North-South Corridor

north-south corridor

Northern Connector Project Northern Impact Report northern connector

For more information

For more information, to make an enquiry or join the mailing list contact the Northern Connector project team. Phone: 1300 793 458 (interpreter service available) Email: [email protected] Visit the website: www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au and then follow the prompts.

1 www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 1300 793 458 2

Project Impact Report Volume 1 An environmental, social and economic assessment Executive Summary Executive Summary Executive

Volume 1 Volume

northern connector north-south corridor

An environmental, social and economic assessment Project Impact Report north-south corridor northern connector

AllProject enquiries: Impact 1300 793 458Report (Interpreter Executive Service available) Summary Visit: [email protected] Email:An environmental, www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au social and economic assessment Contents

The Northern Connector 2 Socio-economic 25 The project area 5 Planning, zoning and land use 25 Features of the Northern Connector 5 Traffic and transportation 26 Project timeframes 5 Future traffic demands 26 Strategic importance of the Northern Connector project 10 Arterial roads 26 Need for the project 10 Local roads 26 Benefits of the proposed Northern Connector 12 Aboriginal heritage and Native Title 28 Economic and social 12 Native Title 28 Environmental 12 Aboriginal heritage 28 Development of the Northern Connector project 13 Water quality, drainage and flooding 28 Road and rail route development 13 Air quality 29 Amendments to the preferred road and rail route 13 Non-Aboriginal heritage 30 Proposed route 13 Geology, soils and site contamination 30 Environmental impact assessment process 16 Urban design, landscape and visual assessment 31 Community and stakeholder engagement 16 Greenhouse gas, sustainability and climate change 32 Project Description 17 Sustainability 32 Road corridor, interchanges and local road access 17 Greenhouse gas emissions 32 Rail corridor 18 Climate change 32 Shared-use path 18 Measures to manage and mitigate impacts 33 Stormwater and drainage 18 Wetland impacts and proposed offset areas 19 Existing wetland function 19 Wetland impacts 19 Wetland impact mitigation 19 Construction 21 Operation 21 Road 21 Rail 21 Project Impacts 22 Flora and fauna 22 Flora 22 Fauna 22 Flora and Fauna impact mitigation 23 Noise and vibration 24 Construction noise 24 Construction vibration 24 Operational road noise 24 Operational rail noise 24 Operational vibration 24

1 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary The Northern Connector Integrated Road and Rail Transport Corridor

The release of the The Northern Connector (the project) contribution it would make to achieving will be an integrated road and rail Australia’s policy goals. transport corridor comprising a new Project Impact Report The Northern Connector road would 15.6 km expressway standard road form a new link in the Adelaide Urban with three lanes in each direction, a is a key aspect in National Land Transport Network. 30.9 km single track, national freight rail It would link the Adelaide–Perth/ line, and a shared-use path for cyclists determining the Darwin corridor, mining activity in the and pedestrians. It will be located in states north, the Adelaide–Sydney Adelaide’s outer northern metropolitan appropriate location corridor, areas of the Riverland and area, about 12 kilometres north of Barossa Valley in South Australia, Adelaide’s central business district and extent of the and the Sunraysia area in New South (Figure 1). Wales and Victoria, with key freight project to enable a The road component will run west destinations in Adelaide’s north- of the existing Port Wakefi eld Road, western suburbs, including the Port of corridor to be defi ned from the new Northern Expressway Adelaide, rail terminals, industry zones interchange with Port Wakefi eld and Adelaide Airport. for future construction Road in the north to the Port River Completion of the road link would Expressway and South Road enable a largely unimpeded journey interchange in the south. The rail from Port Wakefi eld, the Mid North, component will primarily be located Barossa Valley and Riverland to to the western side of the Northern Connector road carriageway, and link the Port of Adelaide and Adelaide’s with existing rail lines at Virginia to the future non-stop North–South Corridor north, Dry Creek to the south and Port (incorporating South Road Superway). Adelaide to the west (Figure 2). The Northern Connector national freight The project has been developed in rail line will link the existing freight rail response to South Australia’s Strategic line at Virginia to Dry Creek and Port Plan and to The 30-Year Plan for Adelaide, and make a more effi cient Greater Adelaide, which forecasts north–south link for Perth to Melbourne a signifi cant increase in population freight trains and east–west link growth, road and rail traffi c and between Dry Creek and Port Adelaide economic expansion in the northern The release of this Project Impact Adelaide region. Report is part of the project’s planning The Northern Connector forms a critical and environmental impact assessment component of Adelaide’s North–South processes. The document is a key Corridor extending from Gawler to Old aspect in determining the appropriate Noarlunga, as identifi ed in theStrategic location and extent of the project to Infrastructure Plan for South Australia: enable a corridor to be defi ned for 2010 Discussion Paper. future construction of the project.

The Northern Connector project DTEI is currently seeking and has also been listed as a ‘project investigating funding for the with real potential’ by the Australian construction of the Northern Connector Government. Infrastructure Australia project. If approved and funded in has identifi ed the national signifi cance the near future, construction could be of the project and the clear and positive completed by 2017. www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 2 Adelaide – Sydney corridor Adelaide - Perth corridor Adelaide-Darwin Corridor

Adelaide - Melbourne corridor

FigureFigure 1 .1 Location Location Plan Plan

Bolivar Wastewater

3 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary GAWLER !

! ELIZABETH

! PORT Northern ADELAIDE interchange ! CBD

Northern section NORTHERN

Waterloo Corner interchange

Central section Bolivar interchange

JONES RD

RYANS RD

E LD Southern ER SM ITH RD section SOUTHERN

Southern interchange DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG Source: Source:

0 1 2 Figure 2 The Northern Connector proposed N Kilometres road and rail route Northern Connector road Northern Expressway Existing roads Northern Connector rail South Road Superway Existing railway Spur line to Port Flat siding

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 4 The project area The Northern Connector project, three sections (Figure 2) to facilitate • Southern section (Figure 3c) — located in Adelaide’s outer northern planning, design and assessment of the incorporates Globe Derby Park, metropolitan area (Figure 1), will corridor: with a small population of residents pass through three council areas — on semi-rural land holdings used • Northern section (Figure 3a) — City of Playford, City of Salisbury for horse agistment and training relatively low population agricultural and City of Port Adelaide Enfi eld — facilities; open land primarily used for land, typically used for horticulture and the suburbs of Virginia, Waterloo salt production and Greenfi elds and Corner, St Kilda, Bolivar, Globe • Central section (Figure 3b) — Barker Inlet wetlands; vacant land Derby Park, Dry Creek, Wingfi eld adjacent to and immediately east of at Gillman; and the more densely and Gillman. the SA Water Bolivar Wastewater populated urban industrial area of The project area has been zoned into Treatment Plant Wingfi eld. Features of the Northern Connector Integrated Road and Rail Transport Corridor The Northern Connector project has carriageways and outer roadside • a shared-use (pedestrians and the following key features: shoulders cyclists) path • a new 15.6-kilometre road, three • a system of swales and detention • Barker Inlet north wetland lanes in each direction, between the basins to receive and, where modifi cations Northern Expressway and South appropriate, detain stormwater Road–Port River Expressway junction • wetland offset or rehabilitation areas • approximately 31 kilometres of (for fl ood storage, water quality • 120 metre wide corridor enabling standard gauge, single-track freight treatment and habitat) future widening of the road carriage rail line and a maintenance/access ways and duplication of the track, generally located to the west of • swale drains and detention basins rail line the road carriageways, consisting of • landscaping • four road interchanges: a new 24.7 kilometre north–south link for Perth to Melbourne freight trains • Port Wakefi eld Road–Waterloo Corner - Northern interchange (Figure 3a) (from north of Northern Expressway and Port Wakefi eld Road–Bolivar - Waterloo Corner interchange to Dry Creek) and a 11.5 kilometre Road intersection upgrades to (Figure 3a) east–west link between Dry Creek connect to the Northern Connector and Port Adelaide interchange ramps. - Bolivar interchange (on-ramp) (Figure 3b) • four rail bridges separating rail freight Typical cross-sections for the corridor from road traffi c are shown in Figures 4a and 4b. - Southern interchange (Figure 3c) • two 2-kilometre passing loops at Further details on the project features • 1-in-100 year fl ood immunity Gillman and north of Waterloo Corner can be found under the Project • wide median between the two road interchange Description in this document. Project timeframes Table 1 outlines the project’s indicative timeframes

Table 1. Indicative project timeframes

Concept design (preferred route) 2009

EIA process and ﬁ nalisation of proposed route 2010–October 2011

Minister approval of proposed route November 2011

If funding obtained:

Land acquisition and pre-construction works 2013-14

Detailed design and construction 2014-17

Open Northern Connector 2017

5 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary :

GAWLER !

