SESA Pipeline Environment Effects Report / Environmental Impact Report SESA Pipeline Environment Effects Report (Victoria) and Environmental Impact Report (South Australia) Prepared for: Origin Energy Retail Ltd Level 13, 1 King William Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 Prepared by: Ecos Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd 26 Greenhill Road Wayville South Australia 5034 December 2004 04139-SSA-E-001-Rev0 © Origin Energy Retail Ltd (2004) Published by Origin Energy This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for private study research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright owner. Cover photo: Landscape near Penola, typical of the SESA Pipeline route, showing scattered River Red Gums over exotic pasture. The pipeline has been aligned to avoid clearing mature River Red Gums. Origin Energy SESA Pipeline EER/EIR Preface The proposed SESA Pipeline requires a variety of regulatory approvals under Victorian and South Australian legislation. This document is a joint Environment Effects Report / Environmental Impact Report (EER/EIR) prepared in support of applications for Victorian Pipeline Permits and a South Australian Pipeline Licence under the Victorian Pipelines Act 1967 and the South Australian Petroleum Act 2000 respectively. The EER/EIR will be on public display during normal business hours at the following locations: Victoria South Australia Minerals and Petroleum Business Centre Minerals and Petroleum Centre Level 16 Ground Floor 1 Spring Street 101 Grenfell Street MELBOURNE ADELAIDE West Wimmera Shire Council Wattle Range Council 49 Elizabeth Street 27 Arthur Street EDENHOPE PENOLA (also available at George Street, MILLICENT) In accordance with Petroleum Act 2000 requirements, a Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) will be exhibited concurrently with the EER/EIR in South Australia. The intent of the SEO is to outline the environmental objectives to which construction and operating activities must conform and the criteria upon which achievement of these objectives will be assessed. Copies of these documents can be obtained from Origin Energy, by telephoning 08 8217 5376. The documents can also be viewed on the PIRSA Petroleum web site at: (www.pir.sa.gov.au/petrol/consultation). Public Comments The EER/EIR (and SEO in South Australia) provide a basis for public commentary on the proposal, the environmental impacts, proposed mitigation measures and environmental objectives. Comments should: be made in writing identify the project and provide your name and address identify any special interest you may have in the project (where relevant) mention the section number and heading used in the EER/EIR (or SEO in South Australia) if you are commenting on specific text within the EER/EIR (or SEO in South Australia). Comments should be sent to either of the following according to the applicable state to which the comment relates. Victoria South Australia Senior Tenements Officer Attention: Belinda Close Minerals and Petroleum Regulation Petroleum Group Department of Primary Industries Primary Industries and Resources SA Level 16, 1 Spring Street GPO Box 1671 MELBOURNE Vic 3000 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Comments must be received no later than the date specified in the Public Notice as issued by the respective state government. i Origin Energy SESA Pipeline EER/EIR Further Information Further information regarding the SESA Pipeline Project can be obtained by contacting: Yvette Reade Manager Public Relations Origin Energy GPO Box 1199, Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: (08) 8217 5376 ii Origin Energy SESA Pipeline EER/EIR Executive Summary Origin Energy (Origin) proposes to construct an underground gas transmission pipeline, the SESA Pipeline, from the SEA Gas pipeline in western Victoria to the Katnook gas plant and the Ladbroke Grove Power Station in South Australia’s south east. The proposed pipeline is approximately 45 km long, with approximately 22 km in Victoria and 23 km in South Australia. It would commence at the existing buried off-take valve on the SEA Gas pipeline near Poolaijelo in Victoria and terminate at Ladbroke Grove, near Penola in South Australia. The proposed route predominantly traverses cleared pasture and agricultural areas and cleared firebreaks through forestry plantations. The SESA Pipeline has been proposed in direct response to a need to augment local gas supplies currently provided by the Ladbroke Grove and Katnook gas fields. Respectively these fields service the Ladbroke Grove Power Station and the retail demand via the South East Pipeline system, the latter providing reticulated gas supplies to Mount Gambier and several regional industries. The fields have finite production and additional gas supplies will progressively be required to ensure continuity of supply to the region. Construction of the pipeline is scheduled to occur during late summer / early autumn 2005, with pipeline infrastructure (meter stations) to be constructed around August 2005. This schedule has been selected to utilise dry-weather construction conditions for pipeline construction and meet gas supply requirements at Katnook and Ladbroke Grove. It is dependent upon the timing of all required regulatory approvals. Pipeline construction is typically carried out within a 25 m wide easement or right-of-way, using a production line approach. A number of specialised crews pass along the right-of-way, fabricating and installing the pipeline then backfilling and rehabilitating the right-of-way. This Environmental Effects Report / Environmental Impact Report (EER/EIR) has been prepared to support applications for Pipeline Permits1 under the Victorian Pipelines Act 1967 and a Pipeline Licence under the South Australian Petroleum Act 2000. It documents the environmental assessment of the Project. The results of this assessment indicate that: Soils along the route range from clays to sands. The erosion potential of these soil types varies from low to high; however, the flat terrain reduces the overall risk of erosion. There is potential for the occurrence of acid sulphate soils between Kilometre Point (KP) 23 and 44 in South Australia. Karst landforms with potential subsurface caverns are present in the region between KP 27 and 44 and caverns may be present on or near the route. 1 Origin Energy has applied for two Pipeline Permits to cover the two sections of the pipeline in Victoria: the SEA Gas pipeline to the Poolaijelo meter station (approximately 600 m in length) and the Poolaijelo meter station to the Victorian/South Australian border (approximately 21.5 km). iii Origin Energy SESA Pipeline EER/EIR The region is generally poorly drained. Six small watercourses are present on the Victorian section of the route and swampy depressions and seasonally inundated areas are common throughout. Shallow groundwater is present for much of the South Australian section of the route, although it is not expected to be intercepted by the trench. The route predominantly traverses cleared plantation firebreaks or open grazing land with scattered trees and generally avoids areas of remnant vegetation. It intercepts native vegetation in moderate to poor condition at a limited number of locations (mainly road reserves and a creek crossing) and parallels linear vegetation remnants in several areas. Potential habitat for significant fauna (e.g. trees suitable for use by breeding Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne or wetlands suitable for use by the Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis) occurs in the general region and is present adjacent to the route in several locations. There are no known sites of indigenous or non-indigenous heritage significance and the route is generally considered to be of low archaeological sensitivity. Land-use along the route is dominated by plantation forestry and agriculture. Small areas used for irrigated dairy and viticulture exist near the proposed route. The SESA Pipeline route has been selected in a manner that facilitates the conservation of remaining local intrinsic environmental values. Route selection involved progressive refinement and realignment of the route using information from available mapping, field reconnaissance, interpretation of aerial photography, preliminary and detailed ecological assessment, landholder consultation, risk assessment and detailed survey. The route avoids impacting significant features such as karst depressions, wetlands, large trees, key habitat areas, rural residences and areas of intensive land-use. The assessment of potential impacts associated with the construction and operation of the pipeline has indicated that the impacts will generally be localised and of short term duration. The existing environment will not be subject to substantial or significant change and, following construction, existing agricultural and forestry practices will be able to continue. A range of issues require management to ensure that potential impacts are kept to acceptable levels. The key issues are: erosion and sedimentation, particularly at watercourse crossings potential occurrence of acid sulphate soils between KP 23 and 44 potential occurrence of subsurface caverns from KP 27 to 44 presence of seasonal wetlands near the alignment vegetation clearance, mainly in crossings of isolated linear remnants (e.g. roads) presence of native vegetation adjacent