Environmental Impact Statement Townsville Ocean Terminal Project FINAL November 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES AND MANAGEMENT OF IMPACTS - PART 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 4.8 Air........................................................................................................................................................1 4.8.1 Description of Environmental Values .............................................................................................1 4.8.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................4 4.9 Visual Amenity and Lighting ...............................................................................................................9 4.9.1 Description of Environmental Values .............................................................................................9 4.9.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................................................11 4.10 Noise and Vibration ..........................................................................................................................16 4.10.1 Description of Environmental Values.......................................................................................16 4.10.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................................17 4.11 Nature Conservation.........................................................................................................................22 Plate 4.11.2 Cleveland Bay Protected Areas .............................................................................................24 4.11.1 Description of Environmental Values ..............................................................................................25 4.11.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................................35 Monitoring Programme...................................................................................................................................42 4.12 Cultural Heritage...............................................................................................................................45 4.12.1 Description of environmental values........................................................................................45 4.12.2 Potential impacts and mitigation measures .............................................................................48 4.13 Social ................................................................................................................................................49 4.13.1 Description of Environmental Values ...........................................................................................49 4.13.2 Potential impacts and mitigation measures..................................................................................51 4.14 Health and Safety .............................................................................................................................55 4.14.1 Description of Environmental Values.......................................................................................55 4.14.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................................59 4.15 Economy...........................................................................................................................................67 4.15.1 Description of environmental values........................................................................................67 4.15.2 Potential impacts and mitigation measures .............................................................................68 4.16 Hazard and Risk ...............................................................................................................................73 4.16.1 Description of Environmental Values.......................................................................................73 4.16.2 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................................74 Page (i) Environmental Impact Statement Townsville Ocean Terminal Project FINAL November 2007 This page to be left intentionally blank Environmental Impact Statement Townsville Ocean Terminal Project FINAL November 2007 4.8 Air An air quality assessment was undertaken by Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd (ANE) including a review of available data on air quality in Townsville, monitoring of ambient air quality and dispersion modelling of potential air quality impacts arising from the project and from relevant emission sources. 4.8.1 Description of Environmental Values Existing and Future Sensitive Receptors At present the nearest receptors with a potential sensitivity to air quality impacts are located at the Casino Peninsula and Mariners Drive Peninsula. Residential and commercial activities at these locations could be affected by construction and/or operational emissions from the TOT project. The TOT project will also introduce residential and commercial receptors with a potential to be affected by air quality emissions at the project site. These receptors will be in closer proximity to the existing Port of Townsville than existing commercial and residential developments in the area. The receptors at the TOT project will also be in close proximity to the proposed cruise ship terminal and will therefore have potential to be affected by these operations. Potential Amenity Impacts Criteria air pollutants' is a term used internationally to describe air pollutants that have been regulated and are used as indicators of air quality. The regulations or standards are based on criteria that relate to health and/or environmental effects. One key feature of criteria air pollutants is that they are generally widely distributed across the country. The following criteria pollutants have been identified as key indicators of air quality in urban environments: • Fine particulate matter (PM10); • Photochemical oxidants (particularly ozone, O3); • Oxides of nitrogen (NOx); • Carbon monoxide (CO); • Lead (Pb); and • Sulphur dioxide (SO2). The potential impacts of existing Port operations on the project site have been assessed through a comprehensive air quality monitoring program. Monitoring of particulates, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbons has been undertaken at positions representative of the project site. The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has also undertaken extensive monitoring of the so-called ‘black dust’ identified by some in the community as resulting from emissions from the Port. Of these pollutants, those most likely to be emitted in measurable quantities from activities at the Townsville Port include fine particulate matter (from combustion processes and loss of material during loading operations) and gaseous pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide (primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels). The following sections provide an overview of each of these criteria pollutants including potential impacts and major sources. Page 4:1 Environmental Impact Statement Townsville Ocean Terminal Project FINAL November 2007 ANE’s analysis of the impacts of Port activities on air quality is discussed in Section 2.2 of this EIS. Nitrogen Dioxide The major source of nitrogen dioxide in Australia is the burning of fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. Most of the nitrogen dioxide in cities comes from motor vehicle exhaust (about 80% v/v). Other sources of nitrogen dioxide are petrol and metal refining, electricity generation from power stations, other manufacturing industries and food processing. For the purposes of the assessment primary sources of nitrogen dioxide include: • Motor vehicle traffic in the Townsville area; • Marine craft using the Townsville Port area; and • Railway locomotives transporting materials to and from the Townsville Port site. Sulphur Dioxide Sulphur dioxide is present in emissions from transportation sources, as the result of fuel combustion. The concentration of sulphur oxides (including sulphur dioxide) in vehicle exhausts is related to the concentration of sulphur present in the fuel. Industrial emissions of sulphur dioxide as a result of coal burning were, historically, the most significant source of emissions. Presently, transport sources are estimated to contribute less than 5 % of total emissions of sulphur oxides. With recent changes to national legislation to reduce the sulphur content in fuel, future emissions are expected to reduce further in coming years. For the purposes of the assessment, primary sources of sulphur dioxide include: • Motor vehicle traffic in the Townsville area; • Marine craft using the Townsville Port area; and • Railway locomotives transporting materials to and from the Townsville Port site. Particulates Airborne particles are often referred to as 'particulate matter' or 'PM'. They include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Some particles are large enough or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke, while others are so small they can only be detected individually with a microscope. Some particles are emitted directly into the air from a variety of sources that are either natural or related to human activity. Natural sources include bushfires, dust storms, pollens and sea spray. Those related to human activity include motor vehicle emissions, industrial processes (eg electricity generation, incinerators