PENFIELD RD :

: :

OLD PORT WAKEFIELD RD

!ELIZABETH BROWN RD D :

PORT : ADELAIDE

! NORTHERN CBD : SUPPLE RD SUPPLE EXPRESSWAY :

: SHORT RD PENFIELD: RYAN RD

PELLEW RD TAYLOR RD :

NORTHERN EXPRESSWAY

: :

: : RD WAKEFILED PORT TAYLOR RD D SYMES RD D D D BROWN RD HUXTABLE RD

Northern RD ROBINSON interchange D

SUPPLE RD :

CURNOW RD : PORT WAKEFIELD RD Northern interchange WATERLOO D CORNER D :

D :

ANJANTO RD SYMES RD D D ST KILDA RD D D

MILL RD 8

HEASLIP RD

ROBINSON RD DIREK8

DANJANTO RD D D R D N U ST KILDA RD O H PORT WAKEFILED RD Y E R G D D DIMENT RD

8 ST KILDA RD Waterloo

Corner 8

interchange

8 8 8

8 8

8 8 8 8

8 8 OO CORNER R 8

TERL D 8 8 WA 8 8

8 D 8 D UNDO RD BURTON

SUMMER RD

UNDO RD D

D D 8

8 BOLIVARWaterloo RD Corner ST KILDA DTEI,DEH, DPLG D interchange Source: Source:

P 0 0.5 1 O R

W Kilometers FigureA 3a Horizontal alignment - Northern section N K

I E

L Northern Connector roadD Existing railway R

D Northern Connector rail Existing roads

Northern Connector boundary Traffic Direction

Northern Expressway D Roads Closed

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 6 GAWLER !

!ELIZABETH

! PORT ADELAIDE

CBD !

BOLIVAR RD

Little Para Overflow

8 8

PORT WAKEFIELD RD

8 8

Helps Road Drain 8

HODGSON RD Bolivar

D interchange Little Para River

8 8

JONES RD r ve Little Para Ri

Bolivar interchange DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG Source: Source:

0 0.5 1 Figure 3b Horizontal alignment - Central section N Kilometres

Northern Connector road Existing railway Possible future (post 2031) north bound off ramp for potential new growth area at Bolivar Northern Connector rail Existing roads (Currently under investigation)

Northern Connector boundary 8 Traffic Direction As indicated in 30 year plan for Greater Adelaide Not part of current project scope D Roads Closed

7 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary

GAWLER ! 8

!ELIZABETH BOLIVAR r ve Ri Little Pa ra

PORT ADELAIDE !

RYANS RD 8

CBD ! 8

8 GLOBE

DERBY 8 PARK

D A N IE G L AV 8 LO B E D ER

Y 8 D R

8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8

88 8 8 SALISBURY HWY

PORT RIVER EXPWY

SOUTH RD 8 8 Southern interchange

GRAND TRUNKWAY

DRY CREEK

GILLMAN

North Arm Creek Southern interchange Y HW Y

S I

GRAND TRUNKWAY

PORT RIVER EXPWY

H T R O N D R L IL H C CAVAN RD R U H C

A CORMACK RD

R SOUTH RD

G CAVAN RD PORT ADELAIDE R

E OTTOWAY

GRAND JUNCTION RD DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG Source: Source:

0 0.5 1 Figure 3c Horizontal alignment - Southern section N Kilometres Northern Connector road South Road Superway Possible future Globe Derby Park interchange (See fig 8.8) Northern Connector rail Existing roads For potential urban growth area As indicated by 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Spur to Port Flat siding Existing railway Not part of current project scope

Northern Connector boundary 8 Traffic Direction

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 8 Figure 4a. Typical corridor cross-section north of Dry Creek salt fields (Northern and Central sections) Figure 4a. Typical Figure 4b. Typical corridor cross-section in Dry Creek salt fields (Southern section) Figure 4b. Typical

9 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Strategic importance of the Northern Connector project

The Northern Connector would of policy outcomes and objectives Building Our National Transport create the necessary system-wide for Australian and South Australian Future accessibility improvements to support Governments, namely: major economic activity in the northern South Australian and western regions, and also create government policies Australian government policies greater certainty as a catalyst for new • South Australia’s Strategic Plan • Our Cities, Our Future: A national investment in the state. urban policy for a productive, • The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide The Northern Connector would also sustainable and liveable future help realise much of the capital and • Strategic Infrastructure Plan for • Capital Cities Strategic Planning ongoing investment into industry, South Australia business and infrastructure in several • Infrastructure Australia: A Report • Economic Statement: South regions, including the Outer Harbor to the Council of Australian Australia’s Prospects for Growth Osborne Maritime precinct, inner Governments Report harbour region, north-west industrial • 2010 Housing and Employment Land crescent, Wingfield Industrial region, • Infrastructure Australia: Getting the Supply Program Economic Development Precinct in Fundamentals right for Australia’s Gillman, Defence SA in Port Adelaide, Infrastructure Priorities • It will also support a number of Greater Edinburgh Parks industrial and regional planning objectives including: commercial region, and Technology • National Land Freight Strategy: Park (Figure 5). Discussion Paper • Housing Plan for South Australia 2005

• National Transport Policy Framework • Development of Horticultural The Northern Connector will contribute Industries on the Adelaide Plains: A to, or facilitate, the achievement • Adelaide Urban Corridor Strategy: Blueprint for 2030.

Need for the project

The need for the Northern Connector North–South Corridor, will increase potential for traffic accidents. comes from: traffic delays and congestion, Currently, there are eleven level particularly on Port Wakefield Road, crossings (to the Port of Adelaide), • National and regional economic if not addressed. Port Wakefield some of which have been the sites of drivers - the project will facilitate Road is expected to reach its serious traffic accidents. future economic growth and traffic capacity by 2016, resulting in development in the broader Northern unacceptable congestion and delays • Amenity (road) - As Port Wakefield Region of Adelaide and the Barossa Region (Figure 5). for a National Network Link. Road approaches capacity by 2016, it will become increasingly difficult • Regional growth - Substantial • Road safety - With the expected for residents to access. The amenity population and business growth is increase in traffic volumes across the value for residences adjacent to predicated to occur in the Northern Adelaide metropolitan road network, Port Wakefield Road will decrease Adelaide region in the near future. crash rates along Port Wakefield with increased noise and air quality The resulting increase in freight Road are expected to increase. A impacts. and commuter traffic will place continuous, uniform standard of road additional stress on existing transport that provides a safe, high quality road • Amenity (rail) - Dense residential infrastructure, which could limit environment has been statistically areas (e.g. Salisbury, Parafield regional and economic growth if not proven to reduce the number of Gardens, Mawson Lakes and improved. serious road crashes and fatalities. Ottoway) adjacent to the existing freight rail line will be exposed to • Travel efficiency - Forecast population • Rail and road safety - Freight trains increased noise levels as rail freight growth, combined with expanding currently operate at high frequencies frequencies increase. industrial activity in the northern through densely populated areas like region and increased trade and Salisbury, resulting in increased traffic The benefits of the Northern Connector freight movements to and from the congestion at railway level crossings project addressing these needs are Port of Adelaide, the airport and the with arterial roads and increased identified on page 12.

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 10 INTERSTATE/REGIONAL INTERSTATE/REGIONAL Sydney NSW, Brisbane QLD, Darwin NT, Perth WA Barossa, Riverland, Victoria Port Augusta, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Outback Roseworthy Kingsford Industrial Estate

Concordia Two Wells TWO WELLS ROAD Gawler East

Gawler

Angle ANGLE VALE ROAD Vale

Buckland WAKEFIELD ROAD Park CURTIS ROAD WOMMA ROAD PENFIELD ROAD MAIN NORTH ROAD HEASLIP ROAD Munno Para

Greater Edinburgh Parks DSTO - Army Battalion Automotive precinct Potential Elizabeth intermodal WATERLOO CORNER ROAD

Osborne Maritime KINGS ROAD Precinct / Outer Harbor Salisbury

PORT WAKEFIELD ROAD

Lefevre Barker Inlet

Peninsula Port Adelaide River SALISBURY HIGHWAY MAIN NORTH ROAD

Mawson Lakes

PORT RIVER EXPRESSWAY ELDER SMITH ROAD

Port Adelaide Modbury redevelopment GRAND JUNCTION ROAD

SOUTH ROAD

West Lakes PORT ROAD

Grange North Adelaide ADELAIDE

Adelaide

PORTRUSH ROAD ROAD PORTRUSH PORTRUSH SIR DONALD BRADMAN DRIVE 0 3 Adelaide Airport Kilometres Source: 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Greater Plan for 30 Year Source: Figure 5 Current and future regional transport and industrial generators

Planned urban land Transit oriented development Major road network New strategic employment Major district centre Existing mass transit Existing key industry Planned district centre Northern Connector rail Adelaide Plains food bowl Key other employment centre Major corridor (fixed line) Science, technology, innovation Constructed/committed freeway Manufacturing hub Northern Connector road Defence hub North–South Corridor University Wetlands

11 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Benefits of the proposed Northern Connector

