Request for a Scoping document for EIS

Background Information to Sandford Street Extension

1 Background
The project comprises the investigation, design and construction supervision of the
extension of Sandford Street (currently Morisset Street) to the Federal Highway at the
Antill Street roundabout.

Sandford Street has been nominated as an arterial road in the Territory Plan, providing
an alternative route linking the Federal and Barton Highways, access to the Bimberi
Youth Justice Centre, and for heavy vehicle access to Mitchell.

2 Objective
The objective of this project is to construct the extension of Sandford Street (currently
Morisset Street) to Federal Highway and the work will provide:
 An alternate route (to Northbourne Avenue) for vehicles travelling between the
Federal Highway and Barton Highway.
 Heavy vehicle access to Mitchell.
 Transport infrastructure for the development of and Kenny.
 Reducing traffic delays for Gungahlin residents.
 traffic and public transport access to the new Youth Justice Centre “Bimberi”,
• traffic and transport to the future suburbs of Harrison 4 and Kenny by extending
Sandford Street
• address the stormwater management issues relating to Sullivans Creek crossing,
particularly the inclusion of water quality control measures,
• formalise existing equestrian routes,

The proposed construction of Sandford Street is required to facilitate adjacent

residential development in Harrison and Kenny for 2012-13 based on the “Indicative
Residential Land Release Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 – April 2008 by Chief
Minister’s Department”.

This land release program has necessitated the commencement of the construction
works by February 2010.

3 EIS Process
The project described above has triggered the need for an EIS under the Planning and
Development Act (Refer Schedule 4 of the Act) on the following basis.

There are two potential triggers of an ecological nature under Schedule 4, Part 4.3, of
the P&D Act which could require the preparation of an environmental impact
statement for the proposed road extension. These are:

SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION 1

Background Information – October 09
 • if the proposal is likely to adversely impact on the conservation status of a
species or ecological community that is endangered; or
• if the proposal involves the clearing of more than 0.5ha of native vegetation.

Particular attention will be given to analyse the most likely trigger for action under the
EPBC Act is the potential impact of the road on the endangered ecological
community, White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum woodlands and derived
native grasslands.

Traffic and transport impact on suburbs Hackett and Watson will also be assessed as
part of this EIS process.

The EIS process is described in the Planning and Development Act and Regulations.

The basic steps in the process can be summarised as follows (noting this is a
simplified list);

1. Proponent request to ACTPLA for scoping document on EIS

2. ACTPLA requests scope items from ’referral entities’
3. Scoping document provided to proponent
4. Proponent prepares Draft EIS
5. Draft EIS lodged with ACTPLA for checking
6. ACTPLA publicly notifies draft EIS
7. Public submissions received on Draft EIS
8. ACTPLA accepts draft EIS or provides opportunity for proponent to
address any unaddressed matters
9. ACTPLA discusses draft EIS with DEWHA
10. Provide draft EIS and Assessment Report to ACTPLA Minister
11. Minister approves EIS.

The above steps assume that no public consultation on the scope of the EIS is required
and that Ministerial discretion is not applied to the decision on whether to undertake
an EIS, notification to legislative assembly and/or, an inquiry is not necessary.

A separate referral to the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act may be required and
will depend on the findings of the proposed ecological investigations as identified in
the project brief.

4 Scope of works
The project comprises the forward design of the extension of Sandford Street from
Flemington Road to Federal Highway.

The consultant has been engaged to produce design plans and reports and associated
documents to DR (Document Readiness) stage to this project that covers:

• Traffic analysis data consistent with short term and long term requirements for
Sandford Street;

