SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report
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SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 Rev 0 | 9 August 2021 This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no responsibility is undertaken to any third party. Job number 278441 Arup Pty Ltd ABN 18 000 966 165 Arup Level 4, 108 Wickham Street Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 GPO Box 685 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia www.arup.com Document verification Job title SA Offshore Windfarm Project Job number 278441 Document title EIS Scoping Report File reference Document ref 278441 -ENV-SA-RPT-004 Revision Date Filename SA Offshore Windfarm EIS Scoping Report [A].docx Rev A 06 April Description Draft - issued for review 2021 Prepared by Checked by Approved by Lennie Le Name Leah Howell Damon Sunderland Alia Abid Signature Rev B 20 May Filename SA Offshore Windfarm EIS Scoping Report [B].docx 2021 Description Updated following review Prepared by Checked by Approved by Lennie Le Name Leah Howell Damon Sunderland Alia Abid Signature Rev 0 5 Aug Filename 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004_Rev_0.docx 2021 Description For issue Prepared by Checked by Approved by Lennie Le Name Fiona Riley Damon Sunderland Alia Abid Signature Filename Description Prepared by Checked by Approved by Name Signature Issue Document verification with document ✓ 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 | Rev 0 | 9 August 2021 | Arup \\GLOBAL.ARUP.COM\AUSTRALASIA\PER\PROJECTS\278000\278441-00 AUSTRALIS ENERGY OWFS\WORK\INTERNAL\SA\STAGE 2\ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT\FINAL SUBMISSION\278441-ENV-SA-RPT- 004_REV1.DOCX SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report Executive summary Introduction SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd is proposing the construction, operation and decommissioning of the South Australian (SA) Offshore Windfarm (‘the Project1’) to be located 10 km offshore from Kingston SE. Under current legislation the Project will likely be subject to assessment and approval by both State and Commonwealth Ministers. Approval is required under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for significant impacts on Commonwealth Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). Approval is also required by the South Australian Minister for Planning and Local Government under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act). Subject to planning and environmental approval, construction will likely commence in early 2025 for the Project to be generating electricity by 2026/27. This EIS Scoping Report has been prepared to provide preliminary information to support the future Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project. The Project will support the South Australian Government’s target of net 100% renewable energy by 20302 and its ambition to be a national and international exporter of clean energy. It would also contribute to the Australian Commonwealth Government target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 26- 28% below the 2005 levels by 20303. Relevant Matters & Potential Impacts More specific to the proposed site and Project Area, a desk-based search found the following key environmental aspects, which will need to be considered during design development and for the planning and environmental approvals: Onshore Commonwealth matters of significance: • Nearby Commonwealth protected areas, including: • Conservation Parks / Areas • Heritage Sites • Nearby nationally important wetlands: 1 https://saoffshorewindfarm.com.au/ 2 https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-minister-aiming-for-100-per-cent-renewables- before-2030-2030/ 3https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/Summary%20Report%20Australias%202 030%20Emission%20Reduction%20Target.pdf 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 | Rev 0 | 9 August 2021 | Arup i \\GLOBAL.ARUP.COM\AUSTRALASIA\PER\PROJECTS\278000\278441-00 AUSTRALIS ENERGY OWFS\WORK\INTERNAL\SA\STAGE 2\ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT\FINAL SUBMISSION\278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004_REV1.DOCX SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report • The Coorong, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert • Watervalley Wetlands • Commonwealth listed Critically Endangered Threatened Ecological Community (TEC), Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands (Freshwater) of the Temperate Lowland Plains and Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh, likely to occur in the Project Area • A number of Commonwealth Listed Threatened and Migratory Species in the area, including birds, frogs, mammals, plants and reptiles. State matters: • State flora sites in the area and within the site bounds, including rare and endangered species • Patches of remnant native vegetation • Native Title claim by First Nations of the