Appendix R - newhopegroup.com.au · proposed Surat Basin Rail line north of Wandoan. 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION The Project is located within the Surat Energy Resources Province and the

Document Name i Insert Month/Year

Appendix R Visual Amenity Assessment

Elimatta Project Visual Amenity Assessment

Prepared for:

Taroom Coal Pty Ltd

November 2012

Visual Amenity Assessment i November 2012

Document History and Status

Issue Rev. Issued To Qty Date Reviewed Approved

1 0 Taroom Coal Pty Ltd 1 13/09/12 Alison Pearce Andrew Pearce

Author: Michelle O’Rourke

Project Manager: Gareth Bramston

Name of Client : Taroom Coal Pty Ltd

Name of Project: Elimatta Project

Title of Document: Visual Amenity Assessment

Document Version: Final

This controlled document is the property of AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd and all rights are reserved

in respect of it. This document may not be reproduced or disclosed in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in

part, without the prior written consent of AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd. AustralAsian Resource

Consultants Pty Ltd expressly disclaims any responsibility for or liability arising from the use of this document by

any third party.

Opinions and judgments expressed herein, which are based on our understanding and interpretation of current

regulatory standards, should not be construed as legal opinions. Information obtained from interviews and

contained in the documentation has been assumed to be correct and complete. AustralAsian Resource

Consultants Pty Ltd does not accept any liability for misrepresentation of information or for items not visible,

accessible, nor able to be inspected at the sites at the time of the site visits.

Visual Amenity Assessment ii November 2012

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1

1.1 BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 PROJECT LOCATION .......................................................................................................... 1

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................. 4

2.1 MINING OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 4

2.2 ROADS .................................................................................................................................. 5

2.3 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE ....................................................................... 7

2.4 PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION ................................................................................... 17

2.5 SENSITIVE RECEIVERS ..................................................................................................... 18

3.0 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................... 21

3.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE VISUAL AMENITY ASSESSMENT ............................................... 21

3.2 ASSESSMENT PROCESS .................................................................................................. 21

3.3 VISUAL MANAGEMENT UNITS FOR THE PROJECT ...................................................... 22

3.4 PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATION POINTS ............................................................................. 24

3.5 DEFINING OVERALL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................ 26

4.0 MAJOR MINE COMPONENTS ..................................................................... 30

4.1 MINE COMPONENTS ......................................................................................................... 30

4.2 LIGHTING FROM THE PROJECT ...................................................................................... 32

4.3 MINE STAGING ................................................................................................................... 32

5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE PROJECT ON VISUAL MANAGEMENT UNITS ....................................................................................................................... 34

5.1 VISUAL EFFECTS ANIMATED .......................................................................................... 34

5.2 DESCRIPTION OF PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHS AND ANIMATIONS ......................... 34

5.3 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR RECEIVER VMUS ......................................................... 43

5.4 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR LANDSCAPE VMUS ..................................................... 45

5.5 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS ................................................................................................... 45

6.0 MITIGATION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ..................................................... 47

6.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT SITE .............................................................. 47

6.2 ROADS ................................................................................................................................ 51

6.3 MINE COMPONENTS ......................................................................................................... 52

6.4 OUTLOOKS, VIEWING POINTS AND WALKWAYS ......................................................... 53

6.5 WATERWAYS ..................................................................................................................... 53

6.6 EXISTING RESIDENCIES ................................................................................................... 53

6.7 PLACES OF WORK ............................................................................................................ 54

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Visual Amenity Assessment iii November 2012

6.8 SENSITIVITY OF THE LANDSCAPE TO VISUAL AMENITY IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................................................................................... 54

6.9 BUFFER ZONES SURROUNDING THE PROJECT........................................................... 54

6.10 LIGHTING ............................................................................................................................ 54

7.0 SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 55

8.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 57

Figure 1 Regional location of the Elimatta Project ........................................................................ 2

Figure 2 The Project boundaries and associated properties ........................................................ 3

Figure 3 Roads surrounding the Project site................................................................................. 6

Figure 4 Photo site locations .......................................................................................................17

Figure 5 Location of sensitive receivers and buffers ..................................................................19

Figure 6 Visual assessment sites and sensitive receivers ..........................................................25

Figure 7 Assessment process for determining level of significance ...........................................26

Figure 8 Production rates of ROM coal .......................................................................................33

Figure 9 Site VA2 – Existing landform (top) compared with End of Mine Life (bottom)..............37




