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PORT OF AIRLIE MARINA:DELIVERING ON COMMITMENTS

Claire Gronow

Introduction •Coastal development in Queensland is challenging

•Particularly high coastal environmental values• World Heritage Areas

• Ramsar Wetlands

• Marine Parks

•Particularly high demand for coastal development• Lifestyle

• Tourism and recreation

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Project Overview Town of Airlie Beach, Whitsunday region, Queensland

High demand for coastal development:

• Tourism

• Residential

• Key sensitivities in and around project site:

• Great Barrier Reef – Whitsunday region

• World Heritage Area

• Marine Park

• Close proximity to residential and tourist accommodation

• Cyclones/extreme weather

• Mangrove and seagrass habitat – degraded but highly valued

• Iconic species - turtles, dugongs

• Contaminated sediments

• Potential for acid sulfate soils

Project Overview

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Boathaven Bay

Project Overview

• Project site was modified and degraded:

• Contaminated sediments

• Road construction – entire coastal frontage had been moved seawards

• Formal and informal boat maintenance activities

• Former landfill

• Former sewage treatment plant outfall

• Stormwater outfalls

Project Overview

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Project Overview

Project Overview

•Project required:

• Construction of marina basin and land in tidal waters

• Footprint ~40 hectares

• ~1,000,000 cubic metres of earthworks

• Excavate marina basin

• Create land

• Dredge access channel

• 2-3 ha of mangroves to be removed

• 8-10 ha of seagrass (maximum extent) to be removed

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Project Overview

Impact Assessment & Approval Process

• Port of Airlie triggered Environmental Impact Assessment:

• Queensland State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 “Significant Project Process”

• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 “Controlled Action”.

• Strong support from community (about time!)

• Some vocal opposition – anti-development

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Impact Assessment & Approval Process

• Lengthy negotiations with State agencies

• Concern that project could not be constructed without “significant” impact on water quality and seagrass habitat

• Concern that direct loss of seagrass/mangrove habitat would reduce fish productivity

• Negotiated hard to ensure conditions were:

• Practical and implementable

• Provided adequate safeguards

Key Proponent Commitments

• Prepare a Construction Environmental Management Plan• Address compliance with permit conditions and

commitments made in EIS• Submit to Federal and State for approval

• Fund $350,000 of fisheries resources research• Conduct extensive seagrass monitoring (~$400,000 over

5 years)• Internal and external environmental audits

• Reports provided to EPA• Extensive water quality management and monitoring• Interactive noise management plan• Community Reference Group

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Design Concept and Construction Method

• Full enclosure of construction area by sheet pile or rock revetment walls

• Temporary sheet pile across mouth of marina basin – full containment during excavation

• Excavate marina basin, place excavated material behind sheet pile/rock walls to create land component

• Sheet pile/rock walls become permanent structural features around land

• Dredge access channel (~1 km) and pump dredge spoil to marina basin

• On completion, marina basin flooded and temporary sheet pile removed

Design Concept and Construction Method• Maintenance dredge area constructed as water treatment

cell for tailwater

• Potential acid sulfate soils (25,000m3) reburied below lowest astronomical tide

• Contaminated sediments excavated and reburied in specially constructed cells

• Cut/fill balance minimise material transport:

• No material removed from site for disposal

• Only material brought on to site was armour rock, sand and sheet piles

• Vibratory piles instead of hammer piles where possible

• Controls on hours for pile driving

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Earth/Rock Wall Sheet Pile

Marina basin

Design Concept and Construction Method•August 2007


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Marina basin

Temporary Sheet Pile

September 2007


Tailwater Management Pond

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• Concept design and construction method:

• Allowed tight control on water quality, contaminated sediment and potential acid sulfate soils

• Made excavation easier (dry excavation)

• Allowed development of stable landform

• Allowed a cut/fill balance to be achieved (no import or disposal of material)

• Satisfied engineering and environmental requirements

Construction Environmental Management Plan

• Developed in conjunction with construction contractor

• Reviewed by relevant government agencies

• Approved by Federal and State environment agencies

• Contractor provided full time Environmental Manager

• Proponent had an environmental advisor

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Potentially Significant Impacts

• Most significant construction impacts:

• Water quality impacts

• Turbidity

• Acid sulfate soils

• Contaminated sediments – Tributyl tin

• Noise and traffic impacts on community/tourists

CEMP• Key activities managed by CEMP

• Water quality:

• Discharges

• Receiving water

• Testing and validation of removal of contaminated sediments.

• Acid Sulfate Soils

• “Groundwater” monitoring

• Noise and vibration

• Seagrass monitoring

• Weekly, daily and rain event checklists

• Internal and external audits

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CEMP

• Water quality:

• Continuous monitoring of discharges from from water retention basin

• pH, turbidity, DO

• Heavy metals and TBT at certain stages

• Receiving environment water quality at reference sites in Boathaven Bay

• pH, DO, Turbidity

• Weekly or daily depending on activities being undertaken

CEMP

• Testing and validation of removal of contaminated sediments.

• Acid Sulfate Soils

• Mostly self neutralising – calcium carbonate

• Predicted 25,000 m3 not self-neutralising

• Volumetric testing throughout

• Increased intensity near area of non-self-neutralising PASS

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CEMP

• “Groundwater” monitoring:

• To confirm self neutralising capacity of PASS

• To check for leaching of TBT or other metals

• Monitor groundwater in fill areas

• Weekly – levels, pH, salinity

• Monthly – metals

• Quarterly – TBT

CEMP

• Noise and vibration

• Three full time noise loggers

• Monthly reviews of noise data

• Schedule construction to avoid concentration of machinery near noise sensitive receptors

• Quietest equipment available

• Option for residential class mufflers

• Restricted hours for hammer piling and vibratory piling

• Extensive community liaison

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CEMP

• Seagrass monitoring:

• Annual event every November

• Commenced pre construction (2 rounds)

• Continue 3 years post construction

• Additional events during channel dredging

• Minor sediment deposition observed

• Impacts within the range of natural variations

CEMP

• Weekly, daily and rain event checklists

• Monitoring equipment in place and operating properly

• Waste management

• Hazardous materials management

• Flora/fauna observations

• Water quality data and checklists reviewed by Environmental Advisor weekly/monthly and forwarded to EPA

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CEMP

• Internal and external audits

• 3 internal and 4 external (independent)

• Reports forwarded to EPA and DEWHA

• Reports presented to Community Reference Group

• Results ranged from 88% compliance to 97% compliance

• Non-compliances generally minor in nature

• Signs on fuel storage

• Noise complaints

• Bunding of chemical storage

• Contractor reports against KPIs monthly

Community Reference Group

• Commitment made by proponent in EIS

• Proponent funded and appointed a Chairman and Secretary

• Membership from:

• Local government elected representatives

• Private business sector

• Community

• Construction Manager

• Proponent’s Environmental Advisor

• Proponent’s Development Manager

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Community Reference Group

• Monthly meetings• Proponent/contractor reported against pre-agreed Key

Performance Indicators• CRG discussed issues arising and agreed on

appropriateness of response• CRG released newsletters and other information to

community • Effective in:

• Minimising complaints• Promptly addressing community concerns• Benchmarking acceptability of management measures• Ensuring community remained well informed

Summary • Address environmental impacts and risks through design

and construction method • Early contractor involvement and “buy in” is critical • Management measures must be practical, clear,

implementable and measurable • Ensure adequate resources to implement CEMP • Ensure adequate accountability, checks and balances:

• CRG• Monthly KPI reports• Internal and external audits • Contractor reports to CRG

• Close and proactive relationship with local community

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