1. Background information

1.1 Proposal identification and Maritime Services proposes to construct a new four lane -over-rail bridge on the Olympic at Kapooka (hereon referred to as ‘the proposal’). The proposal would also include realigning about 2.7 kilometres of the Olympic Highway and upgrading the Olympic Highway/Camp Access Road intersection. Kapooka is located in NSW about five kilometres south-west of . The proposal is located from about two kilometres to about 4.4 kilometres south of the Olympic Highway/ intersection. The location of the proposal is shown in Figure 1.1 and the features of the proposal are shown in Figure 1.2. The development site and study area (the area within 500 metres of the proposal) are shown in Figure 1.3. An aerial photograph of the locality (the area within 10 kilometres of the proposal) is shown in Figure 1.4.

1.2 Purpose of this report The ecological assessment prepared for the proposal (GHD 2012a) found that the proposal would be likely to significantly impact a matter of national environmental significance, White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland (Box-Gum Woodland). A referral to the Australian Government Department of the Environment (DoE) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) was therefore prepared. The proposal has been determined to be a ‘controlled action’ and requires the approval of the Minister for the Environment.

DoE has requested the preparation of additional information to facilitate the assessment of the proposal by preliminary documentation. The purpose of this report is to provide the additional information requested by DoE in a sufficient manner to allow the Minister, or Delegate, to make an informed decision on whether or not to approve the proposal under the EPBC Act. The additional information requested by DoE and how it is addressed in this report is provided in Appendix B.

Other key environmental assessments that were prepared for the proposal, which have been reviewed in preparing this report include:  Review of environmental factors (GHD 2013a).  Species impact statement (GHD 2013b) including specialist studies.  Referral to Department of the Environment (GHD 2013c).  Ecological assessment (GHD 2012a).

GHD | Report for Roads and Maritime Services - Realignment of the Olympic Highway at Kapooka including new road- over-rail bridge, 23/14107 | 1 520,000 540,000 560,000

SYDNEY !

WAGGA WAGGA ! CANBERRA ! NSW !

6,140,000 6,140,000 VICTORIA

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520,000 540,000 560,000 LEGEND ! Locality Proposal location National Parks and Wildlife Service Reserve Highway Suburbs of Kapooka and Wagga Wagga State Forest Road

Murrumbidgee River

Job Number 23-14107 Paper size A3 Roads and Maritime Services 0 0 2.5 5 10 Kapooka bridge replacement preliminary documentation Revision Date 20 Nov 2013 Kilometres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 o Proposal location Figure 1.1 G:\23\14107\GIS\Maps\PreliminaryDocumentation_maps\23_14107_PDFig1.1_ProposalLocation.mxd Suite 3, Level 1, 161-169 Baylis Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 T 61 2 6923 7400 F 61 2 6971 9565 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2013. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, LPI and Geoscience Australia make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: LPI: Highways, roads, localities, suburbs, , NPWS reserves and state forests - 2008; Geoscience Australia: Cities and state boundaries - 2003. Created by:rtrobinson 527,000 528,000 529,000

M ur rum bid ge e R ive S r turt High way WAGGA WAGGA MOORONG SAN YARRAGUNDRY ISIDORE ASHMONT TURVEY PARK Silvalite

GLENFIELD Reserve MOUNT AUSTIN PARK

TOLLAND 6,112,000 6,112,000

LLOYD BOURKE- KAPOOKA LANDS TON T TA y a a g ne w Li g il SPRINGVALE h a y a R a g ne hw i ur ig W o H H lb c e e pi a M m c n to ly i g i y O e p g L dn l y a i S m a URANQUINTY y ROWAN l W R O o e T n r u o lb Quarry Agricultural e research station M to y e n d y Proposed new access for S Sediment basin Residence 1, with minor (permanent water change to access for quality basin) Residence 2 Proposed Stage 1 temporary alignment Residence 1 Proposed shared path 6,111,000 6,111,000 Existing access W

i for Residence 1 r a Residence 2 d j u r i Proposed bridge W a l k i n g Sediment basin T r a (permanent water c quality basin) k Proposed bridge site compound

Quarry Existing d Proposed weather a bridge o station R s s e c c y a A w Kapooka p h m ig Military Area a H C ic Ca p mp A m cce y 6,110,000 s 6,110,000 s Road l O Decommissioned fuel depot Sediment basin (permanent water Existing access quality basin) for Residence 3 Proposed new access Proposed main for Residence 3 site compound

