Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Upgrading the Pacific Highway Environmental Assessment Submissions Report and Preferred Project Report May 2009 RTA/Pub.09.132 Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Upgrading the Pacific Highway ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUBMISSIONS REPORT AND PREFERRED PROJECT REPORT RTA/Pub.09.132 ISBN 978-1-921598-48-7 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUBMISSIONS REPORT AND PREFERRED PROJECT REPORT Contents 1 Introduction and background ...................................................................1 1.1 The proposal..................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Statutory context ........................................................................................................................................1 1.3 Environmental assessment exhibition ..............................................................................................1 1.4 Purpose of the document ......................................................................................................................2 2 Response to submissions...........................................................................3 2.1 Respondents ..................................................................................................................................................3 2.2 Overview of issues raised .....................................................................................................................3 2.2.1 NSW Government agencies ...................................................................................................................3 2.2.2 Local government ..........................................................................................................................................4 2.2.3 Community groups and individuals ......................................................................................................5 2.3 Strategic and project need .....................................................................................................................5 2.3.1 General support for the project ............................................................................................................5 2.3.2 General opposition to the proposed upgrade ..............................................................................6 2.3.3 Program and project objectives .............................................................................................................7 2.3.4 Use of Pacific Highway by heavy vehicles ........................................................................................7 2.3.5 Alternatives considered ..............................................................................................................................8 2.4 Planning and approvals ..........................................................................................................................15 2.4.1 Environmental assessment display ..................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Environmental assessment documents ........................................................................................... 15 2.4.3 Pre-empting of approvals process ..................................................................................................... 16 2.5 Community consultation .....................................................................................................................17 2.5.1 General..............................................................................................................................................................17 2.5.2 Consultation with the Bangalow community .............................................................................. 18 2.5.3 Adequacy of consultation .......................................................................................................................19 UPGRADING THE PACIFIC HIGHWAY | TINTENBAR TO EWINGSDALE UPGRADE 2.5.4 Request for extension of time for public display of environmental assessment .... 20 2.5.5 Consultation and communication in relation to drinking water catchments ............ 20 2.6 Concept design .........................................................................................................................................21 2.6.1 Overview .........................................................................................................................................................21 2.6.2 Possible future changes to the current design............................................................................ 21 2.6.3 Southern Bangalow bypass and access to Lismore ................................................................. 22 2.6.4 Bangalow interchange ...............................................................................................................................23 2.6.5 Ivy Lane interchange ..................................................................................................................................28 2.6.6 Ross Lane interchange ..............................................................................................................................29 2.6.7 Ewingsdale interchange ............................................................................................................................30 2.6.8 Bridges and culverts ...................................................................................................................................32 2.6.9 Existing highway ...........................................................................................................................................32 2.6.10 Cyclists ...............................................................................................................................................................33 2.6.11 Tunnel design ................................................................................................................................................34 2.6.12 Truck stop .......................................................................................................................................................34 2.6.13 Service relocations ......................................................................................................................................35 2.6.14 Land acquisition ............................................................................................................................................36 2.6.15 Water use ......................................................................................................................................................37 2.6.16 Ancillary construction facilities ............................................................................................................. 37 2.7 Hydrology ...................................................................................................................................................38 2.8 Water quality ..............................................................................................................................................38 2.8.1 Assessment approach ...............................................................................................................................38 2.8.2 Consultation ...................................................................................................................................................47 2.8.3 Water quality guidelines ..........................................................................................................................49 2.8.4 Catchment zoning .......................................................................................................................................53 2.8.5 Water quality modelling ..........................................................................................................................55 2.8.6 Water quality impacts ..............................................................................................................................56 2.8.7 Existing water treatment plant ............................................................................................................ 63 2.8.8 Management of impacts ..........................................................................................................................64 | NSW ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUBMISSIONS REPORT AND PREFERRED PROJECT REPORT 2.9 Groundwater ..............................................................................................................................................69 2.9.1 Impacts on groundwater flows ............................................................................................................ 69 2.9.2 Groundwater impacts of tunnel ......................................................................................................... 69 2.10 Ecology ...........................................................................................................................................................71 2.10.1 General..............................................................................................................................................................71 2.10.2 Ecological survey methodology ..........................................................................................................