ES 625 ABO1 9334 Tallawarra Power Station project: discussion document I I I I I I I I. WOLLONGONG P1 El 11IlllIlIl11 Lake TALLAWARR.40 Illawaira 1, 0 0 SHELLHARBOUR I El I I P I ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY SECTION I GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NSW, I ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF NEW 1 SOUTH WALES I I. I TALLAWARRA POWER STATION PROJECT DISCUSSION DOCUMENT I 1• I FEBRUARY, 1987 I I I I CONTENTS I Page No. I INTRODUCTION 3 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 2.1 DESCRIPTION OFTHE PROPOSAL 7 I 2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SAFEGUARDS 8 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL 11 I 3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION II 3.2 COALSUPPLY II 3.2.1 First 660 MW Unit II I 3.2.2 Second 660 MW Unit 20 3.3 COALTRANSPORT 22 I 3.4 COAL STORAGE AND HANDLING 22 3.4.1 Power Station Coal Storage 22 3.4.2 Power Station Coal Handling System 23 I. 3.5 CONDENSER CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM 25 3.6 DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY 25 3.7 ASH COLLECTION PLANT 25 I 3.7.1 Fly Ash Collection Plant 25 3.7.2 Furnace Ash Collection Plant 25 I 3.8 CHIMNEY 26 3.9 ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM 26 3.9.1 Ash Storage Sites 26 I 3.9.2 Ash Transport 28 3.9.3 Operation Principles of Proposed Ash Storage System 28 I 3.9.4 Restoration 29 3.10 WATER MANAGEMENT 29 3.10.1 SewageTreatment 29 3.10.2 Construction Drainage 33 I. 3.10.3 Uncontaminated Drainage 33 3.10.4 Contaminated Drainage 33 3.10.5 Chemical Plant Drainage 33 I 3.10.6 Coal Handling Plant Drainage 33 3.11 STORAGE AND USAGE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 33 I 3.12 TRANSMISSION 34 3.13 TRANSPORTATION 35 3.14 LANDSCAPING 35 I 35 3.15 CONSTRUCTION 3.15.1 Construction Programme 35 I 3.15.2 Construction Materials 35 3.15.3 Construction Works Facilities 36 3.15.4 EmploymentOpportunity 36 I 3.16 APPRENTICETRAINING 36 I 3.17 LAND REOUIREMENTS 36 Page No. 4. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 42 4.1 THECOMMUNITY 42 4.1.1 Planning Instruments 42 4.1.2 Population 42 4.1.3 Regional Economy and Employment 42 4.1.4 Commercial and Industrial Facilities 45 4.1.5 Accommodation 45 4.1.6 Community Support Facilities 45 4.1.7 Municipal Utility Services 46 4.1.8 Transport Facilities 46 4.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 46 4.2.1 Topography, Geology and Soils 46 4.2.2 Land Use 46 4.2.3 Climate 48 4.2.4 Flooding 48 4.2.5 Archaeology 52 4.2.6 Flora and Fauna 52 4.2.7 Heritage 55 4.2.8 Water Quality of Lake lllawarra 56 4.2.9 Aquatic Flora and Fauna 59 4.2.10 Acoustic Environment 59 4.2.11 Air Quality 62 4.2.12 Minerals 64 5. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS AND IMPACTS 68 5.1 THE COMMUNITY 68 5.1.1 Population and Employment 68 5.1.2 Commercial and Industrial Facilities 69 5.1.3 Community Support Facilities, Services and Housing 69 5.1.4 Transport Facilities 70 5.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 70 5.2.1 Land Use 70 5.2.2 Soil Conservation 71 5.2.3 Climate 71 5.2.4 Flooding 71 5.2.5 Archaeology, Flora, Fauna and Heritage 71 5.2.6 Water Quality 72 5.2.7 Aquatic Flora and Fauna 74 5.2.8 Visual Impact 77 5.2.9 Acoustic Environment 80 5.2.10 Hazardous Substances 82 5.2.11 AirQuality 83 5.2.12 Minerals 88 6. CONCLUSION 92 7. REFERENCES 96 APPENDIX A ALTERNATIVE COAL TRANSPORT MODES AND ROUTES 100 APPENDIX B ALTERNATIVE ASH DISPOSAL METHODS AND SITES 104 I FIGURES 3.1 (a) Site Location 3.1(b) Project Works Arrangement 3.1(c) General Station Layout 3.1(d) Station Elevations I 3.1(e) Temporary Facilities 3.1(f) Electricity Generation -Functions of Principal Elements. 3.2.2 Coal Authorisation Areas and Holdings I 3.4.2 Coal Handling Plant Flow Diagram 3.8 Albion Park Aerodrome Obstacle Limitation Surface 3.9.3(a) No. 3 Ash Storage Area Ultimate Development 3.9.3(b) Possible No.4 Ash Storage Area General Arrangement I 3.10 Water Management Principles 3.14 Landscape Master Plan 3.15.1 Project Programme I 3.17 Existing Property Boundaries 4.1.1 LandZoning 4.2.2 Aerial Presentation of Site I 4.2.4 Duck Creek— Estimated I in 100 Year Flood Inundation 4.2.5 Areas Surveyed for Archaeological Study .4.2.6 Areas Surveyed for Flora and Fauna Study 4.2.8 Location of Water Monitoring Stations I 4.2.9 Aquatic Flora in Illawarra Lake 4.2.10 Noise Survey Location Plan 4.2.11(a) Location of Air Quality Monitoring Stations I 4.2.11(b) Wollongong Area Particulate Deposition Rates 4.3(a) Meteorological Data 1972— 1983 4.3(b) Wind Roses 1976— 1983 5.2.8(a) Views of Power Station -East