 15 Koala Plan); and

• Spotter/catchers to be present at all vegetation clearing to ensure minimal disturbance to onsite fauna and recover and rescue any injured or orphaned fauna during construction.

• N/A

Monitoring • Establish monitoring program of koala habitat trees for koala usage within Koala Conservation Areas.

• Continue koala monitoring as part of a standardised Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program.

• In conjunction with QPWS, maintain activities as set out in the Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program.

Prevention • Avoid further fragmentation of existing small patches (<5 ha);

• Look for opportunities to expand and connect small patches of vegetation through the use of any statutorily required offsets;

• Conduct hydrologic and hydraulic analysis within affected catchments; and

• Maintain, as far as practicable, existing surface drainage paths.


• No movement of fire ant infested material outside the restricted area without approval of a DPI&F Inspector and only to approved disposal sites within a restricted area;

• Install vehicle shakedown and washdown facilities at main site entry/exit points to remove soil and weeds; and

• Develop and implement a Weed Management Plan that includes specific controls for environmental and noxious weeds along the corridor.

• Revegetate disturbed areas as soon as practicable after works with appropriate native and locally endemic species that have high habitat value.


• N/A • N/A • Maintain activities as set out in the Weed Management Plan.

Nature Conservation

Degradation of vegetation communities and habitats through indirect impacts,

including edge effects, spread of weeds, introduced pests,

modified surface water drainage, light and noise

intrusion


• No new infestations of weeds or pests attributable to the Project.

Monitoring • N/A • Imported topsoils/mulches to be weed-free prior to material arriving onsite; and

• Visual inspections in accordance with the requirements set out in the Weed Management Plan.

• Visual inspections in accordance with the requirements set out in the Weed Management Plan.





Design Construction Operation Prevention • Railway designed to promote the safe

passage of fauna.

• All potential habitat trees, i.e. trees containing tree hollows and potential koala habitat trees, shall be clearly marked with flagging tape/spray paint and all staff made aware that these trees must not be cleared until the hollows and/or koalas have been removed;

• Removal and translocation of hollows containing wildlife from habitat trees shall be conducted using a cherry picker, arborist and spotter/catcher;

• All nests and dreys shall be safely removed from trees prior to trees being felled;

• All native fauna are protected (including snakes) and shall not be intentionally harmed as a result of the works or workers actions;

• All site personnel shall be made aware of sensitive fauna/habitat areas and the requirements for the protection of these areas;

• Fauna exclusion devices shall be implemented where practical along the corridor to discourage fauna from entering the construction site; and

• In accordance with statutory obligations/policies, construction activities to be monitored in accordance with a standardised Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program; and

• Maintenance of fauna exclusion systems and structures designed for safe fauna passage to enable these systems to function effectively.


• N/A • Investigate the cause of any fauna injury or death.

• N/A

Nature Conservation

Mortality of native fauna • No mortality of native fauna directly attributable to the project; and

• Demonstrable inclusion of fauna-sensitive design for the railway line, structures and supporting infrastructure.

Monitoring • N/A • Visual inspections in accordance with the Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program.

• Continued visual inspection of corridor for fauna mortality in conjunction with scheduled maintenance works and according to the requirements established in the Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program.





Design Construction Operation Prevention • Include a tunnel design option

through Mount Flinders Range to reduce the amount of vegetation clearing required; and

• Fauna friendly underpasses and culverts should be constructed at each creek/drainage line crossing where practicable. Bridges are to be used in preference to culverts as they allow revegetation and easy fauna movement. Where box culverts are used, dry cells shall be incorporated into the design of the culvert to allow safe passage of fauna during wet conditions.

• Where possible, construction, and clearing of vegetation, should be staged to allow for continued wildlife movement outside the immediate danger of the construction site; and

• All construction activities, e.g. site offices, stockpiles etc should be located in existing disturbed or cleared areas to minimise disruption of wildlife habitat.

• In accordance with statutory obligations, spotter/catchers will be present at all vegetation clearing to ensure minimal disturbance to onsite fauna and recover and rescue any injured or orphaned fauna during construction.

• Maintenance of structures designed for safe fauna passage to enable these systems to function effectively.


• Consider the use of offsets from vegetation clearing to enhance the existing wildlife corridors; and

• Offsets should focus on areas that provide greatest opportunity for connectivity and priority should go to the larger core habitat areas for restoration and enhancement.

