41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement Contents Executive Summary xxvii 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Project Description 1 1.2 Project Objectives 5 1.3 Project Proponent 5 1.4 Objectives of the EIS 7 1.5 Public Consultation Process 8 1.6 Project Approvals 9 2. Project Substantiation 19 2.1 Need for the Project 19 2.2 Relationship to Other Projects 20 2.3 Alternatives 21 3. Description of the Project 37 3.1 Location and General Description 37 3.2 Construction 39 3.3 Ballast Supply and Logistics 41 3.4 Water Supply/Storage 42 3.5 Stormwater Drainage 43 3.6 Workforce and Accommodation 43 3.7 Electricity and Telecommunications 45 3.8 Transport 46 3.9 Waste 46 3.10 Rail Operations 46 4. Environmental Values and Management of Impacts 49 4.1 Land Systems 49 4.2 Climate 69 4.3 Water Resources 71 4.4 Nature Conservation 78 4.5 Historic and Cultural Heritage 113 4.6 Social and Economic Environment 121 4.7 Air Environment 147 4.8 Noise and Vibration 149 4.9 Waste 155 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement 4.10 Traffic, Transport and Access Arrangements 159 4.11 Hazard and Risk 179 5. Environmental Management Plan 195 5.1 Introduction 195 5.2 Environmental Management Processes and Responsibility 195 5.3 Environmental Training of Personnel 198 5.4 Auditing 199 5.5 Monitoring and Reporting under the EMP 199 5.6 Non•conformance and Corrective Action 200 5.7 Statutory & Other Requirements 200 5.8 Draft Environmental Management Plans 201 6. Conclusions and Recommendations 229 6.1 Conclusions 229 6.2 Recommendations 230 7. References 231 Table Index Table 1 Summary of Terms of Reference Objectives for this Environmental Impact Statement 2 Table 2 Permits/Licenses and Approvals required for project 12 Table 3 Environmentally Relevant Activities relevant to this Project 14 Table 4 Comparisons of environmental features for Options B and C (Southern Alternative) 32 Table 5 Project Staging 39 Table 6 Estimated volumes of major construction materials 41 Table 7 Forecast average daily train numbers and coal haulage 47 Table 8 Landowners Information 49 Table 9 Descriptions of soil map units within the Project Area 63 Table 10 Summary of stream discharge at Suttor River, Eaglefield (1/10/1967 – 03/01/2005) (NRM, 2005) 72 Table 11 Summary of Proposed Drainage Structures along Rail Corridor 76 Table 12 Regional Ecosystem Descriptions and Conservation Status 83 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement Table 13 Difference between certified and ground truthed RE Mapping 84 Table 14 Area of Regional Ecosystems to be cleared 93 Table 15 Significant and migratory fauna previously recorded, observed or potential habitat occurs within Project Area 98 Table 16 Summary of Development History of Regional Towns Impacted by the Proposal 122 Table 17 Population: Local, Regional and State (B01 2001) 124 Table 18 Age Distribution: Local, Regional and State (B03 2001) 124 Table 19 Family Structure: Local, Regional and State (B17 2001) 124 Table 20 Number of people affected on the properties directly impacted by the project 125 Table 21 Industry Workforce: Local, Regional and State (B26 2001) 125 Table 22 Dwelling Type and Quantity: Local, Regional and State (B18 2001) 127 Table 23 Community and public services and facilities within the region 127 Table 24 Local, Regional and State Labour Force (B22 2001) 130 Table 25 Summary of impacts on property management during different phases of the project 134 Table 26 Number of affected paddocks and laneways for each property along the preferred alignment 138 Table 27 Proposed Cattle, Vehicle and Machinery Crossings 140 Table 28 Mitigation measures to impacts on property management 145 Table 29 Results of Ambient Noise Level Measurements, Monitoring Location A (Denham Park) 149 Table 30 Results of Source Noise Level Measurements, Duaringa 153 Table 31 Wastes likely to be generated 156 Table 32 Potential Waste Impacts 158 Table 33 Existing and Future Traffic Volumes 161 Table 34 Summary major materials required for construction 162 Table 35 Proposed method of transport for construction materials 164 Table 36 Construction Traffic Scenarios 167 Table 37 Coal Haulage Volumes 170 Table 38 Traffic Impact by Intersection 172 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement Table 39 Traffic Impact by Road Segment 173 Table 40 Pavement Impact Scoping Summary 175 Table 41 QR System•wide Coal Haul Accident Profile Rating 180 Table 42 Projected Annual Number of Accident/Incident for the Northern Missing Link (69 km *) 181 Table 43 Risk Assessment – Planning 185 Figure Index Figure 1•1 Locality 3 Figure 1•2 Project Area 4 Figure 2•1 Northern Missing Link Alternatives 25 Figure 2•2 Alignment Options (A•D) for the Southern alternative to the