Thomsons Lake Urban Development and South Jandakot Drainage Management Plan, Deferral of Construction of the South Jandakot Branch Drain
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Thomsons Lake Urban Development and South Jandakot Drainage Management Plan, deferral of construction of the South Jandakot Branch Drain Western Australian Planning Commission Proposed change to Environmental Conditions Report and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority Environmental Protection Authority Perth, Western Australia Bulletin 824 June 1996 THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT This report contains the Environmental Protection Authority's environmental assessment and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment on the environmental acceptability of the proposal. Immediately following the release of the report there is a 14-day period when anyone may appeal to the Minister against the Environmental Protection Authority's report. After the appeal period, and determination of any appeals, the Minister consults with the other relevant ministers and agencies and then issues his decision about whether the proposal may or may not proceed. The Minister also announces the legally binding environmental conditions which might apply to any approval. APPEALS lf you disagree with any of the contents of the assessment report or recommendations you may appeal in writing to the Minister for the Environment outjjning the environmental reasons for your concern and enclosing the appeal fee of $10. It is important that you clearly indicate the part of the report you disagree with and the reasons for your concern so that the grounds of your appeal can be properly considered by the Minister for the Environrnclll. ADDRESS Hon Minister for the Environment 12th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH W A 6005 CLOSING DATE Your appeal (with the $10 fee) must reach the Minister's office no later than 5.00 pm on 19 July 1996. Environmental Impact Assessment Process Timelines Date Timeline commences from receipt of full details i of proposal from proponent for public review Time (weeks) 13/11/95 Proponent document released for public comment 11/12/95 Public comment period closed 4 27/12/96 Issues raised during public comment period summarised 2 by EP A and forwarded to the Proponent 22/1/96 ProJ:lOnent reSj)Onse to the issues raised received 4 517196 EPA reported to the Minister for the Environment 23 ISBN. 0 7309 5789 6 ISSN. 1030- 0120 Assessment No. 891 Contents Page Summary and recommendations 1. Introduction and background 1 1.1 Purpose of this report 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Structure of this report 3 2. Summary description of proposal 3 3. Identification of environmental issues 4 3.1 Method of assessment 4 3.2 Public and agency submissions 5 3.3 Review of topics 6 4. Evaluation of issues 1 5 4.1 Impacts on waterbirds 15 4.2 Impacts on water levels 16 4.3 Impacts on water quality 20 5. Conclusions and recommendations 2 6 6. Recommended procedures 2 6 7. References 27 Figures 1. Proposed area of urbanisation, location of the South Jandakot Drainage Scheme and Beeliar Regional Park 2 2. Hydrograph forThomsons Lake (1988-1995). Source: Water Authority, Nov.l995 21 Tables 1. Identification of issues requiring Environmental Protection Authority evaluation 10 2. Water level criteria for Thomsons Lake 17 3. Extract from V! ater Corporation response to submissions showing potential water levels in Thomsons Lake and CALM's water level criteria 19 4. Summary of Environmental Protection Authority recommendations 24 Appendices l. Environmental Conditions 2. Environrncntal impact assessment flo\v chart 3. Summary of submissions and proponent's response 4. List of submitters 5. Water quality and water level c1iteria Summary and recommendations This report and recommendations provides the Environmental Protection Authority's advice to the Minister for the Environment on the environmental acceptability of the proposal to defer construction of one component of the South Jandakot Drainage Management Plan ie the South Jandakot Branch Drain. The South Jandakot Drainage Management Plan was associated with the Thomsons Lake urban development and in 1987 was formally assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority, and Environmental Conditions were set by the Minister for the Environment. Any substantial change to the Drainage Management Plan was deemed to require assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority. The proposed deferral of the South Jandakot Branch Drain is the subject of this assessment. The Environmental Protection Authority identified the main environmental topics requiring detailed consideration as: • impacts on waterbirds; • impacts on water levels of the Beeliar Wetlands; • impacts on water quality of the Beeliar Wetlands. Due to the Ran1sar-listing ofThomsons Lake, the Environmental Protection Authority considers the effects on waterbirds to be a significant issue. This issue is directly related to the management of water levels and water quality in the Beeliar Wetlands. Consequently, the objectives relating to the effect on waterbirds are addressed through the assessment of these 1ssues. The proposal is to defer construction of the South Jandakot Branch Drain until construction of the Thomsons Lake Main Sewer commences, which is dependent on the rate of urban development. The drain and the sewer are to be located within the same excavation within the Beeliar Regional Park. The eo-location of the drain and sewer represents an environmental benefit in terms of reducing vegetation disturbance. Similarly, a delay in construction of the Branch Drain (and the sewer) would facilitate the Water Corporation's continuing investigation into the most appropriate method of ultimate disposal of drainage water. The approved method of disposal is into Cockburn Sound, although the Water Corporation is investigating other options which may provide a net environmental benefit. The Environmental Protection Authority is aware that the proposed deferral could result in increased water levels which could have significant impacts on the function of the Beeliar Wetlands. Given that lake water levels are dependent on a number of environmental variables it is difficult to predict water levels, although the Water Corporation presented potential water levels within Thomsons Lake for various rainfall scenarios. The Environmental Protection Authority accepts that the wetlands may experience high water levels during the deferral period, but that contingency plans will be prepared by the Water Corporation to avoid repeated years of high water levels as described below. The Environmental Protection Authority considers that the water level criteria should not be exceeded for two consecutive years. If water level criteria are exceeded for one year, contingency plans to mitigate the consequential environmental impacts should be prepared. If the criteria are exceeded for a consecutive year, the measures outlined in the plan should be implemented, or the drain constructed. The information provided by the Water Corporation regarding water quality suggested poor water quality would most likely occur in conjunction with high water levels. Consequently, the Environmental Protection Authority considers management of water levels would address water quality. In addition, if the water quality criteria are exceeded for one year, contingency plans to mitigate the consequential environmental impacts should be developed. If the criteria are exceeded for a consecutive year then the measures outlined in the plan should be implemented, or the drain constructed. The Environmental Protection Authority view is that it would be environmentally unacceptable for either the water level or water quality criteria to be exceeded for three consecutive years. Following evaluation of the major issues, the Environmental Protection Authority has concluded that the proposal meets the Environmental Protection Authority's objectives subject to the recommendations in this assessment report. Recommendation Summary of recommendations No. I Environmental Protection Authority recommends that the proposed deferral of commencement of construction of the South Jandakot Branch Drain unlil the 31 Decetnber 1999 with construction being completed by 31 May 2000 can be managed to meet the Environmental Protection Authority's objectives subject to the Environmental Protection I Authority's recommendations contained in this report. 2 IIf during the period of the deferral the maximum water level criteria and I I or water quality criteria are exceeded for one year, the Water Corporation should prepare a contingency plan to mitigate the consequential Ienvironmental impacts to the requirements of the Minister for the Environment on advice of the Environmental Protection Authority. IIf during the period of the deferral, the water level and I or water quality 1 criteria are exceeded for a consecutive year, then the measures outlined in the contingency plan should be implemented, or the branch drain should be constructed. "~'-"""'" ..·--------~.. -~----·· 3 That, if the Minister for the Environment approves the implementation of this proposal then the proposal be subject to the recommended procedures set out in Section 6 of this report. 11 1. Introduction and background 1.1 Purpose of this report This report and recommendations provides the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) advice to the Minister for the Environment on the environmental acceptability of a proposed change to Environmental Conditions set on the Thomsons Lake Urban Development and the associated South Jandakot Drainage Management Plan. The proposed change is a modification to one aspect of the South Jandakot Drainage !v!anagement