• In accordance with statutory obligations, spotter/catchers will be present at all vegetation clearing to ensure minimal disturbance to onsite fauna and recover and rescue any injured or orphaned fauna during construction.

• N/A

Nature Conservation

Impediment to movement of wildlife through natural wildlife

corridors

• Compliance with the EPBC Act, NCA, VMA, and EPA.

Monitoring • N/A • Visual inspections in accordance with the Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program.

• Continued visual inspection of corridor for fauna mortality in conjunction with scheduled maintenance works and according to the requirements established in the Flora and Fauna Monitoring Program in conjunction with QPWS.



19.4 Section 3: Water Quality and Riparian Zones Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Treat railway verge to prevent soil

erosion. Treatment may include placement of ballast adjacent the railway, and vegetation of the outer-verge.

• Develop and implement of a Sediment and Erosion Control Plan in accordance with Engineers Australia’s Soil Erosion and Sediment Guidelines for Queensland Construction Sites; and

• Works within riparian zones to be scheduled outside the wetter months (November–February) as far as practicably possible.

• Maintain vegetation along railway verge to prevent soil erosion.


• N/A • Maintain, repair or reinstate damaged erosion and sediment control infrastructure; and

• Investigate cause of increased turbidity or released sediment and address accordingly.

• Implement erosion and sediment control measures if areas are causing high sediment loads or turbidity in nearby waterways.

Water Quality Sediment from disturbed areas may enter nearby waterways

• Compliance with current State and Commonwealth legislation;

• Compliance with current State and Commonwealth guidelines, strategies and standards;

• No visible evidence of sediment leaving construction sites; and

• No visible increase in turbidity attributable to construction or operation of the railway.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • Daily visual inspections of sediment control infrastructure;

• Weekly visual inspections of discharge water and receiving water bodies;

• Visual inspections of discharge water and receiving water bodies after rainfall; and

• Turbidity monitoring in the event of turbid plumes from construction activities.

• N/A

Prevention • Design of railway minimises potential derailment.

• Develop and implement of a Dangerous Goods and Chemical Control Plan, detailing storage, handling and emergency procedures for fuels, oils and other substances.

• Operate the railway in accordance with Queensland Rail requirements; and

• Use containers and wagons that comply with approved design standards.


• N/A • Contain and clean up spill in accordance with the Dangerous Goods and Chemical Control Plan;

• Investigate extent of impacted area and remediate accordingly; and

• Investigate cause of spill or leak, remedy and update the Control Plan to prevent future incidents.

• Contain and clean up spill in accordance with Queensland Transport emergency procedures; and

• Investigate cause of spill and implement operational or wagon/container design changes where practicable.

Water Quality Contamination of nearby waterways caused by an

accidental release of fuel, oils, etc or freight.

• Compliance with current State and Commonwealth legislation;

• Compliance with current State and Commonwealth guidelines, strategies and standards; and

• No spills or leaks enter waterways.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • Sample for relevant water quality parameters in the event of a spill or leak entering surface waters.

• Sample for relevant water quality parameters in the event of a spill entering surface waters.





Design Construction Operation Prevention • Design to avoid structure within

riparian areas where practicable; and • Design to include rehabilitation of

riparian areas.

• Minimise vegetation removal and construction activities within waterways; and

• Rehabilitate riparian areas as soon as practicable after construction.

• N/A


• N/A • Rehabilitate disturbed areas. • If vegetation in rehabilitation areas dies, investigate and address the cause and rehabilitate.

Riparian Zone Physical damage or alteration to riparian areas

• No net degradation of riparian areas attributable to construction or operation.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • Daily visual inspection of construction site for clearing or construction activities beyond designated areas; and

• Weekly visual inspection of rehabilitated areas until construction period is complete.

• N/A

Prevention • Design to avoid construction within riparian areas where practicable.

• Obtain construction water from sources other than local waterways; and

• Investigate use of recycled water for construction purposes.

• Obtain water for irrigation of revegetated areas from a source other than local waterways; and

• Investigate use of recycled water for irrigation purposes.


• N/A • Cease abstraction of water from local waterways; and

• Acquire construction water from an alternative source.

• Cease abstraction of water from local waterways; and

• Acquire construction water from an alternative source.

Riparian Zone Interference with stream flow • No interference with stream flow attributable to construction or operation.

Monitoring • N/A • N/A • N/A Prevention • Design to avoid construction within

riparian areas where practicable; and • Design to include rehabilitation of

riparian areas to prevent establishment of new weed and pest species.

