Environmental Impact Statement display presentation

Woolgoolga to Ballina
Upgrading the Pacific Highway
Environmental Impact Statement display
Information session - Grafton
Friday, 18 January 2013
Agenda
Agenda Item
Presenter
Welcome & introduction
Kylie Cochrane
Proposed upgrade overview
Garry McPherson
Environmental Impact Statement, visualisation,
mapping tool
Garry McPherson
Design features
Environmental impacts
Nial O’Brien
Chris Gorman
Ongoing proposed design refinements
Garry McPherson
Lindsay Nash
Upgrade standards
Garry McPherson
Extension construction hours
Garry McPherson
How to make a submission
Kylie Cochrane
Next steps
Kylie Cochrane
Questions and further information
Kylie Cochrane
Proposed upgrade overview
Environmental Impact Statement
• An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has
been prepared by the project team in order
to seek planning approval.
• The EIS is the culmination of investigations
into the feasibility, constructability, social and
environmental impacts.
Environmental Impact Statement
• Upgrade and EIS have been divided
into 11 sections for the purpose of
planning investigation, design and
construction.
• We are currently located in section 3.
• Full list of sections can be found in the
project summary booklet.
Pic of map with sections here. Will
include arrow to the section we
are location in for info session
Section 1 – Woolgoolga
to Halfway Creek
• Highway upgraded to motorway standard
(Class M) from Arrawarra to Range Road.
• An interchange and access to local roads at
Range Road.
• Bridges over the highway alignment at
Sherwood Creek Road and Kangaroo Trail
Road.
• At-grade access at Faulkners Lane,
McPhillips Road and Dunmar Lane within
arterial section (Class A).
.
Section 1 – Woolgoolga
to Halfway Creek
• A twin bridge 300 metres long over the Corindi floodplain to allow
floodwaters to pass under the highway during a flood.
• A large deviation of Sherwood Creek Road.
• Access road to west of Corindi and north of McPhillips Road.
• Major cutting at Dirty Creek, south of Range Road.
• Wide median retaining existing trees to aid animals crossing at Corindi.
Section 1 –
Woolgoolga
to Halfway Creek
Potential impacts
• Loss of about six hectares from Wedding Bells State Forest.
• Minor flooding impacts on the Corindi River floodplain.
• Impacts on plants and animals.
• Visual impact from Flinty Road, Dirty Creek Range.
• Acquisition of farmland.
Section 2 – Halfway Creek to
Glenugie upgrade
• Upgraded to arterial standard (Class A)
adjacent to existing highway from Lemon Tree
Road to the southern end of Glenugie upgrade.
• Tie-in to existing dual carriageway at Halfway
Creek at the southern end and the existing
dual carriageway at Glenugie at the northern
end.
• Access at Lemon Tree Road, Kungala Road,
Luthers Road, Parker Road, Bald Knob Tick
Gate Road and Franklins Road.
• Twin bridges over Halfway Creek and Wells
Crossing Creek.
Section 2 – Halfway Creek to
Glenugie upgrade
• Realignment of Bald Knob Tick Gate Road and Franklins
Road.
• Access roads north of Lemon Tree Road and from
Wells Crossing to Glenugie by the existing Pacific
Highway.
• A wide median to assist fauna crossing at Newfoundland
State Forest.
• Heavy vehicle checking station for southbound traffic
south of Halfway Creek (to replace the one further
north).
• Local roads from Wells Crossing to Glenugie to use the
existing Pacific Highway.
Section 2 –
Halfway Creek to
Glenugie upgrade
Potential impacts
• Loss of 98 hectares from Glenugie State Forest.
• Loss of 44 hectares from Wells Crossing Flora Reserve in
Newfoundland State Forest, including strands of box-fruited gum trees
and square fruited ironbark.
• Some loss of habitat for local animals and plant populations.
Section 3 – Glenugie upgrade
to Tyndale
• Bypasses of South Grafton and Ulmarra.
• Interchange at Glenugie to enable access to
and from Grafton and from the south.
• Interchange at Tyndale to allow access to and
from the north and south.
• Northbound and southbound rest area at Pine
Brush State Forest near Tucabia.
• Major crossings of the Upper Coldstream
River, long span bridges over Pillar Valley
Creek, Chaffin Creek and Champions Creek,
and twin bridges over Pheasant Creek.
Section 3 – Glenugie upgrade
to Tyndale
• About 14 combined drainage and animal connectivity
structures including the bridge crossings of the
Coldstream River, Pillar Valley Creek, north of Pillar
Valley, Chaffin Creek and Champions Creek.
• Realignment of Eight Mile Lane, Old Six Mile Lane,
Wants Lane, Mitchell Road, Firth Heinz Road and
Bensons Lane.
