Onslow Power Infrastructure Upgrade Project EPA Part IV Referral Supporting Document 21 July 2014 Onslow Contents ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY ..................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1.1 Power Station ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.2 Transmission Network ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.3 Zone Sub-station ................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1.4 DDG interconnection ........................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Proponent ................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.2.1 Chevron Australia ................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.3 Purpose and Scope of Document ............................................................................................................ 9 2 Regulatory Framework and Environmental Assessments ..................................................... 12 2.1 Approval under the EP Act 1986 ........................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Approval under the AH Act 1972 ........................................................................................................... 12 3 Alternatives to proposal ........................................................................................................... 13 3.1 Wheatstone Project Power Station ........................................................................................................ 13 3.2 CITIC Pacific Power Station .................................................................................................................. 13 3.3 Generation Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Project Justification ................................................................................................................................ 14 4 Key Environmental Factors ...................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Soils and Landforms .............................................................................................................................. 15 4.1.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Water ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 17 4.3 Flora and Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 17 4.3.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 17 4.3.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 19 4.3.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 22 4.3.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 22 4.4 Fauna ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.4.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 22 4.4.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 24 4.4.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 24 4.4.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 24 4.5 Air Quality .............................................................................................................................................. 24 4.5.1 Regional Context ............................................................................................................................................... 24 4.5.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 24 4.5.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 25 4.5.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 25 4.6 Noise and Vibration ............................................................................................................................... 25 4.6.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 25 4.6.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 25 4.6.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 25 DMS # 2433246 Page 2 Onslow 4.6.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 25 4.7 Conservation Parks and Reserves ........................................................................................................ 25 4.7.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 25 4.7.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 26 4.7.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 26 4.7.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 26 4.8 Social ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 4.8.1 Baseline Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 26 4.8.2 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 27 4.8.3 Proposed Management Measures .................................................................................................................... 27 4.8.4 Predicted Environmental Outcome .................................................................................................................... 27 5 Stakeholder Consultation ......................................................................................................... 28 6 EPA Significance Test .............................................................................................................