Chapter 1 Introduction

Transcription

1 Chapt 1 Intoduction Novemb 2013

2 Table of contents 1. Intoduction Poject ovview Poject poponent Poject ationale Relationship to oth pojects Poject altnatives Pefed option Co-location and co-use Do nothing The envionmental impact assessment pocess Ovview EIS objectives EIS stuctue Envionmental impact assessment methodology Cumulative Impacts Ecologically sustainable development Community and stakehold consultation Consultation methodology Daft Tms of Refence consultation Commonwealth Govnment State Govnment Council biefings and meetings Community infomation sessions Oth consultation Public exhibition of the EIS How to make a submission Futue consultation activities Table index Table 1-1 Summay of agency biefings and meetings Table 1-2 Council biefings and meetings Figue index Figue 1-1 Poject location Figue 1-2 Coido selection study GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457 i

3 1. Intoduction 1.1 Poject ovview Adani Mining Pty Ltd (Adani) poposes the constuction and opation of the Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject (NGBR Poject), a multius, standad gauge, geenfield ail line that will tanspot coal fom mines in the nothn Galilee Basin to the Pot of Abbot Point. The NGBR Poject is appoximately 300 km in length and connects the poposed Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject s east-west ail coido, appoximately 70 km east of the poposed Camichael Coal Mine in the vicinity of Mistake Ceek, with suppoting infastuctue at the Pot of Abbot Point (ef Figue 1-1). The NGBR Poject will have an opational capacity of up to 100 million tonnes p annum (mtpa) of coal poduct expected to be souced fom both Adani and thidpaty mines in the nothn Galilee Basin. Key featues of the NGBR Poject include: Appoximately 300 km of standad gauge, bi-diectional ail tack located within a nominal 100 m wide ail coido (the final ail coido) A ail maintenance access oad unning paallel to the ail tack fo appoximately 300 km and wholly within the final ail coido Seven passing loops, each 4.3 km in length Signalling infastuctue Appoximately 4.5 km of fill geat than 15 m in depth (11 locations) and appoximately 3.4 km of cut geat than 15 m in depth (nine locations) At-gade and gade-sepaated oad, ail, stock and occupational cossings Bidge and culvt stuctues at majo watways and dainage lines, and vaious oth longitudinal and coss dainage stuctues A olling stock maintenance facility nea the Pot of Abbot Point including povisioning line, tain maintenance line, wagon and locomotive svice sheds, wash bay and queuing line Five tempoay accommodation camps fo constuction woks A tempoay constuction depot at the southn end of NGBR Poject Tempoay constuction yads, concete batching plants, bidge and tack laydown aeas and heavy vehicle tuning cicles. Duing constuction, quaies and boow pits within acceptable haulage distances will be equied to povide a cost effective souce of fill, gavel, aggegate and ballast. The numb and location of boow pits and quaies will be investigated futh duing detailed design and each may equie sceening and cushing plants to pocess matial. Futh detail egading the desciption of the NGBR Poject, including a detailed ovview of constuction and opation, is povided in Volume 1 Chapt 2 Poject desciption. GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

4 450, , , , , ,000 TOWNSVILLE TOWNSVILLE Pot Of A bbot P oint MORANBAH CLERMONT Bu c e CHARTERS TOWERS pi n e R i v ve AIRLIE BEACH PROSERPINE COLLINSVILLE d ek i n R ive 7,650,000 en D R oa d to Ri ve SARINA c Bu Is a ac R Camichael Poject (Rail) Pot Of Hay Point MACKAY GLENDEN Sutto Dev Road Su t CALEN MACKAY REGIONAL i ve w Bo ev Ri v R en WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL 7,700,000 B ok e n 7,650,000 im Bo w sp e Riv Ca pe ll h e pa Se igh e H 7,600,000 e Littl m o ad C a Lake Dalymple Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject 7,600,000 os e ev R 7,700,000 Bu i Ri oy D R ive Geg CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL Ri v BOWEN MERINDA e n Riv w Bo ie wa y e D on R v 7,750,000 Bog Pot Of Abbot Point High 7,800,000 BURDEKIN SHIRE 7,750,000 iv Riv gh R GLADSTONE MOURA Pio nee Hi y wa on HOME HILL P n Fli s de ght H au ROCKHAMPTON EMERALD iv e 7,800,000 AYR 7,850,000 7,850,000 MACKAY Pot Of Hay Point wa Pe ak Do wn Majo Road Local Road Watcouse Local Govnment Aea Camichael Poject (Rail) 50 Kilometes Map Pojection: Univsal Tansvse Mcato Hoizontal Datum: Geocentic Datum of Austalia (GDA) Gid: Map Gid of Austalia 1994, Zone 55 G:\41\26457\06 GIS\Maps\MXD\0001_Ovview\41_26457_0005_ev_b.mxd 7,500,000 MIDDLEMOUNT Ma CAPELLA 600, ,000 Noth Galilee Basin Rail Camichael Poject (Mine) Adani Mining Pty Ltd Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject c ie ke n z Ri ve 7,450,000 CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL 550,000 7,550,000 n Co wa y ig h sh 7,550,000 Du n 7,500,000 7,450,000 1:2,000,000 (at A4) 10 ha 500,000 Oth Rail Netwok Goonyella System Newlands System Majo Pot A lp c R iv e ad R iv 450,000 LEGEND Town nt mo Cle s DYSART CLERMONT ad Ro Isaa Ro d oa o nd v De vr ly a BARCALDINE REGIONAL 0 ISAAC REGIONAL y o De Be no tz Fi oy eg da Ceek MORANBAH G Camichael Poject (Mine) Kilcummin -D Do wns Roa ia mond d y y C a m icha el R M o a oad ic h a e l R iv ve Ri C a m 700,000 Based on o contains data povided by the State of QLD (DNRM) [2013]. In considation of the State pmitting use of this data you acknowledge and agee that the State gives no waanty in elation to the data (including accuacy, eliability, completeness, cuency o suitability) and accepts no liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) fo any loss, damage o costs (including consequential damage) elating to any use of the data. Data must not be used fo maketing o be used in beach of the pivacy laws. Job Numb Revision Date Poject location B 29 Aug 2013 Figue 1-1 Level 9, 145 Ann St Bisbane QLD 4000 T F E bn @ghd.com W While GHD Pty Ltd has taken cae to ensue the accuacy of this poduct, GHD Pty Ltd, DME, GA, ADANI and DNRM make no epesentations o waanties about its accuacy, completeness o suitability fo any paticula pupose. GHD Pty Ltd, DME, GA, ADANI and DNRM cannot accept liability of any kind (wheth in contact, tot o othwise) fo any expenses, losses, damages and/o costs (including indiect o consequential damage) which ae o may be incued as a esult of the poduct being inaccuate, incomplete o unsuitable in any way and fo any eason. Data Souce: Commonwealth of Austalia (Geoscience Austalia): Town, Railways, Watcouses (2007); DNRM: LGA, (2011), Hillshade (2009); DMR: State Roads (2008); DME: EPC1690 (2010), EPC1080 (2011); Adani: Alignment Opt9 Rev3 (2012), NGBR: Alignment Opt6 Rev 2 (2013).