and South East I 5.2.8(b) Views of Power Station -South West and North East 5.2.11(a) Maximum Sulphur Dioxide Ground Level Concentrations with Variations of Chimney Height I 5.2.1 1(b) Predicted Annual Average Particulate Deposition Rate Al Alternative Conveyor Route I B! Ash Disposal -Alternative Sites I I I I I I. I 1. INTRODUCTION I The Electricity Commission is currently engaged in planning for the development of a major coal-fired power station next to the existing Tallawarra Power Station on the western shore of Lake lllawarra south of Dapto. In order to assist in this process, it is proposed to undertake a planning focus exercise to advise details of the project to government departments and I agencies, and local government bodies having an interest in the project and to obtain their comments on the proposals prior to finalising the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). I The existing plant at Tallawarra Power Station, consisting of 4 x 30 MW )A Station) units and 2 x 100 MW )B Station) units commissioned between 1954 and 1957 and 1960 and 1961, respectively, is approaching the end of its economic life. in order to replace this generating I capacity and at the same time utilise the benefits and potential of a valuable salt water cooling site with established infrastructure and to provide for stability of employment in the power, coal and service industries in the region, it is proposed to install new generating plant I at the site. The proposal involves the construction of two new 660 MW coal-fired generating units together with associated coal supply, ash disposal and cooling water facilities. Coal supplies I for the first unit are to be based upon continued operation of the Commission -owned . Huntley Colliery which currently supplies the existing Tallawarra Power Station. Development of the second unit will be dependent upon the Commission being able to secure further adequate, reliable and economic coal supplies and the development of an environmentally satisfactory means for transporting the additional coal to the power station site. It is proposed to seek development approval for two units but the construction of the second unit will be conditional upon obtaining development approval for the coal supply system I tequired for that unit at some future time when details are available. I The works for which development approval will be sought are: (i) two 660 MW generating units and associated works in the power station island complex. coal conveyor constructed on the transport corridor between Huntley Colliery and the power station. I the coal storage and handling facility at the power station site for two units. the cooling water system for two units. (v) the ash storage facilities at the existing No. 3 storage area and a new storage area to the I southwest of Mt Brown for two units. The power station EIS will not cover the coal supply and coal transport facilities )including the rail loop) which are required for the second unit. The expansion of Huntley mine to 1.8 million tonnes per annum will not involve significant I changes to the mine surface facilities other than an increase in the capacity of plant items. The mine has previously produced coal at the rate of about I million tonnes per year and the expansion will not cause environmental impacts different from those which would occur over a larger period of time at the lower production rates. Accordingly, no Environmental Impact I Statement is required for this expansion. Changes to transmission lines will be covered by a separate Environmental Impact Statement I issued at the same time as the Power Station Environmental Impact Statement so that the two can be considered at the same time. I The principal aims of the planning focus are: . to provide an opportunity for interactive discussion on the proposal in order to incorporate I in the EIS a consideration of the widest range of views of interested parties: to take account of information received when finalising the proposal details; . to initiate or continue liaison, as the case may be, with other public agencies which may I have a role to play in the development. I I Generation planning studies indicate that new generating capacity to be installed after the completion of the 2 x 660 MW Mt Piper Power Station development will probably be required in the mid 1990's. Because of the long lead time involved in obtaining approvals and undertaking the design and construction work involved in a new power station of the size and complexity of the Tallawarra development, it is necessary to undertake basic planning and environmental studies at this time.