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Background Information – October 09
• Intersection of Sandford Street and Well Station Road, incorporate the crossing of
Wells Station Road with regard to its historical context;
• DR requirements for a single carriageway of Sandford Street as an arterial road
from Flemington Road to Federal Highway;
• Associated access requirements to the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre including
ACTION bus stop and access requirements;
• Associated existing individual block access requirements including maintaining
24 hour local access during construction;
• Associated intersections for accessing Harrison and Kenny;
• Intersection of Sandford Street with the Federal Highway;
• Associated culvert crossing and floodway works (Kenny Water Quality Control
Pond is not covered in this contract);
• Associated floodway and equestrian trail following Sandford Street road
alignment;
• Noise impacts and any remediation measures required within the road reserve to
reduce noise at the residential interface to acceptable levels;
• Associated landscape components for the roads;
• Review the existing geotechnical reports and comment on any possible
constraints;
• All existing services within the road alignment and area to be landscaped
including stormwater, trunk water, trunk sewer, electricity, gas and
telecommunications;
• Include all on-road/off-road cycleway/pedestrian path routes;
• Make provision for future services including conduits at road crossings;
• Provide temporary traffic management and traffic control devices to be used
during construction;
• Identify the extent of earthworks and strategies for spoil management. Indicate
any fill within the project area;
• Include streetlights;
• Include erosion control measures;
• Provide a detailed cost estimate for all works to be constructed;
• Comply with the WSUD General Code (Water Ways) for the management of
stormwater runoff quality and quantity;
• Arrange for the alteration to the boundary and cadastral information and the
adjustments of all relevant records in accordance with the proposed design.
• Provide all kerb/median information in CAD format, as well as one copy of each
appropriate plan with the submission of the DR report; and
• Identify any impact (if any) on Natural Temperate Grasslands or other matters of
National Environmental Significance or other controlled event under the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
(1999) to allow assessment on whether a referral under the Act is required.
• If required, prepare EIS in accordance with the Planning and Development Act
2007.

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Background Information – October 09
5 Project Details
Project Details
Site Location map and Project Site
Detailed concept and layout plan showing all proposed
buildings, structures, plant and equipment and other
facilitates (temporary and permanent)
The nature, sources, location and quantities of all materials to
be handled on site including the storage and stockpiling of
raw materials.
Access, internal roads, car parking, equipment compounds
and proposed infrastructure associated with the project.
All activities, including chemical and mechanical to be
conducted as part of the project.
Waste treatment process involved, including site drainage,
and erosion control.
Life of the project and employment projections.
volume and characteristics of liquid and solid wastes
generated;
construction methods;
hours of work (construction and operational);
existing infrastructure available on and adjacent to the project
site(s);
extent of any clearing of vegetation; and land tenures
affecting the project site(s).
SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION
Background Information – October 09
Comments
Refer to the attached map – Figure 1
Blocks , 601, 738, 393, 440, 774, 775, 751, 753,, 376, ( Refer to the Application)
Suburb: Gungahlin
Mostly rural Blocks and no plant and equipment identified. For further details refer to:
SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
SCOPING STUDY AND ASSESSMENT OF EIS REQUIREMENTS
Construction works described above and will involve excavation, earth works, stockpile and
reuse of material
Infrastructure proposed described above
Construction chemicals applicable road construction works will be used.
Typical construction waste to be generated and will be managed to comply with EPA’s erosions
and pollution control measures.
2 years ( including 12 months defect liability periods)
Minor waste resulting from construction works
Road construction
7am to 5pm
Flemington Road and associated infrastructure
Refer to the Ecological Report Attached.
Land tenure: Lessee’s agreement detailed in the Application.
4
6 Matrix of Potentially Significant Environmental
impacts
A preliminary review of potentially significant environmental impacts has identified
the specific impacts summarised in the table below.
Reference:
Summary
Project- • SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION
TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
Potentially Significant Environmental
Impact To be investigated
Bio-diversity and Nature
conservation Yes
Environmentally Sensitive
Areas Yes
Threatened Species and
Communities Yes
Aboriginal and European
Cultural heritage To be investigated
Erosion and Sediment Yes
Water Quality Yes
Flooding No
Contaminated Sites Yes
Traffic and Transport Yes
Construction stage Yes
Long Term Transport
Options No

7 References documents
Project Scope
• ACTPS - Project Brief for the FOR DESIGN AND
SUPERINTENDENCE CONSULTANCY SERVICES WELL STATION DRIVE
EXTENSION TO HORSE PARK DRIVE AND SANDFORD STREET
EXTENSION TO FEDERAL HIGHWAY
David Hogg Reports
• SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION TO THE FEDERAL
HIGHWAY SCOPING STUDY AND ASSESSMENT OF EIS
REQUIREMENTS
• SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION TO THE FEDERAL
HIGHWAY - ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Planning and Engineering

• The Territory Plan;

• East Gungahlin Structure Plan dated March 2008;
• Final Sketch Plan of Well Station Drive Extension dated February
2007 by Bill Guy and Partners;
• Report for Kenny Sandford Street Extension Feasibility Study dated
August 2001 by Brown Consulting Engineers;
• Review of Infrastructure Planning for Sullivans Creek Catchment Final
Report dated July 2003 by Bill Guy and Partners; and

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Background Information – October 09
• Environmental Protection Guidelines for Construction and Land Development in
the ACT, EPA ACT August effective 31 March 2008.

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Site Plan: See Attachment.

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Background Information – October 09