Organisation
Date(s)
Legal Subcommittee - Oakajee Rail
Infrastructure Group (OPR, DLA Phillips Fox,
PTA, State Solicitor’s Office)
Ongoing monthly meetings
WA Local Government Association (Murchison
Zone)
Zone Meeting 06/11/09
Attendees: Shires of Cue, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Murchison, Sandstone
and Yalgoo, and The Hon Norman Moore MLC, Mr Ian Blayney MLA, Mr
Barry Haase MP, The Hon Wendy Duncan MLC.
Main Roads WA
Ongoing
Mid-West Development Commission
Ongoing
Meeting in October 2009 and May 2010
SIA consultation in July 2009
Mid-West Strategic Infrastructure Group
Meeting in July 2009
LandCorp Ongoing
Northern Agricultural Catchments Council
Meeting in September 2009 and May 2010
SIA Consultation in July 2009
Water Corporation
Ongoing
Western Power
Ongoing
Yamatji Land and Sea Council (represent
Wajarri Yamatji, Amangu and Naaguja Peoples
– see additional detail below)
Ongoing
Meetings in November 2008, January and May 2009, and May 2010
SIA Consultation in July 2009
Office for the Minister for the Environment
Briefing in August 2009
Office of Premier and Cabinet
Ongoing
PTA Ongoing
Federal Government Departments
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts (DEWHA)
Briefing in August 2009 and May 2010.
Elected Members
State Member for Geraldton, Greenough
Region (Mr. Ian Blayney MLA)
Meeting in June and July 2009
Briefing in October 2009
Attendance at SIA / EIA workshops in October 2009
Speaker Legislative Assembly. State Member
for Moore. (The Hon Grant Woodhams MLA)
October and November 2009 and May 2010 meetings
State Members for the Agricultural Region:
(The Hon Brian Ellis MLC, The Hon Mia Davies
MLC, The Hon Max Ternorden MLC)
Meetings in November and December 2009
SIA consultation in July 2009
Mining and Pastoral Region Member
(The Hon Wendy Duncan MLC)
Ongoing Correspondence
Meeting in November 2009
Legislative Assembly, Member for North West
(Mr Vince Catania MLA)
Formal engagement commenced in January 2010
Federal Member for O’Connor (Wilson Tuckey)
Ongoing Correspondence
Community
Recreational Groups (e.g. Great Northern
Football League, netball clubs, Geraldton 4WD
Club, Midwest Caravan Club of WA)
Ongoing Correspondence
Mid-West Employment and Economic
Development Aboriginal Corporation
Meeting in July 2009
SIA consultation in July 2009
Attendance at SIA / EIA workshops in October 2009
Mid-West Indigenous Employment Meeting
Ongoing, including meetings in November 2008, March and April 2009
Mullewa Wadjari Community
Ongoing, including meetings throughout 2008 and 2009.
Heritage protocol and negotiation framework meetings in February and
March 2009
August 2009 Heritage Protocol and Negotiation Framework Agreement
Signing
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Organisation
Date(s)
April 2010 Heritage Surveys for feasibility works
Naaguja Peoples
Ongoing, including heritage protocol and negotiation framework meetings.
September 2009 Heritage Protocol and Negotiation Framework Agreement
Signing
February and April 2010 Heritage Surveys for feasibility works
Wajarri Yamatji
Ongoing, including meetings in April, May and August 2009
Amangu People
Ongoing, including heritage protocol and negotiation framework meetings.
September 2009 Heritage Protocol Signing
February and April 2010 Heritage Surveys for feasibility works
Conservation Council
Pending
Wildflower Society
Meeting in June 2010
World Wildlife Fund – Australia
Pending
Professional / Industry
Mid-West Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Meeting in October 2009 and May 2010
SIA consultation in July 2009
Attendance at SIA Workshop in October 2009
GIOA
Community briefing in June 2009
SIA consultation in July 2009
Regional Service Providers including training
and employment providers
SIA consultation in July 2009
Attendance at SIA workshops in October 2009
Health Services Providers
SIA consultation in July 2009 and May and June 2010
Attendance at SIA workshops in October 2009
Geraldton Property Team
Meeting in July 2009 and May and June 2010
SIA consultation in July 2009
Attendance at SIA workshops in October 2009
Chamber of Mineral and Energy WA
September 2009 Regional Council Meeting
Customers
Ongoing, including meetings with Sinosteel Midwest Corporation,
Crosslands Resources, Karara Mining/Gindalbie Metals, Golden West
Resources, Cliffs Natural Resources, Cashmere Iron, Extension Hill,
Ferrowest, Emergent Resources, Giralia and Royal Resources.