Residence 3 Temporary sediment basin

Temporary sediment basin

ty in u q n ra Quarry U m ro F 6,109,000 527,000 528,000 529,000 6,109,000 LEGEND Proposed road Existing drainage Proposed weather station Proposed main site compound Proposed Stage 1 temporary alignment Railway line Proposed crane and piling pads Proposed bridge site compound Proposed drainage and sediment basins Wiradjuri Walking Track Proposed pavement removal Proposed stockpile/compound site Proposed shared path from existing highway Silvalite Reserve Proposed construction access road

Job Number 23-14107 Paper size A3 Roads and Maritime Services 0 0 100 200 400 Kapooka bridge replacement preliminary documentation Revision Date 20 Nov 2013 Metres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Proposed Olympic Highway Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 o realignment and bridge at Kapooka Figure 1.2 G:\23\14107\GIS\Maps\PreliminaryDocumentation_maps\23_14107_PDFig1.2_TheProposal.mxd Suite 3, Level 1, 161-169 Baylis Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Australia T 61 2 6923 7400 F 61 2 6971 9565 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2012. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, LPI, Wagga Wagga City Council and Roads and Maritime Services make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: NSW LPI: Roads, railway lines, rivers, drainage lines, Silvalite Reserve boundary and suburbs - 2005; NSW Roads and Maritime Services: Road design and proposal features - 2011, aerial photography - 2011 & 2006; Wagga Wagga City Council - Wiradjuri Walking Track - 2012. Created by:rtrobinson 527,000 528,000 529,000 530,000

M ur rum bid ge e R ive S r turt High way SAN 6,113,000 WAGGA WAGGA 6,113,000 ISIDORE MOORONG YARRAGUNDRY ASHMONT TURVEY PARK

GLENFIELD MOUNT AUSTIN PARK

TOLLAND

KAPOOKA LLOYD BOURKE- LANDS ay TON T TA hw ig H ne Li il SPRINGVALE a y R a pic ne hw ur ig bo H m el ic y M p l to lym y O O ne yd S URANQUINTY ROWAN Silvalite Reserve 6,112,000 6,112,000

e in L il a R e rn u o Agricultural lb e Quarry research station M to y e n d y S 6,111,000 6,111,000

Proposed bridge

Quarry Existing bridge Kapooka Military Area C amp Ac cess Ro 6,110,000 ad 6,110,000 Decommissioned fuel depot

y a 6,109,000 w 6,109,000 h Quarry ig H ic p m ly O

527,000 528,000 529,000 530,000 LEGEND Drainage line Railway line Study area Development site Silvalite Reserve

Job Number 23-14107 Paper size A3 Roads and Maritime Services 0 0 100 200 400 Kapooka bridge replacement preliminary documentation Revision Date 20 Nov 2013 Metres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 o Development site and study area Figure 1.3 G:\23\14107\GIS\Maps\PreliminaryDocumentation_maps\23_14107_PDFig1.3_DevelopmentSiteStudyArea.mxd Suite 3, Level 1, 161-169 Baylis Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Australia T 61 2 6923 7400 F 61 2 6971 9565 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2012. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, LPI, Wagga Wagga City Council and Roads and Maritime Services make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: NSW LPI: Roads, railway lines, rivers, drainage lines, Silvalite Reserve boundary and suburbs - 2005; NSW Roads and Maritime Services: Road design and proposal features - 2011, aerial photography - 2011 & 2006; Wagga Wagga City Council - Wiradjuri Walking Track - 2012. Created by:rtrobinson 520,000 530,000

Malebo Range 6,120,000 6,120,000

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NORTH WAGGA WAGGA

WAGGA WAGGA

Stu rt Hig hway

Pomingalarna Park Sturt Highway Red Hill ASHMONT Reserve Willans Hill Reserve

LLOYD 6,110,000 6,110,000 KAPOOKA

LAKE ALBERT

e in l L ai R ne ur bo el M ay o t hw y ig ne H yd ic S p lym O

Plum Pudding Reserve Gregadoo Hills 6,100,000 6,100,000

520,000 530,000 LEGEND to Rail Line Development site Highway Study area Murrumbidgee River Locality Suburb

