Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project )RZMVSRQIRXEP-QTEGX7XEXIQIRX )\IGYXMZI7YQQEV] .YP] 0ERHWFSVSYKLXS2EQFSYV4VIJIVVIH6SYXI 1SSPSSPEL 4EPQ[SSHW 2EQFSYV )YHPS 0ERHWFSVSYKL ;SSQF]I Preferred route Existing North Coast Line Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the Department of Transport and Main Roads makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular Copyright Brisway Publishing 2007. Reproduced from Brisway with permission. purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) and costs Note: Map not to scale. which might be incurred as a result of the plan being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Figure 1: Project Features Fi 1 P j t F t 'SRXIRXW 1. Introduction 1 12. Nature conservation: Terrestrial fauna 38 2. Project description 10 13. Aquatic biology 41 3. Land use and infrastructure 12 14. Water resources 44 4. Land: Topography 16 15. Noise and vibration 46 5. Land: Geology and soils 18 16. Air quality 49 6. Landscape character and visual amenity 20 17. Climate and natural disasters 52 7. Transport 23 18. Waste 54 8. Economic environment 28 19. Hazard and risk 56 9. Social environment 30 20. Cumulative impacts 59 10. Cultural heritage 32 21. Special management areas 61 11. Nature conservation: Terrestrial flora 35 22. Environmental management plans 76 0MQMXEXMSRWSJXLMWHSGYQIRX (EXEERHXIGLRMGEPMRZIWXMKEXMSRW The environmental impact statement has been prepared by Arup The investigations documented in the environmental impact solely for the Department of Transport and Main Roads, in statement have been undertaken in accordance with the response to the Terms of Reference prepared by the Queensland requirements of the Terms of Reference where appropriate. Coordinator- General. Information provided by the community through submissions, meetings and discussions with members of the study team Whilst Arup and its consultants have taken care in the at community information sessions has also been considered preparation of the environmental impact statement, it does not during the preparation of the environmental impact statement. accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever in respect of: Whilst anecdotal in most circumstances, this information has ß Any use of this report by any third party. been reviewed and considered in the assessment of impacts and ß Any third party whose interests may be affected arising finalisation of the preliminary project design. out of or in connection with this document, including any decision made or action taken by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Note to maps: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the Department of Transport and Main Roads makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which might be incurred as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. iiii LandsboroughLLanLaananddsbdssboroorororouugughghgh toto NaNNambourammbmbobboouurr RailRaRaaiillP ProjectProjrorojojecectectct -RXVSHYGXMSR The Department of Transport and Main Roads is proposing to The environmental impact statement has been prepared in upgrade approximately 22 km of the North Coast Line between parallel with the preliminary design phase of the project, Landsborough and Nambour by 2026 as identified in the South enabling environmental considerations to be included in East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2008-2026. the design (e.g. creek crossing methods) and design aspects to be considered in the assessment of impacts. The project’s As part of the planning process for this upgrade, the Department of environmental impact statement addresses the following: Transport and Main Roads has prepared an environmental impact statement for the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project (the ß Land requirements and environmental, economic and social project). The project will improve the efficiency, service frequency, impacts generated by the project, in a corridor that allows operating speeds and reliability of rail services on this section of the for up to four rail tracks, maintenance and access roads, north coast line. It will provide capacity to cater for the anticipated earthworks and associated infrastructure. increased demand for rail services in the corridor, arising from ß Environmental, social, economic and transport impacts projected population and freight transport growth. generated by the construction and operation of the double The project involves construction of a double-track railway track railway. between Landsborough and Nambour in a corridor that provides ß Environmental, economic, social, and transport impacts for up to two additional tracks if required in the future (see map generated by the decommissioning of the existing rail. on the inside front cover). The identification of a new rail corridor that allows for up to four tracks provides long-term land use %FSYXXLMWI\IGYXMZIWYQQEV] certainty and flexibility, should the railway require additional tracks in the future. This executive summary has been prepared as an overview of the key environmental, social and economic findings contained The project also includes: in the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project’s environmental ß Construction of maintenance and emergency service access impact statement. For a full description of the findings, it is within the corridor. important to view the complete environmental impact statement. Each section in this summary reflects the structure of chapters in ß Reprovision of roads impacted by the project. the environmental impact statement. ß Protection of grade separated road/rail crossing options at Gympie Street North in Landsborough and Mooloolah 4VSNIGXTVSTSRIRX Connection Road/Brays Road in Mooloolah. The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the proponent ß Construction of new rail stations at Mooloolah, Eudlo, for the project. The Department of Transport and Main Roads Palmwoods and Woombye. is the lead agency responsible for developing and managing ß An upgrade of Nambour station, including the provision of the land, air and sea transport environments in Queensland. disabled access to current standards. The project is one of the many rail improvement projects that the Department of Transport and Main Roads is involved with ß Provision of pedestrian access, public transport interchange, in south east Queensland, which include among others, the car parking and station access. Caboolture to Landsborough Rail Upgrade, the Caboolture to ß Replacement of private property accesses affected by the Maroochydore Corridor Study and the Caloundra South Rail railway corridor. Corridor Realignment Study. ß The relocation of utilities impacted by the project QR Limited is proposed to be the constructing authority and rail ß Construction of new tunnels south of Mooloolah and south manager for the re-aligned and upgraded section of the North of Eudlo. Coast Line between Landsborough and Nambour. QR Limited ß Decommissioning of the existing railway corridor. operates passenger rail services under contract to the TransLink Transit Authority and the Department of Transport and Main The upgraded railway is proposed to be operational by 2026, Roads, as well as commercial freight services. in accordance with the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2008-2026, subject to whole-of-government priorities and funding availability. Environmental Impact Statement - Executive Summary, July 2009 1 8LIIRZMVSRQIRXEPMQTEGXWXEXIQIRX This process includes: ß An environmental impact statement is a document prepared Preparation and public notification of draft Terms of to report on the environmental, social and economic impacts Reference (July 2008). of a project. It describes the existing conditions, provides ß Preparation of the environmental impact statement by the information about the proposed project or works, and assesses proponent in response to the final Terms of Reference (issued the impacts and benefits of the changes resulting from to the Department of Transport and Main Roads by the the proposed project. The environmental impact statement Coordinator-General in October 2008). also describes and assesses the management or mitigation ß Public notification period for the environmental impact measures that will be required to address the impacts of the statement (July - August 2009). proposed project. ß Review of public submissions by the Coordinator-General. The purpose of the environmental impact statement is to provide ß decision makers with an accurate and considered description of Coordinator-General evaluation of the environmental the potential impacts and benefits of the proposed project and impact statement and public submissions. to detail actions that need to be taken to ensure the impacts ß Preparation and submission (if required) of a supplementary identified are avoided or minimised wherever possible. report by the Department of Transport and Main Roads that responds to the Coordinator-General’s request for further 7MKRM´GERXTVSNIGX information (late 2009). In July 2007 the Coordinator-General declared the project to ß Evaluation by the Coordinator-General of information and be a ‘significant