08 SMW EIS Ch8 Concept Environmental Assessment

8 Concept environmental assessment 8 Concept environmental assessment This chapter describes the existing environment of the Concept, how potential impacts have been avoided or minimised through strategic design, and where impacts have not been avoided, the types of impacts that could be expected during operation and construction of the Concept. Matters to be addressed in future stage applications have been provided. 8.1 Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements Reference Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements Where addressed The Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements relevant to the Concept assessment, and reference to 7.1 Commitments made in Section 7.3.3 of the Scoping Report. Section 8.6 where they are addressed in this chapter and in the Environmental Impact Statement, are provided in Table 8‑1. 8. Contamination and Soils Scoping Report requirements are listed in Appendix A. Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements 8.1 Commitments made in Section 7.8.3 and 7.9.3 of the Scoping Report. Sections 8.13 and relating to the Concept assessment of Place and Design have been addressed in Chapter 7 (Placemaking). 8.14 Table 8‑1: Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements – Concept assessment 9. Water – Hydrology and Flooding Reference Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements Where addressed 9.1 Commitments made in Section 7.12.3 of the Scoping Report, including Section 8.15 potential scale of impacts and where the Proposal will need to respond to General the existing hydrological environment. 3. Assessment of Key Issues 10. Water ‑ Quality 3.2 For each Concept key issue, to the extent it relates to the nature of the Sections 8.4 to concept, the Proponent must: 8.20 10.1 Identify the ambient NSW Water Quality Objectives (NSW WQO) and Section 8.13.3 environmental values for the receiving waters relevant to the Proposal, a. describe the overarching biophysical and socio‑economic environment, as including the indicators and associated trigger values or criteria for the far as it is relevant to that issue; identified environmental values. b. describe the policy context, as far as it is available and relevant to the 11. Biodiversity issue; 11.1 Commitments made in Section 7.13.3 of the Scoping Report. Section 8.16 c. address the listed matters in the ‘Key Issues SEARs’; 12. Sustainability d. describe how potential negative impacts have been avoided (through Section 8.3 strategic design); 12.1 The sustainability of the Proposal in accordance with the Infrastructure Section 8.20 Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) Infrastructure Sustainability Chapter 26 e. identify how potential negative impacts that have not been avoided Sections 8.4 to Rating Tool and commit to an appropriate target rating. (Sustainability (through strategic design) will be minimised or managed; 8.20 and climate f. identification of potential positive impacts or benefits; and change – Stage 1) g. outline further detailed assessment required to be carried out in 13. Other Issues subsequent stages (except Stage1). 13.1 Air quality, greenhouse gas and energy, climate change adaptation, waste Sections 8.17, Key issues (Concept) management and resource use, hazard and risk assessments should be 8.20, 8.18 and 8.19 undertaken in accordance with the commitments in Section 7 of the 3. Social and Economic (including property, land use and business impacts) Scoping Report. 3.1 Economic Section 8.10 Commitments made in Section 7.11.3 of the Scoping Report, and strategic economic impacts. 8.2 Overview 3.2 Social Section 8.11 The Concept environmental assessment is generally based on a ‘Concept corridor’. This is generally the area Commitments made in Section 7.10.3 of the Scoping Report, and how shown on Figure 6‑1 in Chapter 6 (Concept description) and is defined as the area within which the Sydney the community would experience the Proposal at a strategic level (from Metro West alignment, stations and related infrastructure are likely to be located. For the Sydney CBD, this environmental, amenity and social changes). includes the Sydney CBD investigation area. Where the Concept assessment is based on different areas, this 3.3 Property and Land Use Section 8.8 is specifically identified in the relevant section of this Chapter. Commitments made in Section 7.5.3 of the Scoping Report, and land use The Concept environmental assessment describes the legislative policy context (where available) and the change potentially influenced by the Proposal. overarching existing environment for each issue. Assessment of potential impacts associated with the 4. Noise and Vibration Concept involved identifying potential types of impacts associated with each issue during both operation 4.1 Commitments made in Section 7.2.4 of the Scoping Report; and the Section 8.5 and construction of the Concept, and identifying performance outcomes for the Concept to be implemented compatibility of the Concept with the adjoining noise environment. during future stages. 