Media
Main-stream WA and Mid-West media
(including Yamatji News, Geraldton Guardian,
Mid-West Times, Radio MAMA (Mid-West
Aboriginal Media Association), Shire
publications, WA Business News, The West
Australian, GWN TV, ABC Radio, Batavia
Coast FM)
Ongoing, including March 2009 Media Conference and June and November
2009 Media site tour.
Others
Farmers Federation
Meeting in October 2009
Landholders Ongoing
consultation regarding land access
OPR Reputation Survey (300 people in
Geraldton Greenough and WA’s Mid-West)
August 2009
Interested parties
OPR sundowner in February 2010
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6.3 ISSUES RAISED
Issues of interest to stakeholders and the community were categorised into themes, based on an
analysis of the OPR stakeholder engagement register (from May 2005 to present), information from
the Chapman Valley Coastal Management Strategy (developed in 2007) and SIA investigations
undertaken for OPR (by Coakes Consulting and Environmental Resources Management in 2009).
The social profiling entailed the review of secondary data and interviews with local members of each
of the affected municipal Councils relating specifically to the Proposal. Although the specific issues
varied between the communities, all cited a need for a greater focus on the attraction and retention
of a skilled workforce within their municipal district, as well as strategies to assist in addressing
alcohol and substance abuse (Coakes Consulting, 2008, Reputation Survey, 2008/09).
Stakeholder comments relating to environmental impacts associated with the Proposal are
summarised in Table 6‐3. A summary response to each item is provided, with a reference to the
section of this document which addresses the comment in more detail. Responses to these concerns
will also be raised in future stakeholder engagements (refer to Section 6.4).
Figure 6‐2 Stakeholder themes
Use of predominantly Fly in Fly out workforce
Medium
High
Low
Ranking
Local employment and training (especially for indigenous/Cray fishers)
Infrastructure development – power, water, roads
Housing – impacts of construction and residential workforce
Stimulus to local business – local content, compensation for fishers
Recreation / Tourism – loss of windsurfing/fishing
Service provision (health, education)
Indigenous training and employment
Planning with local agencies
Community development opp
Emissions – visual, dust, noise
Altered coastal processes
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Table 6‐3 Summary of stakeholder interests
Stakeholder concern
Stakeholder
Response
PER
Section
Potential impact on surface
water flows, particularly in
areas where vegetation is
dependent on sheetflow.
Farmers /
Landholders
Surface hydrology assessments have been conducted
along the Study Area. In addition potential sheetflow
dependent vegetation has been mapped. Engineering
design including the location of bridges and culverts
will maintain the existing natural environmental flows.
7.5
Salinity
State
Government
The Proposal is not expected to cause any significant
salinity impacts due to the long linear nature of the
proposed clearing
7.2
Potential groundwater
overuse, water sources
(desalination, groundwater)
State
Government
OPR is investigating groundwater availability along the
Study Area and abstraction will be licensed by DoW
pursuant to the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914
(RIWI Act). Other potential sources include dewatering
of ballast quarries or the OPR desalination plant (for
western sections (desalination plant does not form part
of this Proposal)).
7.6
Systemic planning of regional
water use
Farmers /
Landholders,
Community
The water source for the Proposal will be from
groundwater bores and potentially dewatering of
ballast quarries or the OPR desalination plant (for
western sections (desalination plant does not form part
of this Proposal)). At present it is expected that there
will not be excess groundwater pumped for
landowners, however this may be negotiated on a
case by case basis. Also negotiations may occur over
access to water sources already developed by the
landowner if required.
7.6
Disruption of the natural
variation in flora/SREs
State
Government
Planning of land disturbance locations has minimised
the impact to significant flora species and short range
endemic (SRE) habitat.
7.2, 7.3
Potential to ruin pristine areas
and bushlands
Community
The Proposal will result in the clearing of
approximately 6000 ha of native vegetation, however
the Proposal been designed to avoid significant
vegetation and flora where practicable.
7.2
Weed control; concerns about
introducing weeds to areas
that currently do not have
them (e.g.: Patterson’s curse)
via soil movement.
State
Government
Weed hygiene will be enforced on site. Topsoil
movement will be managed to ensure that weed seeds
are not transported into previously unaffected areas.
Vehicles will also be washed to ensure seeds are not
transported via tyres or undercarriage.
