BaT project Appendix D Community consultation report BaT (Bus and Train) project Communication and Consultation Report November 2013 – June 2014 Executive summary The Department of Transport and Main Roads (the department) is planning the BaT (Bus and Train) project on behalf of the Queensland Government. The BaT project is a proposed new 5.7 kilometre north-south tunnel that will deliver rail and bus together in a world-first design. It combines a railway and a busway in a single, double-decked, 15-metre-wide tunnel beneath the Brisbane River and Central Business District (CBD). When completed, the project will provide a critical new link in South East Queensland’s public transport network. Given the scope, significance and complexity of the BaT project, a far-reaching information and engagement program was planned to keep the community and other stakeholders informed about the project, its benefits and design elements, and to provide opportunities for stakeholders to have input into the development of the Reference Design and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This Communication and Consultation Report outlines the consultation strategy, activities and outcomes between November 2013 and June 2014. To date, three rounds of community consultation have been planned, and of these, two rounds have been completed. The first round of information (Round 1 consultation) was released in November 2013 with the launch of the project’s Concept Design. During this round of consultation, stakeholders and the community had an opportunity to comment on the project with the release of the Draft Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement. The second round of information (Round 2 consultation) was released in March 2014 with the launch of the project’s Draft Reference Design. This step in the planning process outlined the key elements of the project including the preferred alignment, the location of stations and portals, and how the project might be constructed and operated. Part of the department’s decision to release a Draft Reference Design was to seek community feedback to inform the development of the Reference Design. This was an important part of planning for the BaT project and ensured that the community and other stakeholders had direct input into the development of the project in the early stages, where they could help shape the direction of the project going forward. The overall communication approach for Round 2 consultation involved a mix of mass communication activities to raise general awareness of the project and a range of more targeted, local-area-specific activities to ensure residents and stakeholders most directly affected were aware of the project and had opportunities for feedback. Affected property owners received a letter personally signed by the department’s Director-General advising them of the project’s progress and potential impact, and more than 350,000 Brisbane households and businesses, across 70 suburbs, received the BaT newsletter. A range of engagement activities were undertaken including six community information sessions, an online chat, online survey, briefings, presentations, meetings, public displays, visits to stations to distribute project materials, an awareness and media campaign as well as launching a project website and providing social media updates. Over nearly five weeks, more than 3,000 people participated in the Round 2 community consultation program. Community feedback was gathered about the benefits and potential impacts of the design, with many comments relating to the project’s northern and southern portals. Communication and Consultation Report, BaT (Bus and Train) project, November 2013 – June 2014 i While community feedback identified that the BaT project is in the public interest with most stakeholders generally supportive of the project and the long-term benefits it would provide, some concerns were raised about: • the location of the northern tunnel portal and impacts to Victoria Park • the location of the southern tunnel portal and the decommissioning of Dutton Park Station • construction impacts, including noise, dust, vibration, construction traffic, spoil extraction and haulage as well as worker parking and access • property impacts, including volumetric acquisition, impact on property values and underground property development opportunities. Community and stakeholder feedback on the Draft Reference Design was considered and further technical investigations were undertaken. As a result, on 24 June 2014, the Queensland Government announced significant design refinements to the BaT project to address community and stakeholder concerns. The refined design included a significant decrease in the permanent impacts to Victoria Park at the northern portal, with the majority of infrastructure to be contained within the existing transport corridor and the bus alignment being stacked over the BaT rail infrastructure instead of running through the park adjacent to the rail line. The refined design also allowed Dutton Park Station to remain open at the southern portal. Overall, between November 2013 and June 2014 (rounds 1 and 2 consultation), the project engaged with a variety of stakeholders including government agencies, industry groups, potentially affected property owners, local residents and businesses, advisory groups, commuters and the general public. Approximately 4,000 people participated in the consultation program with more than 2,200 pieces of feedback received by the project. Community feedback gathered has greatly assisted the project team to understand community values and local issues, and has significantly helped refine and shape the project design. Feedback also informed the development of mitigation measures to reduce, or where possible eliminate, construction impacts. These measures are outlined in the project’s EIS and Draft Outline Environmental Management Plan. The third round (Round 3 consultation) of community consultation for the project would be undertaken with the release of the Reference Design and EIS. This would include the opportunity for agencies and the public to make submissions about the project and the EIS in accordance with the statutory requirements of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. This consultation will be supported by the distribution of the project’s second newsletter and numerous engagement activities, similar to the activities implemented for the release of the Draft Reference Design. Beyond the third round of consultation, communication and consultation activities will be ongoing for future phases of the project including during the procurement, detailed design, construction and operational phases of the project. Consultation during these phases will rely on and build upon the strong relationships established during earlier rounds of consultation and will employ a range of communication and engagement tools. The community consultation program for the BaT project has been undertaken in accordance with the Terms of Reference for an environmental impact statement – Underground Bus and Train project (January 2014) and the document: Preparing an environmental impact statement: Guideline for proponents. Communication and Consultation Report, BaT (Bus and Train) project, November 2013 – June 2014 ii Table of contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 About the project ..................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Project phases ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Proponent ................................................................................................................................ 3 2.4 Project team ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.5 Project history .......................................................................................................................... 3 3 Study corridor ................................................................................................................................. 4 3.1 Consultation catchment ........................................................................................................... 4 4 Consultation purpose .................................................................................................................... 6 5 Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................... 7 5.1 Stakeholder identification ........................................................................................................ 7 5.2 Stakeholder segmentation ....................................................................................................... 7 6 Consultation program .................................................................................................................. 10 7 Community consultation ............................................................................................................. 12 7.1 Project materials ...................................................................................................................