Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing removal project. Report of Dr Anthony Smith

Transcription

1 Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing removal project Report of Dr Anthony Smith 1 Introduction I have been engaged on behalf of the Level Crossing Removal Authority to peer review the EES Technical Report A Groundwater Impact Assessment (LXRA-LX31-00-GE-EES-0001, Revision: 1) contained in the Environment Effects Statement (EES) prepared for the Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing Removal Projects (Projects). 2 Qualifications and experience Appendix A contains a statement setting out my qualifications and experience, and the other matters raised by Planning Panels Victoria 'Guide to Expert Evidence'. A copy of my curriculum vitae is provided in Appendix B. 3 Peer Review I have read the 248 submissions to the EES and identified those containing issues that are relevant to my area of expertise. No change is required to my Peer Review Assessment because of my review of the issues raised in the public submissions. It is my opinion that the groundwater components of the EES for the Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing Removal Projects, as reviewed Peer Review Assessment, are fit for purpose and do not contain significant technical flaws or errors. The approaches, methods and findings of the groundwater assessment components of the EES are considered justified and adequately supported through analysis of available existing information, hydrogeological conceptualisation of groundwater conditions and interaction with surface water, and predictive simulations of potential future conditions conducted using industry-standard modelling codes and methods. The claimed model confidence level classification of Class 2 to 3 for the groundwater flow modelling conducted for the EES is considered justified under the criteria of the Australian Groundwater Modelling Guidelines (Barnett et al. 2012) including the criteria for data availability, calibration quality, and magnitude of potential effects relative to historical variation in groundwater conditions. Reference Barnett et al, 2012, Australian groundwater modelling guidelines, Waterlines report, National Water Commission, Canberra. Declaration I have made all the inquiries that I believe are desirable and appropriate and that no matters of significance which I regard as relevant have to my knowledge been withheld from the Inquiry and Advisory Committee. L\

2 ... Signed Date: 23 May 2018 L\

3 Appendix A Matters Raised by PPV Guide to Expert Evidence (a) the name and address of the expert; Dr Anthony Smith, 63A Stock Road Attadale 6156 WA. (b) the expert's qualifications and experience; Dr Smith has a PhD in Environmental Science from Murdoch University in the field of modelling of groundwater and surface water interaction. He has 14 years research experience with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and 8 years experience working as a groundwater consultant. Dr Smith has undertaken peer review roles for international journals, CSIRO and commercial clients. He has authored or contributed to 44 groundwater publications with 589 total citations. Further details are provided in Dr Smith s curriculum vitae in Appendix B. (c) a statement identifying the expert's area of expertise to make the report; Dr Smith has strengths in quantitative analysis and is a specialist in groundwater simulation and modelling. He has lead and contributed to a wide range of groundwater projects relevant to the Edithvale and Bonbeach Level crossing removal projects EES, including interaction between groundwater and wetlands, water logging and salinisation in irrigated areas, seawater intrusion and submarine groundwater discharge. Further details are provided in Dr Smith s curriculum vitae in Appendix B. (d) a statement identifying all other significant contributors to the report and where necessary outlining their expertise; This report, and the Peer Review Assessment informing this report, did not involve other contributors. (e) all instructions that define the scope of the report (original and supplementary and whether in writing or oral); The scope for the Peer Review Assessment informing this report was defined in writing in the document entitled Independent Peer Reviewer Terms of Reference, as prepared by the AECOM-GHD Joint Venture (JV) and attached as Appendix C. In additional to the above terms of reference, the review of groundwater modelling was undertaken in accordance with the recommendations of the Australian Groundwater Modelling Guidelines (Barnett et al. 2012). All review checklists recommended in the modelling guidelines were completed for the Peer Review Assessment of groundwater modelling, including the checklists for modelling compliance, planning, conceptualisation, design and construction, calibration and sensitivity, and prediction and uncertainty. Reference Barnett et al, 2012, Australian groundwater modelling guidelines, Waterlines report, National Water Commission, Canberra. (f) the identity of the person who carried out any tests or experiments upon which the expert relied in making this report and the qualifications of that person; L\

