Environmental management

The project has a number of significant environmental aspects that require management during the design, construction and maintenance phases of the project that are outlined below.

Aboriginal archaeology and heritage

An archaeological survey was undertaken during preparation of the environmental impact statement (EIS). This survey did not reveal any archaeological sites and the land within the road corridor was assessed to have a low or low to moderate potential for the presence of significant (undisturbed) sub-surface archaeological material.

Representatives from the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council (KLALC) will attend before clearing and topsoil stripping on a number of sites along the upgrade.

Flora

One threatened plant species is known to exist in the vicinity of Mill Hill (Tetratheca juncea). Measures to protect this plant include fencing, and erosion and sedimentation controls. A program has been established to monitor the abundance and health of the plant population and to minimise the impact of the upgrade on the population.

Fauna

The project area supports an abundance of fauna. Ten threatened fauna species were positively identified during the EIS survey (between Karuah and Bulahdelah) or are known to inhabit the area. These are:

Green-thighed frog (Litoria brevipalmata).
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).
Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus).
Squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis).
Yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis).
Long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus).
Eastern mastiff bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis).
Large bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii).
Little bent-wing bat (Miniopterus australis).
Large-footed Myotis (Myotis adversus).
Glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami).
Masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae).
Grass owl (Tyto capensis).
Black-necked stork (Epippiorynchus asiaticus).

A number of management strategies are being undertaken to minimise impact on these and other native fauna species. These include:

The construction of fauna underpasses to enable fauna to cross safely from one side of the highway to the other.
A staged clearing process has been adopted for the project. Firstly, qualified ecologists assess all the vegetation and mark potential habitat trees. Secondly, wildlife rescuers sweep the highway corridor to search and rescue fauna. Then, all other vegetation is cleared around marked habitat trees, which are felled and cleared a few days later in the presence of wildlife rescue specialists. Experience has shown that the noise from the machinery during the initial clearing phase tends to encourage fauna to move away prior to felling.
The use of fauna exclusion fencing to prevent koalas and other ground-based fauna from entering onto the roadway. This fencing is made from chainwire mesh, leaving the top section loose so that when a koala climbs to the top it flexes downwards due to its weight and discourages the koala from climbing further. The fencing leads fauna to underpasses where they can cross over to the other side of the highway in greater safety.
The need for fish-friendly culverts has been identified in consultation with the Department of Primary Industries (NSW Fisheries). Special provision has been provided to maintain fish passage under the highway.

Erosion and sedimentation control

Erosion and sedimentation controls such as the use of timber windrows, minimisation of disturbed areas, sedimentation basins, sediment fences, straw bales and revegetation have been designed by the project's soil conservation specialist to minimise the impacts to the aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Environmental management

Baulderstone Hornibrook has prepared a construction environmental management plan (CEMP) to manage the environmental issues on the project including the requirements of the government agencies and the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Natural Resources (DIPNR). The CEMP incorporates several sub-plans to address the management of specific issues and includes:

Soil and water quality management sub plan.
Acid sulphate soil and rock management sub plan.
Bush regeneration management sub plan.
Urban design and landscaping management sub plan.
Air quality and dust management sub plan.
Noise and vibration management sub plan.
Heritage and indigenous archaeology management sub plan.
Flora and fauna management sub plan.
Tetratheca juncea management sub plan.
Waste management & resource recovery sub plan.
Spoil and fill management sub plan.
Traffic management sub plan.
Hazard and risk management sub plan.

The CEMP, including the sub-plans, as well as the EIS are available for viewing at the community information centre.