ASSESSMENT REPORT for the CENTRAL EYRE IRON PROJECT Environmental Impact Statement Land use components ‐ Sea Port at Cape Hardy, Infrastructure Corridors and Wudinna long‐term employee village Iron Road Ltd March 2017 Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure ISBN 978‐0‐7590‐0258‐6 1 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 6 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................ 7 2.1 Major Development Declaration and Guidelines ................................................................... 7 2.2 Environmental Impact Statement exhibition .......................................................................... 8 2.3 Response Document ............................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Final Environmental Impact Statement .................................................................................. 9 2.5 Assessment Report ................................................................................................................. 9 2.6 Decision ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.7 Subsequent Decisions Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act) ......................................... 10 3. CAPE HARDY SEA PORT ............................................................................................................. 11 3.1 General .................................................................................................................................. 11 3.1.1 Site and locality ............................................................................................................. 11 3.1.2 Existing environment .................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Project description – key elements ....................................................................................... 13 3.3 Summary of submissions ...................................................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Public submissions ........................................................................................................ 18 3.3.2 Government submissions.............................................................................................. 18 3.4 Key Environmental, social and economic issues ................................................................... 19 3.4.1 Site selection and consideration of alternative sites .................................................... 20 3.4.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.4.3 Noise and Vibration ...................................................................................................... 21 3.4.3 Terrestrial Environment ................................................................................................ 22 3.4.4 Coastal and Marine Environment ................................................................................. 26 3.4.5 Hazard and Risk ............................................................................................................. 36 3.4.6 Light Spill ....................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.7 Visual Amenity and Landscape Character ..................................................................... 37 3.4.9 Heritage Impacts ........................................................................................................... 39 3.4.10 Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas/Sustainability ...................................................... 40 3.4.11 Management Strategies during Construction and Operation .................................. 42 4 PRINCIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR (Rail, Water & Electricity Supply) .......................... 44 4.1 General .................................................................................................................................. 44 4.1.1 Site and locality ............................................................................................................. 44 4.1.2 Existing environment .................................................................................................... 45 4.1.3 Project Description – key elements .............................................................................. 45 4.2 Summary of Submissions ...................................................................................................... 46 2 4.2.2 Public submissions ........................................................................................................ 46 4.2.3 Government submissions.............................................................................................. 48 4.3 Key environmental, social and economic issues ................................................................... 48 4.3.1 Rail alignment selection and consideration of alternatives .......................................... 48 4.3.2 Land Tenure .................................................................................................................. 49 4.3.3 Impact on Road network/treatment for road/rail crossings ........................................ 50 4.3.4 Transport safety and emergency response .................................................................. 51 4.3.5 Moving over – dimensional (OD) loads ......................................................................... 51 4.3.6 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 52 4.3.7 Noise and vibration ....................................................................................................... 54 4.3.8 Light spill/nuisance ....................................................................................................... 56 4.3.9 Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area (WPA) ............................................................. 57 4.3.10 Fire Management ...................................................................................................... 58 4.3.11 Terrestrial impacts (flora and fauna) ........................................................................ 59 4.3.14 Visual impacts/landscape quality .............................................................................. 62 4.3.15 Agricultural practice impacts .................................................................................... 63 4.3.16 Surface Water ........................................................................................................... 64 4.3.17 Groundwater ............................................................................................................. 66 4.3.18 Greenhouse gas/sustainability .................................................................................. 67 4.4 ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDOR (Yadnarie Spur) ................................................. 68 4.4.1 General .............................................................................................................................. 68 4.4.1.2 Existing environment ................................................................................................ 68 4.4.2 Project Description – key elements ......................................................................................... 69 4.4.3 Key environmental, social and economic issues ............................................................... 69 4.5 WATER SUPPLY (Borefield) Corridor .................................................................................... 70 4.5.1 General .............................................................................................................................. 70 4.5.2 Project Description – key elements .............................................................................. 71 4.6 Summary of Submissions ...................................................................................................... 72 4.6.1 Public Submissions ........................................................................................................ 72 4.6.2 Government Submissions ............................................................................................. 72 4.7 Key Environmental, Economic and Social Issues ........................................................................ 72 4.7.1 Construction and operation .......................................................................................... 73 4.7.2 Impact on other uses/users .......................................................................................... 73 5 WUDINNA LONG‐TERM EMPLOYEE VILLAGE .................................................................... 74 5.1 General ........................................................................................................................................ 74 5.1.1 Site and locality ............................................................................................................. 74 3 5.1.2 Existing Environment .................................................................................................... 75 5.2 Project description – key elements ............................................................................................