Economic and social

• Provide the critical link in a free • Improve safety for pedestrians and • Support nationally significant industry flowing strategic Adelaide North– road users, by reducing freight rail sectors in the Northern Adelaide South Corridor from Gawler to Old traffic through suburban areas east of region and beyond – agribusiness, Noarlunga Port Wakefield Road manufacturing, automotive, defence, transport and storage, mining • Improve freight connections between • Improve amenity and environmental and energy production – with an the Port of Adelaide and the Riverland sustainability, by reducing traffic efficient transport network to deliver and Barossa Valley to the east, Perth congestion, there would be reduced exportable goods to South Australia’s to the west, and Darwin, Olympic travel times, and improved fuel transport hubs Dam and other significant mining efficiency, local air quality conditions operations to the north and noise for residents living adjacent • Facilitate a freight transport mode • Improve safety for road users by to Port Wakefield, including the shift from road freight to rail freight reducing freight traffic and conflicts suburbs of Paralowie and at at-grade intersections, particularly Parafield Gardens • Rail freight transport efficiencies from Port Wakefield Road through higher speed and shorter • Improve amenity for residents living connection to port and intermodal • Improve traffic conditions and access adjacent the existing rail freight facilities for road users and local communities corridor in the suburbs of Salisbury along Port Wakefield Road and Main North and South, Parafiled Gardens, • Improved access to Adelaide and North Road Mawson Lakes and Ottoway the Port of Adelaide for rail freight transport travelling from the north and • Improve freight efficiency and export • Improve traffic conditions and reduce west of country South Australia opportunities delays for road users through the • Provide a benefit cost ratio of 5.2 and • Provide a safer, faster road reduced numbers of freight trains and connection to suburban destinations passenger trains using the existing a net present value (NPV) of $1678.0 such as Adelaide Airport, sporting line million (see Chapter 5 of the Project venues, beaches and businesses in Impact Report for more information) the southern and western suburbs • ‘Unlock’ commercial and industrial development opportunities along • Create approximately 1662 jobs per • Reduce travel times for commuters the corridor, including the Economic year, for a construction period of 3 travelling to and from the northern Development Precinct in Gillman and years (see Chapter 5 of the Project suburbs Defence SA in Port Adelaide Impact Report for more information)

Environmental

• Reduce the environmental impact of • Enhance biodiversity of the region by heavy rail freight transport through landscape planting using indigenous suburban communities species

• Increase the area of wetland habitat in • Improve visual amenity with the northern Adelaide region through landscaping and urban design wetland offset development opportunities

• Improve stormwater treatment • Reduce overall vehicle emissions due through modifications to existing to smoother traffic flow wetlands and wetland offset development • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the ‘do nothing’ scenario • Enhance biodiversity of the northern Adelaide region through rehabilitation of existing wetlands and construction of new wetlands www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 12 Development of the Northern Connector project

A number of environmental, developed and assessed by key made for it if required for future urban social, economic and engineering project stakeholders, including expansion as identified in the 30 Year assessments and investigations have councils, government agencies and Plan for Greater Adelaide) been undertaken to determine the other technical specialists, such as a Modified layout of Bolivar and Southern appropriate location and extent of the wetlands designer. The assessment interchanges Northern Connector project. identified a preferred option for each section of the project (Figure 6; route Rail Preliminary planning assessments 1A, 2D and 3B); they were further before 2008 investigated a number Reduction from dual rail line to a single investigated and developed as were a of options including the upgrading of rail line with two passing loops number of interchange options, sited at Port Wakefield Road to an expressway Northern Expressway–Port Wakefield standard and the development of a new Relocation and redesign of the rail line Road, Waterloo Corner, Bolivar, Globe road corridor for a future expressway to run entirely to the western side of the Derby Park and South Road–Port River to the west of Port Wakefield Road road carriageways with the benefits in Expressway. between the Northern Expressway and the Southern section (Figure 7) of: Salisbury Highway. No provisions were The assessment also identified a rail – rail corridor acting as a sea wall made for a new rail line at that time. freight route in the Southern section thereby reducing height and fill (Figure 6, rail option B) that would Initial assessments of these two options requirements for the road corridor connect to the existing rail freight line determined that the environmental, at Kings Road, Virginia and the Outer – more direct connections to the Port community and business impacts, Harbor line turnout at Dry Creek south of Adelaide and the Adelaide rail as well as engineering issues, made rail yards. freight line a route to the west of Port Wakefield Road preferable. The route was further The preferred (selected) road and rail – avoiding direct impacts on Greenfields modified to include twin rail tracks route was announced by the Minister Stage 3 wetlands and the threatened along the central median of the road for Transport in July 2009, to enable birds and their habitats in that wetland corridor. further community input to the planning – minimising impacts on the operation process. The Strategic Road/Rail Link Planning of the Dry Creek salt fields (previous Study together with the road–rail rail route bisected the salt fields) reference concept was publicly Amendments to the announced by the Minister for Transport preferred road and – maximising land available for possible in 2008 to enable the community and urban expansion area in Dry Creek stakeholders, including local councils rail route salt fields (identified in The 30-Year and affected landowners, to assess and Plan for Greater Adelaide) After this announcement, outcomes contribute to the concept. of detailed environmental, social, economic and engineering Northern Connector Road and rail route investigations prompted further Integrated Road and development and modifications to the road and rail route Rail Transport Corridor - and interchange layouts: selection of the proposed route Road and interchange preferred route Figure 2 shows the proposed road and Reduction from four lanes to three lanes rail route for the Northern Connector The information gathered from in each direction. Upon further analysis Integrated Road and Rail Transport the community, and from further and assessment it was determined that Corridor, with these amendments. It is investigations on traffic volumes, three lanes in each direction provides engineering, safety and environmental described and assessed in the Project adequate functionality to meet the Impact Report. issues, led to the development of three needs of long distance trips whilst Port to four corridor options in each of the Wakefield Road will provide for efficient Throughout the design phase, three project sections (Northern, Central movement of local trips. The corridor modifications will continue to be made and Southern) (Figure 2). At this time width will enable further road widening/ to the road route, interchanges and the Southern section was significantly upgrades when required in the future rail route in response to community changed, to link more directly to the feedback and well as engineering, Port River Expressway and South Road Route shifted further to the east safety, social, environmental and interchange and include more lanes in through SA Water Bolivar Wastewater economic considerations. Any each direction. Treatment Plant modifications requiring additional A number of different road route Globe Derby Park interchange removed investigations and assessment will be Options (Figure 6) were further from the scope of the project (provision presented in a Supplement Report.

13 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary O

P O WOMMA RD MUNNO PARA WEST R GAWLER RD T

A JULIAN RD K

I E VIRGINIA L D MACDONALD PARK R

ANDREWS FARM

GAWLER ! OLD PORT WAKEFIELD RD PENFIELD RD

BUCKLAND PARK McEVOY RD !ELIZABETH ARGENT RD DAVOREN PARK

SHORT RDPENFIELD PELLEW RD

D RYAN RD R H T ANDREWS RD A TOZER RD ! E ELIZABETH NORTH TAYLOR RD H PORT N ADELAIDE HUXTABLE RD O B E T S ELIZABETH WEST CBD! SUPPLE RD

BROWN RD

WATERLOO Northern CORNER EDINBURGH section SYMES RD D MILL RD R HEASLIP RD ROBINSON RD DIREK NORTHERNNORTHERN D N U BROOKS RD O H ELIZABETH Y E R G DIMENT RD

WEST AV

ST KILDA RD WATERLOO CORNER RD ELIZABETH GROVE

F UNDO RD P BURTON I O R S R ELIZABETH SOUTH T SUMMER RD T A W V

E F BOLIVAR RD ST KILDA I E

D PHILIPHWY

R ELIZABETH VALE AV D E N RIC JOH

BURTON RD BAGSTER RD

PARALOWIE SALISBURY PARK SAINTS RD

T R S ZO PARK TCE Central N FENDEN RD KINGS RD I W SALISBURY section SALISBURY PLAIN

PARAFIELD BOLIVAR GARDENS BRAHMA LODGE

SALISBURY OSBORNE SOUTH JONES RD NORTH HAVEN LADY GOWRIE DR

MARTINS RD GULFVIEW HEIGHTS RYANS RD M C GLOBE IN T Y MERSEY RD DERBY RE R D G PARK PARAFIELD L O BRIDGE RD BE D E R B Y D R

SOUTHERNSOUTHERN Southern MAXWELL RD section PARA HILLS DRY CREEK MAWSON LARGS NORTH LAKES MILNE RD

GILLMAN MAIN NORTH ROAD NELSONRD

H VICTORIA RD

R MONTAGUE RD

JETTY RD B S I L H GILLMAN T BRIDGE RD PARA VISTA S A R O N D POORAKA R PETERHEAD GRAND TRUNKWAY WRIGHT RD PORT RIVER EXPWY L IL H C R CAVAN U H C VALLEY VIEW WINGFIELD H WALKLEY HEIGHTS

N CORMACK RD

S MILITARY RD SOUTH RD

NEW PORT O N NORTHFIELD GRAND JUNCTION RD R DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG

G PORT ADELAIDE D CAVAN RD

O Y OTTOWAY GILLES PLAINS SEMAPHORE SOUTH R

T GRAND JUNCTION RD S T

H U ETHELTON E D H O

Source: Source: L Z R D ATHOL PARK CLEARVIEW

BLAIR ATHOL HAMPSTEAD RD 0 1 2 MANSFIELD PARK PROSPECT RD PENNINGTON Figure 6 Alternative routes consideredNORTHGATE FOSTERS RD ALBERTON MAINNORTH RD ENFIELD N Kilometres HANSON RD QUEENSTOWN Road: REGENCY PARK KILBURN Rail: PORT RD NORTH EAST RD

