Oyston Rd Intersection Improvement & Refractory Rd Culvert Extension

The project includes the improvement of the Great Eastern Freeway at Oyston Road (66.63 SLK) and the extension of a canal near Refractory Road (75.01 SLK). The Oyston Road junction improvements will widen the Great Eastern Freeway on the north side of the existing stretch to create a turning bulge, making it safer for eastbound traffic to turn right onto Oyston Road. Extending the channel west of Refractory Road will allow for the construction of a safer shoulder, as well as the possibility of a future left slip lane on Refractory Road.

Clearing of natural vegetation is the most significant environmental impact of the projects with 0.16ha to be cleared at Oyston Road and four trees, 0.04ha, at Refractory Road. This clearance is proposed to be undertaken using Main Roads' clearance permit CPS 818 and does not contravene any of the 10 clearance principles.

BACKGROUND

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

P ROJECT L OCATION

METHODOLOGY

P RELIMINARY D ESKTOP S TUDY

The need for a local assessment of the air quality has been determined on the basis of the criteria from the MRWA Environmental Air Quality Guideline.

C OMMONWEALTH R EFERRAL

S TATE R EFERRAL

EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

D ESCRIPTION

S ITE I NVESTIGATION

CLEARING OF NATIVE VEGETATION

D ETAILS OF V EGETATION A SSOCIATIONS TO BE C LEARED

A SSESSMENT A GAINST C LEARING P RINCIPLES

Native vegetation at the site is already disturbed and degraded and is unlikely to provide significant habitat for fauna - There are no nest cavities in the trees proposed to be cleared. The vegetation is not a significant remnant and not of a vegetation community that has been extensively cleared. ASSESSMENT Only 0.2 ha is proposed to be cleared with adjacent vegetation remaining, this will not cause significant land degradation.

Native vegetation should not be cleared if the clearing of the vegetation is likely to have an impact on the environmental values of any adjacent or nearby conservation area. The nearest DEC managed land is the Woondowing Nature Reserve 150m west of Oyston Road and the Clackline Nature Reserve 900m north of Refractory Road. These reserves are downslope from the project sites and will not be affected by the works.

ASSESSMENT Small clearing, away from watercourses, no impact on groundwater as no drainage is proposed. ASSESSMENT Small clearing away from watercourses, this will not affect flooding.

S UMMARY OF M ANAGEMENT A CTIONS

ASSESSMENT OF ASPECTS AND IMPACTS

A search of the DoW database has confirmed that the proposed works will not disturb or disrupt any natural drainage and surface runoff patterns. Shire of Northam requirements must be met in relation to noise management and construction working hours. Provided that traffic management and signage to main road standards are used, none of the proposed works pose any significant risk to public safety.

A search of the DEC's database of contaminated sites indicates that there are no identified contaminated sites within the project area. National Heritage Places A search of the Australian Heritage Places Inventory Database found five sites close to the project. A search by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Protected Matters Search Tool found no Ramsar Wetlands near the project.

An investigation by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Protected Affairs in the search tool found no threatened ecological communities near the project, 6 threatened species and 5 listed marine species. A search using the Ministry of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities' Protected Matters Finder found 7 migratory species in the vicinity of the project.

Table 5: Commonwealth Aspects and Impacts

DECISION TO REFER

R EFERRAL TO THE D EPARTMENT OF S USTAINABILITY , E NVIRONMENT , W ATER ,

R EFERRAL TO THE E NVIRONMENTAL P ROTECTION A UTHORITY

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

OTHER APPROVALS/PERMITS/LICENCES

MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for minor projects 15 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for minor projects 17 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for minor projects 19 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx.

Western Australia MAIN ROADS PEIA & EMP for Small Projects 21 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. Western Australia MAIN ROADS PEIA & EMP for Small Projects 23 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. Western Australia MAIN ROADS PEIA & EMP for Small Projects 25 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx.

MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for small projects 39 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx.

ACID SULFATE SOILS MAPPING

MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for Small Projects 43 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. Great Eastern Highway looking west, Oyston Road on the left with clearing on the right. MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for small projects 45 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx.

The project management measures defined in this EMP are in addition to the Standard Environmental Management Contract Specifications applicable to Category 2 projects. Where applicable, the Main Roads Standard Environmental Contract Specifications (Specifications and 304) should be followed. Due to the scale and nature of the project, no contingency measures have been defined as the inherent environmental risks are low.

Due to the scope and nature of the project, there is no requirement to review the implementation of the EMP, as the environmental risks are small. MAIN ROADS Western Australia PEIA & EMP for minor projects 47 of 49 GEH Oyston & Refractory Rd PEIA_EMP.docx. Revegetation will take place along the Great Eastern Highway unrelated to this project, but the topsoil and soil from this clearing will be used in this revegetation.

Vegetation clearance Ensure that the overall objectives of the route and construction works are compatible with maintaining and, where possible, enhancing the biological integrity of the surrounding environment and minimizing vegetation loss. Main Roads Project Manager Construction work to be carried out during the summer to reduce the possibility of. This vegetation will be mulched and used for restoration work on the Great Eastern Freeway in 2011.

Surface Drainage Maintain the hydrological regime that exists prior to the construction of the proposal. Access to private property and appropriate traffic management measures must be planned and implemented prior to the construction of the works. Contractor Main Roads Any dust related complaints will be dealt with as soon as possible.