• Develop and implement a Weed and Pest Control Plan, detailing procedures for cleaning and checking construction vehicles entering the construction site;

• Minimise vegetation removal and construction activities within waterways; and

• Rehabilitate riparian areas as soon as practicable after construction.

• Maintain vegetation within the rail corridor to prevent the establishment of weed species.


• N/A • Manually remove weed species within and adjacent construction areas; and

• Remove overabundant or notifiable pest species in accordance with advice from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

• Manually remove weed species within and adjacent the rail corridor in riparian areas; and

• Spray weeds more than 100m from riparian areas with a herbicide that becomes deactivated once in contact with soil, for example glyphosate.

Riparian Zones Introduction of weeds and pests

• No introduction of weeds or pests into riparian areas.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • Weekly visual inspection of construction areas for new infestations of weeds or pests; and

• Weekly inspections of weed or pest treatment areas to determine efficacy of measures.

• Inspection of corridor during scheduled maintenance for weed infestation.



19.5 Section 4: Flooding Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Provide sufficient bridge structure

widths at crossing locations; and • Locate and orientate bridge piers to

reduce flow disturbance.

• Adopt bridge construction techniques to minimise flow disturbance; and

• Minimise construction during the wet season.

• N/A


• N/A • N/A • N/A

Flooding Increased flood levels upstream and downstream of

rail infrastructure

• Suitable flood immunity maintained for existing infrastructure; and

• Increased flood levels do not affect land use.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required.


Southern Freight Rail Corridor Study Draft Assessment Report 26 September 2008 9

19.6 Section 5: Land Use and Planning Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Investigate methods to incorporate the

railway into the local environment with minimal character impacts (e.g. through landscape and visual design guidelines).

• Incorporate landscape and visual design guidelines and other strategies aimed at minimising changes to landscape character.

• Incorporate landscape and visual design guidelines and other strategies aimed at minimising the changes to landscape character.


• Where the railway is incongruent with the rural character, landscape treatments should be developed to minimise the potential impact on the landscape character.

• Investigate and implement ways to reduce affects on the rural character, such as screening the construction site.

• Investigate complaints and address accordingly. Possible mitigation measures include establishing screening vegetation to reduce views of the railway.

Land Use and Planning

Loss of rural character of the local area

• No complaints from residents relating to loss of rural character cause by the introduction of the railway.

Monitoring • Determine appropriate monitoring methods in consultation with community members (e.g. periodical survey).

• No monitoring required. • No monitoring required.

Prevention • Consult with landowners to determine methods to prevent disruption to current agricultural practices; and

• Avoid areas of GQAL where possible.

• Develop and implement a CEMP, outlining how disruption of agricultural practices will be prevented during construction, based on discussions with landowners during the design phase.

• Operate the railway in accordance with measures identified during the design phase.


• Where some disruption cannot be avoided, consult with landowners to identify ways to minimise impacts to agricultural practices.

• Where disruption cannot be avoided, liaise with landowners to reduce potential impacts; and

• Investigate the cause of complaints of disrupted activities and address the issue accordingly.

• Investigate the cause of complaints of disrupted activities and address the issue accordingly.


Loss of Good Quality Agricultural Land

Disruption to agricultural practices

• No reduction in rural production or output caused by construction or operation of the railway.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. Prevention • Avoid traversing driveways and local

access roads. • Avoid severing driveways and local

access roads wherever possible. • N/A


• Explore access options in discussion with residents whose driveways or local access roads are traversed by the alignment.

• Provide alternative access routes for residence whose access is severed by construction activities.

• Investigate the source of any accessibility complaints and address these on a case-by-case basis.


Severance of driveways and connector roads.

• Accessibility levels maintained for local residents.

Monitoring • None required. • None required. • No monitoring required. Prevention • Provide appropriate grade separation

at road-rail intersections for all roads of high local and regional significance.

• Avoid interference with operation of important roads.

• Operate grade-separated crossings at the same time as the railway.


• N/A • Plan and operate detours or alternative routes for vehicles travelling on these roads.

• Investigate source of any complaints regarding key connector roads, and address the issue accordingly.


Severance of connector roads of high local and regional

significance.

• No impediment to traffic movement along key connector roads.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • N/A • No monitoring required.