Figure 13 Site VA13 - Existing landform (top) compared with views of the West Surat Link during mine operations (bottom) ...................................................................................41

Figure 14 Site VA7 - View south towards the Project ...................................................................42

Figure 15 Site VA15 – View south towards the West Surat Link ..................................................42

Figure 16 Mine site layout .............................................................................................................48

LIST OF FIGURES

Visual Amenity Assessment iv November 2012

Table 1 Number of residences and their distance to the Project boundary ...............................20

Table 2 Landscape VMU characteristics ...................................................................................23

Table 3 Receiver VMU characteristics .......................................................................................23

Table 4 Magnitude and sensitivity description ...........................................................................27

Table 5 Sensitivity assessment for receiver VMUs values ........................................................27

Table 6 Evaluation of level of significance for impacts on receivers .........................................28

Table 7 Evaluation of level of significance for landscapes ........................................................28

Table 8 Level of significance of the Project on receiver VMUs .................................................44

Table 9 Level of significance of the Project on landscape VMUs ..............................................45

Photo Plate 1 Flat landscape with scattered vegetation facing north towards MLA 50254 (refer to VA2 Figure 4) .................................................................................................................. 7

Photo Plate 2 Tree buffering facing east towards MLA 50254 (refer to VA3 Figure 4) ......................... 8

Photo Plate 3 Pasture land with minimal vegetation facing east, west of MLA 50254 (refer to VA4 Figure 4) .......................................................................................................................... 8

Photo Plate 4 Tree buffering along Goldens Road facing east towards MLA 50270 (refer to VA6 Figure 4) .......................................................................................................................... 9

Photo Plate 5 Ploughed fields provide similar colour contrasts as mining operations. Facing east towards MLA 50270 (refer to VA5 Figure 4) ................................................................... 9

Photo Plate 6 Open pastures on undulating hills surrounding Perretts Road facing south-west towards the Project site (refer to VA7 Figure 4) ...........................................................10

Photo Plate 7 Tree buffering from Perretts Road facing south-west towards MLA 50270 (refer to VA8 Figure 4) ................................................................................................................10

Photo Plate 8 Dense vegetation buffer viewed from Ryals Road facing west towards MLA 50254 and the transport corridor (refer to VA9 Figure 4) ........................................................11

Photo Plate 9 Dense vegetation buffer along Ryals Road facing west towards MLA 50254 and the transport corridor (refer to VA10 Figure 4) .............................................................11

Photo Plate 10 Dense vegetation along Kabunga Road, east of the Project site viewing north towards the proposed West Surat Link (refer to VA11 Figure 4) ..................................12

Photo Plate 11 Predominate road side vegetation along Kabunga Road, facing south towards the proposed location of the West Surat Link (refer to VA12 Figure 4) .............................13

Photo Plate 12 Contrasting shades among uneven topography facing south, towards the West Surat Link (refer to VA13 Figure 4) ...............................................................................13

Photo Plate 13 Tree buffering and property infrastructure provide compensation as you face north towards the West Surat Link (refer to VA14 Figure 4). .................................................14

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF PHOTO PLATES

Visual Amenity Assessment v November 2012

Photo Plate 14 Undulating hills and scattered trees facing south towards the West Surat Link on the Leichardt Highway (refer to VA15 Figure 4). ..........................................................14

Photo Plate 15 Tree buffering is provided facing east along the West Surat Link (refer to VA16 Figure 4) ........................................................................................................................15

Photo Plate 16 Scattered vegetation facing west along the West Surat Link (refer to VA16 Figure 4) ...................................................................................................................................15

Photo Plate 17 Vegetation buffering along Nathan Road, facing south-west towards the end of the West Surat Link (refer to VA17 Figure 4) .....................................................................16

Photo Plate 18 Broken buffer along Nathan Road, facing north towards the eastern portion of the West Surat Link (refer to VA18 Figure 4) .....................................................................16

Photo Plate 19 Dense vegetation buffer from Ryals Road towards MLA 50254 and the transport corridor (refer to VA9 Figure 4) .....................................................................................52

Visual Amenity Assessment vi November 2012

AARC - AustralAsian Resource Consultants

CHPP - Coal Handling and Process Plant

EA - Environmental Authority

EHP - Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

EIS - Environmental Impact Statement

EM Plan - Environmental Management Plan

EPC - Exploration Permit for Coal

ha - Hectare

MIA - Mining Infrastructure Area

ML - Mining Lease

MLA - Mining Lease Application

Mt - Million Tonnes

pa - Per Annum

ROM - Run – Of – Mine

tph - Tonnes Per Hour

TSF - Tailings Storage Facility

VMU - Visual Management Units

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Visual Amenity Assessment 1 November 2012

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

AustralAsian Resource Consultants (AARC) was commissioned by Taroom Coal Pty Ltd (the

Proponent) to undertake a Visual Amenity Assessment for the Elimatta Project (the Project). The

Project involves mining and beneficiation of coal and transport of product coal to link to the Surat

Basin Rail line. The open-cut mine plan is based on excavator and truck operation.

