Newcastle Light Rail Review of Environmental Factors April 2016 This report has been prepared by GHD for Transport for NSW and may only be used and relied on by Transport for NSW for the purpose agreed between GHD and Transport for NSW as set out in section 1.3 of this report. GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than Transport for NSW arising in connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent legally permissible. The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report were limited to those specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations set out in the report. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions encountered and information reviewed at the date of preparation of the report. 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Contents Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................. i Definitions ................................................................................................................................................. ii Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. iv 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 1.1 1.1 Background to the proposal .............................................................................................. 1.1 1.2 Key features of the proposal ............................................................................................. 1.2 1.3 Scope of the REF .............................................................................................................. 1.3 2. Location and setting .................................................................................................................... 2.1 2.1 Proposal site location and description .............................................................................. 2.1 2.2 The study area .................................................................................................................. 2.1 3. Statutory considerations .............................................................................................................. 3.1 3.1 Approvals pathway ............................................................................................................ 3.1 3.2 Requirements under other NSW environmental planning instruments and legislation .......................................................................................................................... 3.2 3.3 Approvals under Commonwealth legislation .................................................................... 3.5 3.4 Summary of approval requirements .................................................................................. 3.6 3.5 The assessment process .................................................................................................. 3.7 4. Community and stakeholder consultation ................................................................................... 4.1 4.1 Consultation objectives and approach .............................................................................. 4.1 4.2 Consultation prior to REF preparation .............................................................................. 4.1 4.3 Consultation during REF preparation ............................................................................... 4.4 4.4 Consultation during public display .................................................................................... 4.5 4.5 Post determination consultation ........................................................................................ 4.6 5. Strategic context, need and design development ....................................................................... 5.1 5.1 Strategic planning and project need ................................................................................. 5.1 5.2 Concept design development ........................................................................................... 5.3 5.3 Route alignment options ................................................................................................... 5.6 5.4 Light rail stop options ...................................................................................................... 5.10 5.5 Other options investigated .............................................................................................. 5.12 6. Description of the proposal features and operation .................................................................... 6.1 6.1 Overview of the proposal .................................................................................................. 6.1 6.2 Light rail infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 6.8 6.3 Road and transport infrastructure ................................................................................... 6.19 6.4 Design and development requirements .......................................................................... 6.24 6.5 Operation of the proposal ............................................................................................... 6.28 6.6 Maintenance ................................................................................................................... 6.31 7. Construction of the proposal ....................................................................................................... 7.1 Transport for NSW | Newcastle Light Rail – Review of Environmental Factors 7.1 Outline approach ............................................................................................................... 7.1 7.2 Construction methodology ................................................................................................ 7.6 7.3 Construction resources ................................................................................................... 7.10 7.4 Construction compounds ................................................................................................ 7.12 7.5 Construction traffic, transport and access management ................................................ 7.12 8. Traffic, transport and access ....................................................................................................... 8.1 8.1 Assessment approach and methodology.......................................................................... 8.1 8.2 Existing environment......................................................................................................... 8.3 8.3 Impact assessment ........................................................................................................... 8.7 8.4 Mitigation measures ........................................................................................................ 8.16 9. Noise and vibration ..................................................................................................................... 9.1 9.1 Assessment approach and methodology.......................................................................... 9.1 9.2 Existing environment......................................................................................................... 9.3 9.3 Noise and vibration management levels/criteria ............................................................... 9.6 9.4 Impact assessment ........................................................................................................... 9.9 9.5 Mitigation measures ........................................................................................................ 9.20 10. Non-Aboriginal heritage ............................................................................................................ 10.1 10.1 Assessment approach and methodology........................................................................ 10.1 10.2 Existing environment....................................................................................................... 10.1 10.3 Impact assessment ......................................................................................................... 10.9 10.4 Mitigation measures ...................................................................................................... 10.11 11. Aboriginal heritage ...................................................................................................................