Southern Freight Rail Corridor Study Draft Assessment Report 26 September 2008 0

19.7 Section 6: Air Quality, Climate and Climatic Trends Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Railway designed to promote

locomotive efficiency by considering acceleration and deceleration requirements, as well as vertical grade.

• Regularly maintain all construction plant and site vehicles.

• No specific preventative measures are considered necessary due to low potential risk.


• N/A • Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly

• Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly.

Air Quality Air emissions may reduce local air quality

• No sustained air quality complaints; and

• Compliance with current State and National air quality guidelines.

Monitoring • No background sampling required • No regular monitoring required; • SOx, NOx, and VOCs sampling in the

event of air quality complaints.

• SOx, NOx, and VOCs sampling in the event of air quality complaints.

Prevention • Design railway verge to reduce potential dust generation. For example, place cobbles or coarse gravel (i.e. ballast) within and adjacent the railway line; and

• Landscape with appropriate native species adjacent railway.

• Develop and implement Dust Management Plan, which identifies potential sources of dust, preventative measures, monitoring, and complaints handling; and

• Manage the construction site in accordance with best practice dust management, current at the time of construction.

• Manage potentially dusty loads (e.g. coal) in accordance with current best practice; and

• Maintain railway verge to prevent dust generation.


• N/A • Investigate the cause of any dust complaint and address the issue accordingly.

• Investigate the cause of any dust complaint and address the issue accordingly.

Air Quality Dust emissions may cause a nuisance to nearby receptors

• No sustained dust complaints; and

• Compliance with current State and National air quality guidelines.

Monitoring • No background sampling required • Daily visual inspection; and • PM10 sampling in the event of a dust

complaint.

• PM10 sampling in the event of a dust complaint.

Prevention • N/A • Develop and implement a Waste Management Plan, detailing storage and removal of wastes (including liquid wastes) from construction sites.

• No specific preventative measures are considered necessary due to low potential risk.


• N/A • Investigate the cause of any odour complaint and address the issue accordingly.

• Investigate the cause of any odour complaint and address the issue accordingly.

Air Quality Waste at the construction site and odorous loads (such as livestock) may cause and odour nuisance

• No sustained odour complaints.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • Daily olfactory inspection of potentially odorous areas, such as waste storage and ablutions areas.

• Monitoring determined on a case-by-case basis.

Climate Increased risk of bushfire along the rail corridor by possible

sparking in areas of medium bushfire risk.

• No fires caused by construction or operation of the railway.

Prevention • Prepare a Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

• Develop and implement a CEMP, incorporating provisions outlined in the Bushfire Risk Management Plan, including clearing an appropriate corridor for the alignment; and

• Control ignition sources in accordance with the CEMP.

• Maintain corridor in accordance with the Bushfire Risk Management Plan, including regular fuel load reduction through burn-off or slashing.






Measures • Include provisions for early

identification of bushfire risks, and emergency response procedures in the Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

• Contain and extinguish wild fires with assistance from Emergency Services as required;

• Investigate cause of fire, and update facilities or procedures to prevent further incidents; and

• Update the Emergency Plan as required.

• Contain and extinguish wild fires with assistance from Emergency Services as required; and

• Investigate cause of fire, and update infrastructure or procedures to prevent further incidents.

Monitoring • Bushfire Risk Management Plan to include monitoring provisions.

• Ongoing visual inspections for smoke or fire during construction; and

• Visual inspection of construction areas for presence of dry fuel.

• Visual inspection of gravel verge and corridor during scheduled maintenance for unwanted vegetation.

Prevention • Design the railway to maximise locomotive efficiency by reducing areas of acceleration and deceleration, and considering vertical grade.

• Develop and implement a Greenhouse Gas Management Plan, it should consider: - Use of recycled materials and

less energy intensive construction processes;

- Use of locally supplied materials and equipment;

- Use of biodiesel; - Regular maintenance and

services of construction vehicles; - On-site office accommodation; - Renewable energy for on-site

power; and - Emission offsets, including

revegetation.

• Maintain and regularly service locomotives; and

• Consider the use of biodiesel.


• N/A • N/A • Investigate carbon offset options (e.g. revegetation) and implement as appropriate.

Climatic Trends Construction vehicles and diesel-electric locomotives will emit greenhouse gases

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions as far as practicable.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. Prevention • Consider choice of materials, design

standards, and location of infrastructure, along with alternative technologies.

• N/A • N/A


• N/A • N/A • Upgrade railway and infrastructure as required to accommodate altered climatic conditions.