5 1.2 Poject poponent Adani Mining Pty Ltd (Adani) is the poponent fo the NGBR Poject. Adani is a subsidiay of Adani Entpises Ltd, and foms pat of the boad Adani Goup of companies based in Ahmedabad, India. Adani is a egisted Austalian company with copoate govnance and epoting obligations und Austalian Law, distinct fom the management and obligations of oth Adani Goup subsidiaies in oth juisdictions. Adani Abbot Point Tminal Pty Ltd, also an Austalian subsidiay of Adani Entpises Limited, has puchased the lease of Abbot Point Coal Tminal 1 and is poposing to develop Abbot Point Coal Tminal 0 as pat of thei ovall pogamme fo expotation of coal. Adani has not been subject to any poceedings und an Austalian Commonwealth, State o Titoy law fo the potection of the envionment o the consvation and sustainable use of natual esouces. Und both State and Fedal laws, Adani is equied to obtain all elevant appovals, including all necessay envionmental appovals, pio to the commencement of a poject. Intnationally, any epesentations to statutoy authoities o poceedings initiated and /o cuently befoe the couts ae und judicial considation. Adani has a poven ecod of obtaining and complying with all necessay appovals fo its pojects including the Envionmental Authoity fo the Camichael Coal Mine ongoing exploation pogam. Adani is committed to complying with all equied appovals fo the NGBR Poject. 1.3 Poject ationale The ae a numb of key State and Fedal govnment policies that guide and infom the development of Queensland s abundant coal esouces. The Coal Plan 2030 (DSDIP 2010) infoms the development of majo coal egions and expot makets in Queensland ov the next 20 yeas. The development of egional coal esouces, the gowth of global makets and the need fo domestic infastuctue to supply those makets ae all pominent elements of the plan. The plan also states that India is, and will continue to be, a majo maket fo Austalian expot coal, and that the svicing of this maket will equie significant coal and infastuctue developments. The Queensland Govnment s Queensland Infastuctue Plan (DLGP 2011a) guides the development of majo infastuctue within the State; suppoting Queensland s esouce egions is a key initiative of the infastuctue plan, with impoving ail access between the Galilee Basin and the Pot of Abbot Point a specific focus. The pivate secto is seen as the majo poponent of such pojects, a view suppoted by the Austalian Govnment s National Pots Stategy (Infastuctue Austalia 2010). The Galilee Basin spans ov 247,000 km 2 of land which is consided to be one of the last undeveloped coal esve within Queensland and is expected to become the lagest coal poducing egion in the State. In June 2012, the Queensland govnment announced its suppot fo the development of the coal industy in the Galilee Basin and ecognised the need fo infastuctue, paticulaly ail links fom mine to pot, to suppot such development. The State govnment also committed to the designation of common noth-south and east-west ail coidos though it s Pefed Coidos Policy. GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

