Impact Statement
Now that the preferred route for the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project has been identified, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared by Queensland Transport. As the project has been declared a ‘significant project’ the decision maker will be the Coordinator-General. For more information about significant project status visit www.infrastructure.qld.gov.au
What is an EIS?
An EIS is a document prepared to report on a range of investigations undertaken for a project. It describes the existing conditions, provides information about the proposed project or works, and assesses the impacts and benefits of the changes resulting from the proposed project. The EIS also describes and assesses the management or mitigation measures that would be required to address the impact of the proposed project.
The purpose of the EIS is to provide decision makers with an accurate and considered description of the potential impacts and benefits of the proposed project, and detail of what actions need to be taken to ensure the impacts identified are avoided or minimized wherever possible. Both the construction and operational phases of the project are considered.
Topics typically addressed in an EIS include:
- ecology
- noise
- social
- economic
- landscape and visual
- air quality
- water quality
- flooding
- soils and geology
Some of the issues to be addressed in the EIS for the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project are likely to include:
- noise – assess impact and determine noise barrier requirements
- transport – identify how accessibility will be maintained (or improved)
- ecology – assess impacts on flora and fauna, and how to address these impacts
- flooding – examine the potential flooding effects and use this information to inform the design process.
Terms of Reference
To ensure that the EIS adequately covers all topics and issues relevant to the construction and operation of the project, the Coordinator-General issues the draft Terms of Reference for the EIS for community and government agency comment.
The Terms of Reference is essentially the ‘rule book’ for the preparation of the EIS. It outlines the topics that need to be addressed in the EIS, and defines the level of detail required in the description of the existing conditions, level of impact, and mitigation or management measures required.
The community’s role
During the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the EIS (mid 2008) the community has the opportunity to comment on and make suggestions about topics that should be assessed in the EIS. The Coordinator-General then considers these comments and suggestions during the finalisation of the Terms of Reference for the EIS.
Once the EIS is complete (late 2008), the community has the opportunity to comment on the adequacy of the EIS in addressing the Terms of Reference. The Coordinator-General then considers the community feedback in their assessment of the EIS.
More information about how to participate in the EIS process will be provided in the coming months.
Referral under the EPBC Act
The preferred route for the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project is being referred under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
For more information about this process please visit www.environment.gov.au
