Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works REPORT relating to the proposed NAVY AMMUNITIONING FACILITY, TWOFOLD BAY, NSW (Sixth Report of 2000) THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 2000 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 1DY\$PPXQLWLRQLQJ )DFLOLW\7ZRIROG%D\16: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works 22 June 2000 Canberra © Commonwealth of Australia 2000 ISBN 0 642 43883 8 &RQWHQWV Membership of the Committee ....................................................................................................vii Extract from the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives............................... viii THE REPORT THE REFERENCE.........................................................................................................1 THE COMMITTEE’S INVESTIGATION.........................................................................2 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................3 Sydney ammunition pipeline..................................................................................................... 3 Point Wilson East Coast Armament Complex......................................................................... 4 THE NEED.....................................................................................................................4 Committee’s Conclusion............................................................................................................... 5 THE PROPOSAL...........................................................................................................5 Scope of the work....................................................................................................................... 5 The sites...................................................................................................................................... 6 PLANNING ....................................................................................................................7 Explosives storage and handling principles ........................................................................... 7 Net Explosive Quantity .............................................................................................................. 7 Safeguarding arcs ...................................................................................................................... 8 Effect of explosion within arcs .................................................................................................8 iv Planning implications of arcs ...................................................................................................9 DESIGN .......................................................................................................................10 Design standards ..................................................................................................................... 10 Design principles...................................................................................................................... 10 Design features......................................................................................................................... 11 WHARF AND DREDGED BERTH ..............................................................................11 Description and functions .......................................................................................................11 Siting considerations............................................................................................................... 12 Structure.................................................................................................................................... 12 Services..................................................................................................................................... 13 Dredged berth........................................................................................................................... 13 JETTY AND ACCESS ROAD .....................................................................................14 Description and functions .......................................................................................................14 Services..................................................................................................................................... 14 LAND-BASED DEPOT................................................................................................15 Description and functions .......................................................................................................15 Explosive storehouses ............................................................................................................ 15 Transit facility ........................................................................................................................... 16 Truck parking bays................................................................................................................... 16 Administration building ........................................................................................................... 16 Non-explosive storehouse and workshop............................................................................. 16 Services..................................................................................................................................... 17 Bushfire protection .................................................................................................................. 17 Security ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Committee’s Recommendation .................................................................................................. 18 TRANSPORTATION OF ORDNANCE........................................................................19 Route ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Committee’s Recommendation .................................................................................................. 19 Traffic......................................................................................................................................... 19 v THE LOCATION OF TWOFOLD BAY ........................................................................20 Strategic direction.................................................................................................................... 20 Economic benefits.................................................................................................................... 21 Twofold Bay .............................................................................................................................. 21 Committee’s Conclusion............................................................................................................. 22 ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTORY PROCEDURES ....................................................22 Notice of Intention.................................................................................................................... 22 Guidelines for preparation of EIS ........................................................................................... 22 Environmental Impact Statement ........................................................................................... 23 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES .......................................................................................24 Impact on flora and fauna........................................................................................................ 24 Environmental management ................................................................................................... 24 Committee’s Recommendation .................................................................................................. 25 Dredging of turning basin .......................................................................................................25 Noise.......................................................................................................................................... 27 Visual impact ............................................................................................................................ 27 Committee’s Conclusion............................................................................................................. 28 Committee’s Recommendation .................................................................................................. 28 HAZARDS AND RISKS...............................................................................................28 Operating principles................................................................................................................. 28 Military target............................................................................................................................ 28 Accidental explosion of ammunition...................................................................................... 29 Depleted uranium ammunition................................................................................................ 29 Nuclear powered or nuclear-armed ships.............................................................................. 29 Bushfire....................................................................................................................................