Job Number 23-14107 Paper size A3 Roads and Maritime Services Revision 0 0241 Kapooka bridge replacement preliminary documentation Date 20 Nov 2013 Kilometres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 o Aerial photograph of locality Figure 1.4 G:\23\14107\GIS\Maps\PreliminaryDocumentation_maps\23_14107_PDFig1.4_AerialPhotographLocality.mxd Suite 3, Level 1, 161-169 Baylis Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Australia T 61 2 6923 7400 F 61 2 6971 9565 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2013. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, NSW Roads and Maritime Services and NSW Government make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: NSW Roads and Maritime Services: Proposal site - 2012, aerial photography - 2013; NSW Government: Highways, railways, river, suburbs - 2012. Created by:rtrobinson 1.3 Need for the proposal The existing two lane bridge over the Sydney to Melbourne Rail Line at Kapooka was built in 1880. The existing bridge does not meet current network safety and design standards, and poses a number of restrictions to traffic on the Olympic Highway and nearby Camp Access Road, including:  The existing bridge is narrow with a full deck width of less than 10 metres. As a result, larger heavy vehicles, such as B-Doubles, cannot pass each other so one must give way to the other at the bridge approach.

 The existing bridge is not suitable for higher mass limit vehicles and this location is the only such restriction on the Olympic Highway.  The 90 degree corners at the existing bridge approaches present a safety risk to motorists, particularly for heavy vehicles.  The close proximity of the existing bridge to the intersection between the Olympic Highway and Camp Access Road causes traffic conflicts. Camp Access Road is a local road providing the main access to the Kapooka Military Area. The Kapooka Military Area is a basic training facility for the Army and is an important economic asset for the Wagga Wagga area. The proposal is required to meet current network safety and design standards, remove restrictions to traffic and improve road safety. The proposal would also provide increased clearance for trains on the Sydney to Melbourne Rail Line to facilitate the future construction of a second rail line and double stacking of freight containers.

1.4 Other known proposed vegetation clearing in the local area There are no current developments occurring in the immediate vicinity of the proposal. However, there are future long-term plans to construct a second rail line parallel to the existing rail line. Previous consultation with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has highlighted the long-term strategic aim for a second rail line in the immediate vicinity of the proposal (within 10 to 20 years). This has the potential to further impact on the ecology of the study area through vegetation removal and disturbance. Additional vegetation removal may cause further fragmentation and degradation of Box-Gum Woodland in the study area. In the surrounding area, a new powerline is proposed about 2.5 kilometres east of the proposal. This powerline would be constructed between the Wagga Wagga suburb of Bourkelands and the village of Uranquinty, to the south. The powerline would have a length of about 13 kilometres. The proposed powerline between Bourkelands and Uranquinty would require the removal of about 1.5 hectares of native woodland, of which about 0.4 hectares comprises Box-Gum Woodland. It has been assessed that this proposal would be unlikely to have a significant ecological impact (GHD 2012b). The continuing expansion and proposed growth within the Lloyd residential area east of the proposal will also result in the removal of some native vegetation. However, this impact has been offset through the Biodiversity Certification of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (Wagga Wagga LEP). The proposal would impact 8.4 hectares of the established offset area under the Wagga Wagga LEP (Planning Agreement Areas). Impacts to the offset area would themselves be offset at an 11:1 offset ratio (refer to section 6.9).

1.5 Relevant government strategies

1.5.1 NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW No 1 NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW No 1 (Department of Premier and Cabinet 2011) is a 10 year plan that provides goals and targets to rebuild the economy, provide quality services, renovate infrastructure, restore government accountability, and strengthen the local environment and communities. It is the NSW Government’s strategic business plan, setting priorities for action and guiding resource allocation. NSW 2021: A plan to Make NSW No 1 lists a number of goals relevant to the proposal, including:  Reduce travel time.  Improve road safety.  Invest in critical infrastructure.  Protect our natural environment. The proposal would assist in meeting these goals by removing the restrictions imposed by the existing bridge at Kapooka. This would reduce travel time and improve road safety. The proposal would remove native vegetation and would therefore negatively impact the natural environment. Roads and Maritime is working closely with DoE and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to develop an offset strategy that will suitably compensate the loss of habitat for flora and fauna. As well, safeguards detailed in this document would be implemented to minimise impacts on the natural environment.