DAYSRD WEST LAKES SHORE Option 3A Option 2A Option 1A Option A Interchange locationROYAL PARK Option 3B Option 2B Option 1B Option B NB: colours of interchange circle corresponds to the colour of its Option 3C Option 2C Option 1C Option C option(s) Option 3D Option 2D Option D www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 14 Previous Rail Route

T T

A N N ISLAN D CSWY K GARDE E

D D

DRY CREEK Y W H Y R North Arm Creek U B IS L A S

Y A CAVAN

W K N GILLMAN U R Southern T D D interchange N A R G

Y XPRESSWA R T RIVE R E PO H T R O N D D A PORT ADELAIDE O

P R L L E K IL R A PA H K R A C I R R N D U

S H C

R WINGFIELD ST RD D IS CORMAC K R NC H N A E A A FR A V T N A S S

S S T C D D O R E O R U O N

F T D N R E P H B D O R

E A

D D

OTTOWAY R

T H ON RD GRAND JUNCTI

T T Proposed Rail Route W A

E CSWY L N ISLAND D GARDE

DRY CREEK

North Arm Creek

Y A

W K N CAVAN U R T GILLMAN D D N A R Southern G interchange

Y W H Y BUR SALIS H T R O ESSWAY N VE R EXPR D POR T RI A O R L L IL H PORT ADELAIDE C P R E U D R K H R K A C N PA A I R N A V R A S D C

S D E O R A WINGFIELD S U T MAC K RD H COR T T E H IS S R A C N N FRAN R

P S D D O E

N N DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG

T A S D D

R N FO BED O

R RD OTTOWAY JUNCTION Source: Source: ND T GRA

0 0.5 1 Figure 7 Alternative rail options considered N Kilometres Southern section Northern Connector road Existing railway Northern Connector rail Existing roads Spur line to Port Flat siding

15 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Environmental impact assessment process

The Northern Connector project will not address issues raised during the public be assessed under the Development comment period. Act 1993, as the required land would be acquired under the Highways Act A referral for the project will submitted, 1926. However, the Department for under the Environment Protection Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and Biodiversity Conservation Act (DTEI) is following an environmental 1999 (EPBC Act), to the Department impact assessment process similar to of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Major Projects processes under the Population and Communities as the Development Act. project has the potential to impact on Threatened and Migratory species. DTEI has prepared a Project Impact Report, essentially an environmental, Should the Australian Government social and economic assessment, determine that the project has significant and is engaging the community and impacts on Matters of National stakeholders, holding public displays Environmental Significance, assessment and encouraging public comment. The and approval under the EPBC Act subsequent Supplement Report will would be required.

Community and stakeholder engagement

The two main community and Overall, most feedback has been The release of the stakeholder engagement processes positive and identified the benefits of: undertaken are: • increased safety and reduced traffic Northern Connector • communication — activities focused congestion on Port Wakefield Road Project Impact Report on delivering factual information • travel time savings — faster route about the project to all interested between Adelaide’s north and the is a major step in the parties, including local residents, Port of Adelaide businesses and stakeholder community engagement groups, to increase awareness and • diverting freight traffic away from local understanding of the project suburban roads process. • removing freight trains from suburban • consultation — discussions between rail lines the project team and interested parties to gain detailed information • possible future land zoning changes. and feedback that enable project The most common concerns raised impacts and route selection to be were: assessed. • social and economic impacts of Community engagement techniques property acquisition used to date include: • safety in a multiple use transport • project information telephone line corridor • email and website • possible future land zoning changes • changes to local road access • one-to-one meetings with property owners • community severance • meetings with local and state • perceived effect on property values government agencies and from the proximity of a transport industry groups corridor. The release of the Northern Connector • community forums Project Impact Report is a major step in • letters and feedback forms. the community engagement process. www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 16 Project Description The key features of the Northern Connector Integrated Road and Rail Transport Corridor are outlined on page 5 of this document. This section provides further details on these features. Road corridor, interchanges and local road access

The Northern interchange (Figure 3a), • Curnow Road Southbound vehicles for Bolivar Road in the suburb of Virginia, connects the or the stretch of Port Wakefield Road to • Symes Road Northern Connector with Port Wakefield Salisbury Highway will need to access Road and the Northern Expressway. • Anjanto Road Port Wakefield Road at the Northern interchange. Provision for construction The main through route (direct and • St Kilda Road. of a possible future northbound off- high speed) will be between the Alternative access for these roads ramp has been allowed for in the Northern Expressway and Northern would be provided at the Waterloo corridor, although this is not part of the Connector for vehicles travelling to or Corner interchange. current project scope. from Gawler using the existing bridge at the intersection of the Northern The Northern Connector will connect Motorists wanting to access Bolivar Expressway and Port Wakefield Road. with Waterloo Corner Road (Figure Road and Port Wakefield Road will The existing road layout will be modified 3a) at Waterloo Corner interchange to need to travel from Salisbury Highway by taking traffic travelling to and from provide a: along Port Wakefield Road or exit at the Northern Expressway through the Waterloo Corner interchange. central and south spans (openings) of • northbound off-ramp from the Heading south, to the west of the the existing bridge; the freight rail line Northern Connector to the new suburb of Globe Derby Park, the will use the northern span. Waterloo Corner Road extension for corridor enters Dry Creek salt fields. vehicles access to Robinson Road, Room has been allowed for in the In addition, the Northern interchange St Kilda, Port Wakefield Road and corridor for the construction of a future will: Waterloo Corner Road Globe Derby Park interchange, should • provide a northbound off-ramp from • northbound on-ramp to the Northern the salt fields change to an urban the Northern Connector to Port Connector for vehicles coming expansions area (see The 30-Year Plan Wakefield Road for vehicles travelling from Robinson Road, St Kilda, Port for Greater Adelaide), just south of Dry north to Port Wakefield and beyond Wakefield Road and Waterloo Corner Creek (Figure 3c). Road • provide a south bound on-ramp from Further south, the Southern interchange Port Wakefield Road to the Northern • southbound on-ramp to the Northern (Figure 3c), in the Barker Inlet Connector for vehicles travelling to Connector for vehicles travelling interchange at Wingfield, will connect Adelaide from Port Wakefield Road, Waterloo the Northern Connector with South Road, the Port River Expressway and • enable vehicles travelling north and Corner Road and Robinson Road. Salisbury Highway. south along Port Wakefield Road to Southbound vehicles for Waterloo continue using the existing overpass Corner Road or Robinson Road will The Southern interchange will provide: bridge need to access Port Wakefield Road at • for northbound and southbound the Northern interchange. • retain the southbound off-ramp from traffic flow to and from the Northern the Northern Expressway to Port Continuing south, the corridor will pass Connector and South Road Wakefield Road. across and close: Superway Road users travelling south from Port • Undo Road • a westbound off-ramp from the Wakefield Road, north of the Northern Northern Connector to Port River interchange, and from the Northern • Summer Road Expressway Expressway wanting access to Port • Hodgson Road. • a northbound on-ramp from the Wakefield Road and the local road Port River Expressway to Northern network (including Waterloo Corner Alternative access for these roads Connector Road and Bolivar Road) between would be provided at the Waterloo this interchange and Salisbury Corner interchange. • an eastbound ramp from South Road Highway will continue along Port Superway to Salisbury Highway The Bolivar interchange (Figure 3b) will Wakefield Road. have an on-ramp for southbound traffic • a southbound ramp from the Heading south, the corridor would pass from Port Wakefield Road and Bolivar Salisbury Highway to South Road across and thus close: Road on to the Northern Connector. Superway.

17 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Rail corridor

East of Port Wakefield Road at Virginia, the new standard gauge, single- track freight rail track will start at a turn-out from the existing freight rail line, about 2 kilometres north-east of the Northern interchange. A spur for heading south on the existing rail line from the Northern Connector rail line will be provided and the existing King Road level crossing realigned to allow connection with the existing rail line.

Heading south, the rail line would run to the west of the northbound carriageway of the Northern Expressway and then pass under the Northern interchange bridge (Figure 7a) and continue in a southerly direction to the west of the Northern Connector road carriageway.

The rail corridor would then follow the same route as the road carriageways Connector road corridor, passing south of the Eastern Parade–Grand for the next 12 kilometres (Figure 3a over Salisbury Highway via a bridge Trunkway–Perkins Street intersection. and 3b). through Barker Inlet South wetland The rail line then runs to the Port of and joining with the existing freight rail Adelaide across the newly constructed In Dry Creek salt fields, the rail corridor line to Adelaide to form an east–west Port River Expressway rail bridge would remain on the western side of rail corridor connection (Melbourne to over the Port River. This rail line the road corridor and act as a sea wall Perth via Adelaide). completes an efficient link from to protect the road from any future sea northern areas of the state to the level rise. The second rail line, in the salt fields, Port of Adelaide. heads west, crossing North Arm Creek In the south-western extent of the salt and skirting the future Gillman industry A spur line to the Port Flat siding would fields, the rail line will diverge. One rail lands, following the sea wall and also be provided at this location line heads south over the Northern connecting with the existing rail line just (Figure 3c).

