Swan River Crossings - Fremantle
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Swan River Crossings - Fremantle EPA Referral Supporting Document August 2020 Swan River Crossings - EPA Referral Supporting Document Revision History Revision Revision Date Author Reviewer Number A 3 July 2020 John Braid Paul West B 29 July 2020 John Braid Paul West 0 18 August 2020 John Braid Martine Scheltema Document No: D20#627360 Page 2 of 80 Swan River Crossings - EPA Referral Supporting Document EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Main Roads Western Australia (Main Roads) is proposing to build the Swan River Crossings (the Proposal) that includes the construction of new road and rail bridges, the upgrading of the existing rail bridge and the demolition of the existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge in Fremantle, Western Australia. The purpose of the Proposal is to ensure that the Swan River Crossing at this location provides appropriate levels of safety and transport capacity for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, rail and river users. Works for the Proposal will include: Road Works • Construction of a standalone four-lane bridge over the Swan River (to the east / up-stream of the existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge). • Realignment and upgrade of Queen Victoria Street and Canning Highway to suit the new road bridge over the Swan River. • Construction of a PSP from North Fremantle Station to Canning Highway including: o Construction of a bridge structure to take the PSP over Tydeman Road. o Crossing the Swan River via the new road bridge, which is to accommodate separated pedestrian and cycling traffic. • Demolition of existing FTB (Bridge No. 0916) with a minimum of 19m over water to be retained at the southern end. Rail works • Construction of new standalone passenger rail bridge over the Swan River carrying two narrow gauge mainlines. • Realignment, modification and upgrade of existing rail infrastructure to suit new and retained rail bridge structures. • Retention and modification of the existing Fremantle Rail Bridge (Bridge No. 1579, over the Swan River) as a dedicated freight rail bridge. • Modification of existing rail-over-road bridge on Tydeman Rd (Bridge No. 1291). The purpose of this Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Referral Supporting Document is to describe the Proposal and present a desktop environmental impact assessment of the Proposal to support the referral of the Swan River Crossings under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act). The Proposal will have a number of potentially adverse impacts on environmental and heritage values. Most of these impacts will be temporary during construction and, with mitigation, the impacts can be minimised to acceptable levels of impact. Potentially adverse environmental and social impacts include: • Water quality: o Sedimentation during in-river construction. o Mobilisation of contaminants in river sediments. • Marine fauna: o Adverse impacts on water quality. o Noise due to piling and vessel movements. • Benthic habitat: o Adverse impacts on water quality. o Smothering of habitat due to sedimentation during construction. • Social amenity – noise: o Noise during construction, especially from piling. o Road and rail traffic noise during operation. • Aboriginal Heritage: o The Swan River is a significant Aboriginal heritage site and impacts on the river need to be carefully considered. Document No: D20#627360 Page 3 of 80 Swan River Crossings - EPA Referral Supporting Document • Historic Heritage: o The Fremantle Traffic Bridge is listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 2018. • Contamination: o There are a number of known contaminated or remediated sites within or in close proximity to the Proposal. o Historic land uses have left a legacy of pollution that may be mobilised by the Proposal. A key component of the Proposal is the replacement of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge with a solution that considers road, passenger and freight rail, maritime, pedestrian and cycling connectivity across the Swan River. The Fremantle Traffic Bridge was opened in 1939 with a 40 year service life and has served its function well beyond that time. However, the bridge's structure has been deteriorating over a number of years and, despite extensive strengthening and maintenance works, the bridge needs to be replaced. The Proposal has a number of benefits, environmentally, socially and economically including but not limited to: • Improved safety for road users and pedestrians. • Increased rail efficiency. • Improved river navigation. • Improved water flows. • Acknowledgement of the history of this place as a crossing point of the Swan River. There are a number of the EPA’s factors that are relevant to the Proposal: • Benthic Communities and Habitat. • Marine Environmental Quality. • Marine Fauna. • Inland Waters. • Social Surroundings. • Terrestrial Environmental Quality. Despite a number of the EPA’s factors being relevant, Main Roads considers that the Proposal will meet the EPA’s environmental objective for each factor. Most impacts will be temporary in nature and occur within an area that has been subject to previous disturbance activities. The impacts associated with the Proposal are only expected to occur during construction that can be managed to minimise the level of impact. All impacts associated with the Proposal are effectively managed through other legislation and regulation. Document No: D20#627360 Page 4 of 80 Swan River Crossings - EPA Referral Supporting Document Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 3 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Proponent .............................................................................................................................. 9 1.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Process ........................................................................ 10 1.4 Other Approvals and Regulation .......................................................................................... 10 1.4.1 Decision Making Authorities ..................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Other Approvals Required ........................................................................................ 10 2 THE PROPOSAL ...................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Justification .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Proposal Description ............................................................................................................ 15 2.3.1 Actions that do not form part of Proposal .................................................................. 15 2.3.2 Proposal Key Characteristics .................................................................................... 16 2.4 Local and Regional Context ................................................................................................. 18 2.4.1 Climate ..................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Geology and soils ..................................................................................................... 18 2.4.3 Flora and vegetation ................................................................................................. 20 2.4.4 Terrestrial fauna ....................................................................................................... 20 2.4.5 Aquatic Fauna .......................................................................................................... 20 2.4.6 Hydrology ................................................................................................................. 21 2.4.7 Terrestrial and Aquatic Environmental Quality .......................................................... 21 2.4.8 Air Quality ................................................................................................................. 22 2.4.9 Social Surroundings ................................................................................................. 22 3 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................ 28 3.1 Key Stakeholders ................................................................................................................. 28 3.2 Stakeholder Engagement Process ....................................................................................... 29 4 ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND FACTORS .................................................. 31 4.1 Principles ............................................................................................................................. 31 4.2 Identification of Environmental Factors ................................................................................ 33 4.3 Benthic Communities and Habitat ........................................................................................ 36 4.3.1 EPA Objective .......................................................................................................... 36 4.3.2 Policy and Guidance ................................................................................................