Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development Preliminary Environmental Assessment Port Kembla Port Corporation 5 December 2008 Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development Prepared for Port Kembla Port Corporation Prepared by Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Level 11, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, PO Box Q410, QVB Post Office NSW 1230, Australia T +61 2 8295 3600 F +61 2 9262 5060 www.maunsell.com ABN 20 093 846 925 In association with ENSR and Basset Acoustics 5 December 2008 © Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd 2008 The information contained in this document produced by Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd is solely for the use of the Client identified on the cover sheet for the purpose for which it has been prepared and Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd undertakes no duty to or accepts any responsibility to any third party who may rely upon this document. All rights reserved. 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Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development 5 December 2008 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 1.0 Introduction 2 1.1 Background 2 1.2 Report purpose 3 1.3 Port of Port Kembla 3 1.4 The proponent 7 1.5 Location 7 1.5.1 Legal Description 11 1.6 Justification and Need for the Project 11 1.6.1 Introduction 11 1.6.2 Building on its Competitive Strength 11 1.6.3 Policy Context 12 1.6.4 Conclusion 15 1.7 Report structure 15 2.0 Project Description 16 2.1 Study Area 16 2.2 Alternatives Considered 16 2.2.1 Key Project Requirements 16 2.2.2 Development of Other Ports 17 2.2.3 Other Sites 17 2.2.4 Alternatives within Port Kembla 17 2.3 Staged Development 23 2.3.1 Stage 1 23 2.3.2 Stage 2 24 2.3.3 Stage 3 24 2.4 Project Cost Estimate 28 2.5 Key Design and Construction Issues 28 2.5.1 Stage 1 Berthing Arrangement and Construction Activities 28 2.5.2 Reclamation Fill 29 2.5.3 Construction Issues 29 2.6 Project Timing 30 3.0 Statutory Controls and Approval Process 31 3.1 Commonwealth Environmental Assessment Process 31 3.2 NSW Environmental Legislation and Assessment Process 31 3.2.1 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 31 3.2.2 Fisheries Management Act 1994 33 3.2.3 Contaminated Lands Management Act 1997 33 3.2.4 National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 34 3.2.5 Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 34 3.3 Regional Environmental Plans and Strategies 35 3.3.1 Illawarra Regional Environmental Plan 35 3.3.2 Illawarra Regional Strategy 2007 35 3.3.3 Port Kembla Land Use Review Strategy 35 3.4 State Environmental Planning Policies and State Strategies 36 3.4.1 State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 36 3.4.2 State Infrastructure Strategy (2006) 36 3.4.3 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 36 3.4.4 Three Ports State Significant Sites Proposal, Exhibition Draft May 2008 37 3.4.5 State Environmental Planning Policy No.71 – Coastal Protection 37 3.5 Local Environmental Plans 37 3.5.1 Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 1990 37 3.6 Development Control Plans 37 4.0 Consultation 38 4.1 Overview 38 Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development 5 December 2008 4.2 Planning Focus Meeting 38 5.0 Preliminary Environmental Assessment 40 5.1 Topography, Geology, Soils and Sediments 40 5.1.1 Existing Environment 40 Sediments 41 5.1.2 Potential Impacts 41 5.1.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 42 5.2 Contamination 43 5.2.1 History 43 5.2.2 Existing Environment 43 Site condition 43 Water Quality 44 Sediment Quality 45 Summary of Contamination Issues 45 5.2.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 46 5.2.4 Mitigation Measures 47 5.3 Hydrology and Water Quality 47 5.3.1 Existing Environment 47 5.3.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 49 5.3.3 Mitigation Measures 49 5.4 Traffic and Transport 49 5.4.1 Existing Environment 49 5.4.2 Potential Impacts 52 5.4.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 54 5.5 Aquatic Ecology 55 5.5.1 Existing Environment 55 5.5.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 56 5.5.3 Mitigation Measures 56 5.6 Terrestrial Ecology 56 5.6.1 Existing Environment 56 Matters of National Environmental Significance 57 NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 57 Green and Golden Bell Frog 57 5.6.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 58 5.7 Socio-Economic 60 5.7.1 Existing Environment 60 5.7.2 Potential Impact 60 5.7.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 60 5.8 Noise and Vibration 61 5.8.1 Existing Environment 61 5.8.2 Potential Impact 61 5.8.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 61 5.9 Air Quality 62 5.9.1 Existing Environment 62 5.9.2 Potential Impacts 62 5.9.3 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 62 5.9.4 Mitigation Measures 63 5.10 Landscape and Visual Amenity 63 5.10.1 Existing Environment 63 5.10.