• Local access will be maintained across the section.
• Major cuttings south of Bostock Road and north and
south Benson Lane, Tyndale.
• The realignment of about 500 metres of Picaninny
Creek to allow for the passage of Pheasants and
Picaninny creek at the interchange at Eight Mile Lane.
Section 3 –
Glenugie upgrade
to Tyndale
Potential impacts
• Impact on local amenity in Tucabia and Pillar Valley.
• Loss of habitat resulting in impacts on populations of plants and
animals.
• Visual impact from Old Six Mile Road, near Wants Lane and Tyndale.
• Loss of farm land.
• Loss of 16 hectares from Pine Brush State Forest.
EIS tools for the community
Visualisation and mapping tool - demonstration
Ongoing proposed design refinements
• The design that the EIS has been prepared on is the Refined Concept
design that was displayed for community comment in October 2011.
• The EIS design also incorporates further changes following the display,
in a number of locations along the project.
• Further consultation has also identified a number of further design
refinements in this area.
• RMS will continue to consult with the community about these potential
design refinements.
• Further refinements to the design could occur following the EIS display
and during further development of the detailed design.
Ongoing proposed design refinements – section 1
The ongoing proposed design refinements in this area include:
• Review level of Eggins Drive to achieve acceptable flood immunity for
access to Corindi.
• Review alternative interchange arrangement at Range Road.
• Potential low noise pavement locations to be further developed in the
detailed design.
Proposed detailed design changes at Eggins Drive
•Achieve a 1 in 20 year
flood immunity.
•Achieve a 1 in 100 year
flood access.
Eggins Drive elevated
for flood immunity
Shared User Path extended to Tasman St
•Continuing discussions
with council.
•Develop further during this
detailed design phase.
Proposed detailed design changes at Range Road
Existing concept
design for Range
Road interchange
Propose to shift
Range Road
interchange approx
900m north
Ongoing proposed design refinements – section 2
The ongoing proposed design refinements in this area include:
• Lemon Tree Road – review location of northbound access to the local
service road and Lemon Tree Road.
• Parker road – review location of access.
• Review access to Glenugie State Forest between Eight Mile Lane and
Lookout road severed by the proposed upgrade.
Proposed detailed design changes at Lemon Tree Road
Right turn into Lemon Tree
access road moved south
Existing concept design
arrangement
Proposed detailed design changes at Parker Road
Parker Road access moved north
Existing concept design
intersection arrangement
Ongoing proposed design refinements – section 3
The ongoing proposed design refinements in this area include:
• Review local access arrangements between Bondi Hill, Byron Lane and
Gallaghers Lane.
• Review alignment at old landfill site at Tucabia.
• Review forest access between Eight Mile Lane and Lookout Road severed
by the proposed upgrade.
Two upgrade standards
• RMS is seeking approval for a motorway standard of highway, however the project would
be built initially to a combination of motorway (Class M) and arterial standard (Class A).
• About 87 kilometres of the highway that would deviate from the existing highway
alignment (eg: between Glenugie and Tyndale) would be built to motorway standard
(Class M). The remaining 68 kilometres would be initially upgraded to arterial standard
(Class A).
• Class M – two lanes in each direction, 110km/h posted speed limit, controlled access
highway with grade separated interchanges and no u-turn facilities and a continuous
alternative route for local traffic.
• Class A – two lanes in each direction, at least 100km/h posted speed limit, limited access
highway with at-grade intersections. This may include intersections where right turn
movements are permissible and u-turn facilities would be provided on both sides of a
property access.
Extended construction hours
• RMS is seeking approval from Department of Planning and
Infrastructure to extend the standard construction working hours by an
additional two hours on weekdays and four hours on Saturdays.
• Standard construction hours are: Monday to Friday, between 7am to
7pm. Saturday, between 8am to 5pm.
• Will mean less disruption to motorists, shorter overall construction
time, allow more work to be completed using the extended natural
light during spring and summer.
• Noise screens, sound enclosures and noise control methods will be
used where possible.
• Survey form available on the project website.
How to make a submission
EIS is on display until 4 February 2013.
Submissions can be made via:
Post:
Major Projects Assessment
Department of Planning and Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney, NSW 2000
Email:
plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au
Online:
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au
Fax:
(02) 9228 6355
Next steps
• The Department of Planning and Infrastructure will consider
submissions as part of the project approval process.
• A decision is due to be made in mid 2013 with construction
expected to start soon after funding permitting.
Further information
For more information on the proposed upgrade:
Project information line: 1800 778 900 (free call)
Fax: (02) 9928 2502
Email: w2balliance@globablskm.com
More information is available at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/pacific