1 Department of Immigration and Citizenship Nauru Regional Processing Centre ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE REPORT BA24413 | 15 November 2012 Revision 1 2 Nauru Regional Processing Centre – Environmental Due Diligence Report Nauru Regional Processing Centre Environmental Due Diligence Report Document title: Nauru Regional Processing Centre – Environmental Due Diligence Report Version: Rev 1 Date: 16 November 2012 Prepared by: Elizabeth Hurst, Andrew Harrison, Travis Elsdon, James Robinson, Ross Kendrick, Sally Waller, David Endersby, Vanessa Edmonds, Karen Murphy, Paul Clapham, Tracey Birt. Approved by: John Peirce File name: BA24413_Nauru_Project_Environmental_Assessment_Report_Rev_1_141112.docx Sinclair Knight Merz ABN 37 001 024 095 214 Northbourne Terrace Braddon ACT 2612 Australia PO Box 930 Dickson ACT 2602 Tel: +61 (0) 2 6246 2718 Fax: +61 (0) 2 6246 2717 Web: www.globalskm.com COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd (SKM). Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of SKM constitutes an infringement of copyright. LIMITATION: This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of SKM’s client, and is subject to and issued in connection with the provisions of the agreement between SKM and its client. SKM accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. www.globalskm.com PAGE i 3 Nauru Regional Processing Centre – Environmental Due Diligence Report Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Project Overview .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Topside Site ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Black Soil Site ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.3 Staff Housing Site................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Desalination Plant Site ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 3. Site Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Site Description ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Current Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Historical Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 3.4 Zoning ................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 4. Statutory Frameworks ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 4.1 International Agreements ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Australian Government ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.3 Nauru Government ............................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 5. Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................................................................................ 24 5.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 24 5.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 5.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 6. Terrestrial Ecology ............................................................................................................................................................. 29 6.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 29 6.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 6.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 7. Coastal & Marine Ecology .................................................................................................................................................. 31 7.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 31 7.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 7.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 8. Soils & Geology .................................................................................................................................................................. 34 8.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 34 8.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 8.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 37 9. Hydrogeology ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 9.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 9.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 41 9.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 42 10. Waste Management ............................................................................................................................................................ 44 10.1 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................................................................ 44 www.globalskm.com PAGE ii 4 Nauru Regional Processing Centre – Environmental Due Diligence Report 10.2 Potential Impacts & Risks ..................................................................................................................................................... 45 10.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 47 11. Air Quality, Noise & Vibration ...........................................................................................................................................