RIZ) (Formerly Known As the East Rockingham Industrial Park (IP14) Area) (Figure 1)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION No. of Report File Name Report Date Prepared for: Initials copies Status 1 ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic V10 27 November LandCorp JH Environmental 2009 Asssessment_002-pvdm 1 ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic V10 27 November EPA JH Environmental 2009 Asssessment_002-pvdm 1 ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic V10 27 November Coffey Environments Pty JH Environmental 2009 Ltd Asssessment_002-pvdm Coffey Environments ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic Environmental Asssessment_002-pvdm-V10 27 November 2009 AN INVITATION TO COMMENT ON THIS STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) invites people to make a submission on this proposal. The environmental impact assessment process is designed to be transparent and accountable, and includes specific points for public involvement, including opportunities for public review of environmental review documents. In releasing this document for public comment, the EPA advises that no decisions have been made to allow this proposal to be implemented. LandCorp proposes development of the Rockingham Industry Zone (RIZ) (formerly known as the East Rockingham Industrial Park (IP14) area) (Figure 1). This proposal was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) by the Western Australian Government through LandCorp requesting that the redevelopment of the nominated area be assessed as a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The area of the RIZ being considered for assessment (Figure 5) contains ecological values that are of conservation significance. The EPA resolved to set the level of assessment for the project as a SEA (Assessment No. 1534) under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been prepared which describes this proposal and its likely effects on the environment. The SEA is available for a public review period of 12 weeks from 7 December 2009 closing on 2 March 2010. Comments from government agencies and from the public will help the EPA to prepare an assessment report in which it will make recommendations to government. Where to get copies of this document Printed and CD copies of this document may be obtained from Ben McCarthy at: LandCorp Level 3, Wesfarmers House 40 The Esplanade Perth 6000 WA Ph: 08 9482 7475 Fax: 08 9481 3315 Copies of the SEA will be available for $5 for a CD or $10 for the SEA main document (inc. postage) and $10 for a copy of the appendices (inc. postage). A summary document is available free of charge. The document/s may also be accessed through the proponent’s website at www.landcorp.com.au/rockinghamindustryzone I Coffey Environments ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic Environmental Asssessment_002-pvdm-V10 27 November 2009 Why write a submission? A submission is a way to provide information, express your opinion and put forward your suggested course of action - including any alternative approach. It is useful if you indicate any suggestions you have to improve the proposal. All submissions received by the EPA will be acknowledged. Electronic submissions will be acknowledged electronically. The proponent will be required to provide adequate responses to points raised in submissions. In preparing its assessment report for the Minister for the Environment, the EPA will consider the information in submissions, the proponent’s responses and other relevant information. Submissions will be treated as public documents unless provided and received in confidence, subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 , and may be quoted in full or in part in each report. Why not join a group? If you prefer not to write your own comments, it may be worthwhile joining with a group or other groups interested in making a submission on similar issues. Joint submissions may help to reduce the workload for an individual or group, as well as increase the pool of ideas and information. If you form a small group (up to 10 people) please indicate all the names of the participants. If your group is larger, please indicate how many people your submission represents. Developing a submission You may agree or disagree with, or comment on, the general issues discussed in the SEA or the specific proposals. It helps if you give reasons for your conclusions, supported by relevant data. You may make an important contribution by suggesting ways to make the proposal environmentally more acceptable. When making comments on specific proposals in the SEA: • clearly state your point of view; • indicate the source of your information or argument if this is applicable; and • suggest recommendations, safeguards or alternatives. Points to keep in mind By keeping the following points in mind, you will make it easier for your submission to be analysed: • attempt to list points so that issues raised are clear. A summary of your submission is helpful; • refer each point to the appropriate section, chapter or recommendation in the SEA; • if you discuss different sections of the SEA, keep them distinct and separate, so there is no confusion as to which section you are considering; and • attach any