5. Transport and Traffic Due to the varied nature of the environment within the Concept corridor and the breadth of issues to be 5.1 Commitments made in Section 7.1.3 of the Scoping Report. Section 8.4 assessed, the following three different approaches have been applied to the Concept assessment: 6. Aboriginal Heritage • Urban setting approach, where the types of impacts of a Concept issue would likely depend on the urban 6.1 Commitments made in Section 7.4.3 of the Scoping Report. Section 8.7 setting or broad land use pattern. Urban settings across the Concept corridor include CBDs, suburban areas, urban renewal precincts and industrial or urban services areas 7. Non‑Aboriginal Heritage Sydney Metro West Environmental Impact Statement | Westmead to The Bays and Sydney CBD 8-1 Part B | Sydney Metro West Concept Chapter 8 | Concept environmental assessment • Natural process or features approach, where the types of impacts of a Concept issue are more likely to 8.3 Avoidance and minimisation of impacts depend on the natural setting. This is most relevant for issues related to landscapes and natural sciences such as geology, hydrology, hydrogeology and biodiversity and also for Aboriginal heritage, where The design development process for the Concept aimed to avoid or minimise potential impacts. This included Aboriginal cultural patterns tend to follow natural landscapes and Country the following measures: • Strategic frameworks and guidelines approach, where the types of impacts of a Concept issue are governed • Construction methodology: mostly by compliance with relevant policies, guidelines and frameworks, irrespective of the urban or natural setting of the location. • Selection of tunnel boring machines to excavate the mainline tunnels rather than roadheaders. Tunnel boring machines cut a circular profile ideal for a rail tunnel and minimise spoil generation. Tunnel boring These three approaches to the Concept assessment are described in more detail in Table 8‑2. machines also operate faster than roadheaders/other excavation machinery, minimising the duration of Potential cumulative benefits and impacts of Concept issues are discussed in Section8.21 . impacts on the community Table 8‑2: Concept assessment approaches • Selection of The Bays as a tunnel boring machine launch and support site to minimise the need for property acquisition by preferencing government‑owned and under‑utilised land Assessment Relevant Description • Selection of tunnel boring machine launch, retrieval and support sites where there is sufficient access approach assessments to arterial roads, to enable efficient transportation of tunnel boring machines, segments, spoil and other Urban This approach has been applied where the types of impacts would likely • Transport and materials, and minimise impact to local streets setting be similar within each setting, as the impacts are associated with sensitive traffic • Locating the stabling and maintenance facility construction site and services facilities within industrial receivers or built structures. Where there are similar types of land uses, • Noise and areas where possible, and at distance from residential receivers, where sensitivity to noise, or landscape receivers or commercial/social attributes within the Concept, these have vibration and visual impacts is lower been grouped into the following urban settings: • Non‑Aboriginal • CBDs – Parramatta and Sydney CBDs. The CBDs are regional focal points heritage • Inclusion of a concrete segment construction facility at Clyde to allow the manufacture of concrete for commerce, trade, employment, retail and recreation. They generally • Property and land segments away from sensitive receivers. consist of medium to high density commercial, retail and residential use • Impacts to existing structures or development: • Suburban – North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the • Landscape services facility between Five Dock and The Bays. The suburban setting character and • Development of tunnel alignment and surface sites to avoid direct impacts to World and National is characterised by a mix of low to medium rise retail, commercial, visual amenity Heritage listed items and minimise impacts to State and Local Heritage listed items light industrial and residential uses, along with recreational and open • Business impacts • Development of tunnel alignment to avoid underground structures such as major utilities and basements, space uses. These facilities are generally the focal point of the local • Social impacts where

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