Shared-use path

A three metre wide shared-use South Road Superway. It would At Waterloo Corner the shared-use path (Figure 4a and 4b) along the generally be located to the east of the path would follow the exit ramps corridor will connect the Northern road carriageways, safely separating to allow cyclists and pedestrians to Expressway shared-used path to pedestrian and cycling activities from access local roads without crossing the cycle/pedestrian facilities along road and rail. ramps.

Stormwater and drainage

The Northern Connector road and Side swale lines with vegetation running drain, Little Para River, Little Para rail corridor will be raised on an parallel to the road carriageways would overflow, Dry Creek, North Arm Creek embankment for flood protection. A collect runoff from the road pavement and in Barker Inlet wetlands will drainage system, constructed in the and treat the water before discharging maintain stormwater drainage and/or project corridor, will consist of detention to the detention basins. tidal flows. basins, open channels or vegetated swales (drainage lines) and cross Bridges and culverts at a number of culverts. locations such as Helps Road www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 18 Wetland impacts and proposed offset areas

Existing wetland function A number of sensitive environmental areas in the Southern section would be affected by the project, in particular: marine intertidal and freshwater Barker Inlet north wetlands (affected by the road corridor) and freshwater Barker Inlet south wetlands (affected by the rail corridor). Barker Inlet wetlands, together with the adjacent Greenfields wetlands, form a constructed wetland system that has an important role in flood storage, water quality treatment and habitat provision for many threatened and non-threatened fauna species. They is also an area for other activities such as stormwater reuse, environmental tourism and education. Wetland impacts The extent to which the Barker Inlet existing wetlands are proposed to works in Barker Inlet north and south wetland system would be directly be offset through a combination wetlands, Range wetlands and affected by the project (based on the of modifications, rehabilitation and Magazine wetlands would aim to current proposed route) is shown in revegetation to existing wetlands and/ improve their biodiversity and habitat Table 1. These wetland loss areas are or creation of new wetland offset value. based on concept design only and are areas – at a wetland loss to offset likely to be refined during the detailed ratio of 1:1.5 (each 1 ha impact to the Areas under consideration for design phase of the project. wetlands from the project (Table 2) is construction of new offset wetlands Through a relocation of the rail corridor offset by 1.5 ha). (Figure 9) may consist of marine in the Southern section (Figure 7), the intertidal and/or freshwater wetlands, Areas of Barker Inlet north important bird (avifauna) habitat areas and replicate habitat and vegetation wetlands would require modification/ of Greenfields Stage 3 wetlands are types in Barker Inlet and Greenfields reconstruction to allow water flow not directly impacted by the project. wetlands. As well as enhancing to continue through the wetland to biodiversity in the region the new compensate for the construction wetlands would provide additional Wetland impact mitigation impact of the Southern interchange. flood storage and improve the quality The impacts of the project on Rehabilitation and revegetation of water discharged to Barker Inlet.

Table 2 Area of Barker Inlet wetlands directly impacted by the Northern Connector project

Wetlands Wetland loss (hectares)

Marine intertidal (Barker Inlet north wetlands) 5.9

Freshwater (Barker Inlet north and south wetlands) 11.7

Total 17.6

19 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary GAWLER !

!ELIZABETH

! BOLIVAR PORT r ADELAIDE ve Ri Little Pa ra CBD !

GLOBE DERBY PARK

D A N IE G L AV LO B E D ER B Y D R

GRAND TRUNKWAY

DRY CREEK

GILLMAN

North Arm

Creek Southern Y

HW Y interchange R

S I

GRAND TRUNKWAY

PORT RIVER EXPWY

H T R O N D R L IL H C R U H C

A CORMACK RD

R SOUTH RD

G CAVAN RD

A DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG Y

E OTTOWAY

GRAND JUNCTION RD Source: Source:

0 0.5 1 Figure 8 Areas of potential wetland habitat offsets and or reabilitation N Kilometres Southern section Potential offsets areas, Loss areas: Combination of (loss to offset ratio 1:1.5): Northern Connector road South Road Superway Freshwater wetlands (11.7 Ha) New freshwater / marine intertidal wetlands Spur line to Port Flat siding Existing railway Mangroves (4.6 Ha) Wetland modification / rehabilitation Marine intertidal wetlands (5.9 Ha) Northern Connector rail Existing roads www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 20 Construction

Due to the flat topography of the drainage swales adjacent to the road project area, the road and rail corridor carriageways and for a ramp at the of the Northern Connector would be Southern interchange, adjacent to formed by an earth embankment of the Port River Expressway. Suitable imported and recycled fill materials, fill options are currently being founded on the existing ground investigated and would likely be profile, ranging from one metre above sourced from excavations within the ground level in the Northern section to corridor, recycled soil material from about 3.5 metres above in the south. other DTEI projects, nearby sources Construction would generally use (borrow pits) or existing commercial conventional methods employed on quarries. most similar major projects, adapted to account for the various engineering Construction over the wetlands and and environmental constraints (e.g. mangroves in the Southern section poor ground conditions and potential would require methods such as rock acid sulfate soils in the south). end tipping, to form a solid base from which to construct the embankment The only cuttings (excavations) fills and minimise the impact on likely for the project would be for mangroves and wetlands.

Operation

Road to control the rate at which vehicles Other supporting ITS equipments used The posted speed on the Northern merge with the main motorway on the Northern Connector will include Connector will be 110 kilometres per traffic stream (ramp signals). Vehicles high speed tele-communications, hour, with reduced speeds for entering generally proceed individually on a smart lighting, vehicle detectors and and exiting at interchanges. green light sustainable energy/power supply. • Variable speed limits (VSL) - Operation of the Northern Connector Maintenance road will be monitored and managed supported by variable message Maintenance (including road remotely through DTEI’s Traffic signs to prevent the occurrence of pavement, line marking, reflective Management Centre. further (secondary) incidents after an pavement markers, kerbing, tree initial crash, to improve safety during pruning, signs, barriers, stormwater Managed motorway hard shoulder running, and/or during pits and small culverts) would remain The Northern Connector road extreme weather events component would be a managed the responsibility of DTEI, which would motorway. Managed motorways use • Freight and public transport priority regularly inspect large culverts and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to typically at ramps in conjunction with bridges. improve access to, and the safe and ramp metering for general vehicles The local road network and associated efficient management of traffic flow Secondary measures: ongoing maintenance would be along, urban motorways. The following measures would be employed on the • Incident detection using closed managed by the relevant local council. Northern Connector (including the Port circuit television (CCTV) cameras, Wakefield Road Corridor). webcams, weather monitoring Rail stations and emergency telephones Primary measures: The Northern Connector rail, used for • Lane use management systems • Automatic number plate recognition freight trains and interstate passenger (LUMS) - manages lane use around (ANPR) to monitor freight trains, will have a maximum speed incidents without total loss of movements for freight trains of 115 kilometres per motorway capacity • Traffic and traveller information hour. • Hard shoulder running where services, such as Variable Message No visual surveillance is proposed for emergency break down lanes are Signs (VMS) with real-time advice the rail line, although train operations used as supplementary lanes during about travel times and/or current are monitored and controlled remotely peak periods speed by Australian Rail Track Corporation, • Ramp metering - coordinated use of • Speed enforcement using speed which will also be responsible for traffic lights on motorway on-ramps cameras maintenance of the rail corridor.

21 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Project Impacts

Construction and operation of the route to achieve the project objectives, The construction and Northern Connector project would bring many, often competing, environmental, significant environmental, social and social, economic and engineering operation of the Northern economic benefits. issues have had to be balanced. Connector project The project area has a complex The scale, nature and location of the combination of sensitive environmental project, make some adverse impacts would bring significant features, large industrial and business inevitable. Where possible, measures environmental, social and operations, and communities. In will be put in place to minimise and/or developing the Northern Connector offset these impacts. economic benefits.