7.2
Potential for ores such as
uranium being exported
through the port
Community
The Proposal will service operating and proposed
mining operations within the Mid-West Region. Future
mining operations that may use Proposal infrastructure
will need to obtain all relevant environmental and other
approvals prior to development.
1.5.5
Indigenous cultural heritage.
Impacts on sites of
importance, rock art, song
lines, camping and burial
grounds.
State
Government
OPR is undertaking surveys to identify sites of cultural
and heritage significance within the Proposal Area.
Sites will be avoided if practicable but if not, approval
will be obtained under the Aboriginal Heritage Act
1972 prior to disturbance
7.12
Increase in traffic volumes and
railway noise
Farmers /
Landholders,
Community
Increased traffic on local roads will be confined to the
Proposal construction phase and all Proposal-related
traffic will comply with relevant statutory requirements.
Construction of the Proposal will reduce heavy
transport related pressures on the regional road
network.
Railway noise emissions will comply with State
Planning Policy 5.4 and negotiations with affected
landowners will occur to ensure that the noise levels in
this policy can be met.
7.14, 7.7
Interaction between the rail
and North West Coastal
Highway
Community
It will be a road over rail arrangement. A bridge will be
constructed and then the road will be realigned to
meet the bridge, allowing minimal disruption to those
using the North West Coastal Highway. Having the
road over rail situation will increase safety.
4.4.5
Community group involvement
Community
OPR will rehabilitate construction areas no longer
7.2, 9.2.3
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Stakeholder concern
Stakeholder
Response
PER
Section
in environmental projects
required during Proposal operation. It is likely that
external parties may be involved in this process.
Level and adequacy of
vertebrate surveys to be
conducted within the freehold
land areas
State
Government
A level 1 reconnaissance survey was recommended
as the appropriate level of survey within freehold area.
Targeted surveys were recommended in potential
habitat for conservation significant fauna.
5.2.2
EPBC Act listed species –
surveys undertaken,
management actions,
assessment process.
Commonwealth
Government
A referral was submitted to DEWHA for consideration.
DEWHA is satisfied with level of assessment and WA
bilateral agreement process for the Proposal.
8
Flora and fauna surveys have
not been conducted outside
the SAC
State
Government
Surveys of proposed disturbance areas which occur
outside the Special Act Corridor (SAC) (such as some
quarries and water supplies) will occur prior to
disturbance
7.2, 7.3
Depth of excavation of ballast
quarry sites.
State
Government
Ballast quarries may extend below the groundwater
table. A risk assessment for the potential impact on
troglofauna and stygofauna will be undertaken in
consultation with DoW as part of the RIWI Act
approval process.
4.4.3
Ballast quarry operation and
locations
State
Government
It has not yet been determined whether the ballast
quarries will be operated by OPR or a third party
(contractor). Regardless of the operator the quarries
will be managed in accordance with the commitments
in this Public Environmental Review.
Quarry locations will be determined after detailed
geotechnical surveys are completed. Final decisions
on the locations will take into account any
environmental and heritage constraints.
4.4.3
Moresby Range Priority
Ecological Community (PEC)
– level of flora survey outside
the SAC
State
Government
To date flora surveys have focused on where the
Study Area intersects the PEC.
5.2.1
Impact of the Proposal on the
Moresby Range PEC.
State
Government
Due to the engineering requirements for the Proposal
alignment (predominantly grade) the Proposal will not
significantly impact on the Moresby Range PEC (or
any other PEC).
7.2
Likelihood of the rail being
used for agricultural purposes
– grain/livestock
Farmers /
Landholders
It is unlikely in the early stages of the Proposal that the
rail will be utilised for grain and stock movements.
Nevertheless the Proposal is common user
infrastructure; therefore it may occur in the future if
deemed economically viable.
-
Increased potential for fire
from rail wagons
Farmers /
Landholders
Due to the dry and hot climate of the area fire control
is an issue that needs to be managed. Management
measures have been developed and will be
implemented throughout the construction and
operational phases of the Proposal
7.2
Impact to visual amenity
Farmers /
Landholders
Impacts on visual amenity are expected to be minimal
due to the Proposal alignment predominantly following
low points in the landscape.
7.13
Alienation of land/farm
infrastructure (may increase
operating costs for farmers,
require additional fencing)
Farmers /
Landholders
Landholders will be informed of the final Rail Corridor
alignment and any potential issues will be discussed.
Any concerns will be addressed at this stage.