6 The Galilee Basin Development Stategy eleased in Novemb 2013 (DSDIP 2013) consolidates the Queensland govnment s suppot fo stimulating development of the Galilee Basin's southn and cental coal esouces. An impotant component of the stategy is the suppot offed to 'fist movs'. While the Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject is being developed in line with the State Govnment s pefed east-west ail coido to addess the tanspotation need diect to the Pot of Hay Point (Dudgeon Point expansion), the NGBR Poject is poposed to povide a moe diect and opationally moe cost effective tanspot solution diect to the Pot of Abbot Point. The NGBR Poject is poposed to have an opational capacity of up to 100 mtpa. This would accommodate use by both Adani and thid-paty uss in the nothn Galilee Basin (and southn Galilee Basin if an extension is developed to join the NGBR Poject), educing the need fo new independent tacks, additional envionmental footpints and additional advse impacts to landowns in the egion. The NGBR Poject will also align with the Queensland Govnments daft Moving Feight Stategy, which is designed to enable moe efficient feight movement acoss Queensland (DTMR 2013). The NGBR Poject will help to pesve tain paths on existing egional ail lines fo non-coal ail svices; this is consided to be a pioity action as pat of the daft stategy (DTMR 2013). The NGBR Poject will be stategically significant in a local, egional, state and envionmental context. The Queensland Regionalisation Stategy (DLGP 2011b) consids citical infastuctue associated with the expansion of mining in the Galilee Basin, fo example the NGBR Poject, to be a geat oppotunity fo the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday egion. The NGBR Poject is consistent with the Queensland Regionalisation Stategy as it will povide significant employment oppotunities in these egions duing both constuction and opation. The NGBR Poject will also povide a moe cost effective and diect, open access ail oute fom the Galilee Basin to the gowing coal expot facilities at the Pot of Abbot Point. This would aid in the eduction of cuent ail congestion and cumulative impacts expienced on the Goonyella and Newlands systems via Moanbah. 1.4 Relationship to oth pojects Adani is committed to financing the envionmental assessment and ongoing development of seval pojects in Queensland, including: Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject (ef EPBC 2010/5736) Abbot Point Coal Tminal 0 Poject (ef EPBC 2011/6194) Dudgeon Point Coal Tminals Poject (ef EBC 2012/6240) The Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject includes the constuction and opation of the coal mine which is pedicted to be the lagest coal mine in Queensland with maximum opational capacity of up to 60 mtpa and the east-west ailway line will un between the coal mine and a junction with Auizon s Goonyella system, south of Moanbah on the Blai Athol line. The NGBR Poject will diectly connect the Camichael Coal Mine with the Pot of Abbot Point; with a connection to the poposed east-west ailway line appoximately 70 km east of the Camichael Coal Mine. Adani also cuently own the lease fo Abbot Point Coal Tminal 1 and ae poposing to develop Tminal 0 to facilitate inceased coal expot capacity in association with the poposed Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject and the NGBR Poject. 1-4 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

7 The NGBR Poject s pimay function is to link poposed coal mines in the nothn Galilee Basin to the Pot of Abbot Point whe poduct coal can be expoted intnationally. This includes the China Stone Coal Poject. The NGBR Poject is poposed in accodance with the Galilee Basin Coal Infastuctue Famewok (GBCIF) (State of Queensland 2013a) single, noth-south, multi-us, common access ail coido fom the Galilee Basin to Abbot Point. A single noth-south coido pomotes the minimisation of impacts to landholds and the boad egion. A numb of oth poposed pojects ae implicated in this GBCIF, which seeks to significantly educe the likelihood of cumulative impacts occuing between multiple poposed pojects including the NGBR Poject. The poposed pojects potentially affected by the GBCIF ae identified as follows: Cental Queensland Integated Rail Poject Galilee Coal Poject (ail component) Alpha Coal Poject (ail component) Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject. These pojects and thei elationship to the NGBR Poject including the co-location and / o couse of infastuctue ae discussed futh in the following section and Volume 1 Chapt 19 Cumulative impact assessment Section Poject altnatives Pefed option The ae cuently no developed options fo the diect tanspotation of poduct coal out of the Galilee Basin. Auizon s Goonyella and Newlands systems have capacity constaints and limited options fo upgade due to the existing low axle load naow gauge ail infastuctue and the bottleneck that aleady exists at the Moanbah junction. In addition, the ae cuently no ail lines between eith of these Auizon ail systems to svice the vast Galilee Basin coal esves. The poposed Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject includes a 120 km potion of dual gauge ail that will un west to east fom the mine site to Diamond Ceek, and a 69 km naow gauge potion that will un east fom Diamond Ceek and connect to the Goonyella ail system south of Moanbah. This would enable caiage of poduct coal ov the existing naow gauge netwoks eith diectly to the Pot of Hay Point (Dudgeon Point Expansion) o indiectly to the Pot of Abbot Point. As such, the Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject ail infastuctue offs a shot-tm incemental solution that maintains pot optionality, but is pimaily only a medium- to long-tm solution fo expot diectly to Dudgeon Point. Dual pot capability fo the expot of coal is equied by Adani to insue against potential foce majeue conditions that may affect one of the mine-to-pot supply chain outes. In addition, dual pot capability will help to accommodate any futue poduction inceases fom Adani and/o thid-paty mines in the Galilee Basin, which may exceed the capacity of one pot. Given Adani s intests in the existing and poposed expot facilities at the Pot of Abbot Point (ef Section 1.4), a highly efficient, long-tm and moe diect tanspot oute to the pot was identified as a key business equiement. A high-level desktop assessment and multi-citia analysis was undtaken to identify possible south to noth ail alignments banching off the Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject ail GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

8 infastuctue heading to the Pot of Abbot Point (Woley Pasons 2013). One of the ealy stages in the coido selection study was the identification of no go zones, fo which maximum avoidance was excised. These zones included national paks, seve topogaphical featues, majo floodplains, social centes and cuent o poposed mining lease aeas. The assessment and analysis also included a considation of the following envionmental, hydological, geotechnical and engineing constaints: Topogaphy Geology, including Reactive clay soils Wet o low stength soils Hydology, including Watway cossings Flood pone aeas Diection of cossing, to avoid paallel alignment with watways Envionment, including Declaed wat supply catchments Mining tenues Refable wetlands Stategic copping land Natue efuges and coodinated consvation aeas Endanged egional ecosystems Essential habitat Theatened ecological communities Railway opation, including ovall length Existing infastuctue, including Gas pipelines High voltage pow lines Wat mains. Thee initial coido options we developed and efined into a futh five, based on the above constaints and no go zones. A multi-citia analysis was lastly applied to ank the coidos and select a pefed option fo futh investigation, development and optimisation. The envionmental constaints that we consided duing selection of the pefed ail coido study included Refable wetlands Stategic copping land Endanged egional ecosystems Theatened ecological communities Essential habitat. Figue 1-2 illustates the eight coidos that we assessed in the multi-citia analysis. This multi-citia analysis ecommended Option 4C as the pefed coido. This pefed coido 1-6 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

