Managing the Impacts
Given the size and scope of the project, it will not be possible to eliminate all of the impacts of construction on the community and environment. However, the Alliance will endeavour to minimise these impacts wherever possible and undertake the project in an environmentally sustainable manner.
At a State level, the project was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in late 2008. In May 2009 the EPA advised the project would not be formally assessed under the provisions of the WA Environmental Protection Act (1986) and be treated as “Not Assessed – Public Advice Given and Managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act (Clearing)”.
Southern Gateway Alliance is currently working with the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) to secure environmental approval for the project under the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).
The Alliance will work collaboratively with the relevant environmental authorities and local interest groups to identify opportunities to minimise construction impacts.
Field surveys indicate no Declared Rare Flora, Priority Flora or Threatened Ecological Communities were identified within the project area.
A targeted rare fauna survey has been conducted and identified that there will be some loss of foraging habitat for the protected species of White and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. A number of treatments will be used to mitigate the impact on these and other fauna species occurring within the project area.
Aboriginal heritage surveys have been completed and conditional approval granted under Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972). The local Aboriginal community has been consulted and will continue to be so over the life of the project.
The project area does not contain any European heritage sites.