4 This report, and the Peer Review Assessment informing this report, did not rely on tests or experiments conducted by other persons. (g) the facts, matters and all assumptions upon which the report proceeds; This report proceeds based on the following implementation of the peer review scope: An initiation meeting was held in Melbourne in May 2017 to discuss the terms of reference for the Peer Review Assessment. A site visit and tour of the level crossing removal sites and their associated environmental values was conducted in May Locations visited during the site visit included Edithvale Wetlands, Edithvale level crossing (Edithvale Road), Bonbeach level crossing (Bondi Road), Seaford level crossing (Seaford Road) and Seaford Wetland. Review of selected technical documents and reports prepared by the JV for the EES, as listed in part (h) of this report, using the following general procedure - Issue of the draft document (typically revision A) by the JV to the reviewer; - Reading and review of the draft document by the reviewer; - Issue of a draft peer review by the reviewer to the JV, in the form of a draft letter report; - Consideration of the reviewer s comments by the JV and discussion between the JV project team and reviewer as required to resolve key comments identified in the review; - Issue of the revised review material (typically revision B) by the JV to the reviewer, along with the JV s responses to the reviewer s comments; and - Finalisation of the peer review and issue of a closing letter by the reviewer to the JV for that component of the Peer Review Assessment. (h) reference to those documents and other materials the expert has been instructed to consider or take into account in preparing the report, and the literature or other material used in making the report; The following documents and materials were individually reviewed for the peer review: TOPIC Edithvale Wetland monitoring Methodology overview Numerical groundwater flow modelling REVIEWED MATERIALS Memorandum number LXRA-LX31-180GE-MEM-1001 Revision A: Proposal to undertake field ecological, hydrological and hydrogeological investigations at Edithvale Wetlands (issued by JV on 7 Jul 2017) Memorandum number LXRA-LX31-18-GE-MEM-0002 Revision A: Methodology overview groundwater modelling and impact assessment to support the Edithvale / Bonbeach EES (issued by JV on 23 Jul 2017) Numerical Groundwater Modelling Report LXRA-LX GE-EES-0002 Revision A (issued by JV on 18 Oct 2017) Numerical Groundwater Modelling Report LXRA-LX GE-EES-0002 Revision B (issued by JV on 13 Dec 2017) L\

5 Saltwater intrusion modelling Edithvale Wetland water balance. Groundwater impact assessment Groundwater equalisation options Technical Report Appendix Saltwater Intrusion Modelling LXRA-LX31-00-GE-EES-0003 Revision A (issued by JV on 18 Oct 2017). Technical Report Appendix Saltwater Intrusion Modelling LXRA-LX31-00-GE-EES-0003 Revision B (issued by JV on 13 Dec 2017) Technical Report Appendix Edithvale Wetland Water Balance LXRA-LX31-00-HW-RPT-0005 Revision A (issued by JV on 18 Oct 2017). Technical Report Appendix Edithvale Wetland Water Balance LXRA-LX31-00-HW-RPT-0005 Revision B (issued by JV 13 Dec 2017). Groundwater Impact Assessment LXRA-LX31-00-GE-EES-0001 Revision: A (issued by JV on 18 Oct 2017). Versions of the comments register issued by the JV (Dec 2017 and Jan 2018). Assessment of Edithvale and Bonbeach Groundwater Equalisation Options LXRA-LX31-00-GE-RPT-0006 Revision: A (issued by JV on 13 Dec 2017). In addition to the review materials, other contextual information for the EES provided by the JV included the following documents: Referral of a project for a decision on the need for assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 Reasons for decision under Environment Effects Act 1978 Frankston Package 18 - Edithvale Road, Edithvale Cross Drainage Assessment Rail Under Road LXRA-LX31-18-HW-RPT-0002 Revision: 0 Frankston Package 46 - Station Street/Bondi Road, Bonbeach Cross Drainage Assessment Rail Under Road LXRA-LX31-46-HW-RPT-0002 Revision: 0 Frankston Package 18 - Edithvale Road, Edithvale Preliminary Impact Assessment: Groundwater Rail Under Road LXRA-LX31-18-GE-RPT-0003 Revision: 0 Frankston Package 46 - Station Street/Bondi Road, Bonbeach Preliminary Impact Assessment: Groundwater Rail Under Road LXRA-LX31-46-GE-RPT Revision: 0 Frankston Package 18 - Edithvale Road, Edithvale 46 - Station Street/Bondi Road, Bonbeach Groundwater Preliminary Impacts Ecological Assessment Rail Under Road LXRA-LX31-00-PA-RPT-0029 Revision: 0 (i) a statement identifying any provisional opinions that have not been fully researched for any reason (identifying the reason why such opinions have not been or cannot be fully researched); No provisional opinions. L\

6 (j) a statement setting out any questions falling outside the expert's expertise and also a statement indicating whether the report is incomplete or inaccurate in any respect. No questions. (k) a summary of the opinion or opinions of the expert A summary of the reviewer s opinion is given in Section 3 of the report. L\