9 was efined to the peliminay investigation coido and subsequently to a final ail coido and adjacent ancillay infastuctue aeas though concept level engineing and design wok undtaken by Aavee Associates. The tm final ail coido is used thoughout the NGBR Poject Envionmental Impact Statement (EIS) to descibe this coido. It is acknowledged that futh constaints could be identified though the EIS pocess that would futh efine the final ail coido. It is noted that the final ail coido pesented in the EIS diffs slightly to that pesented in the Initial Advice Statement which was submitted to the CG s office in Apil The modified alignment has been designed to futh educe the potential envionmental impacts of the NGBR Poject. The amendments to the alignment have been developed subject to futh investigations undtaken duing the EIS pocess and as a esult of ongoing consultation with elevant stakeholds and community goups. The pefed option is the development of the NGBR Poject, which compises the constuction and opation of appoximately 300 km of standad gauge ailway connecting the poposed Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject ail infastuctue (nea Mistake Ceek) diectly with suppoting infastuctue (including ail loop/s and pot infastuctue, the subject of sepaate investigations) at the Pot of Abbot Point. This pefed option will facilitate tanspot of up to 100 mtpa poduct coal diectly to the Pot of Abbot Point Co-location and co-use Adani have investigated vaious oth options fo outing a ail coido to the Pot of Abbot Point using co-location and / o co-use. The poposed Camichael Coal Mine and Rail Poject, while enabling diect tanspotation of coal to the Pot of Hay Point (Dudgeon Point expansion), only allows fo indiect tanspotation to the Pot of Abbot Point via the aleady constained Goonyella ail system. As well as being indiect, the Goonyella system has a much low axle load with vy limited capacity fo upgade, all of which combined would act to incease coal pices and educe the costcompetitiveness of Galilee Basin coal in the global maket. Adani has consided developing and / o utilising a consolidated coido with Waatah Coal s poposed China Fist Poject, howev, due to unctain timefames and the identification of a moe favouable and technically bett oute, oppotunities fo co-use and / o co-alignment with the China Fist Poject ae limited. Adani has also peviously consided co-utilising a consolidated coido with Hancock Coal Infastuctue s poposed Alpha Coal Poject (Alpha) howev, with the ailway s 60 mtpa capacity aleady fully allocated, unctain development timefames and a oute that tavses lage flood plains, the potential fo co-use of the ailway is limited. Auizon is seeking to develop an integated ail system to svice existing and poposed coal mines in the Galilee Basin. The poposed Cental Queensland Integated Rail Poject alignment is a naow gauge solution connecting to aleady congested and less scalable netwok on the Newlands system. Moeov, the poposed Cental Queensland Integated Rail is a much long, and thefoe less cost-effective, oute to the Pot of Abbot Point, besides being an opationally less efficient naow gauge system as compaed to the heavy haul standad gauge poposed fo the NGBR Poject. Oppotunities to consolidate the Auizon and Adani alignments have been exploed, howev, due to unctainty with egad to Auizon s development timelines, in addition to the above technical aspects, Adani has decided to popose the much shot, standad gauge, NGBR Poject. GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

10 The NGBR Poject does off the oppotunity to povide a co-use outcome fo the China Stone Coal Poject located noth of the Camichael Coal Mine Do nothing The development of the NGBR Poject will povide a diect link between the Galilee Basin s vast thmal coal esouces to the Pot of Abbot Point. The do nothing option will esult in inceased taffic on Auizon s Goonyella and Newlands ail systems and thus incease the bottleneck situation cuently being expienced on the existing ail system nea Moanbah. This will subsequently esult in the need fo an upgade to a much lag section of each ail line with associated social and envionmental distubances. The tanspotation of such a lage quantity of coal ov the much long naow gauge oute would incease costs of poducing the thmal coal, which in tun would educe the cost-competitiveness of Galilee Basin coal in the global maket. 1-8 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