7.9
OPR would not care about the
environment
Community
OPR operates under an Environmental Policy and is in
the process of developing an Environmental
Management System (EMS) to ensure protection of
the environment. OPR is committed to management
measures aimed at minimising the impact of the
Proposal on the surrounding environment, landowners
and indigenous heritage sites.
7, 9
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6.4 FUTURE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
OPR will continue to consult with stakeholders as identified in Table 6‐2 and other relevant
stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, throughout the Proposal construction and operational
phases on a range of environmental issues.
OPR is currently implementing a Community Stakeholder Engagement Plan, to ensure that future
communication and consultation will take place with key stakeholders through mechanisms as
described in Table 6‐4.
Table 6‐4 Future stakeholder engagement and consultation
Mechanism
Frequency of Use
Council meetings
As per Proposal milestones / approvals-based
Stakeholder meetings and briefings
As per Proposal milestones / approvals-based
Briefings, including presentations
As needs for relevant stakeholders
OPR luncheons and sundowners
Up to 4 per year
OPR Mid-West Community Office
Open 5 days per week
OPR Mid-West Community Office Open Days
2 per year
Community Informational Sundowner
Annual
Visits to the proposed Proposal site and site briefings
As needed for relevant stakeholders
Community consultation and interviews
As needed, up to 3 consultations per primary stakeholder group
SIA Workshops
As required, 3 workshops conducted in February 2010
Direct mail via letterbox drops, e.g. OPR newsletter and
Proposal update
Monthly/quarterly
OPR Newsletter ‘Oakajee Quarter’
Quarterly
Media advertorials, OPR Proposal Updates
Monthly
OPR Media releases
3 – 6 per year
Media relations including briefings and media site visits
Briefings as required, one media site visit per year
OPR Fact Sheets
Update as per Proposal milestones
Mid-West Liaison Group
Commencing Q4/2010 - quarterly
Sponsorship and partnership Proposals
Ongoing
Information resources – displays, posters and websites;
Ongoing
Attendance at Mid-West functions
Ongoing
Display and information both at local agricultural shows
Annual
Presentations at industry and business conferences and
events
Ongoing
Information/reporting line
Ongoing
OPR will maintain an enquiries/reporting line, which will allow the complaint to be directed to the
appropriate person. All complaints will be investigated as an incident, with the complainant
informed of the outcome of the investigation once it has concluded. Exact details of each complaint
response will differ on a case‐by‐case basis.
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7
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT
7.1
IDENTIFICATION OF RELEVANT FACTORS
Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) has identified the key environmental factors that are relevant to the
assessment of this Public Environmental Review (PER) in consultation with the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). Key environmental factors are those
that are considered likely to be materially impacted by construction and/or operation of the
Proposal. These key factors, and the associated scope of the PER with respect to the relevant
factors, was agreed via the EPA Board and DEWHA approved Rail Development Scoping Document
(OPR, 2010), as discussed in Section 1.2.
The following environmental factors are considered to be the key factors relevant to the Proposal:
•
vegetation and flora (including Declared Rare Flora (DRF), Threatened Ecological
Communities (TECs), Priority Flora and Priority Ecological Communities (PECs));
•
fauna (including vertebrate, short range endemics (SREs) and subterranean invertebrate
fauna);
•
surface hydrology;
•
groundwater;
•
noise, light and vibration;
•
air quality;
•
soil quality;
•
waste;
•
greenhouse gases;
•
visual amenity; and
•
other social and economic factors.
For each issue, the EPA objectives, applicable standards and legislation, potential impacts, proposed
management and mitigation measures, and the likely outcomes are identified. In some cases the
management measures may be similar; when this occurs the measures will be discussed in the factor
section where the potential impact is the greatest. An example of this is vegetation clearing, where
the impact on vegetation and flora can also have a potential impact on fauna (habitat disturbance).
OPR has completed baseline environmental surveys appropriate to the nature and scale of the
Proposal and has used the proposed Special Act Corridor (SAC) as its Study Area. With more detailed
investigations and planning some minor variations to the proposed SAC have been identified.
The level of survey work has significantly increased the regional data set and produced additional
location data for many species. In areas where the final SAC alignment varies from the current Study
Area, OPR will complete additional survey work to the required standard.
The findings of these surveys will be used to ensure that the impacts are not in excess of what is
described in this PER. If an increase in potential impact is unavoidable, an application to amend the
approval will be submitted. All management measures detailed in the PER will apply to all areas of
the final alignment.
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