Submission #3141 - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA Title of Proposal - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA Section 1 - Summary of your proposed action Provide a summary of your proposed action, including any consultations undertaken. 1.1 Project Industry Type Water Management and Use 1.2 Provide a detailed description of the proposed action, including all proposed activities. The Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme (SFIS) involves water offtake from the Donnelly River to irrigate approximately 1700 ha of land for horticultural and agricultural production in the Southern Forests region around Manjimup and Pemberton in the South-West of Western Australia. The SFIS has been developed to support the Manjimup SuperTowns vision of expanding the area’s horticulture industry and doubling the population over the next 15 years. The Manjimup SuperTown Agriculture Strategy (2014) and The Value of Horticulture Production in the Manjimup-Pemberton Area report (2014) highlighted the need to secure additional water to supply horticultural areas currently subject to water shortages. The SFIS will be constructed and operated by the Southern Forests Irrigation Cooperative (SFIC), which will operate as a water supply and trading. This referral is for the SFIS Project 2, which comprises (see Figure 1): 1. Approximately 253 km of water distribution pipelines between the Donnelly River offtake pump station to property outlets (irrigator connection points). The network will be split between the Middlesex line (southern network) and Graphite line (northern network). 2. Pipelines will generally be installed below ground but may potentially be above ground due to site constraints such as waterway crossings. Pipelines will have nominal diameters varying from 200 mm to 900 mm and be high density polyethylene (HDPE), however other materials may be used for above ground or high pressure sections. 3. A nominal 25-35 m wide corridor will be required for installation of pipelines, depending on pipe diameter. Pipelines will be laid in trenches approximately 1-2 m wide and have a nominal 700 mm cover to protect from surface activities. 4. An additional pump station at Yornup in the northern extent of the network to provide booster pumping for the Yornup line which comprises the northern end of the Graphite line and is likely to require pumping only during peak summer periods. 5. Two buffer storage dams of capacity approximately 60 ML and 45 ML to reduce the SFIS operating cost and utilise off-peak pumping. The 60 ML dam will service the Graphite line and the 45 ML dam will service the Middlesex line. Submission #3141 - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA A separate, concurrent referral has been submitted for the SFIS Project 1, which comprises the offtake on the Donnelly River, a storage dam on Record Brook and the transmission pipeline between the two. The full SFIS (projects 1 and 2) is described as a larger action later in this referral. 1.3 What is the extent and location of your proposed action? Use the polygon tool on the map below to mark the location of your proposed action. Area Point Latitude Longitude Project area 1 -34.024606426925 116.12558239136 Project area 2 -34.024037335044 116.26497142944 Project area 3 -34.128117567752 116.26497142944 Project area 4 -34.159941690139 116.26497142944 Project area 5 -34.159941690139 116.35011547241 Project area 6 -34.307539394766 116.3494288269 Project area 7 -34.307539394766 116.26222484741 Project area 8 -34.422882322292 116.26291149292 Project area 9 -34.426847066798 115.9443079773 Project area 10 -34.452330219859 115.9449946228 Project area 11 -34.452896423869 115.88182323608 Project area 12 -34.394557251277 115.88044994507 Project area 13 -34.32767207062 115.9443079773 Project area 14 -34.289671138366 115.9449946228 Project area 15 -34.289387489001 115.87083690796 Project area 16 -34.229799004476 115.86946361694 Project area 17 -34.159941690139 115.98482006226 Project area 18 -34.14800904906 116.00335949097 Project area 19 -34.149145563705 116.10154979858 Project area 20 -34.024606426925 116.12626903687 Project area 21 -34.024606426925 116.12558239136 1.5 Provide a brief physical description of the property on which the proposed action will take place and the location of the proposed action (e.g. proximity to major towns, or for off-shore actions, shortest distance to mainland). The proposed action is located within the Southern Forests area within the South-West region of Western Australia (see Figure 1) with Manjimup and Pemberton being the nearest major towns. Submission #3141 - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA The Middlesex line (southern network) buffer dam is proposed near Waistcoat Road on State Forest (Lot 6292 on plan 225724) with approximate coordinates 407 298 mE and 6 206 685 mN. The Graphite line (northern network) buffer dam is proposed off Graphite Road on private land (Lot 5959 on plan 201680) with approximate coordinates 406 554 mE and 6 212 960 mN. The Yornup Pump Station is proposed on private land (Lot No 11298 on plan 159677) approximately 750m west of South-Western Highway, approximately 20 km north of Manjimup. The proposed coordinates of the pump station are approximately 423 461 mE and 6 229 340mN (MGA Zone 50 H). 