11 450, , , , , ,000 TOWNSVILLE TOWNSVILLE Pot Of A bbot P oint MORANBAH CLERMONT Bu c e CHARTERS TOWERS pi n e R i v ve AIRLIE BEACH PROSERPINE COLLINSVILLE d ek i n im B ok e n R ive 7,650,000 WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL en D ev oa GLENDEN to Ri ve Pot Of Hay Point MACKAY SARINA c Bu Is a ac R Camichael Poject (Rail) CALEN Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject d Sutto Dev Road Su t Ri v MACKAY REGIONAL R 7,700,000 ll h e 7,650,000 sp e Riv Ca pe pa Se igh e H 7,600,000 m o ad C a Lake Dalymple w Bo 7,600,000 os e i ev R 7,700,000 Bu Ri oy D R ive Geg CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL Ri v BOWEN MERINDA e n Riv w Bo ie wa y e D on R v 7,750,000 Bog Pot Of Abbot Point High 7,800,000 BURDEKIN SHIRE 7,750,000 iv Riv gh R GLADSTONE MOURA Pio nee Hi y wa on HOME HILL P n Fli s de ght H au ROCKHAMPTON EMERALD iv e 7,800,000 AYR 7,850,000 7,850,000 MACKAY Pot Of Hay Point wa y Pe ak Do wn 1:2,000,000 (at A4) Majo Road Local Road Watcouse Local Govnment Aea Camichael Poject (Rail) 50 Kilometes Map Pojection: Univsal Tansvse Mcato Hoizontal Datum: Geocentic Datum of Austalia (GDA) Gid: Map Gid of Austalia 1994, Zone 55 G:\41\26457\06 GIS\Maps\MXD\0001_Ovview\41_26457_0012_ev_a.mxd Ma CAPELLA 600,000 Pevious Alignment Option 1 2A 3 7,550,000 7,500,000 MIDDLEMOUNT CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL 550, A 4B 4C 5 650,000 Noth Galilee Basin Rail Camichael Poject (Mine) Adani Mining Pty Ltd Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject c ie ke n z Ri ve 7,450,000 ha 500,000 Oth Rail Netwok Goonyella System Newlands System Majo Pot A lp n sh ig h wa y Co Kilcummin -D Do wns Roa ia mond d Du n 7,500,000 7,450, ,000 LEGEND Town nt mo Cle c R iv e DYSART CLERMONT ad Ro s ad R iv BARCALDINE REGIONAL o nd Isaa Ro ly a v De d oa Be 0 ISAAC REGIONAL y o vr Ceek no tz Fi De da oy eg Camichael Poject (Mine) MORANBAH G 7,550,000 y C a m icha el R M o a oad ic h a e l R iv ve Ri C a m 700,000 Based on o contains data povided by the State of QLD (DNRM) [2013]. In considation of the State pmitting use of this data you acknowledge and agee that the State gives no waanty in elation to the data (including accuacy, eliability, completeness, cuency o suitability) and accepts no liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) fo any loss, damage o costs (including consequential damage) elating to any use of the data. Data must not be used fo maketing o be used in beach of the pivacy laws. Job Numb Revision Date Coido selection study A 01 Nov 2013 Figue 1-2 Level 9, 145 Ann St Bisbane QLD 4000 T F E bn @ghd.com W While GHD Pty Ltd has taken cae to ensue the accuacy of this poduct, GHD Pty Ltd, DME, GA, ADANI and DNRM make no epesentations o waanties about its accuacy, completeness o suitability fo any paticula pupose. GHD Pty Ltd, DME, GA, ADANI and DNRM cannot accept liability of any kind (wheth in contact, tot o othwise) fo any expenses, losses, damages and/o costs (including indiect o consequential damage) which ae o may be incued as a esult of the poduct being inaccuate, incomplete o unsuitable in any way and fo any eason. Data Souce: Commonwealth of Austalia (Geoscience Austalia): Town, Railways, Watcouses (2007); DNRM: LGA, (2011), Hillshade (2009); DMR: State Roads (2008); DME: EPC1690 (2010), EPC1080 (2011); Adani: Alignment Opt9 Rev3 (2012), NGBR: Alignment Opt6 Rev 2, Rail Options (2013).

12 1.6 The envionmental impact assessment pocess Ovview An initial advice statement (IAS) was pepaed fo the NGBR Poject, dated May The pupose of the IAS was to povide the Coodinato-Genal with sufficient infomation to make a coodinated poject declaation und Section 26(1)(a) of the State Development and Public Woks Oganisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act). On 14 June 2013, the Coodinato-Genal declaed the NGBR Poject to be a coodinated poject equiing assessment via an EIS. A efal und the Envionment Potection and Biodivsity Consvation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) was also pepaed fo the NGBR Poject, dated May The pupose of the efal was to povide the Depatment of Sustainability, Envionment, Wat, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) with sufficient infomation to make a efal decision und the EPBC Act. In June 2013, SEWPaC issued a efal decision declaing the NGBR Poject to be a contolled action. SEWPaC lat advised that the NGBR Poject would equie assessment via an EIS und the EPBC Act, in paallel to the EIS assessment pocess being undtaken by the Coodinato- Genal und the SDPWO Act. This EIS has been pepaed to meet the Tms of Refence (TOR) issued by the Coodinato- Genal und the SDPWO Act. This EIS includes a Matts of National Envionmental Significance (MNES) chapt which assesses impacts on contolling povisions und the EPBC Act including Wold Hitage Popties, Natual Hitage Places, Commonwealth Maine Aeas, EPBC listed theatened ecological communities, listed theatened species and listed migatoy species und Commonwealth legislation. The MNES chapt has been pepaed in accodance with the final Guidelines fo an Envionmental Impact Statement fo the Noth Galilee Basin Rail Poject (EPBC 2013/6885). This EIS will be submitted to both the Coodinato-Genal and SEWPaC fo assessment und the SDPWO Act and EPBC Act espectively EIS objectives The objective of this EIS is to ensue that all potential diect and indiect envionmental, social and economic impacts of the NGBR Poject ae identified and adequately assessed, and that appopiate mitigation and management measues ae developed to minimise o avoid advse impacts. This EIS is the key envionmental document fo the assessment of the NGBR Poject and the ganting of statutoy appovals. Anoth objective of this EIS is to sve as a platfom fo govnment agencies, stakeholds and the local community to gain an undstanding of the NGBR Poject and povide valuable feedback. Fo Adani, this EIS and associated daft Envionmental Management Plan sve as a definitive commitment to the mitigation and management measues that will be implemented to minimise and avoid advse envionmental impacts that may esult if the NGBR Poject poceeds EIS stuctue The stuctue of this EIS is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 contains Chapts 1 to Chapt 23 while Volume 2 contains Appendix A to Appendix T. The content of Volume 1 includes: Chapt 1 - An intoduction to the EIS, an assessment of the NGBR Poject s need and altnatives, an ovview of the community and stakehold consultation undtaken fo 1-10 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