South East #1 (SAD211/2017), covering all land within Project Area to a point 500m seaward of the Mean Low Water Mark. There is also a claim from Ngarrindjeri and Others Native Title Claim (SAD6027/1998), which also covers the area of Coorong and Kingston SE district • State fauna sites within the Project Area, including rare, vulnerable and endangered species. Offshore Commonwealth matters of significance: • Adjacent to a Commonwealth Marine Area • Located within the Bonney Coast Upwelling (as mentioned above), a key ecological feature important for the biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and integrity of the Commonwealth Marine Area • Commonwealth listed Critically Endangered TEC (Giant Kelp Marine Forests of South East Australia) potentially occurring within the Project Area • A number of Commonwealth Listed Threatened, Marine and Migratory Species within the area, including birds, fish, whales, dolphins, turtles, sea dragons, sharks, seals and sea lions. State matters: Project infrastructure to be partly located within a State Marine Park, in a Habitat Protection Zone (HPZ) and a General Managed Use Zone (GMUZ). Some inter- array cables may also need to be located within a Sanctuary Zone (SZ), although this would be avoided where possible. The values and impacts to the SZ zone and surrounds will be further investigated during the next stage of the Project. 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 | Rev 0 | 9 August 2021 | Arup ii \\GLOBAL.ARUP.COM\AUSTRALASIA\PER\PROJECTS\278000\278441-00 AUSTRALIS ENERGY OWFS\WORK\INTERNAL\SA\STAGE 2\ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT\FINAL SUBMISSION\278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004_REV1.DOCX SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report Other State matters include: • Areas of dense seagrass from the coast leading to a low profile platform reef • Located within the Coorong Coastal Commercial Fishing Zone and Pipi (Goolwa Cockle) Harvest Area • Nearby Rock Lobster sanctuary located off Cape Jaffa. It is likely that the Project will be deemed as Impact Assessed Development for the following considerations: • Potential impacts on marine environment and migratory species • Large scale of the Project with less understood impacts in South Australian context • Location within a State Marine Park • Underwater noise and/or vibration potentially impacting on sensitive marine receptors and species (offshore) • Potential impact on South Australian benthic or marine species and communities, or their habitat • Potential adverse impacts during operation and maintenance on visual and/or seascape and landscape values experienced from public open space (coast) or residential areas • Socio-economic impacts (access restrictions and/or impacts to community, recreational use and public open space and disruption to local or regional businesses). It is expected that the Project will be deemed a Controlled Action and require approval under the EPBC Act for impacts to MNES, including Threatened Ecological Communities and Threatened and Migratory Species. Proposed Mitigation Measures Future comprehensive marine and terrestrial studies will be undertaken to collect baseline data and characterise the existing conditions of the Project Area. Additional survey effort will be required to confirm the marine and terrestrial flora and fauna species likely to be present on site and confirm their known habitat. Further landscape, seascape and visual assessments and noise modelling and monitoring would identify risks and potential impacts to sensitive receptors. Community Engagement The development and implementation of a robust and proactive stakeholder engagement and community consultation program will be carried out to ensure increased inclusivity in environmental decision making. Incorporating local knowledge into the design process and strong communication around key and perceived environmental impacts will also help to manage community related risks and perceived negative Project outcomes. 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 | Rev 0 | 9 August 2021 | Arup iii \\GLOBAL.ARUP.COM\AUSTRALASIA\PER\PROJECTS\278000\278441-00 AUSTRALIS ENERGY OWFS\WORK\INTERNAL\SA\STAGE 2\ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT\FINAL SUBMISSION\278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004_REV1.DOCX SA Offshore Windfarm Pty Ltd SA Offshore Windfarm Project EIS Scoping Report Arup has prepared a Stakeholder and Community Engagement Plan for the current phase of the Project. The Plan is based on the principle that involving people from the very beginning of a project is the best way to achieve great outcomes and ensure the Project achieves and maintains a social licence to operate. The plan will be updated for each phase of the Project and will include consultation approaches for key stakeholders such as government departments and key agencies, community groups, local businesses and community members. 278441-ENV-SA-RPT-004 | Rev