Scenic Rim Trail Public Consultation Report
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Scenic Rim Trail Public Consultation Report October 2017 For the purpose of EPBC 2016/7847 Gainsdale Pty Ltd ACN 008 971 499 Prepared on behalf of Gainsdale Pty Ltd PO Box 108, Fortitude Valley, Qld, 4006 . Qualifications This report is prepared for the use of the parties named on the title page and only for the purpose outlined on the title page. This report is current at the date on the cover only. This report is to be read in its entirety and in association with other documentation submitted by or on behalf of Gainsdale Pty Ltd as part of EPBC 2016/7847. Document Control Revision Date Author Peer Approved Review Rev 0 27 October C Gray BOH Rev 1 31 October C Gray BOH Rev 2 Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Response to request for further information ............................................................................................................ 2 2. Public notification process ............................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Requirements for public notification ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Public notification period ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Publication of notices................................................................................................................................................ 4 2.4 Availability of documentation................................................................................................................................. 4 2.5 Project website ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 2.6 Proactive stakeholder notifications ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.7 Public information day ............................................................................................................................................. 5 3. Submissions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7 3.1 Summary of public comments ............................................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Summary of detailed submissions ...................................................................................................................... 16 4. Conclusion......................................................................................................................................................................... 44 5. Appendices ....................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix A: Letter of Direction to Publish Appendix B: Public Notices Appendix C: Email to stakeholders Appendix D: Letter to stakeholders and Project Newsletter Appendix E: Public open day advertisement Appendix F: Information displays Appendix G: Public submissions Scenic Rim Trail Public Consultation Report - October 2017 1 1. Introduction This report presents a summary of the public notification and consultation process undertaken by Gainsdale Pty Ltd for the Scenic Rim Trail – Thorton Trailhead to Spicers Canopy Nature Reserve, Queensland (the Project). The report includes a compilation of submissions and comment received throughout the process, and how they have been responded to. Public notification and assessment of comments has been undertaken by Gainsdale in accordance with a Direction to Publish (20 September 2017) from the Department of Environment and Energy. Proposed Action Gainsdale Pty Ltd will establish a 53 kilometre multi-day walk from the privately-owned Thornton View Nature Refuge to the privately-owned Spicers Peak Nature Reserve, via the Main Range National Park and Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. The walk is to be known as the Scenic Rim Trail, and will follow a series of existing tracks in the Park connected by Class 3-5 walking tracks to be established by Gainsdale Pty Ltd. Two Ecocamps will be erected in the National Park (one located outside of the World Heritage Area). The Trail was proposed in response to a 2013 Queensland Government initiative to facilitate ecotourism in the State’s National Parks and World Heritage Areas, and is being developed in conjunction with the Department of National Parks, Sport, and Racing (DNPSR). On 16 December 2016, the Trail was referred to the Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The referral was made following a detailed development proposal and environmental management plan which concluded that the Trail would not have significant impact on any Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), including threatened species and the integrity of the World Heritage and Natural Heritage values (Tony Charters and Associates 2016). On 23 February 2017, DoEE determined that the Trail is a controlled action (section 75 EPBC Act) which will be assessed by preliminary documentation (section 87 EPBC Act). Response to request for further information On 30 March 2017, DoEE requested further information from Gainsdale to assess the impacts of the proposed action on specific MNES (section 95A(2) EPBC Act). On 30 August 2017, Gainsdale submitted a report: Assessment and Management of Potential Impact on Specific MNES. The report responded to DoEE’s information request and describes the potential direct and facilitated impact of the Trail on specific MNES, namely the endangered Hastings River Mouse (Koontoo; Pseudomys oralis), the endangered Fleay’s Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayi), and the integrity of this part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia World Heritage Area and National Heritage Place. It also identified specific actions that will be undertaken to avoid or mitigate potential impacts, and which will inform the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Trail. On 20 September 2017, Gainsdale was directed by DoEE to publish the preliminary documentation for public consultation. This report summarises responses received during the consultation period, with responses from Gainsdale on how matters have been addressed. Scenic Rim Trail Public Consultation Report - October 2017 2 2. Public notification process The project is a proposed action being assessed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). 2.1 Requirements for public notification In response to a further information request from the Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE), public notification requirements were outlined in a Letter of Direction to Publish, dated 20 September 2017 (See Appendix 1). It included the following requirements: Direction to publish You are now required to publish the information you have provided on the proposed action. This allows for public consultation on the potential impacts of your proposed action. The information must be available for comment for 15 business days and during this time any third parties can comment on the proposed action. Detailed directions on what information you need to publish and where to publish are attached to this letter. Public comments will come directly to you so that you have an opportunity to address any issues raised. Procedure if comments received If comments are received, you are required to provide us with: • a copy of all public comments received • a summary of each of the comments received and how those comments have been addressed; and • a revised version of your documentation with any changes or additions needed to take account of the public comments received. Once you have provided us with this information, you will then need to publish (for information only-not for comment) the summary of comments received and your responses, together with the original documentation including any changes or additions made in response to the public comments, within 10 business days. Procedure if no comments received If no comments are received, you must provide us with a written statement to that effect. This section outlines Gainsdale’s compliance with the public notification requirements. 2.2 Public notification period As directed, the notification period and the time frame for receiving comments was 15 days. Public notice advertisements noted that the period for consultation was Thursday 28 September to Thursday 19 October 2017. During that period, a total of 13 responses were received. The responses have been summarised in this report. Copies of email and written submissions received are included in Appendix G. Scenic Rim Trail Public Consultation Report - October 2017 3 2.3 Publication of notices Public notice advertisements were placed as follows: Warwick Daily News, Wednesday 27 September. Print edition and