Solomon Islands
Road Improvement (Sector) Project
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Wainuri-Kirakira & Kirakira-Warihito
Makira Province
Initial Environmental Examination
June 2008
Report No. 8
In Association with
Solomon Islands Government
Ministry of Infrastructure Development
Solomon islands Road Improvement Project
Report Register
- Inception Report
- 1
234567
Training and Capacity Building Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Quarterly Report - July 2007 Appraisal Summary & Environmental Scoping Report Quarterly Progress Report – September 2007 Feasibility Study Report (3 Volumes) – Lata – Mbaengo Road (Temotu)
Engineering & Economic Assessment; Initial Poverty & Social Assessment; Initial Environmental Examination
Feasibility Study Report (4 Volumes) – Wainuri - Kirakira – Warihito Road (Makira)
89
Engineering Assessment; Economic Assessment; Initial Poverty & Social Assessment; Initial Environmental Examination
Feasibility Study Report (3 Volumes) – Kolombongara – Ghoe Road (Choiseul)
Engineering & Economic Assessment; Initial Poverty & Social Assessment; Initial Environmental Examination
Multi Criteria Sensitivity Analysis Tender Documents
10
- 11
- Routine and Specific Maintenance of Roads on Guadalcanal
Sealed Roads Unsealed Roads
- Communications Plan
- 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Labour Based Equipment Supported Maintenance Workshop Quarterly Progress Report – December 2007 Makira Stream Crossing Relocation Study Report Quarterly Progress Report – March 2008 Makira Topographic Survey Terms of Reference Labour Based Training Report (March 2008) Guadalcanal Feasibility Study Report (4 Volumes) – Lambi- Naro Hill
Engineering Assessment; Economic Assessment; Initial Poverty & Social Assessment; Initial Environmental Examination.
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Solomon islands Road Improvement Project
- Tender Documents - Routine and Specific Maintenance of Roads on Malaita
- 20
Section 1 Section 2 Town and Airport Roads
- Procurement Strategy for International Competitive Bidding
- 21
- 22
- Training Report - Introduction Course To Road Maintenance For Contractors
And Work Supervisors (Malaita)
Strategy for Ongoing Support of Labour Based Equipment Supported Road Maintenance
23
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Solomon islands Road Improvement Project
Project Number: TA 48-SOL April 2008
Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION UPDATE Wainuri-Kirakira & Kirakira-Warihito Road Makira
- Loan / TA
- Amount
- Country
- Category
- TA 48-SOL
- USD 3.75 million
- Solomon Islands
- Category B
Infrastructure: Highways & Roads
Mission Chief: Robert Guild
Executing Agency: Ministry of Infrastructure & Development
Prepared by: Jean Williams, Ursula Kaly, Salome Pita
Major Project Components:
••••
Rehabilitation of 79 km of existing unsealed roads in Makira Province Rehabilitation of about 3.4 km of logging roads Building of about 891 m of new roads as approaches to new bridges Building of 27 crossings including engineered fords, causeways and low- and highlevel bridges
Need for EIA:
;ꢀ
Not needed. No further concern with environmental parameter EIA needed as described in IEE
Comments: The Wainuri-Kirakira and Kirakira-Warihito Road already exists, does not traverse any primary forests, protected, ecologically sensitive or densely populated areas and will not create any conflicts in resource use or development. Of the 79 km of road to be included in the subproject 95% of the length will be covered by routine maintenance activities and construction of approximately 27 crossings. About 3.4 km will involve the rehabilitation of old logging roads and construction of some 890 m of new road (comprising five short sections) for bridge approaches. The proposed new crossings and approach roads are entirely located in areas already impacted by past land-use and logging. For three of these sections minor resettlement relating to land acquisition and loss of a maximum of two houses and areas of crops and trees will require the preparation of a short resettlement plan. Therefore, the recommendation is that this subproject should have an environmental categorization of Category B and does not require further investigation or a full EIA.
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Solomon islands Road Improvement Project
Table of Contents
- 1.
- INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1
THE PROJECT ............................................................................................................................. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN SOLOMON ISLANDS ....................................................................... 2
Environment Act ............................................................................................................... 2 Other Relevant Legislation................................................................................................ 3 International Agreements and Treaties.............................................................................. 4 Environmental Management in the Transport Sector ......................................................... 4
ENVIRONMENT POLICY OF ADB..................................................................................................... 5 RECOMMENDED CATEGORIZATION OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................... 6 PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY OF IEE ........................................................................................... 7
- 2.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT................................................................................................... 9
2.4
SCREENING OF CANDIDATE ROADS ................................................................................................ 9 PROJECT LOCATION................................................................................................................... 10 DESCRIPTION OF THE ROAD ........................................................................................................ 14
Existing Road Conditions................................................................................................ 14 2.3.2 Existing & Forecast Traffic ..................................................................................... 16
PROPOSED WORKS ................................................................................................................... 17
Rehabilitation of Existing Roads...................................................................................... 17 Options for River Crossings ............................................................................................ 18 Relocated Crossings....................................................................................................... 21 Construction Force and Equipment ................................................................................. 25 Gravel and Fill Materials ................................................................................................. 26
NEED FOR THE PROJECT ............................................................................................................ 26
- 3.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT....................................................................... 28
- 3.1
- PHYSICAL RESOURCES............................................................................................................... 28
Climate and Air Quality ................................................................................................... 28 Geology, Topography and Soils ...................................................................................... 29 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 31
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES............................................................................................................ 32
Marine Habitats, Flora and Fauna ................................................................................... 32 Terrestrial Habitats, Flora and Fauna.............................................................................. 32 Rare and Endangered Species ....................................................................................... 36 Protected Areas and Areas of Conservation Value .......................................................... 37
SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESOURCES................................................................................................... 38
Context for Economic Development ................................................................................ 38 Economic Activity ........................................................................................................... 38 Infrastructure Development............................................................................................. 41 Population and Human Development .............................................................................. 46 Income and Expenditure ................................................................................................. 48 Livelihoods and Household Production............................................................................ 49 Land Use........................................................................................................................ 50 Land Ownership ............................................................................................................. 51 Cultural Property Resources ........................................................................................... 51
3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3
3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4 3.3.5 3.3.6 3.3.7 3.3.8 3.3.9
- 4.
- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION................................................................................ 53
4.3
IMPACTS OF ROAD REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES ............................................................................. 53 PRE-CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS .................................................................................................... 66
Vegetation Removal during Surveying and Demarcation ................................................. 66 Accidental Discovery of Archaeological Resources ......................................................... 66 Restrictions on Use of Land ............................................................................................ 67
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................... 68
Impacts on Air Quality and Risk of Climate Change......................................................... 68 Impacts on River Structure.............................................................................................. 69 Impacts from Aggregate Extraction ................................................................................. 70 Impacts on Soils and Coastal Erosion ............................................................................. 72 Impacts on Water Quality................................................................................................ 73 Emergency Response and Existing Infrastructure ........................................................... 75
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .......................................................... 75
Impacts on Flora and Fauna ........................................................................................... 75 Impacts on Protected or Sensitive Areas......................................................................... 77
4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.3.4 4.3.5 4.3.6
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Solomon islands Road Improvement Project
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT....................................................................... 77
Impacts on Noise Levels................................................................................................. 77 Impacts on Access.......................................................................................................... 78 Impacts on Health and Safety ......................................................................................... 78 Risk of Spread of Communicable Diseases and Child Exploitation .................................. 80 Impacts on Cultural Property........................................................................................... 85 Other Social Impacts – Stress on Resources & Infrastructure.......................................... 85
POVERTY REDUCTION & DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS...................................................................... 86 IMPACTS DURING OPERATION PHASE............................................................................................ 87
Operation Impacts on Physical Environment ................................................................... 87 Operation Impacts on the Biological Environment............................................................ 88 Operation Impacts on the Social Environment ................................................................. 89 Economic Benefits and Poverty Reduction ...................................................................... 90
SUMMARY OF IMPACTS ............................................................................................................... 91