A Mining Lease Application (MLA 50254) has previously been submitted concurrently with an

application for an Environmental Authority (EA) for the proposed mining area, Exploration Permit for

Coal (EPC) 650. Linked via a transport corridor, the coal handling and processing plant (CHPP) and

related infrastructure would be located within another mining lease (MLA 50270) made over EPC

1171.

An amendment to the EA has been submitted to accompany additional MLAs required for the

proposed development of mining and processing infrastructure including connecting transport

corridors.

The Project also includes a 36 km Rail and Services Corridor connecting the Project site to the

proposed Surat Basin Rail line north of Wandoan.

1.2 PROJECT LOCATION

The Project is located within the Surat Energy Resources Province and the Surat Basin geological

region. The Project site is located approximately 35 kilometres (km) west of the Wandoan township in

the Darling Downs region, and 380 km north-west of Brisbane as shown in Figure 1. The Project is

located entirely within the Western Downs Regional Council area.

Access to the Project site is via Perretts Road (also known as the Yuleba Taroom Road) west of the

Leichhardt Highway. The proposed Mining Leases (ML) for both mine operations and transport will

cover an area of approximately 4460 hectares (ha).


Figure 1 Regional location of the Elimatta Project


Figure 2 The Project boundaries and associated properties


2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Project is based on the development of a thermal coal resource of more than 250 Million tonnes

(Mt) in the Surat Basin coal province in Queensland, Australia.

The Project area currently consists of 3 existing MLAs and a 36 km long Rail and Services Corridor.

MLA 50254 occurs where the open-cut pit is proposed, MLA50270 will consist of the CHPP and other

associated mine infrastructure including tailings storages and accommodation village, and MLA50271

will be the transportation corridor for transportation of Run-of-Mine coal from the pit to the CHPP. The

Project MLA boundary is approximately 4460 ha and is illustrated by Figure 2.

2.1 MINING OPERATIONS

The Project is planned to mine up to 8 Mt of Run-Of-Mine (ROM) coal per annum (pa) to produce on

average 5 Mt/pa of product coal for export. The open-cut mine plan is based on excavator and truck

operation feeding 1,100 tonnes per hour (tph), two-stage coal processing plant. Topsoil stripped prior

to mining will be segregated for later use in rehabilitation, with some overburden disposed of within

both in-pit, and out-of-pit spoils dumps located on site and contiguous with the pit excavation.

Processing will involve crushing, screening and washing to separate coal from waste materials. Waste

rejects will be dried, with water recycled to the processing plant and solids disposed of within spoil

dumps.

The construction period is anticipated to take approximately 22 – 24 months with operations

employees on site after 13 months. Initially the construction will involve earthworks in order to create a

landscape suitable for infrastructure development. Following the preliminary clearing of the site,

earthmoving equipment will remain in order to excavate areas for stage one of the open cut pit, the

spoil dumps, the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), initial clearing of the Mine Infrastructure Area (MIA),

and internal transport corridors. Following initial construction appropriate machinery will be utilised to

construct remaining infrastructure including water infrastructure, CHPP, TSF, accommodation, roads,

the rail corridor, and other associated requirements.

Product coal is to be transported via a constructed rail-line termed the West Surat Link of

approximately 36 km to join the Surat Basin Rail to the north east of the Wandoan Township. Product

coal will be railed to the planned Wiggins Island Coal Terminal at Gladstone for export.

Based on a current assessment of the available resource, the predicted life on the mine is in excess of

25 years and is more likely to be around 32 years. Upon decommissioning of the mine the entire

Project site will be rehabilitated in accordance with best practices in consultation with relevant

government authorities and the post mining land owners.