Climatic Trends Future climate change may affect the integrity of the railway and associated infrastructure

• As far as practicable, ensure the railway and supporting infrastructure can accommodate future climate change.

Monitoring • No background monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • Monitor structural integrity of infrastructure in accordance with Government standards.



19.8 Section 7: Visual Amenity Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Prepare an initial “Landscape

Integration Strategy” followed by detailed Landscape, Revegetation and Urban Design Guidelines at the detailed design stage;

• Ensure embankments are sufficiently shallow (i.e. 1: 2.5 or preferably shallower) for a vegetated treatment such as planting and grass cover to be established and maintained;

• Ensure that sufficient funds are set aside for planting and landscape management; and

• Retain physical and visual connectivity wherever possible i.e. using bridged crossings of watercourses in preference to culverts where viable.

• Limit works compounds and restrict to areas of lower visual sensitivity and/or lesser visibility where possible to avoid unnecessary visual impact;

• Investigate ways of ensuring preparation of a Weed and Pest Management Plan to control invasive species; and

• Investigate ways of ensuring employment of a bushland regeneration approach (hydromulching, hydroseeding, tubestock and limited container planting) to re-establish vegetation, using native species within planting mixes. Where possible, include rare and protected species where these can be obtained to contribute to wider ecological as well as visual objectives.

• Maintain vegetation within the rail corridor to prevent the establishment of weed species.


• N/A • Manually remove weed species within and adjacent construction areas; and

• Remove overabundant or notifiable pest species in accordance with advice from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

• Spray weeds more than 100m from riparian areas with a herbicide that becomes deactivated once in contact with soil, for example glyphosate.

Visual Amenity Reduced visual amenity and opportunities for weed

infestation

• No weed infestation; and • No complaints relating to

loss of visual amenity.

Monitoring • Monitoring of weed populations along the corridor during the detailed design stage

• Weekly visual inspection of construction areas for new infestations of weeds; and

• Weekly inspections of weed treatment areas to determine efficacy of measures.

• Regular visual inspections of rehabilitation areas for 12 months or until established for weed invasion; and

• Inspection of corridor during scheduled maintenance for weed infestation.

Prevention • Identify existing vegetation worthy of retention at detailed design stage, prior to construction;

• Investigate opportunities for advanced planting that would not be affected by the railway in areas of high visual exposure (for example off-site planting); and

• Prepare an initial “Landscape Integration Strategy” followed by detailed Landscape, Revegetation and Urban Design Guidelines at the detailed design stage.

• Minimise removal of vegetation by protecting existing vegetation adjacent to the preferred alignment to prevent inadvertent damage or unnecessary removal during the construction process; and

• Progressively restore the rail corridor as construction proceeds to encourage rapid screening of views and integration of the railway into the wider landscape to minimise visual disturbance.

• N/A Visual Amenity Increased availability/impact of views toward the preferred

alignment from the removal of vegetation and the introduction

of uncharacteristic transport infrastructure.

• No sustained complaints relating to views of the railway caused by the removal of vegetation.


• N/A • Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly.






Design Construction Operation Monitoring • N/A • Daily visual inspection of construction

site for clearing or construction activities beyond designated areas; and


• N/A

Prevention • Prepare a Landscape Integration Strategy prior to the detailed design; and

• Prepare detailed Landscape, Revegetation, and Urban Design Guidelines at the detailed design stage.

• Minimise removal of vegetation by protecting existing vegetation adjacent to the preferred alignment to prevent inadvertent damage or unnecessary removal during the construction process; and

• Progressively restore the rail corridor as construction proceeds to encourage rapid screening of views and integration of the railway into the wider landscape to minimise visual disturbance.

• N/A


• N/A • Undertake suitable replanting to reinstate characteristic vegetation and maintain linkages/patterns to the greatest extent possible (for example, along field boundaries, road boundaries, around properties and along waterways in settled pastures and watercourses with croplands); and

• Limit disturbance of existing topsoil. Where unavoidable, stockpile soil which is free from invasive species for use within the project.


Visual Amenity Loss of characteristic landscape elements and

fragmentation of landscape patterns through the removal of characteristic vegetation along the rail corridor (e.g. distinctive

vegetation associated with creek corridors)

Loss of daytime visual amenity for residents, travellers and/or recreational users (including future users of the Boonah to

Ipswich trail) through the introduction of uncharacteristic

elements into the landscape (e.g. the railway and associated physical

infrastructure)

• No complaints relating to loss of visual amenity.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • Daily visual inspection of construction site for clearing or construction activities beyond designated areas; and


• No monitoring required.

