SIMTA Stage 1 EIS – Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment Executive Summary
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SIMTA Intermodal Terminal Facility- Stage 1 Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment Part 4, Division 4.1, State Significant Development April 2015 SIMTA Stage 1 EIS – Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment Executive Summary Artefact Heritage, on behalf of Hyder Consulting and the Sydney Intermodal Terminal Alliance (SIMTA) (a consortium of Qube Holdings and Aurizon Holdings), has undertaken an assessment of non-Indigenous heritage for Stage 1 of SIMTA’s proposed intermodal terminal facility and rail link at Moorebank, New South Wales (NSW) (The Proposal). SIMTA Project The SIMTA Project involves the development of an intermodal facility, including warehouse and distribution facilities, freight village (ancillary site and operational services), stormwater, landscaping, servicing and associated works on the eastern side of Moorebank Avenue, Moorebank (the SIMTA site). The SIMTA Project also includes a rail link, within an identified rail corridor (the Rail Corridor), which connects from the southern part of the SIMTA site to the Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) (the entire area, SIMTA site and Rail Corridor are referred to as the Project site). The SIMTA Project is to be developed in three key stages. This report addresses Stage 1 of the SIMTA Project. Stage 1 Proposal The Proposal involves the construction and operation of the necessary infrastructure to support a container freight road volume of 250,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Specifically, Stage 1 includes the following key components, which together comprise the intermodal terminal facility (IMT): Truck processing, holding and loading areas- entrance and exit from Moorebank Avenue. Rail loading and container storage areas – installation of four rail sidings with adjacent container storage area serviced by manual handling equipment initially and overhead gantry cranes progressively. Administration facility and associated car parking- light vehicle access from Moorebank Avenue. The rail link – located within the Rail Corridor, including a connection to the intermodal terminal facility, traversing of Moorebank Avenue, Anzac Creek and Georges River and connection to the SSFL. Ancillary works- vegetation clearing, remediation, earth works, utilities installation/connection, signage and landscaping. artefact.net.au Page i SIMTA Stage 1 EIS – Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment Heritage listings The SIMTA Stage 1 proposal footprint includes two heritage listed items. The Defence National Storage and Distribution Centre (DNSDC) is currently listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List (CHL) and is protected under the EPBC Act, while the proposed new rail link passes through a small part of the School of Military Engineering (SME) complex, which is listed under the Liverpool Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2008 and is protected under the Heritage Act 1977 (Heritage Act) and the EP&A Act. Summary of findings On the basis of background research and a site inspection and adhering to all statutory obligations, it is found that; There are no items of known or likely heritage significance within the proposed Stage 1 rail link (and Rail Corridor). The vegetated area to the south of the DNSDC (known as the Southern Boot Land) was not subject to historical development, while the remainder of the land has been significantly disturbed through the creation of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) golf course, East Hills railway line, the Glenfield Waste Disposal facility and the Main Southern railway line (consisting of the SSFL). The proposed rail link would not have a significant impact on the Glenfield Farm State Heritage Register (SHR) item, as views from the item have already been compromised by the creation of the Glenfield Waste Disposal facility and the the SSFL. The DNSDC is significant as a largely intact network of WWII-era buildings, road, drains, and rail sidings. It embodies important heritage values and is assessed as being of State heritage significance. The statutory context of the SIMTA site is expected to change in the near future, when Defence ceases to lease the site and it is no longer protected under the EPBC Act. The NSW Heritage Council has advised that the site will not be nominated for listing on the SHR at this time (Apendix 1). The SIMTA site is in the process of being listed on the Liverpool LEP. Within the Stage 1 site, heritage impacts are expected to include the removal of five WWII structures, the original road and open drain alignments, possible impacts to potential archaeological material associated with former structures, impacts to underground water mains and sewerage lines dating to the 1940s, and significant impacts to the setting and context of remaining WWII-era buildings. artefact.net.au Page ii SIMTA Stage 1 EIS – Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment The Stage 1 Proposal would have a major impact on the heritage significance of the SIMTA site. In light of these findings the following recommendations are made: There are no non-Indigenous heritage constraints for the land within the SIMTA rail corridor area including the SME land (now MIC site) and the Glenfield Waste Disposal facility. There are no constraints on the Stage 1 Proposal with regard to Glenfield Farm. Archival recording of the entire SIMTA (former DNSDC) site including relationships between structures and landscape would be undertaken prior to construction. Archaeological monitoring and recording should be conducted at potential archaeological deposits (PADs) F and G which have the potential to contain archaeological remains of local significance. Monitoring and recording should be undertaken by a suitable archaeologist with Excavation Director Criteria qualifications, who would assess the likely significance of any archaeological deposits encountered, and provide advice regarding appropriate further action. If highly significant remains were identified during monitoring, it may be necessary to conduct archaeological excavations. A Heritage Interpretation Strategy should be prepared prior to completion of construction outlining appropriate interpretive measure for the Stage 1 site in the context of the SIMTA site as a whole. A Heritage Management Plan in adherence to NSW Heritage Council guidelines would be prepared as part of the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for the Stage 1 proposal. If unexpected finds are located during works the NSW Heritage Council would be notified and an archaeological consultant engaged to assess the significance of the finds. Further archaeological work or recording may be recommended. artefact.net.au Page iii SIMTA Stage 1 EIS – Non-Indigenous Heritage Assessment Contents 1.0 Introduction and Background .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Report purpose ............................................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Stage 1 Proposal ..................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Surrounding context ........................................................................................................ 3 1.5 The study area................................................................................................................ 4 1.6 Report authorship ........................................................................................................... 4 2.0 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Heritage register search .................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Documentary research .................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Site survey...................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Previous reports ............................................................................................................. 8 3.0 Legislative Framework ........................................................................................................ 9 3.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) .................. 9 3.2 The Heritage Act 1977 .................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) .................................... 10 3.3.1 Liverpool Local Environmental Plan 2008 .............................................................. 11 3.3.2 Liverpool Development Control Plan 2008 ............................................................. 11 3.4 Implications of legislation .............................................................................................. 11 3.4.1 Legal status of heritage items on the SIMTA site ................................................... 11 3.4.2 Management responsibilities for heritage items ..................................................... 11 4.0 Historical Background ....................................................................................................... 12 4.1 Early settlement at Liverpool ......................................................................................... 12 4.2 Military development