Major elements of the Project include:

Open cut mining of the Elimatta coal resource, located within the MLA 50254;

Mining via continuous mining units which feed a mobile conveyor system for transfer of waste

and ore;

Transportation of ROM coal from MLA 50254 to the CHPP located, north, on MLA50270;

Processing of coal at the Elimatta CHPP, including crushing, screening and washing, with

waste products disposed of to a TSF and in later years, the mined out pits;


Out-of-pit spoil dumps and in-pit spoil disposal at the Elimatta open-cut pit site (MLA 50254);

Rail loading and transport of processed coal via the West Surat Link of approximately 36 km

to join the Surat Basin Rail to the north east of Wandoan township; and

The diversion of Perretts Road.

The main visual elements of the Project are the following:

Open cut pit;

Surface infrastructure and facilities to service the open cut pit;

MIA;

Mine administration area;

Access and haul roads;

Spoil dumps;

CHPP;

TSF;

Surface and raw water storage dams;

Power and water supply infrastructure;

Train loading facility;

Rail alignment;

Diversion of Horse creek; and

Diversion of Perretts Road.

2.2 ROADS

The current Project site access is from Perretts Road. Perretts Road runs parallel to Horse Creek in a

north-south direction through the proposed Project site. As such, Perretts Road will need diverting in

order to accommodate the Project.

Perretts Road will be moved to the east of its current position and will remain as the primary access

road to the Project. Other roads, including Ryals Road, Cattle Downs Road, and Goldens Road will be

upgraded and/or relocated to further accommodate access to the Project site.

Specifically, as part of the Project, permanent road closures and realignments will be required to allow

construction of the Project. Constructed roads already in place and managed by the Western Downs

Regional Council will be upgraded to allow sufficient and efficient public access around the Project.

Roads which are directly affected by the Project are highlighted in Figure 3 and listed below:


Perretts Road which runs through the middle of the mine area is to be relocated to the east

and connect south, to the Bundi Highway;

Part of Ryals Road across Horse Creek to Perretts Road. Also part of Perretts Road in the

vicinity of the Project infrastructure area is to be upgraded; and

Cattle Downs Road is upgraded to provide access to the Accommodation Village.

A new road is to be built to connect Cattle Downs Road with Goldens Road to maintain west side

access along Goldens Road which is closed because of the main mine haul road.

Figure 3 Roads surrounding the Project site


2.3 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE

The region is generally undulating, formed on the argillaceous sediments of the Great Artesian Basin

(Sattler and Williams 1999). Low intensity cattle grazing and cropping are the dominant land uses

surrounding the Project site. Associated infrastructure on the site includes cattle yards, windmills,

dams and water storage tanks. There is also a disused cattle dip within the proposed mining area

(MLA 50254).

The topography of the site is generally flat with gentle hills, with elevations ranging from approximately

250 m to 300 m above sea level. Facing south-west towards the Project site, north of MLA 50270, are

small rolling hills which may effectively block views into the site from surrounding tenements. There

are no distinctive viewpoints surrounding the Project site.

Although the majority of vegetation is sparse due to historic land uses, buffers do exist and surround

various extents of the Project site. Predominately, topography and vegetation provide the greatest

buffers east and south of the Project site (benefiting those looking west onto the Project site), where

the majority of residencies are located. Details of photo site locations are provided in Figure 4, with

locations illustrated by Photo Plates 1 through to 18.

Photo Plate 1 Flat landscape with scattered vegetation facing north towards MLA 50254

(refer to VA2 Figure 4)


Photo Plate 2 Tree buffering facing east towards MLA 50254


Photo Plate 3 Pasture land with minimal vegetation facing east, west of MLA 50254



Photo Plate 4 Tree buffering along Goldens Road facing east towards MLA 50270


Photo Plate 5 Ploughed fields provide similar colour contrasts as mining operations. Facing

east towards MLA 50270 (refer to VA5 Figure 4)


Photo Plate 6 Open pastures on undulating hills surrounding Perretts Road facing south-west

towards the Project site (refer to VA7 Figure 4)

Photo Plate 7 Tree buffering from Perretts Road facing south-west towards MLA 50270 (refer

to VA8 Figure 4)


Photo Plate 8 Dense vegetation buffer viewed from Ryals Road facing west towards

MLA 50254 and the transport corridor (refer to VA9 Figure 4)

Photo Plate 9 Dense vegetation buffer along Ryals Road facing west towards MLA 50254 and

the transport corridor (refer to VA10 Figure 4)


Photo Plate 10 Dense vegetation along Kabunga Road, east of the Project site viewing north

towards the proposed West Surat Link (refer to VA11 Figure 4)

Horse Creek, a tributary of the Dawson River, meanders through the Project site from south to north

and is the most significant watercourse in the vicinity of the Project. Horse Creek passes centrally

through MLA 50254 and to the east of MLA 50270. The diversion of Horse Creek, within the confines

of the ML, will take place in 4 stages over 10 years.