13 the NGBR Poject and a summay of the envionmental assessment pocess including methodology fo the assessment of potential envionmental impacts Chapt 2 - A detailed desciption of the NGBR Poject Chapt 3 to 23 A detailed assessment of the vaious envionmental aspects that have the potential to be impacted by the NGBR Poject. These chapts include existing envionment infomation, assessment of potential impacts as a esult of the NGBR Poject, poposed mitigation and management measues, assessment of esidual impacts and assessment of cumulative impacts. Volume 1 is divided into sections that link closely with the TOR stuctue to ensue that all elevant matts concning envionmental and social values, esouces and eceptos ae addessed. The content of Volumes 2 includes: Appendix A - A coss-efence table to the TOR Appendix B - A public consultation epot summaising consultation that has been undtaken fo the NGBR Poject and how issues aised by stakeholds and the community have been addessed Appendix C to N - Additional technical detail elating to backgound envionmental infomation that suppots the envionmental impact assessment undtaken in Volume 1 Appendix O - An offset stategy fo identified esidual impacts to State and Commonwealth ecological values that cannot be avoided o mitigated Appendix P The famewok fo the Poject Envionmental Management Plan, which includes all mitigation and management measues identified within Volume 1 and a stuctue fo implementing these measues duing pe-constuction, constuction and opation Appendix Q - A summay of the technical team involved in the pepaation of this EIS Appendix R Adani s land acquisition potocol Appendix S A egist of commitments made thoughout Volume 1 of the EIS Appendix T Concept design dawings Envionmental impact assessment methodology Envionmental impact assessment is the pocess undtaken to identify, evaluate and mitigate potential envionmental impacts of a poposed development. As the envionmental assessment fo the NGBR Poject included input fom a wide ange of technical disciplines, a systematic appoach was equied to ensue consistency in descibing the scale of impacts acoss the ange of studies such that significance of impacts we compaable. A standadised appoach to evaluating significance does not eplace the methodologies used by technical disciplines to identify o assess impacts, no does it eplace methods of impact assessment pescibed by existing guidance. Rath, it adds to the impact assessment by poviding clea, moe eadily compaable conclusions egading the significance of impacts. The standadised appoach employed fo the NGBR Poject involved: Defining the sensitivity of envionmental and social values, esouces and eceptos Defining the impacts caused by the NGBR Poject and thei magnitude GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

14 Evaluating the significance of each impact Identifying mitigation measues and calculating esidual impact. The envionmental and social systems, esouces and eceptos potentially affected by the NGBR Poject we defined though desktop based eseach, field suveys and peliminay consultation with state agencies, local councils, egional stakeholds and local communities. A summay of the issues aised duing consultation and how they we incopoated into the envionmental assessment is povided in Section 1.7. To detmine the magnitude of potential impacts fom the NGBR Poject, the scale of the impact, its geogaphic extent, duation, evsibility, additive o cumulative effects and likelihood of occuence we consided. The significance of the impact was detmined as a poduct of the magnitude of impact and the sensitivity of the envionment, esouce, social value o ecepto that it would potentially impact. In od to standadise the significance of potential envionmental impacts, a multi-disciplinay wokshops was held by the NGBR Poject team in June Volume 2 Appendix Q EIS team summay povides a list of the NGBR Poject team and thei elevant technical expience. In the instances whe limited baseline data was available, a consvative appoach was taken by assuming the highest likely value and highest likely magnitude of impact. Any gaps in infomation and assumptions made in detmining the wost impact have been clealy stated in the epoting, and mitigation measues have included ecommendations fo futh studies, eassessment once futh infomation becomes available o a obust monitoing pogam. The development of mitigation and management aimed to: Be appopiate in tms of the effot and expense in elation to the scale and natue of the impact Taget the potection and/o estoation of the systems/esouces affected Respond to the impact following a mitigation hiachy (i.e. avoid > minimise > ehabilitate > manage > offset / compensate). An impact consided to be of exteme significance (whe not simply consided gounds fo a fundamental e-design of the poject) would need to be met with a high level of mitigation that avoids, eliminates o makes povisions fo full offsetting o compensation in advance and ensues that measues ae demonstably effective. Compliance with intnational and national standads and the use of specialists with intnationally o nationally ecognised exptise would be equied in development and implementation. A high level of ongoing monitoing would be equied. Convsely an impact that was consided to be of low significance may eith not need mitigation at all o only equie mitigation by contol of impacts though day to day management with only occasional monitoing equied as validation. Once mitigation measues we identified, esidual impacts we assessed. This was achieved though assessing and descibing the effects of mitigation and subsequently, how the poposed measues would educe the magnitude of the impact significance. The application of mitigation and management measues should in theoy educe the magnitude of the impact and hence esult in a educed esidual impact GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

15 1.6.5 Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts can be defined as impacts on the envionment, which esult fom the incemental impact of an action when added to oth past, pesent o easonably foeseeable futue actions, egadless of what agency o pson undtakes those oth actions. Cumulative impacts can esult fom individually mino but collectively significant actions taking place ov a piod of time o fom a combination of concuent effects fom a single action. Cumulative impacts can be additive, syngistic o intactive and can esult in impacts that ae lag, moe significant and long lasting than is the case with individual effects. The is no defined pocess fo undtaking cumulative impact assessments within Austalia. Setting boundaies is the pocess of establishing the limits of the aea to be assessed fo cumulative impacts and the identification of activities within this bounday. The pimay spatial bounday fo this cumulative impact assessment is the poject footpint this is the aea that is und poject contol and esponsibility, i.e. the NGBR Poject final ail coido and associated infastuctue. Howev, boundaies can vay fom issue to issue and need to eflect ecosystem equiements ath than atificial boundaies. Cumulative impacts duing the constuction ae likely to be shot-tm. Opation impacts ae moe likely to be medium to long-tm (e.g. continuing fo moe than two yeas aft the activity has ceased, o ongoing). The potential cumulative impacts of the NGBR Poject ae assessed within Volume 1 Chapt 19 Cumulative impacts Ecologically sustainable development An impotant considation thoughout development of the NGBR Poject and pepaation of this EIS has been considation of ecologically sustainable development. Ecologically sustainable development is defined as using, consving and enhancing the community s esouces so that ecological pocesses, on which life depends, ae maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the futue, can be inceased (SEWPaC 1992). Ecologically sustainable development focuses on assimilating economic expansion, social advancement and envionment integity in a way that allows development to meet the needs of Austalian s today while consving ecosystems, and without impeding the ability of futue genations to meet thei own needs. This EIS consids the beneficial and advse cumulative impacts acoss the lifetime of the NGBR Poject and whe possible povides mitigation and management measues that seek a balance between envionmental integity, social development and economic development. A coe objective of ecologically sustainable development is following a path of economic development in a way that enhances the individual and community well-being of cuent genations, while safeguading the welfae of futue genations. The NGBR Poject epesents a long-tm investment in Queensland and Austalia s ail infastuctue with significant economic and social benefits fo cuent and futue genations including: Substantial employment oppotunities duing both constuction (1,700 people) and opation (369 people) Inceased jobs fo local and state supplis, svices and contactos thoughout both constuction and opation Inceased ability to expot coal ovseas at high pofit ates due to tanspot efficiency, theby aiding in the expansion of the Queensland economy GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