1.6 What is the size of the proposed action area development footprint (or work area) including disturbance footprint and avoidance footprint (if relevant)? Approx. 760ha (30m corridor) of pipelines and clearing of native vegetation of approx. 205ha. 1.7 Is the proposed action a street address or lot? Lot 1.7.2 Describe the lot number and title.The proposed action will extend across numerous properties; there is no single street address or lot 1.8 Primary Jurisdiction. Western Australia 1.9 Has the person proposing to take the action received any Australian Government grant funding to undertake this project? No 1.10 Is the proposed action subject to local government planning approval? No 1.11 Provide an estimated start and estimated end date for the proposed action. Start date 10/2018 End date 05/2022 1.12 Provide details of the context, planning framework and State and/or Local government requirements. Submission #3141 - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA Referral of the SFIS under the EPBC Act has been split into two referrals submitted concurrently: 1. Project 1: Donnelly River offtake and Record Brook dam / reservoir. 2. Project 2: Irrigation pipeline network. The purpose of splitting the referrals is to enable the irrigation pipeline network (Project 2) to be approved through a clearing permit under Part V of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), which has a reduced timeframe compared to assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under Part IV of the EP Act. This will enable pipeline (Project 2) construction to commence six to eighteen months ahead of the offtake and dam (Project 1) construction which is expected to be subject to a longer EPA assessment timeframe than a clearing permit. The benefit of splitting the referrals is that it will enable the staging of pipeline construction over a period of three and a half years, which will maximise the economic benefits of the construction program to the local community. Western Australian Government Approvals The proposed action will be referred to the EPA under Part IV of EP Act. The EPA may or may not decide to assess the proposed action. If the EPA assesses the proposed action then the action will require a Ministerial Statement under Part IV of the EP Act. If the EPA does not assess the proposed action then the action will require a clearing permit under Part V of the EP Act. A bed and banks permit may potentially be required for pipeline waterway crossings under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. This is due to the Donnelly River system being a proclaimed surface water area under the Act. A Section 18 consent to disturb Aboriginal heritage sites may be required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 depending on whether pipelines cross heritage sites. An Aboriginal heritage survey will be conducted to determine the presence and sensitivity of heritage sites, and pipeline routes re-aligned where practicable to avoid or minimise impacts to sites. Land tenure approvals will be required under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 and/or Land Administration Act 1997 for development in Crown reserves and leases. Local Government Approvals No local government approvals are required for the SFIS. 1.13 Describe any public consultation that has been, is being or will be undertaken, including with Indigenous stakeholders. Submission #3141 - Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme – Project 2: Irrigation Pipeline Network, South West region, WA Consultation has been undertaken with key stakeholders including Shire of Manjimup, Warren Catchment Council, Southwest Catchment Council, Conservation Council (WA Forest Alliance), Manjimup and Pemberton Landowners Group, Southern Forest Food Council, Potato Growers Association of WA, Wine Industry Association, Truffle Industry and Ribbons of Blue. Consultation has also been undertaken with State Government agencies including Department of Water and Environmental Regulation; Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; and Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. The consultation has been led by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as the lead Government agency providing support to the proponent in recognition of the importance of the proposed action to the State Government. Briefings were held in Pemberton and Manjimup with prospective water buyers (irrigators) in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The briefings in 2018 included attendance by members of the local press and the ABC. Consultation to date included an overview of the scope of the proposed action, key environmental issues, proposed mitigation and expected approvals process.