factual information you may wish to provide and give details of the source. Make sure your information is accurate. II Coffey Environments ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic Environmental Asssessment_002-pvdm-V10 27 November 2009 Remember to include: • your name, • address, • date; and • whether you want your submission to be confidential. The closing date for submissions is: 2 March 2010. The EPA prefers submissions to be made electronically using one of the following: • the submission form on the EPA’s website: www.epa.wa.gov.au/submissions.asp ; • by email to [email protected] . Alternatively submissions can be: • posted to: Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority, Locked Bag 33, CLOISTERS SQUARE WA 6850, Attention: Shandell Raddock; or • delivered to the Environmental Protection Authority, Level 4, The Atrium, 168 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Attention: Shandell Raddock; or • faxed to (08) 6467 5562. If you have any questions on how to make a submission, please ring the EPA assessment officer, Shandell Raddock 6467 5497. III Coffey Environments ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic Environmental Asssessment_002-pvdm-V10 27 November 2009 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Strategic Environmental Assessment This Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been undertaken for 339 hectares (the SEA Area) within the Rockingham Industry Zone (RIZ), previously known as the Improvement Plan 14 (IP14) Area. The SEA Area of 339 hectares is part of a greater strategic Structure Plan for the RIZ that is zoned Industrial under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS). The SEA Area excludes most of the land within the RIZ that is completely degraded and does not have any environmentally significant features. The SEA boundary also excludes areas that for various reasons are required to be developed urgently. These areas will be subject to separate environmental assessments. A strategic proposal can be a plan, program, or conceptual development that will lead to future specific proposals with likely environmental impacts. The objective of the RIZ SEA is to determine an appropriate development footprint in which future industry can be located. The SEA will also identify the parts of the SEA Area that have environmental values considered worthy of protection from future development and which need ongoing management. The SEA is seeking approval for development in the SEA Area which includes: • Clearing of vegetation in the Development Area; • Earthworks in the Development Area; • Installation of services in the Development Area; • Construction of roads in the Development Area; and • Construction of stormwater drainage infrastructure in the Development Area. When a future proposal is referred to the EPA, which is consistent with the outcomes of this strategic assessment, the EPA may declare that this proposal is a ‘derived proposal’. These are proposals that have been identified in the Structure Plan and do not have significant environmental issues that have not already been addressed in the SEA. Conditions from the strategic assessment, if any, could then be applied by the Minister for Environment to this ‘derived proposal’ and no further assessment by the EPA would be required. The desired objective of the SEA is to provide environmental approval for those activities and infrastructure associated with establishing future land uses in the development area and for them to be considered derived proposals. If the proposal raises other significant environmental issues not addressed in the SEA, then the proposal is deemed not to be a derived proposal and the EPA can formally assess the proposal separately on the basis of these additional issues. Any future development not considered a derived proposal may be subject to separate approvals under Part IV of the EP Act, 1986 or as a Works Approval under Part V of the EP Act, 1986 . RIZ Industrial Development The RIZ is located in the City of Rockingham approximately 40km south of the Perth Central Business District, adjacent to the Cockburn Sound coastal area. The RIZ consists of a total of 1160ha and has been developed progressively for many years however a significant area of land remains undeveloped. A Structure Plan prepared for the RIZ in 1999 proposed development over most of the RIZ and recommended retention of some areas in their natural state. These areas were considered to be buffers to surrounding land uses including the Leda Reserve to the east and residential areas to the south-west and the coastal area to the north-west. Since 1999, some environmental features of the RIZ IV Coffey Environments ENVIPERT00101AA_Strategic Environmental Asssessment_002-pvdm-V10 27 November 2009 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY have increased in importance to such an extent that the 1999 Structure Plan was revised in 2008 to incorporate these features. The Proposed Structure Plan and this SEA proposes to retain an area of 78ha in the south-central part of the RIZ and expects that the remainder of the area assessed in the SEA will not be constrained for development by any of the terrestrial or biophysical environmental factors discussed in this report.