Flora and fauna

Flora (as part of the Port River Expressway experience few to minimal adverse project), 2008 and 2009. effects from the removal of small areas Seven native vegetation associations of habitat by the project. (communities) and five planted exotic Determining the effect of the Northern or native areas of vegetation are found Connector project on faunal groups of The investigations determined: in the Northern Connector corridor. conservation significance, especially Native vegetation (as defined by the • within the project area, the most bird species, and their habitat, Native Vegetation Act 1991) totals important areas of bird habitat, considered alternative suitable habitats 49.79 hectares in the corridor and including Greenfields Stage 3 (often in the project region and wider region. varies greatly in condition from very referred to as Magazine Road poor (e.g. degraded samphire areas) Species of national conservation Wetlands), the northern section of the to excellent (e.g. remnant mangrove significance were assessed for likely marine shallow water and intertidal forest). impacts of the project in line with samphire shrubland in the Barker the EPBC Act Significant Impact Inlet Wetlands north and the roosting Two threatened flora species of state Guidelines. areas in Barker Inlet Wetlands south conservation significance, under the will not be affected National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, About 200 bird species have been • most adverse effects to birds will be were found to occur in the project area: recorded in the wider region, 128 of direct and associated with habitat Hoary rush (Juncus radula) and Black them in the project area in surveys removal plus temporary impacts Cotton-bush (Maireana decalvans). since the 1980s. Of these, 65 species during construction in Barker Inlet Both species are located in the of national (44) and/or State (11) wetlands and potentially in North Arm chenopod shrubland in the SA Water significance were recorded or identified Creek revegetation area near Jobson and as potentially occurring in the project Summer roads. area. • a relatively low risk of a significant impact (as defined by the EPBC Act No flora species of national A total of 44 threatened bird species Significant Impact Guidelines) on a conservation significance (i.e. listed listed under the EPBC Act occur in or few species including the Orange- under the Environment Protection adjacent to the project area. All are bellied Parrot (OBP) (Neophema and Biodiversity Conservation Act migratory and/or marine species and chrysogaster), Australian Painted 1999 (EPBC Act)) were located, or are five are threatened species listed under Snipe (Rostratula australis) and known to occur, in the project area. Schedules of the EPBC Act. Also White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus recorded in the project area or region leucogaster), plus small numbers of Fauna in varying numbers are 25 species migratory shorebirds and aquatic bird Avifauna (birds), mammal, reptiles, of international migratory shorebirds. species. amphibians and fish species have been Some of these species have not been • the project may affect small areas assessed for the project area. The recorded in surveys of the project of potential foraging habitat (most most recent surveys in the summer area and the remainder occur in of which is heavily damaged and of 2010–11, focused on avifauna small numbers not exceeding the degraded and unlikely to be suitable investigations supplementing fauna international flyway (seasonal migrating) as feeding habitat for the species) surveys commissioned by DTEI in 2004 population thresholds. All would of the critically endangered Orange- www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 22 bellied Parrot. Population numbers of • additional species will lose small Flora and Fauna impact this species in the wild are currently areas of habitat, primarily through mitigation low, estimated at about 50 birds, direct impacts and fragmentation, with limited chance of recovery. Part but not enough to signifi cantly affect Impacts on vegetation and fauna in of the project area, as a component their population or abundance; some the project area have been avoided of the wider coastal part of the of these species use more than and/or minimised by the corridor region, was part of the parrot’s one habitat type, so they can move selection process and development traditional foraging range. However, to other preferred or similar sites of the proposed alignment. Initial very few sightings of the species in the area less or not affected by environmental studies helped guide have been recorded in the past 20 the corridor alignment through the years, with the most recent being at the development; species include: Chapman Creek in 2006 well to the Long-toed Stint, Australian Painted project area, in particular designing the north of the north-most section of Snipe, Australasian Bittern, Pectoral road and rail corridor to avoid some the project area. It is unlikely that any Sandpiper, Latham’s Snipe, Wood higher value sections of Barker Inlet Orange-bellied Parrots will be seen Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Broad- north wetlands and avoid the habitat- this far north in South Australia, if at billed Sandpiper, White-winged Black valuable Greenfi elds Stage 3 wetlands. all, due to their very low population Tern, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Great Project impacts would be mitigated numbers in the State Egret, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, and offset by: • one breeding pair of birds White- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Common bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit; • ensuring that a signifi cant leucogaster) is reported to be the risk of a signifi cant impact (as environmental benefi t (SEB) resident in the region, possibly the defi ned by the EPBC Act Signifi cant is achieved for removal of wider region, although their nest Impact Guidelines) on these species native vegetation, in line with and roost locations are unknown. is considered to be relatively low the requirements of the Native However, they are known to forage Vegetation Act. It would include in the region and the southern part of • for species of State conservation on-ground rehabilitation and the project area. It is considered that signifi cance the loss and/or revegetation any impact on this species will be degradation of habitat and hence confi ned to the construction phase feeding, roosting and or breeding • offseting non-native vegetation of the project and that this would be grounds will impact the local requiring removal through on-ground relatively small due to the very large population, but will not adversely range and large area of foraging landscaping and revegetation works impact on the regional or State habitat available to and used by the population. species. It is considered very unlikely • providing compensatory habitats at that the project would create a long • no frogs, mammals, reptiles or a greater rate to offset those lost, term or signifi cant impact (as defi ned fi sh known to occur in the project by modifying, rehabilitating and by the EPBC Act Signifi cant Impact area are listed as state or national revegetating existing wetlands and/ Guidelines (DEH 2006) impact on the signifi cance, and no signifi cant or creating new freshwater/marine species. impacts are expected. intertidal wetland areas.

23 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Noise and vibration Construction noise Operational road noise There would be Assessment of construction noise Noise assessment for the project considerable reductions indicates that some degree of impact determined that traffi c noise levels on residences during construction is would increase at residential in noise for residences likely. Night time construction works properties adjacent to the Northern near residences would be avoided or Connector. Road traffi c noise levels at adjacent to Port minimised where possible. properties adjacent to Port Wakefi eld Road are predicted to signifi cantly Wakefi eld Road and Construction noise management and mitigation measures will be decrease. Across the project area the existing Salisbury implemented to minimise the impact. the predicted number of properties They may include locating noisy exposed to high levels of road traffi c freight rail line machinery away from residential noise would decrease following the opening of the Northern Connector. properties, avoiding truck movements adjacent to the existing rail freight on local roads where possible, and Methods to mitigate road traffi c noise line in Parafi eld Gardens, Salisbury installing temporary noise barriers would be determined during the Downs, Salisbury, Salisbury North and around stationary equipment. detailed design phase of the project Ottoway. Across the study area there and could include use of ‘low noise’ would be an overall improvement Construction vibration road surfaces, roadside noise barriers in rail noise for residents. Any noise During construction, residents near and a range of treatment measures for treatments for those residents the works may perceive vibration and eligible properties. adjacent to the Northern Connector there may be some vibration effects would be similar to those provided for on building contents for residences Operational rail noise operation road noise and would be closest to the works. Structural The rail noise assessment determined determined during the detailed design damage is not expected. that residents living adjacent to the phase of the project. Construction vibration management Northern Connector would hear and mitigation measures may new rail noise. Mitigation would likely Operational vibration include minimising vibration energy include a range of treatment measures Operational vibration assessment as necessary, undertaking vibration for eligible properties. determined that during operation, monitoring as required, and informing Diverting rail freight to the Northern vibration levels at residences are the community about when and Connector integrated rail transport expected to comply with both where construction activities that may corridor would considerably reduce structural damage and nuisance generate vibration effects will happen. the rail noise impact on properties guideline levels.

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 24 Socio-economic

The socio-economic benefits and community to the west of the impacts that could arise from Northern Connector construction and operation of the Northern Connector include state-wide • reduced environmental amenity for and regional economic benefits and relatively sparse residential premises impacts on the local community and adjacent to the Northern Connector economy. corridor

The principal socio-economic benefits • property acquisition (more than 60% of the project would be: of the land required for the Northern Connector is in the ownership of • reduced truck and freight movements local, state and Commonwealth on Port Wakefield Road, Salisbury government; less than 40% of the Highway and local roads and land to be acquired is held in private communities, improving amenity and ownership) safety for residents in these areas

• improved access (including reduced • property access travel times) to Adelaide for northern • social fabric Adelaide residents • horticultural impacts. • improved safety for commuters at existing rail crossings Measures to mitigate these impacts include the construction of Waterloo • improved amenity for dense Corner interchange to allow for access residential areas adjacent to Port to local roads and residential areas, Wakefield Road and the existing improvements to environmental amenity rail line through the relocation of in the area with significant landscaping disruptive heavy freight trucks and and planting schemes, and upgrade of trains. local roads to improve local conditions Potential local impacts on the and accessibility. community and economy in the project Ongoing community consultation will area, during both construction and be essential to address community operation, would include: concerns and queries during the • severance and reduced social detailed design and construction cohesion, particularly for the phases of the project.

Planning, zoning and land use

The planning phase of the project has which are listed in the other impact taken into consideration Australian, sections. South Australian and local government Specific mitigation measures have strategic objectives. been considered for these impacts, Land acquisition, construction and for example providing wetland offset ongoing operations of the Northern areas, implementing air quality and Connector would have both positive noise management measures during and negative impacts on existing land construction, improving local amenity uses in the area and the wider region of with intensive landscaping and metropolitan Adelaide (and beyond). local road upgrades, and providing continued access to Port Wakefield The Northern Connector project Road through strategically located could have many benefits, some of interchanges.