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 63 5.11 Land Use 64 5.11.1 Existing Environment 64 5.11.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 65 5.12 Heritage 65 5.12.1 Existing Environment 65 5.12.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 65 5.13 Sustainability and Climate Change 65 5.13.1 Climate change impacts on ports 65 Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development 5 December 2008 Impacts on other infrastructure 66 5.13.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 66 5.14 Waste Management 67 5.14.1 Existing Environment 67 5.14.2 Methodology for Environmental Assessment 68 6.0 Environmental Risk Appraisal 69 6.1 Issues Identification 69 6.2 Prioritisation of Issues 69 6.2.1 Approach 69 6.2.2 Assessment 70 7.0 Conclusion 75 8.0 References 76 Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development 5 December 2008 Executive Summary Port Kembla Port Corporation (PKPC) proposes to develop the Outer Harbour of Port Kembla to attract new trades as well as increasing the volume of existing cargoes. Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd (Maunsell), in association with ENSR Australia (ENSR) and Bassett Acoustics, has been engaged to undertake an environmental impact assessment for a proposed port expansion on behalf of Port Kembla Port Corporation. PKPC has received formal notification from Department of Planning that the Port Kembla Outer Harbour development is subject to Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This Preliminary Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the provisions under Part 3A, to assist in the preparation of the Director Generals requirements for the project. A Master Plan to guide future development in the Outer Harbour of the Port has recently been completed. A number of development options for the Outer Harbour were considered and compared during preparation of the Master Plan. The preferred option was selected due to its ability to accommodate potential future container trade and flexibility to accommodate other future trades. Physical features of the preferred development option include the following: x At least 42 hectares of reclamation, carried out in stages x 1770 metres total new berth length x A total of seven berths, including: - Four container berths with a total berth length of 1150 metres - Two new multi purpose / bulk berths with a total berth length of 620 metres - A new multi purpose / bulk berth at the site of the existing Jetty 6 x Retention of the existing oil berth x Berthing basins and approaches with up to 15m water depth below lowest astronomical tide (LAT) for new berths x Road and rail infrastructure to support the expansion The Port Kembla Outer Harbour development, as described in this report, comprises three discrete stages. Stage 1 comprises reclamation and dredging for the concept plan, construction and operation of part of the multi purpose terminal and construction of part of the container terminal, berthing facilities, truck loading and unloading facilities, and road and rail infrastructure. Stages 2 and 3 will comprise the construction and operation of the remaining portions of the multi purpose terminal and container terminal, additional berthing facilities, and further development of road and rail links and connections. PKPC is seeking concurrent concept plan approval, for all stages of development, and major project approval for all components of stage 1. This Preliminary Environmental Assessment report outlines the project description and discusses alternative options considered as part of the Master Planning process. The findings of a preliminary environmental assessment are outlined and key environmental issues identified. Methodologies for detailed environmental impact assessment are recommended within the report. Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development 5 December 2008 Page 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background Port Kembla Port Corporation (PKPC) proposes to develop additional landside facilities in the Outer Harbour of Port Kembla (the Port) to attract new trades as well as increasing the volume of existing cargoes. Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd (Maunsell), in association with ENSR Australia (ENSR) and Bassett Acoustics, has been engaged to undertake an environmental impact assessment for a proposed port expansion on behalf of Port Kembla Port Corporation. PKPC has received formal notification from the Director-General of the Department of Planning (DoP) that the Port Kembla Outer Harbour development is subject to Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (EP&A Act). This Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) has been prepared for submission to the DoP to satisfy provisions under Part 3A of the EP&A Act.