16 The NGBR Poject will equie a capital investment of appoximately $2.2 billion and see the development of key infastuctue that will enable effective coal tanspotation fom the Galilee Basin, one of Queensland s lagest coal esves, to the Pot of Abbot Point. The NGBR Poject will facilitate an inceased ate of coal expotation fom Queensland, theby aiding in the economic expansion of the State. Anoth coe objective of ecologically sustainable development is to povide fo equity within and between genations (SEWPaC 1992). This objective focuses not only on the shot-tm (within genations) but also the long-tm (between genations) envionmental, social and economic impacts. While the NGBR Poject will have shot and long-tm envionmental impacts, a numb of mitigation measues will be implemented to limit and avoid sious, longtm and ievsible envionmental damage. A benefit of the NGBR Poject is that it will be designed as a multi-us ailway with a design life of moe than 90 yeas, ensuing it emains available fo use by futue genations. Potecting biological divsity, and maintaining essential ecological pocesses and life-suppot systems, is a thid coe objective of ecologically sustainable development (SEWPaC 1992). An ecological assessment has been undtaken fo the NGBR Poject to detmine the biological divsity and ecological pocesses that have potential to be impacted (ef Volume 1 Chapt 6 Natue consvation). The alignment of the NGBR Poject final ail coido was selected taking into considation vulnable and endanged testial and aquatic floa and fauna species, as well and theatened and endanged ecological communities. Whe possible, modifications have been made to the NGBR Poject design to eliminate o minimise its effect on these species and communities. 1.7 Community and stakehold consultation Stakehold and community consultation has been an integal component of the NGBR Poject development and EIS pocess. The aim of consultation has been to infom stakeholds and the boad community about the NGBR Poject and to actively seek thei involvement in the identification of potential impacts and development of mitigation and management measues. The key objectives of the consultation pocess included: Establishing an open two-way flow of infomation Communicating detailed NGBR Poject infomation in an easy to intpet fomat Facilitating oppotunities fo local and egional communities and oth stakeholds to identify issues, impacts and possible mitigation measues Building community undstanding and suppot fo the EIS pocess. A community and stakehold consultation epot was pepaed fo the NGBR Poject and is povided in Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation Consultation methodology A consultation plan was developed fo the NGBR Poject to ensue effective and timely consultation duing the EIS pocess. The consultation plan outlined: The types of consultation activities to be undtaken The timing of activities Identification of key stakehold and community epesentatives Integation with oth EIS activities and the poject development pocess 1-14 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

17 Consultation esponsibilities Communication potocols Repoting and feedback aangements How consultation feedback will be consided by the poponent and integated into the EIS pocess. Community and stakehold engagement was undtaken in accodance with the pinciples of the Intnational Association of Public Paticipation (IAPP 2004). Stakeholds and the community we engaged using a ange of consultation and communication techniques, including face-to-face meetings, biefings and public infomation sessions, as well as the povision of infomation matial, including factsheets. These we suppoted by stakehold feedback mechanisms, including a fee call telephone line and NGBR Poject addess. A peliminay list of elevant stakeholds was developed though desk-based eseach. Relevant stakeholds identified fo the NGBR Poject included Commonwealth, State and local govnment epesentatives, potentially affected landowns, local businesses and esidents, community intest goups, industy epesentatives, envionmental goups, media and suounding communities. A compehensive list of affected and intested psons and how the consultation pocess included these psons is povided in Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation. Community and stakehold consultation has been undtaken thoughout the EIS pocess including development of the daft and final TOR. This included meetings with state govnment agencies, the council and oth elevant stakeholds as well as community infomation sessions. This appoach aimed to ensue that multiple oppotunities have been povided fo tageted stakeholds and the wid community to paticipate and comment on the NGBR Poject Daft Tms of Refence consultation The daft TOR was publicly displayed by the Coodinato-Genal between 13 July 2013 and 12 August To encouage intest and paticipation in development of the final TOR, community infomation sessions we held between 23 and 25 July 2013 at thee locations, Moanbah, Collinsville and Bowen. The events we advtised in local and egional newspaps, and we staffed by epesentatives of the NGBR Poject team. Paticipants we povided with oppotunities to give feedback on the NGBR Poject eith vbally (with notes taken by the NGBR Poject team), o in witing via submission. Issues aised by submissions, we consided by the Coodinato-Genal in finalising the TOR Commonwealth Govnment A meeting was held with epesentatives of SEWPaC on 29 May 2013 to povide an ovview of the NGBR Poject. This meeting focused on the desciption of the NGBR Poject and the connectivity of the NGBR Poject to oth pojects in the egion. Futh consultation is planned to be undtaken with SEWPaC in elation to the NGBR Poject. GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