7 Appendix B CV of Anthony Smith Anthony Smith has a PhD in Environmental Science (modelling of groundwater and surface water interaction) from Murdoch University, Western Australia and 20 years research and consultancy experience on a wide range of groundwater and water projects. He has a strong background in quantitative analysis and simulation and has lead and contributed to projects involving interaction between groundwater and surface water, mine dewatering and water supply, aquifer depressurisation for coal seam gas development, managed aquifer recharge feasibility and operation, groundwater sustainable yield assessment, water logging and salinisation in irrigated agriculture, seawater intrusion, densitycoupled flow and transport modelling, and submarine groundwater discharge. Anthony began his current career as a groundwater modeller within a West Australian groundwater consultancy in He subsequently joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and spent the next fourteen years as a Research Scientist and Senior Research Scientist. Since moving back to consulting in 2011, Anthony has worked as a Principal Groundwater Modeller with NTEC Environmental Technology and now with CDM Smith Australia Pty Ltd. Qualifications PhD (Environmental Science), Murdoch University, Perth, Australia, BEnvSc (Hons 1), Murdoch University, Perth, Australia, Certificate of Civil Engineering, Wembley Technical College, Perth, Australia, Employment , Principal Modeller, CDM Smith Australia , Principal Groundwater Modeller, NTEC Environmental Technology , Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO (Land and Water) , Research Scientist, CSIRO (Land and Water) , Groundwater Modeller, PPK Environment and Infrastructure , Structural Draftsman, Western Australian Government and private. Peer review experience Review of groundwater studies and groundwater models for commercial clients, including CSIRO. Manuscript reviews on behalf of international journals, including Nature, Advances in Water Resources, Journal of Hydrology, Hydrogeology Journal, Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences, and Environmental Research Letters. Internal reviews of CSIRO research manuscripts, technical reports and client reports. Publications Anthony has authored or contributed to 44 publications with 589 total citations; see Google scholar: L\

8 Appendix C Independent Peer Reviewer Terms of Reference L\

9 Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing Removal Environment Effects Statement Independent Peer Reviewer Terms of Reference Section 1: Introduction The Victorian Government is removing 50 of Melbourne s most dangerous and congested level crossings, inclusive of the level crossings at Edithvale and Bonbeach. The Edithvale and Bonbeach level crossing removal projects were referred to the Victorian Minister for Planning on 9 March On 5 April 2017, the Minister issued a decision determining that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) is required for the projects due to the potential for a range of significant environmental effects. The project s proponent, Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA), has engaged the AECOM-GHD Joint Venture (JV) to prepare the EES and undertake the supporting technical studies. One of the key technical studies for this EES is the groundwater assessment. Tony Smith of CDM Smith (Perth) has been engaged by the JV to undertake an Independent Peer Review of this study. These terms of reference have been developed to guide the peer review process and can be amended with agreement of the peer reviewer and the JV. Section 2: Purpose and role The role of the Peer Reviewer is to provide an independent peer review of the groundwater technical impact assessment produced by the JV for the Edithvale and Bonbeach level crossing removal EES. In particular the review should: assess the design of and adequacy of the groundwater technical assessment to identify and assess the potential environmental effects of the projects, and address the scoping requirements (prepared by the Department of Land, Water Environment and Planning (DELWP) for the EES. The peer review should consider: relevant legislation, guidelines and policy consistency of methodology with good practice standards of methodology and analysis, including the availability of relevant data sets and research the approach to field work, data collection and analysis the assumptions and integrity of the data used to develop the regional groundwater modelling provide a robust basis for understanding the potential changes to groundwater conditions confirmation that the conclusions of the groundwater assessment and any proposed mitigation are sound and reasonable and practicable. Section 3: Independent Peer Review Protocols

10 The Independent Peer Reviewer will be required to: Conduct all communication through the JV Planning and Environment (P&E) contacts listed in Section 5 below. Ensure the integrity, independence and professionalism of the peer review process, and immediately advise the JV of any potential, perceived or real risk to that independence Issue letter reports for interim deliverables such as scope and methodology review(s) Issue a formal report summarising the review of the groundwater modelling and technical impact assessment report addressing the points in Section 2 above Agree in advance on delivery timeframes for reviews, and provide at least three days notice if agreed timeframes cannot be met. Section 4: Program The groundwater technical assessment program will be provided separately to the peer reviewer and is subject to change. However there are a number of key dates to be aware of: the risk assessment workshop will be held 22 August 2017 the Technical Reference Group meeting for review of the groundwater report will be held 26 September 2017 (with the draft report submitted one week in advance of the meeting) EES submission is proposed for mid November 2017 public exhibition of the EES is proposed for late January Section 5: Project team The independent peer reviewer for this project is: Tony Smith from CDM Smith (Perth). The JV P&E contacts for the peer reviewer within the JV are: Rachel Harding Natalie Jiricek Aime Bigornia. <PW_ENV_DocCode> Revision <PW_ENV_DocRev> <PW_ENV_Subject> Page 2