25 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Traffic and transportation The Northern Connector road corridor At Waterloo Corner and Bolivar Undo Road and Summer Road, would receive traffic from Port interchanges, a single lane only would which provide access to residences, Wakefield Road and the Northern be required on each on-ramp and off- horticulture, aquaculture and Expressway, and significant volumes ramp. Roundabouts or T-junctions will agriculture businesses, and recreation of traffic (including heavy vehicles) that control traffic at the junction of ramps areas. formerly used the Angle Vale Road– with local roads. Heaslip Road route and Main North Alternative access to Port Wakefield Road, on to Port Wakefield Road. Arterial roads Road would be provided at Waterloo Ultimately, the Northern Connector will Corner interchange, which would be a more efficient route for this traffic The Northern Connector would extend Waterloo Corner Road from and significantly reduce traffic volumes significantly change travel patterns in Port Wakefield Road over the Northern on Port Wakefield Road. the northern area and result in changes Connector to link into Robinson Road. in traffic volumes on all arterial roads in The extent of traffic diversion would be The rail route would be a faster and the immediate vicinity. significantly less on other roads. Various more efficient route for freight trains local roads will be upgraded to cater for that currently travel through northern With the operation of the Northern the changed travel patterns. urban areas and the Wingfield industrial Connector, traffic volumes on Port area. The new route would substantially Wakefield Road (south of Waterloo In the Central section, only the existing reduce safety concerns associated with Corner Road to Salisbury Highway) by access road (Hodgson Road) to SA the current 12 level crossings. 2031 are predicted to reduce to levels Water’s Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Future traffic demands well below current (2010) volumes Plant would be severed; access will (Figure 10). Other arterial roads (e.g. be provided through Waterloo Corner Future population and employment Heaslip and Bolivar roads) would have interchange. estimates to 2031 for the Northern similar traffic volumes to their current Adelaide region have been used to (2010) volumes with the Northern In the Southern section, the route will forecast traffic volumes on the Northern Connector in operation in 2031. pass to the west of Globe Derby Park Connector and thus determine Local roads and across the salt fields towards the the number of lanes required on interchange at South Road. Access carriageways and at interchanges. The Northern Connector route would into Globe Derby Park will remain pass through established residential unchanged. Forecast daily traffic volumes (2031) and commercial areas and affect The removal of current access for the Northern Connector range from access to varying degrees. 55,000 vehicles per day (vpd) north of restrictions on to and from Port Waterloo Corner interchange to 78,700 The impacts would be most evident Wakefield Road at Symes Road, vpd south of Globe Derby Park (Figure in the section north of Bolivar, where Anjanto Road, St Kilda Road, Undo 10). Peak hour, peak direction traffic the route would sever east–west Road, Summer Road, Victoria Drive, volumes range from 6,100 to 8,600 movements at five local roads: Symes Daniel Avenue and Ryans Road may vehicles per hour at the same locations. Road, Anjanto Road, St Kilda Road, also be investigated.

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 26 ! GAWLER OLD PORT WAKEFIELD RD PENFIELD RD

BUCKLAND PARK 15800 McEVOY RD ! 45500 !ELIZABETH 15900 21500 ARGENT RD 32500 33000 SHORT RDPENFIELD PELLEW RD ! D RYAN RD R H T ANDREWS RD A PORT ! TOZER RD E ADELAIDE TAYLOR RD H N Northern HUXTABLE RD O B E T CBD! interchange S SUPPLE RD

BROWN RD

WATERLOO CORNER Northern EDINBURGH section 55000 SYMES RD D MILL RD HEASLIP RD R ROBINSON RD DIREK NORTHERNNORTHERN D 12300 N ! U ! O 9350 BROOKS RD H Y 210 E 30900 7200 R 5600 G 22500 ! 500 52000 DIMENT RD 13500 WEST AV ! ! 13850 ! ST KILDA RD ! 11500 WATERLOO CORNER RD 2000 2000 Waterloo F UNDO RD P 2000 BURTON I O R S R ELIZABETH SOUTH Corner T SUMMER RD T A W V interchange A 38700 K E 20000 F BOLIVAR RD ST KILDA I E

L 53000 ! D ! R

! 68000 BURTON RD BAGSTER RD

PARALOWIE 9200 ! ! T 8050 R S ZO PARK TCE Central N KINGS RD I 15600 22200 W SALISBURY section Bolivar 20000 interchange 27000

PARAFIELD BOLIVAR GARDENS BRAHMA LODGE

49400 SALISBURY OSBORNE 25000 SOUTH ! JONES RD 60000 NORTH HAVEN 78700 ! LADY GOWRIE DR !

! MARTINS RD RYANS RD M C GLOBE IN T Y MERSEY RD R DERBY E R 8000 D G PARK PARAFIELD LO B E 6450 D E !R B Y D 10300 R E 1400 LD ER 750 ! SM Southern ITH 750 RD section 56100 25000 SOUTHERNSOUTHERN 67500 MAXWELL RD

! DRY CREEK MAWSON LARGS NORTH LAKES 78700

GILLMAN MAIN NORTH ROAD

H VICTORIA RD 61900

Y Southern 60300 R MONTAGUE RD 23600 U JETTY RD B S interchange 63200 I 54500 L H A T BRIDGE RD S R 55090 O ! N ! ! D POORAKA PETERHEAD GRAND TRUNKWAY ! 27800 R PORT RIVER EXPWY L IL H 104800 C R CAVAN U ! 80600 H C WINGFIELD H WALKLEY HEIGHTS

N CORMACK RD

S MILITARY RD

NEW PORT O N NORTHFIELD GRAND JUNCTION RD DEH, DTEI,DEH, DPLG R

G PORT ADELAIDE D CAVAN RD

Y OTTOWAY

SEMAPHORE SOUTH R

T GRAND JUNCTION RD

ETHELTON E Source: Source:

ATHOL PARK CLEARVIEW 0 1 2 BLAIR ATHOL HAMPSTEAD RD MANSFIELD PARK PROSPECT RD PENNINGTON Figure 9 Current (2010) and forecastNORTHGATE (2031)FOSTERS RD ENFIELD N Kilometres annual average daily traffic volumes

Annual average daily Northern Connector road South Road Superway Existing roads ! traffic volume Northern Connector rail Northern Expressway Existing railway 27800 (2010 - Current) 116700 (2031 - With Northern Connector) Spur line to Port Flat siding 82100 (2031 - Without Northern Connector)

27 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Aboriginal heritage and Native Title

Native Title possible locations of other sites, objects and remains The project area is located in the native title claim area of the native There is the potential that during title applicants, the Kaurna Peoples construction of the road and rail corridor, damage, disturbance (SAD6001/00) and is adjacent to or interference with Aboriginal the native title claim area of the sites, objects and remains could native title applicants, the Ramindjeri occur. (SAD162/10). A Section 23 authorisation will DTEI has been advised by the Crown be sought under the Aboriginal Solicitor’s Office that native title has Heritage Act 1988 to authorise not been extinguished in some of the damage, disturbance and areas of land identified to be affected interference with Aboriginal sites, by the project, and as such DTEI will objects and remains (as applicable) consult with the Native Title Claim located in the project area. Representatives as required by the The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Native Title Act 1993. and Reconciliation, as bound Aboriginal heritage by Section 13 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, will take all reasonable A search of Aboriginal Affairs and steps to consult with the Aboriginal Reconciliation Division, Department Heritage Committee and any of the Premier and Cabinet, traditional owners and other records and previous heritage Aboriginal persons who, in the assessments for the project area opinion of the Minister, have a indicated a number of registered particular interest in the matter. It is and unregistered sites, objects or the Minister’s decision whether or remains in the vicinity of the project). not to authorise under Section 23 of A heritage survey of the corridor will the Act, and DTEI will abide by the likely be undertaken to determine Minister’s decision. Water quality, drainage and flooding

The main drainage systems and Barker Inlet wetlands, Dry Creek, surface waterbodies potentially Little Para overflow) impacted by the project are constructed stormwater systems • impacts to wetland function and (Helps Road drain, Dry Creek), design (capacity and water quality constructed wetlands (Barker Inlet treatment functions) specifically north and south wetlands) and natural Barker Inlet north and south surface water or tidal flow flows wetlands (Little Para River, North Arm Creek, Magazine Creek). • water quality impacts during construction: A qualitative assessment of the likely risks to water quality, flooding and » associated with erosion, drainage associated with the project sedimentation and poor site considered planning and design, management practices construction and operational phases of the project. Key issues that will » potential pollutants during need to be addressed during the construction including sediment, design phase are: hydrocarbons and toxicants from spills, and pH altering • management of flooding at various substances from acid sulphate locations in the project corridor (e.g. oil disturbance

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 28 • water quality impacts during of the project. A range of engineering and implementing a water quality operation associated with runoff measures and site management monitoring program. from impervious surfaces techniques have been proposed including cross drains and equalising These measures would reduce • water quality impacts during culverts enabling continued flow of potential water quality, drainage and operation associated with runoff stormwater, flood gates and flooding impacts of the project. from impervious surfaces containing spillways, and swales to reduce sediment, gross pollutants, oils and flood risk. surfactants, and heavy metals A soil erosion and drainage • accidental spills during construction management plan would be and operations, which may result developed and implemented before in toxic effects on the receiving construction. Erosion and sediment environment. control during construction would include installation of temporary The risk assessment also identified sedimentation basins and ponds, and measures to mitigate potential impacts sediment fencing; and developing Air quality

An air quality study and monitoring traffic and diesel locomotives would program to understand the existing meet Ambient Air Quality National environment examined the ambient Environment Protection Measure air impact of two sources: current guidelines in both years in the Northern background level of pollutants in the Connector corridor. atmosphere; and emissions from a diesel locomotive. Emissions from Port The assessment also demonstrated Wakefield Road were also measured to that air quality impact on residences calibrate the air dispersion model. along Port Wakefield Road would be significantly reduced with the lower Air dispersion modelling was then traffic volumes. carried out for predicted traffic flow scenarios for 2016 and 2031 for the The main air quality issue during Northern Connector. The cumulative air construction would be dust, which quality impact of emissions from both would require management.

