New Intercity Fleet Springwood to Lithgow Rail Corridor Modifications Review of Environmental Factors August 2017 Contents Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ 8 Definitions ................................................................................................................... 10 Executive summary ..................................................................................................... 12 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 17 1.1 Overview of the Project ............................................................................. 17 1.2 Location of the Project .............................................................................. 18 1.3 Existing infrastructure and land uses ........................................................ 21 1.4 Purpose of this Review of Environmental Factors ..................................... 23 2 Need for the Project .............................................................................................. 24 2.1 Strategic justification ................................................................................. 24 2.2 Need for the Project .................................................................................. 25 2.3 Design development ................................................................................. 25 2.4 Project options .......................................................................................... 25 3 Description of the Project ...................................................................................... 27 3.1 The Project ............................................................................................... 27 3.2 Construction activities ............................................................................... 32 3.3 Property acquisition .................................................................................. 36 3.4 Operation management and maintenance ................................................ 36 4 Statutory considerations ........................................................................................ 37 4.1 Commonwealth legislation ........................................................................ 37 4.2 NSW legislation and regulations ............................................................... 37 4.3 State Environmental Planning Policies ...................................................... 40 4.4 Local environmental planning instrument and development controls ......... 41 4.5 NSW Government policies and strategies ................................................. 43 4.6 Ecologically sustainable development ....................................................... 44 5 Community and stakeholder consultation .............................................................. 45 5.1 Stakeholder consultation during concept design ....................................... 45 5.2 Consultation requirements under the Infrastructure SEPP ........................ 45 5.3 Consultation strategy ................................................................................ 46 5.4 Public display ............................................................................................ 47 5.5 Aboriginal community involvement ............................................................ 47 5.6 Ongoing consultation ................................................................................ 47 6 Environmental impact assessment ........................................................................ 49 6.1 Non Indigenous heritage ........................................................................... 49 6.2 Indigenous heritage .................................................................................. 63 6.3 Noise and vibration ................................................................................... 65 6.4 Traffic and transport .................................................................................. 86 6.5 Urban design, landscape and visual amenity ............................................ 92 6.6 Socio-economic impacts ........................................................................... 96 6.7 Biodiversity ............................................................................................... 99 6.8 Soils and water ....................................................................................... 108 6.9 Air quality ................................................................................................ 116 6.10 Other impacts ......................................................................................... 118 6.11 Cumulative impacts ................................................................................ 119 6.12 Climate change and sustainability ........................................................... 121 7 Environmental management ................................................................................ 124 7.1 Environmental management plans .......................................................... 124 New Intercity Fleet - Springwood to Lithgow Rail Corridor Modifications - Review of Environmental Factors – August 2017 2 7.2 Mitigation measures ................................................................................ 124 8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 134 References ............................................................................................................... 135 Appendix A Consideration of matters of National Environmental Significance ........ 138 Appendix B Consideration of clause 228 ................................................................ 139 Appendix C Construction compounds ..................................................................... 141 Appendix D Neutral or beneficial effect assessment ............................................... 149 Appendix E Non-indigenous heritage maps and database search results ............... 151 Appendix F Landscape and visual impact assessment ........................................... 167 Appendix G Sensitive community receivers surrounding the Project site ................ 169 Appendix H Threatened communities, flora and fauna tables ................................. 181 Appendix I Sensitive noise receivers ..................................................................... 187 Figures Figure 1 Planning approval and consultation process for the Project ......................................15 Figure 2 Project site overview (part 1 of 2) ..............................................................................19 Figure 3 Project site overview (part 2 of 2) ..............................................................................20 Figure 4 Scope of works for the project ..................................................................................27 Figure 5 Proposed work at Katoomba Station .........................................................................30 Figure 6 Proposed work at Lithgow Station .............................................................................31 Figure 7 Junction between heritage platform and 2009 extension...........................................53 Figure 8 Station platform lifts, pedestrian ramp and proposed platform extension area ..........54 Figure 9 Regional context and NCA locations .........................................................................66 Figure 10 Blue Mountains Line – mode of travel .....................................................................86 Figure 11 TECs within the Project site (part 1 of 4) ...............................................................101 Figure 12 TECs within the Project site (part 2 of 4) ...............................................................102 Figure 13 TECs within the Project site (part 3 of 4) ...............................................................103 Figure 14 TECs within the Project site (part 4 of 4) ...............................................................104 Figure 15 Hydrologic features (part 1 of 2) ............................................................................109 Figure 16 Hydrologic features (part 2 of 2) ............................................................................110 Figure 17 Linden Station - locations of primary construction compounds and registered heritage items .......................................................................................................................142 Figure 18 Woodford Station – locations of primary construction compounds and registered heritage items .......................................................................................................................143 Figure 19 Katoomba Station - locations of primary construction compounds and registered heritage items .......................................................................................................................144 New Intercity Fleet - Springwood to Lithgow Rail Corridor Modifications - Review of Environmental Factors – August 2017 3 Figure 20 Blackheath Station - locations of primary construction compounds and registered heritage items .......................................................................................................................145 Figure 21 Newnes Junction Station - locations of primary construction compounds