Raleigh Bridge Rehabilitation and Painting Review of Environmental Factors Roads and Maritime Services | February 2018
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Raleigh Bridge rehabilitation and painting Review of environmental factors Roads and Maritime Services | February 2018 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK Roads and Maritime Services Raleigh Bridge rehabilitation and painting Review of environmental factors February 2018 Prepared by GeoLINK and Roads and Maritime Services Publication Number: 18.718 ISBN: 978-1-925737-76-9 Copyright: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of NSW Roads and Maritime Services. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of NSW Roads and Maritime Services constitutes an infringement of copyright. Executive summary The proposal NSW Roads and Maritime Services (Roads and Maritime) propose to undertake rehabilitation and repainting of Raleigh Bridge on the Old Pacific Highway/ Keevers Drive, Raleigh. The bridge is a steel truss on concrete pier bridge which was opened in 1935. The bridge crosses the Bellinger River in the Bellingen Shire in northern New South Wales. The proposed works involve: • Closure of the bridge to traffic for up to 12 months with the exception of school buses during peak operation periods. • Erecting scaffolding and sealed containment of the steel truss bridge spans, including from the bridge deck and using barges secured on the river. • Dry abrasive blasting of the steel truss to remove existing paint layers (including the lead based primer). • Remediating or replacing steel elements that are corroded or damaged. • Painting the steel truss in Roads and Maritime Bridge Grey colour. • Replacing the guardrail system with W-beam guardrail. Need for the proposal Raleigh Bridge is an important link in the road infrastructure of the Raleigh area, allowing traffic to cross the Bellinger River. Roads and Maritime is responsible for managing road related transport infrastructure and providing for a safe and efficient road network for the people of NSW. A routine maintenance inspection and a subsequent level 3 structural assessment have indicated that the bridge requires rehabilitation and painting work. As such the work is needed to keep Raleigh Bridge serviceable and to enhance its longevity. Proposal objectives The objective of the proposal is to increase the service life of Raleigh Bridge. Additional objectives of the proposal are to: • Maintain safety for road users. • Protect the heritage values of the bridge. • Minimise the maintenance cost whilst maximising the service life of the bridge. • Minimise safety risks to the workforce carrying out the works. • Minimise the environmental impacts from carrying out the works. Options considered There are few alternatives to undertaking the proposed maintenance. The ‘do nothing’ option is not acceptable as the bridge would fall into a state of disrepair and as a consequence the bridge would become unsafe for motorists to use and would need to be closed. The preferred option, to undertake rehabilitation and painting of the bridge, would increase the service life of the bridge and maintain road safety in accordance with the Roads and Maritime policies and guidelines. Three options were considered around the manner in which the maintenance works would be carried out. The preferred option is to undertake rehabilitation and painting works on Raleigh Bridge with the bridge closed to general traffic; only buses would be accepted to use the bridge during morning and afternoon school peak periods. Raleigh Bridge Rehabilitation and Painting 1 Review of Environmental Factors Statutory and planning framework All relevant statutory planning instruments have been examined in relation to the proposal. Development consent is not required for the subject activity by virtue of Clause 94 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (ISEPP). However, the proposal becomes an ‘activity’ for the purposes of Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and is subject to an environmental impact assessment (this REF). Community and stakeholder consultation Preliminary consultation with affected stakeholders/ landowners, Council and government agencies has been undertaken and has informed the proposal. The proposal would be placed on public exhibition for community feedback. All submissions would be formally considered and responses provided in a submissions report, which would also be made available to the public. Formal consultation has also been initiated with Bellingen Shire Council (BSC) and DPI Fisheries as per the requirements of ISEPP. BSC have considered the proposal and advised that the rehabilitation works are a positive outcome for the bridge. Their comments mainly relate to ensuring implementation of the recommendations of the Statement of Heritage Impact that has been prepared for the bridge and works. DPI Fisheries requested that the REF considers a range of matters including dredge and reclamation works, blockage to fish passage, damage/ harm to riparian and marine vegetation, and the potential impact on water quality and priority oyster aquaculture lease areas. Consultation with key stakeholders affected by the bridge closure, particularly Busways (bus service provider), would be ongoing. A communications officer has been appointed to the proposal. A communication and engagement strategy would be developed and implemented in accordance with the Roads and Maritime Communication Toolkit. The Roads and Maritime Procedure for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation and Investigation (PACHCI) has been undertaken and the proposal is unlikely to have an impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage. Environmental impacts The main environmental impacts of the proposal are summarised as follows: • Lead-based paint: a full containment system is required to manage lead-based paint removed during dry abrasive blasting, waste would be managed in accordance with hazardous waste regulations • Noise: the proposal would result in construction activities near residential receivers. Construction noise levels at sensitive receivers have been predicted for a range of typical construction scenarios, and in various instances, are likely to exceed the established noise management levels. Noise levels are not predicted to exceed the highly affected level of 75dBA at nearby residences. Specific mitigation and management measures are therefore proposed because of the likely noise impacts • Socio- Economic Impacts: The Bridge would be closed for the duration of the proposal with users required to utilise available alternative routes. This would result in inconveniences to the public, local residents, transport companies, local agri-businesses and school bus companies, schools and students. No significant impacts to any Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) listed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) would occur because of the proposal. Raleigh Bridge Rehabilitation and Painting 2 Review of Environmental Factors Other potential environmental impacts would be generally minor in nature. A variety of safeguards have been developed to minimise the risk and potential magnitude of potential impacts posed by the proposal to the environment. The proposal would have the following positive environmental impacts: • ensuring that an important transport link remains serviceable • maintaining the heritage function of the first bridge over the Bellinger River • a positive visual impact; as the new paintwork would utilise a heritage-appropriate palette • minimise environmental impacts to the surrounding environment by managing lead-based paint Justification and conclusion The proposal is required to: • Increase the service life of Raleigh Bridge • Ensure the bridge remains serviceable and complies with current road safety standards. With effective implementation of the mitigation measures of this REF, the proposal is considered unlikely to have any significant environmental impacts. Next steps Feedback received will be considered as we finalise planning for the essential maintenance work and a submissions report summarising feedback will be published. We will keep the community informed as the project progresses. Display of the review of environmental factors This REF is on display for comment until Friday, 16 March 2018. The documents can be accessed in the following ways: Internet The documents will be available as pdf files on the Roads and Maritime website at: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/raleighbridge Display The REF documents can be viewed at the following locations: Static displays • Bellingen Shire Council, 33-39 Hyde Street, Bellingen • Urunga Library, 30 Bonville Street, Urunga • Mylestom Store, 16 George Street, Mylestom. Staffed displays • Monday 5 March 2018, from 3pm to 7pm, Raleigh Hall, Walter Street. How can I make a submission? To make a submission on the proposal, please send your written comments to: Mail: Raleigh Bridge maintenance project REF Roads and Maritime Services PO Box 576, Grafton NSW 2460 Email: [email protected] Fax: (02) 6640 1301 If you have any queries, please contact the Roads and Maritime project manager on (02) 6640 1300. Raleigh Bridge Rehabilitation and Painting 3 Review of Environmental Factors Privacy information All information included in submissions is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in the assessment of this proposal. The information may be used during the environmental impact assessment process by relevant Roads and Maritime Services staff and its contractors. Where the respondent indicates at