18 1.7.4 State Govnment A State govnment agency biefing was held in Bisbane to coincide with elease of the daft TOR in July 2013 as detailed in Table 1-1. In addition to the agency biefings outlined in Table 1-1, oth govnment consultation included: Regula poject meetings with the Coodinato-Genal s Office, with delegates fom oth depatments invited as equied Seval EIS and social impact assessment consultation meetings and wokshops with epesentatives fom State govnment. When the daft EIS is eleased in late 2013 the will be futh govnment agency biefings and meetings. Table 1-1 Summay of agency biefings and meetings Location Pupose Date Attendance Coodinato-Genal s office, Bisbane DTOR meeting Coodinato- Genal s office 1 July Coodinato-Genal s office, Bisbane DTOR biefing State agencies 19 July DNRM offices, Longeach National Stock Route cossing teatments 8 August DTMR offices, Mackay National Stock Route cossing teatments 13 August Coodinato-Genal s office, Bisbane NGBR ail coido though the Abbot Point State Development Aea 20 August State Development Aea Division of DSDIP Attendees at the State agency meetings included: The Coodinato-Genal and Depatment of State Development, Infastuctue and Planning Depatment of Envionment and Hitage Potection Depatment of Housing and Public Woks Depatment of Natual Resouces and Mines Depatment of Tanspot and Main Roads Depatment of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Svice Depatment of Agicultue, Fishies and Foesty Depatment of Engy and Wat Supply Queensland Health Depatment of Community Safety 1-16 GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457

19 Depatment of Education, Taining and Employment Queensland Police Svice Depatment of Local Govnment, Community Recovy and Resilience Depatment of Aboiginal and Toes Stait Island and Multicultual Affais Depatment of National Paks, Receation Spot and Racing As the meetings occued in the initial phase of the EIS, discussions focussed on the poject desciption and the scope of the EIS, ath than impact identification o mitigation. Key issues aised in these meetings and how they addessed within this EIS is summaised in Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation Council biefings and meetings Sepaate NGBR Poject biefings and meetings we held with the Isaac and Whitsunday Regional Councils duing the EIS pepaation. The pupose of these meetings was to: Infom councils of the NGBR Poject and the EIS pocess Gain an undstanding of the issues and oppotunities cuently facing the egion Identify the potential impacts, benefits and mitigation measues fo the NGBR Poject. An ovview of the council biefings and meetings is povided in Table 1-2. Table 1-2 Council biefings and meetings Location Pupose Date Attendance Isaac Regional Council, Town Squae, Moanbah Whitsunday Regional Council, Pospine Social impact assessment intview Social impact assessment intview 25 June June Isaac Regional Council, Town Squae, Moanbah Whitsunday Regional Council, Pospine Daft TOR biefing 23 July Daft TOR biefing 25 July Isaac Regional Council, Town Squae, Moanbah Whitsunday Regional Council, Pospine Poposed oad and stock oute cossing teatments Poposed oad and stock oute cossing teatments 7 August August Futh detail egading issues aised duing council meetings ae povided in Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation Community infomation sessions Thee community infomation sessions we held, one each in Moanbah, Collinsville and Bowen duing July The community infomation sessions an fo thee hous each and GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/

20 we in a dop-in fomat, in which membs of the community we encouaged to visit and lean about the NGBR Poject. Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation povides an ovview of the key issues aised by stakeholds duing community infomation session and whe they ae addessed within the EIS Oth consultation Consultation with landholds has been ongoing since Febuay 2013 and included consultation with all 29 diectly affected landholds. Consultation and communication focussed on gaining feedback on the NGBR Poject alignment and facilitating land access ageements. Consultation with Taditional Owns commenced in the fist quat of 2013 and included negotiations egading Cultual Hitage Management Plans (CHMPs). Consultation was also undtaken with community goups and histoical societies in Bowen and Collinsville, as well as elevant local govnment authoities to assist in identifying potential non-indigenous cultual hitage places, and potential advse impacts. Futh infomation egading consultation with landholds and Taditional Owns is povided Volume 2 Appendix B Public consultation Public exhibition of the EIS Following acceptance of the daft EIS by the Queensland Coodinato-Genal and SEWPaC, the document will be placed on public display fo a submission piod of 30 business days (o as detmined by the Coodinato-Genal and SEWPaC). As pat of the public exhibition piod, the following will be undtaken: Place public notices in local newspaps to povide details about: Timing of the public display piod Locations whe people can view the document, including static and staffed display points, togeth with web-based infomation How to make public submissions in esponse to the EIS Povide infomation about the public display piod and submission equiements on Adani s website Povide intnet hosting of the daft EIS duing the submission piod Poduce and distibute an NGBR Poject factsheet to publicise elease of the EIS, povide infomation on the public display pocess and call fo submissions Notify key stakeholds who ae ecoded on the NGBR Poject s database about the EIS and eview piod Conduct agency biefings and community infomation sessions to pesent findings of the EIS How to make a submission Witten submissions on the daft EIS can be made by any intested paty duing the submission piod (ef Section 1.7.9). All submissions will be compiled by the Coodinato- Genal and povided to Adani to infom pepaation of additional infomation to the EIS. The Coodinato-Genal and SEWPaC will consid witten submissions on the NGBR Poject duing the decision making pocess GHD Repot fo Adani Mining Pty Ltd - Noth Galilee Basin Rail, 41/26457