Prevention • N/A • N/A • Keep night-time rail movements to a minimum where possible.


• N/A • N/A • Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly.

Visual Amenity Impact on sense of remoteness at night with the introduction of

lit rolling stock

• No complaints relating to light impacts after dark.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required.



19.9 Section 8: Noise and Vibration Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Noise barriers or earth berms (if

appropriate); • Design of vertical geometry such that

locomotive and rolling stock noise is minimised; and

• Use of existing topographic features to prevent noise propagation.

• Preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP);

• Scheduling of construction activities; • Maintenance of construction

equipment; and • Use of low-impact construction

methods, where practicable.

• N/A


• Resumption of dwelling. • Rescheduling of construction activities; and

• At-house noise mitigation treatments.

• At-house noise mitigation treatments.

Noise Noise impacts at residential dwellings

• No impact on existing noise environment at residential dwellings; and

• Compliance with Queensland Rail guidelines for operational noise.

Monitoring • Background monitoring to describe existing noise environment.

• Noise monitoring in accordance with the CEMP.

• Management in accordance with QR Code of Practice for Railway Noise Management.

Prevention • N/A • Preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP);

• Use of low-impact construction methods, where practicable; and

• Scheduling of construction activities.

• N/A


• N/A • N/A • N/A

Vibration Vibration impacts at residential dwellings

• No impact adverse vibration impacts.

Monitoring • N/A • Vibration monitoring in accordance with the CEMP.

• N/A



19.10 Section 9: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Ongoing dialogue between

proponents of the SFRC and Jagera Daran.

• Development of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

• Intensive field work (potentially a walk-through) of the four identified areas of potential Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Significance.

• Include construction phase within the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

• Include operation phase within the Cultural Heritage Management Plan.


• For all sites or items of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage found within these four areas and directly impacted by the SFRC, consult with Jagera Daran to identify appropriate mitigation measures.

• Appropriately mitigate any impacted items or areas of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage significance such that their cultural value remains despite the construction of the SFRC.

• Investigate any Aboriginal heritage related complaints and address accordingly.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Disturbance of items of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

• Minimal reduction of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage values.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • N/A • Visual inspection of items of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage value in the event of a complaint.



19.11 Section 10: European Cultural Heritage Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Consult with Scenic Rim Regional

Council and landowner concerning potential effects on Undullah Station Homestead, Undullah; and

• Relocate homestead to reduce potential impacts.

• Prepare and implement a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the relocation of the Undullah Station Homestead; and

• Prepare and implement a Cultural Heritage Management Agreement (CHMA).

• N/A


• N/A • Repair or reinstate damaged items of European Cultural Heritage.

• Investigate any European heritage related complaints and address accordingly.

European Cultural Heritage

Disturbance of items of European Cultural Heritage

• Minimal reduction of European Cultural Heritage values.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • Daily visual inspection of items of known European Cultural Heritage value during construction activities that affect those items.

• Visual inspection of items of European Cultural Heritage value in the event of a complaint.

19.12 Section 11: Social Impact Environmental


Design Construction Operation Prevention • Avoid impacts upon local roads

leading to community services, facilities, and key destinations; and

• Ensure that high quality vehicle and pedestrian crossings are provided to connect communities on opposite sides of the railway line.

• Provide alternative access where roads are closed during construction, including service roads and new driveways.

• N/A


• Where impacts are unavoidable, redesign the local road networks to ensure that access to these important community facilities and destinations is not reduced.

• N/A • Where impacts upon local social networks, community patterns, and linkages are reported, investigations into the issue must take place in order to appropriately mitigate the problem.

Social Impact Reduced accessibility to community services, facilities and key destinations in the

local area through the formation of a major physical barrier potentially severing

parts of the local community

• Number of properties affected by road closures; and

• No observable impact on local social networks, community patterns and linkages.

Monitoring • N/A • N/A • No monitoring required. Prevention • Maintain no occurrence of level

crossings along the corridor. • N/A • N/A


• N/A • N/A • N/A

Social Impact Reduced safety as a result of level railway crossings

• No level crossings.

Monitoring • N/A • N/A • N/A Social Impact Reduced safety as a result of

pedestrian access to the railway line, and stock

wandering onto the rail line

• No pedestrian crossings of the railway except where incorporated in a grade-separated intersection; and

• Occupational underpasses in rural areas.