29 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Non-Aboriginal heritage

Only one heritage place was identified searched; their current legal status is in the vicinity of the proposed Northern identified below. Should these or other Connector project – the state listed Dry places become listed and protected, Creek Explosives Magazine and Earth appropriate approvals for affecting the Mounds, north of Magazine Road and heritage places would be sought: south-west of Cheetham Salt Ltd salt fields. • Penrice Area (Register of national Estate – indicative place) The Dry Creek Explosives Magazine • Port Adelaide and Gawler Reach and Earth Mounds site is located (National Heritage List – nominated approximately 1.2 km to the east of the place) Northern Connector road corridor; and 300 m to the east of the rail corridor. • Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide River, Given these distances, structural Waterfront, and Adelaide Dolphin damage to the heritage place during Sanctuary (National Heritage List construction and operation is not – nomination now ineligible for probable. proposed priority assessment list).

The following places are not formally No local heritage listed places would be listed on any of the heritage databases affected by the project.

Geology, soils and site contamination

The main soil and geological hazards • Acid sulfate soils, associated with by mixing in a sufficient amount of a that may affect or be affected by the marine and estuarine soils south reducing agent Northern Connector project are erosion of Bolivar Wastewater Treatment and acid sulphate soils, particularly Plant, cause problems only if the • strategically re-burying disturbed during the construction phase of soil is disturbed by excavation or material below the watertable the project. dewatering. The resultant generation of sulfuric acid and leaching of heavy • maintaining tidal flushing where it Erosion related impacts may be metals from the soil matrix could currently occurs. controlled by: have significant adverse effects on flora and fauna, and on any surface DTEI has gained experience in • using erosion resistant materials in or subsurface steel or concrete assessment, management and earthworks, and avoiding erosion infrastructure. mitigation of acid sulfate soils from prone materials such as dispersive construction of the Port River soils, silts and fine sands • Acid sulfate soil-related impacts are Expressway in 2004–2005 and preferably controlled by avoiding currently on the South Road Superway • adequately protecting soil surfaces the soils or, at least, minimising project. A soil erosion and drainage otherwise exposed to erosive actions, their disturbance. A thorough acid management plan would be prepared for example a vegetative cover sulfate soil site investigation and risk and implemented before earthworks assessment would be part of the began on the site. • minimising the extent and degree of detailed design phase of the Northern disturbance of existing soil surfaces Connector project. Construction Other specific areas of site phase measures for managing contamination risks in the project • minimising contact time and/or area impacts are likely to include: area are documented in the Project between the erosive agent and soil Impact Report. These areas are surface, providing control structures • stockpiling excavated soil in a manner generally linked to past and present or measures for eroded material that minimises the generation and land uses such as waste disposal spread of acidity areas, service stations, groundwater • using water trucks to minimise dust plumes, railway infrastructure and generation from work areas. • neutralising the excavated material, drainage channels.

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 30 Urban design, landscape and visual assessment

The project area is predominantly flat of the salt piles and salt fields. Landscaping and and low-lying, although there are a The Northern Connector, in particular number of important visual elements in revegetation will use the interchanges and bridges, would and around the corridor. become a dominant landscape feature. indigenous species The Northern section of the project Landscaping and revegetation with area is predominantly a developed indigenous species throughout the landscape of farms and greenhouses. project area would include: The Central section includes Bolivar • landscape plantings at targeted Wastewater Treatment Plant. Visually locations along the route to minimise significant elements include the tree visual exposure to residential belt, boulevards of exotic tree species, properties areas of remnant open woodland, and views to the west over the treatment • plantings within interchanges to ponds. minimise the visual appearance of the In the Southern section, the marine infrastructure waters, mangroves and coastal • strengthening and formalising shrublands of Barker Inlet and the plantings along existing roads and Port River Estuary, on the eastern in the existing Bolivar Wastewater side of Gulf St Vincent, make up one Treatment Plant buffer area of South Australia’s largest estuaries. The wetlands are a very important • remediation plantings in areas visual component of the character of such as Little Para River, Barker this area. The Southern section is also Inlet wetlands and various other visually dominated by the shaped forms landscape treatments.

31 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Greenhouse gas, sustainability and climate change

Sustainability Measures to minimise greenhouse gas emissions will be implemented during DTEI’s sustainability vision for the construction phase. development of the Northern Connector will ensure that the project integrates With traffi c volumes across the Adelaide with the existing environment, is metropolitan network expected environmentally responsible, highlights to increase, the operating road the natural features of the landscape, component of the Northern Connector, and acknowledges natural land is predicted to reduce greenhouse gas patterns. This vision would be achieved emissions by 37 kilotonnes CO2-e by applying sustainable design in 2017 (compared to no Northern objectives and principles. Connector). By 2031, the predicted Greenhouse gas emissions annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is 105.5 kilotonnes CO2-e. A quantitative assessment has estimated the greenhouse gas Total greenhouse emission savings emissions associated with vegetation in the 30 years from the start of clearance and construction activities construction through to operation and at approximately 187 kilotonnes use of the road and rail corridor are CO2-e (equivalent of carbon dioxide). summarised in Table 3.

Table 3. Total greenhouse gas emission savings over a 30 year timeframe Project Aspect Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Kt CO2-e)

Northern connector construction related GHG emissions +187 (increase) 30 Year GHG Emissions Savings for operation of rail -28.3 (saving) 30 Year GHG Emission Savings for operation of the road -2,409 (saving) Northern Connector maintenance emissions (30-year estimate) +222.6 (increase)) Total 30 Year Emission Savings Based on construction and -2027.7 (saving)* operation of the project

*(i.e. a saving in GHG emissions compared to no Northern Connector being built)

Climate change To accommodate the estimated sea level rise by 2050 of 3.45 metres The predominantly fl at, low-lying Australian Height Datum (AHD) and 4.1 Northern Connector project area would AHD to 2100 (as recommended be subject to the effects of climate by the South Australian Coast change and sea level rise, particularly Protection Board), in the Southern in the coastal areas of the Southern section the westerly rail embankment section. height will be higher than the easterly A qualitative climate change risk road embankment height allowing for assessment has suggested a number use of the rail embankment as a sea of adaptation strategies that may help wall. reduce the impact of climate change on the project.

www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au 32 Measures to manage and mitigate impacts A project environmental Environmental management, mitigation The project environmental management and monitoring measures have been plan forms part of the environmental management plan identified for the three phases of specification in the construction the project: planning and design, contract. The construction contractor will would be developed. construction and operation. be required to develop and document a contractor’s environmental management This project- DTEI has an environmental management plan, which outlines how environmental specific source framework for its construction projects management and mitigation measures that includes implementation of an would be implemented on-site during document details environmental management system construction. The contractor’s plan and development of environmental would incorporate subplans such as: the environmental documentation (including procedures and manuals) to help manage • noise and vibration management protection measures planning, construction, operation and maintenance activities. • Aboriginal cultural heritage required to mitigate management A project environmental management and minimise plan would be developed. This • vegetation management environmental effects. project-specific source document details the environmental protection • surface water quality monitoring measures required to mitigate and • vegetation management minimise environmental effects. Its primary purpose is to ensure that • weed management the environmental requirements and commitments for the project are carried • soil erosion and drainage management forward into the construction and operation phases, and that project • contamination and acid sulphate soils impacts are effectively managed. management.

33 Northern Connector | Project Impact Report – Executive Summary Have your say by making a submission

Making a submission 2011. During this time you can read the documents as well You can comment on any aspect of the project. All as attend an information session to better understand the comments must be received in writing – formal written project’s objectives and impacts. submissions – and may include: All of these reports are readily available during the exhibition • your opinion, suggestion or opposition to the project period, with hard copies available at the City of Salisbury, • additional elements that you believe would make the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and the City of Playford libraries project better as well as online at www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au. For a CD containing all of the reports, or just a printed copy of the • any errors or omissions in the report, plus any extra factual Executive Summary, please call 1300 793 458. information you have, and its source The closing date for submission is Friday 9 September 2011 • any other aspect that you would like to make comment on, question or propose. Tips for making a written submission Importantly, providing a written submission, be it a question Include your full name, address and day time contact or comment, contributes to the planning process. To have telephone number your say please make a submission. Clearly identify your issue/s and refer to the appropriate Written submissions are public documents with responses section/s of the report to the raised issues, included in the Supplement Report. If you hand write your submission, please ensure it is legible. The South Australian Minister for Transport in releasing the Supplement Report will define the corridor and project Lodge your submission by post, email or by using the online scope. form by Friday 9 September 2011. The Northern Connector Project Impact Report, including * All submissions will be public documents unless the Executive Summary, plus four technical Reports confidentiality is requested however, through the Freedom comprises the suite of documents that detail the project. All of Information Act 1991 the department can be challenged of these will be on public display until Friday 9 September on this.

Monza Recycled is Certified Carbon Neutral by The Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI) in accordance with the global Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14040 framework. Monza Recycled contains 55 per cent recycled fibre (25 per cent post consumer and 30per cent pre-consumer) and 45per cent elemental chlorine free pulp. All virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill. For more information