Environmental Impact Statement
What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
An EIS is a document detailing the anticipated environmental effects of a
development on the environment. Its objective is to identify measures that can be
taken to avoid, reduce and offset significant adverse impacts that may result from
the proposal.
The following issues are being considered in the EIS:
•
Traffic and transport
•
Utilities (water, sewerage etc)
•
Materials and waste
•
Landscape and visual impact
•
Soils and geology
•
Water quality and hydrology
•
Climate change, air quality and odour
•
Flora and fauna
•
Heritage
•
Socio-economic and health
•
Noise, vibration and lighting
•
Hazard and risk
•
Recreation
•
Matters of National Environmental Significance as defined under the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999
Biodiversity
•
An area of about 37 hectares of vegetation would likely be removed.
•
This includes about 10 hectares of Critically Endangered Box-Gum
Woodland under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act.
•
The impact of removing this endangered woodland community is
unavoidable.
•
To compensate, a biodiversity offset is proposed. An offset conserves an
area of the same or higher value of the removed vegetation.
•
Adjacent to the site is about 37 hectares identified as the potential offset
area.
Air Quality
Odour and Dust:
•
Landfills can generate odours and dust which can impact on the amenity of
nearby residents.
•
Modelling to understand potential odour and dust impacts is in progress.
Landfill Gas:
•
Landfills generate methane due to the decomposition of waste.
•
To minimise greenhouse gas emissions, the landfill currently captures the
methane, and uses it to generate power which feeds into the electricity grid.
This would be continued with the Stage 5 expansion.
Heritage
•
A heritage assessment was undertaken for the Stage 5 site in order to
identify potential cultural heritage items that may be impacted.
•
Two indigenous stone artefacts have been identified.
•
These items were classified as possessing a low significance value. It is
proposed to salvage these items prior to construction.
Noise and Vibration
•
A noise and vibration impact assessment has been undertaken for the
construction and operation of the Stage 5 to determine if nearby residents
will be impacted.
•
Modelling shows that no noise/vibration impacts from operation or general
construction activities are expected.
•
An assessment of impacts from blasting of rock material is in progress.
Water and Soils
•
Rainfall which flows over landfill slopes and infiltrates waste can potentially
contaminate water bodies or soil.
•
To manage this there are systems to separate clean water from grey and
black water. Water quality monitoring is also undertaken.
•
These protection measures are also proposed for Stage 5, leaving only a
low risk of contamination.
•
Construction and operation of Stage 5 could potentially lead to soil erosion
and sedimentation which could impact nearby water bodies.
•
The implementation of sediment and erosion controls will reduce the risk.
Traffic
•
A traffic assessment was undertaken to identify the traffic impact during
construction and operation of Stage 5.
•
Construction is not expected to affect the efficiency of the existing network.
•
Operation is not expected to increase traffic.
•
Progress toward meeting waste reduction goals may reduce demand for
landfill services, and reduce traffic activity.
Bushfire Risk
•
A Bushfire Risk Assessment was undertaken for the Stage 5 expansion
area.
•
Outcomes of the assessment show that in severe fire weather conditions
there still remains a high bushfire risk to the site, even if fire protection
measures have been implemented.
•
This is not a new risk with the Stage 5 expansion, as the existing landfill is
also exposed to similar fire paths.