15 Social and economic This chapter outlines the potential social and economic impacts associated with the project. A detailed social and economic impact assessment has been undertaken for the project and is included in Appendix M. The Secretary of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) has issued a set of environmental assessment requirements for the project; these are referred to as Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). Table 15-1 sets out these requirements as they relate to social and economic matters, and identifies where they have been addressed in this environmental impact statement (EIS). Table 15-1 SEARs – social and economic SEAR Where addressed A description of the existing socio-economic environment. Section 15.2 Social and economic impacts to businesses and the community within Section 15.3 the vicinity of the proposal, with associated property acquisition, traffic, access, property, public domain and open space, and amenity and health related changes (including the broader regional impacts associated with the closure of the Alexandria landfill site should this be part of the proposal). An assessment of the impact of the proposal on community facilities, Section 15.3 including open space and recreational facilities. The assessment must include the use of existing facilities impacted by the proposal, and options and opportunities for the relocation and / or reconfiguration of the community facilities, both temporary and permanent. Impacts on directly affected properties and land uses, including impacts Section 15.3 related to access, land use, settlement and subsidence associated with tunnel excavation, property acquisition (including relocations and Chapter 13 (Land use and expenses for those properties acquired) and amenity related changes. property) Chapter 19 (Groundwater) Where there are potential impacts to the OEH estate reserved under the Chapter 13 (Land use and National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 or where the proposal is located property) upstream of OEH estate, an assessment of the matters to be considered outlined in the Guidelines for developments adjoining land and water managed by DECCW (DECCW, 2010a). Opportunities for local centre and street revitalisation near the St Peters Appendix L (Urban interchange. design report) Potential impacts on utilities (including communications, electricity, gas, Chapter 13 (Land use and and water and sewerage) and the relocation of these utilities. property) A draft Community Consultation Framework identifying relevant Appendix E (Draft stakeholders, procedures for distributing information and community consultation receiving/responding to feedback and procedures for resolving framework) stakeholder and community complaints during construction and operation. Key issues that must be addressed in the draft Strategy include: • traffic management (including property access, pedestrian access), • landscaping/urban design matters, • construction activities including out of hours work; and • noise and vibration mitigation and management. WestConnex New M5 15-1 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement 15.1 Assessment methodology The social and economic impact assessment considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative social and economic impacts of the project on the following groups / communities: • Residents (directly affected, local and regional) • Businesses • Users of education, health and other community services and facilities • Users of open space and recreational facilities • Commercial road users including freight transport operators • Private road users. The methods for assessing the social and economic impacts (positive and negative) of the project were developed with consideration of the Environmental Impact Assessment Practice Note − Socio- economic Assessment (Roads and Maritime, 2013a). The methodology for the social and economic impact assessment included: • Defining the relevant study area for the social and economic impact assessment, taking into account the extent or scale of the potential impacts of the project, including both direct and indirect impacts, and the context of the area surrounding the project • Developing a profile of the study area and surrounds, including relevant statistics to provide a better understanding of the social and economic circumstances of the study area that could be potentially affected by the project • Describing groups or particular communities that may be affected by the project, including directly impacted property owners, the general community, local businesses and road users (including freight and commercial vehicles), as well as those indirectly affected through traffic impacts, including public transport and cycling changes • An assessment of the project’s potential impacts with regard to property, business, community facilities, open space, public domain, community values, as well as access and connectivity. The focus was mainly on directly affected properties but also considered those in the vicinity of the project, as well as impacts on through traffic and transport movements in the study area • A cumulative assessment of the social and economic impacts of all phases of the WestConnex program of works, combined with the impacts of other relevant planned and anticipated projects • Identification of measures to mitigate or manage the potential social and economic impacts of the project. Economic impacts were considered at a local and regional level, where appropriate. Further details of the social and economic impact assessment methodology are provided in the technical working paper: Social and economic (Appendix M). WestConnex New M5 15-2 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement 15.1.1 Study area The study area for the assessment included the local government geographical statistical areas (as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)) that encompass the project, as well as the wider catchment as it relates to the use of the project. The following local government areas (LGAs) were identified as the areas most likely to experience social or economic impacts due to the project: • Canterbury LGA • Hurstville LGA • Rockdale LGA • Botany Bay LGA • Marrickville LGA • Sydney LGA. The study area adopted for this assessment is presented in Figure 15-1. As the majority of the project would be in tunnels, physical and direct impacts would be limited to areas close to the western (ie at Kingsgrove and Beverly Hills) and eastern (ie at St Peters) extents of the project and at other locations where temporary (construction) and permanent (operational) surface infrastructure facilities are proposed for the project. While social impacts generally occur on a community level, business impacts such as changes to turnover or employment generally occur at the location of the business activity. This is due to the fact that businesses can also rely on the attractiveness and accessibility of their location to induce business activity. As such, businesses that are located far beyond the boundaries of the project are unlikely to be impacted by the project, unless they rely on the M5 East Motorway corridor for freight or delivery purposes. The study area is used as a thoroughfare for freight and commercial activity linking south-western Sydney to Port Botany and Sydney Airport. Therefore, the project would deliver some benefits related to freight and commercial movement beyond the scope of the study, across broader Sydney and at a state-wide or national level. 15.1.2 Economic multipliers Economic multipliers are used to quantify economic impacts or changes in economic activity resulting from a stimulus, such as construction of the project. These multipliers have been calculated from the most recent ABS input-output tables (ABS Australian National Accounts: Input-Output Tables 2012/13, 5209.0.55.001, 25 June 2015). The tables describe inter-industry transactions among 114 industries, showing the levels of inputs required to produce a given output at the national level. State-level input-output tables can be derived by adjusting the national table to reflect each state’s inter-industry transactions and final demand flows, based on information and data at the state level within the Australian national accounting system and on the latest Census data. WestConnex New M5 15-3 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement (blank page) WestConnex New M5 15-4 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement (blank page) WestConnex New M5 15-6 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement 15.2 Existing environment A baseline profile of the existing environment for the social and economic study area has been informed by the most recent release of the Australian Census of Housing and Population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012c), unless otherwise stated. The census was carried out in 2011 and provides the best available dataset for establishing baseline social and economic profiles. The baseline profile for the social and economic study area has been compared with data for the Greater Sydney Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), as defined by the ABS. This comparison has been carried out to provide context to the social and economic characteristics of the study area. The Greater Sydney GCCSA represents the socio-economic extent of Sydney. It includes people who regularly socialise, shop or work within Sydney but may also live in the surrounding small towns and rural areas. The baseline profile for the social and