Northern Missing Link 29 Figure 2•3 Preferred Alignment 35 Figure 4•1 Southern Section • Alignment and existing infrastructure 53 Figure 4•2 Central (south) Section • Alignment and existing infrastructure 54 Figure 4•3 Central (north) Section • Alignment and existing infrastructure 55 Figure 4•4 Northern Section – Alignment and existing infrastructure 56 Figure 4•5 Land use along the Northern Missing Link alignment 57 Figure 4•6 Mining, petroleum and exploration leases within Project Area 58 Figure 4•7 View west from top of rise on the Suttor Developmental Road towards proposed rail crossing (at base of rise) 59 Figure 4•8 Photos of land uses and infrastructure within the Project Area 60 Figure 4•9 Soil characteristics along proposed alignment 62 Figure 4•10 Soil map of the study area 65 Figure 4•11 Monthly Temperature Averages (Moranbah Water Treatment Plant) (data from Bureau of Meteorology) 70 Figure 4•12 Relative Humidity (Moranbah Water Treatment Plant) (data from Bureau of Meteorology) 70 Figure 4•13 Monthly Averages of Rainfall (Moranbah Water Treatment Plant) (data from Bureau of Meteorology) 71 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement Figure 4•14 Plot of stream flow at Suttor River, Eaglefield (1/10/1966•1/10/2004) (NRM, 2005) 73 Figure 4•15 Photos of Waterways within the Project Area 74 Figure 4•16 Regional Ecosystems 81 Figure 4•17 Photos of Regional Ecosystems along the Rail Corridor (photos M. Olsen) 86 Figure 4•18 Photos of Regional Ecosystems along Rail Corridor (photos M. Olsen) 87 Figure 4•19 Location of Dichanthium queenslandicum 91 Figure 4•20 Threatened fauna observed or previously recorded within the Project Area 97 Figure 4•21 Photos of Habitat for the Ornamental Snake 104 Figure 4•22 Habitat for Ornamental Snake within Project Area 107 Figure 4•23 Native Title Claims within the Project Area 115 Figure 4•24 Graph showing jobs that will be created during the NML project 133 Figure 4•25 Proposed Transport Routes 161 Figure 4•26 Light Vehicle Trip Distribution 168 Figure 4•27 Heavy Vehicle Trip Distribution 169 Figure 4•28 Location of Road Segments Analysed 174 Appendices A Terms of Reference B Summary of Terms of Reference against EIS Sections C Project Alternatives D Detailed Design Parameters E Preliminary Vertical and Horizontal Design Drawings F Terrestrial Flora Study G Terrestrial Fauna Study H Draft Cultural Heritage Management Plans I Social and Economic Impact Assessment J Land Access Protocol K Noise Study L Traffic Calculations M Management Commitments 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement Glossary AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic AHD Australian Height Datum ANZECC Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council ATP Exploration permits for petroleum CHMP Cultural Heritage Management Plan BMA BHP MITSUI Alliance Coal Pty Ltd CO Carbon Monoxide COAG Council of Australian Government CoG The Coordinator•General of the State of Queensland CWP Construction Work Procedures DA Development Application DBCT Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal DEH Department of Environment and Heritage DLGP Department of Local Government and Planning DMR Department of Main Roads DNRM Department of Natural Resources and Mines DPI&F Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries DSDI Department of State Development and Innovation EIS Environmental Impact Statement EMP Environmental Management Plan EMS Environment Management System EO Environmental Officer EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1994 EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPBC Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EPP Environmental Protection Policy EPC Exploration permits for coal ERA Environmentally Relevant Activity ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement ESA Equivalent Standard Axles GOC Government Owned Corporation IAS Initial Advice Statement as defined by Part 4 of the State Development & Public Works Organisation Act 1971 IDAS Integrated Development Assessment System IPA Integrated Planning Act 1997 Mtpa Mega tonnes per annum NES National Environmental Significance NML Northern Missing Link NOx Oxide of Nitrogen NTRB Native Title Representative Body PCQ Ports Corporation of Queensland PVMP Property Vegetation Management Plan QR Queensland Rail RE Regional Ecosystem REDD Regional Ecosystem Description Database RIA Road Impact Assessment SDPWOA State Development & Public Works Organisation Act 1971 SEIA Social and Economic Impact Assessment TOR Terms of Reference as defined by Part 4 of the State Development and Public Works Act 1971 VMA Vegetation Management Act 1999 41/14976/327628 Northern Missing Link Environmental Impact Statement THIS PAGE HAS INTENTIONALLY BEEN LEFT BLANK