The proposal is therefore considered to be consistent with NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW No 1.

1.5.2 NSW State Infrastructure Strategy 2012-2032 The State Infrastructure Strategy 2012-2032 includes details of priority infrastructure to be developed in NSW over the next 20 years and provides recommendations on how this will be achieved. The strategy includes the following recommended actions:

 Freight pinch point program for key road and rail links.  Bridges for the Bush Program to improve freight productivity. The proposal will assist in achieving these actions by providing a new road bridge over the rail line that will be suitable for use by higher mass limit vehicles. This will result in the entire Olympic Highway being suitable for higher mass limit vehicles and the potential for improvements in road freight productivity.

1.5.3 Roads and Maritime 2012-2016 Corporate Strategy The Roads and Maritime Corporate Strategy outlines what Roads and Maritime will strive to deliver over the next four years. The community results in the strategy are:  Customer: the customer is at the heart of everything we do.

 Travel: the door to door movement of people and goods is efficient and reliable.  Asset: traffic infrastructure meets acceptable standards.

GHD | Report for Roads and Maritime Services - Realignment of the Olympic Highway at Kapooka including new road- over-rail bridge, 23/14107 | 7  Safety: the safety and security of the transport system is maximised.  Environment: the impact of transport on the environment is minimised. The proposal will assist in meeting these results by increasing the capacity of the Olympic Highway at Kapooka to more safely and efficiently service traffic between Wagga Wagga and , particularly for heavy vehicles. Although there will be environmental impacts associated with the proposal, these have been minimised as far as possible and will be appropriately managed through the safeguards and offset measures described in this preliminary documentation. The proposal has been influenced by stakeholder and community input throughout development. This input will continue when seeking comments on environmental assessments prepared for the proposal and into construction should the proposal proceed.

1.5.4 Roads and Maritime Albury to Corridor Strategy The Albury to Cowra Corridor Strategy (RTA 2010) adopts a 25 year management framework for the corridor, which includes the Olympic Highway and 18 kilometres of the north of Albury. The strategy incorporates road safety, transport efficiency and asset maintenance. The corridor includes 14 rail crossings. Some of these present safety risks due to poor road alignment on the approaches and narrow bridge widths. This is a challenge particularly in relation to increased demand for higher productivity vehicles and their suitability to existing road conditions. The strategy identifies the limitations of the existing bridge at Kapooka (curve alignment, intersection location and the heavy vehicle mass limit) as one of the challenges in the Albury to Corowa corridor to be addressed. The existing bridge at Kapooka is the only location on the Albury to Cowra corridor where higher mass limit vehicles are not permitted. As the Olympic Highway serves as a detour route for major traffic diversions from the Hume Highway, the strategy states that the removal of this restriction would offer a traffic management benefit and a freight efficiency benefit. The strategy notes that the existing bridge at Kapooka has a poor accident history, with 10 accidents including four injury crashes at the bridge in the five years from 2004 to 2008 inclusive. One of the short-term priorities identified by the strategy is to work with industry partners, stakeholders and rail asset owners in prioritising road and bridge upgrades for higher mass limit vehicles. The strategy identifies the need to commence planning for the preferred alignment of a new rail crossing at Kapooka, especially in relation to higher mass limit vehicles. The proposed construction of a replacement road-over-rail bridge at Kapooka would satisfy the objectives of the strategy for the long-term improvement of the road/rail interface at Kapooka.

1.5.5 Wagga Wagga Bicycle Plan 2011 The primary focus of the Wagga Wagga Bicycle Plan (Wagga Wagga City Council 2011) is to set the bicycle network development priorities and standards for the period 2011 to 2016. The Kapooka army base is listed as being a key bicycle trip generator in Wagga Wagga. The proposal would ensure continued access to Wagga Wagga’s bicycle network through the provision of an off-road shared bicycle and pedestrian pathway traversing the proposed bridge. The shared pathway would provide access to the Wiradjuri Walking Track from the Kapooka Military Area.

1.6 Relationship with other actions The proposal does not relate to any other actions either currently being implemented or anticipated in the future.

GHD | Report for Roads and Maritime Services - Realignment of the Olympic Highway at Kapooka including new road- over-rail bridge, 23/14107 | 9