Prevention • Include fencing with high-grade secure protective fencing to prevent pedestrians crossing, particularly in more densely populated locations; and

• Consult with landowners to identify where occupational underpasses for stock and equipment are required.

• Erect fencing around construction sites to prevent unauthorised access by the public and stock.

• N/A






Measures • N/A • Repair or reinstate damaged fencing. • Repair, reinstate or upgrade any

damaged fencing; and • Investigate source of complaint and

address the issue accordingly, through investigation of the risk to pedestrians and the use of appropriate mitigation measures.

Monitoring • N/A • Daily visual inspection of site fencing for damage.

• Visual inspection of fencing during scheduled track maintenance.

Prevention • Minimise the number of residents forced to leave because of property acquisition; and

• Minimise amenity impacts.

• Develop and implement a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), to minimise construction impacts on the local community.

• N/A


• Consult with landowners on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the CID Guidelines;

• Provide opportunity for each landowner to convey and document their opinions and feelings about the railway line, and how it affects their land and the activities undertaken on their land; and

• Maintain regular contact with landowners to enable them to discuss a number of issues including land resumption and hardship applications, access and operational issues for one or more properties, and other amenity issues.

• Investigate any source of amenity complaints and address the issue accordingly.

• Investigate any source of amenity complaints and address the issue accordingly.

Social Impact Residents leaving the local area because of the railway

because of property acquisition, and to avoid

amenity impacts.

Dislocation impacts on local communities as family and

friendship linkages are disrupted.

• Minimal numbers of residents leaving the community.

Monitoring • N/A • N/A • No monitoring required. Prevention • Ensure that detailed design

maximises the access arrangements for Wild Pig Creek Road, through realignment/refinement of the road and its relationship with the railway;

• Minimise the number of times Wild Pig Creek Road crosses the railway; and

• Ensure that every residence on Wild Pig Creek Road maintains access to an equivalent or improved standard.

• Develop and implement a CEMP, to minimise disruption to the use of Wild Pig Creek Road.

• N/A


• N/A • Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly, through investigation of the impacts on Wild Pig Creek Road.

• Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly, through investigation of the impacts on Wild Pig Creek Road.

Social Impact Reduced accessibility of the community around Wild Pig Creek Road through multiple crossings of the railway and

Wild Pig Creek Road

• No reduction in access to or from the community located on Wild Pig Creek Road.

Monitoring • N/A • N/A • N/A





Design Construction Operation Prevention • Incorporate mitigation measures

outlined by Technical Papers relating to each element of amenity (i.e. noise, vibration, visual amenity, air quality, flora and fauna, etc).

• Develop and implement a CEMP, to minimise impacts on amenity.

• Incorporate mitigation measures outlined by Technical Papers relating to each element of amenity (i.e. noise, vibration, visual amenity, air quality, nature conservation etc).


• N/A • Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly.


Social Impact Reduced local amenity, associated with the introduction

of a railway line in a traditionally peaceful and idyllic

rural area

• No complaints relating to loss of amenity.

Monitoring • N/A • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. Prevention • Avoid areas of good quality

agricultural land and other cropland where possible.

• CEMP should ensure that impacts upon GQAL, other cropland, and farming practices are avoided.

• N/A


• Where impacts upon rural production are likely, discuss with implicated landowners to identify opportunities to minimise these impacts.

• Where impacts upon rural production are likely, discuss with implicated landowners to identify opportunities to minimise these impacts.

• Investigate source of complaint and address the issue accordingly

Social Impact Reduced rural production values in the local area

• No reduction in rural production.

Monitoring • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required. • No monitoring required Prevention • Consult with landowners on an

ongoing basis, in accordance with the CID guidelines;

• Provide opportunity for each landowner to convey and document their opinions and feelings about the railway line and how it affects their land and their activities; and

• Maintain regular contact with landowners to enable them to discuss a number of issues including land resumption and hardship applications, access and operational issues for one or more properties, and other amenity issues.

• N/A • N/A


• Actively seek input from stakeholders who do not respond to initial attempts to engage them in the process.

• N/A • N/A

Social Impact Consultation fatigue within the community, particularly in the areas of Ebenezer, Purga and

Bromelton

• Input from every identified stakeholder.

Monitoring • Monitor the response to the community engagement activities and identify those who are not responding.

• N/A • N/A



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