The flow of ephemeral waterways within and surrounding the Project Site is restricted to heavy rainfall

events, which typically occur between November and February. Due to their ephemeral nature, the

use of watercourses within the vicinity of the Project is generally limited to stock watering, when water

is available, and are generally unsuitable for recreational use. Riverine / aquatic ecosystems have no

associated receivers (recreational users) and will not be included as a Visual Management Unit (VMU)

for this report.

Although areas in proximity to the West Surat Link are not heavily vegetated, scattered trees and

occasional slopes offer buffering consistent with the level of disturbance that may be experienced

within this region.

The following photos detail the visual amenity associated with the Rail and Services Corridor:


Photo Plate 11 Predominate road side vegetation along Kabunga Road, facing south towards

the proposed location of the West Surat Link


Photo Plate 12 Contrasting shades among uneven topography facing south, towards the West

Surat Link (refer to VA13 Figure 4)


Photo Plate 13 Tree buffering and property infrastructure provide compensation as you face

north towards the West Surat Link (refer to VA14 Figure 4).

Photo Plate 14 Undulating hills and scattered trees facing south towards the West Surat Link

on the Leichardt Highway (refer to VA15 Figure 4).


Photo Plate 15 Tree buffering is provided facing east along the West Surat Link


Photo Plate 16 Scattered vegetation facing west along the West Surat Link



Photo Plate 17 Vegetation buffering along Nathan Road, facing south-west towards the end of

the West Surat Link (refer to VA17 Figure 4)

Photo Plate 18 Broken buffer along Nathan Road, facing north towards the eastern portion of

the West Surat Link (refer to VA18 Figure 4)


Figure 4 Photo site locations

2.4 PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION

The rehabilitation strategy for the Project focuses on rehabilitating all areas significantly disturbed by

surface mining activities to a stable landform with a self-sustaining vegetation cover. In order to reduce

the amount of disturbed land at any one time, rehabilitation will be progressively undertaken on areas

that cease to be used for mining or mining-related activities. Results from successful progressive

rehabilitation will be used to refine the proposed rehabilitation methods including aspects such as the

selection of appropriate drainage measures/structures and plant species for re-establishment.

Prior to mining, the Project site was used for low intensity grazing. No areas within the Project site

were suitable for forage or cash cropping uses. Rehabilitation of the Project area will return a stable

landform capable of land uses similar to those prior to disturbance with a similar appearance and

visual amenity values.

To achieve this, the nominated post-mine land use mosaic will link remnant native vegetation, where

practical, and will aim to return some of the existing conservation values.

All infrastructures will be removed, unless formal written agreements have been reached with the post-

mining landowners/managers for its ongoing use, and areas will be returned to the pre-mining

landuse.

Rehabilitation of disturbed land at the Project will be conducted so that:


suitable species of vegetation are planted and established to achieve the nominated post-

mine land uses;

the potential for water and wind induced erosion is minimised, including likelihood of

environmental impacts being caused by the release of dust;

the quality of any surface water and seepage released from the Project is such that they are

not likely to cause environmental harm;

the water quality of any residual water bodies meets criteria for subsequent uses and does not

have the potential to cause environmental harm; and

the final landform is stable and not subject to slumping or erosion that would result in the

agreed post-mining landform not being achieved.

This rehabilitation strategy will return the land to a condition that has similar or identical visual amenity

values to the current land condition. By utilising these methods any major disturbances will be limited

to set timeframes.

2.5 SENSITIVE RECEIVERS

The location and proximity of receivers associated with the Project is shown in Figure 5 and

summarised in Table 1.

It should be noted that when a distance has been provided it has been measured to the Project

boundary and that the distance to actual disturbance will be further.


Figure 5 Location of sensitive receivers and buffers


Table 1 Number of residences and their distance to the Project boundary

Distance to Disturbance Number of Residences

MLA

Less than 1 km 2 (within the MLA)

1 – 3 km 8

3 – 5 km 5

5 km + 39

Total 54

Rail and Services Corridor

Less than 1 km 13 (including 1 within MLA

50270)

1 – 3 km 19

3 – 5 km 2

5 km + 20

Total 54


3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE VISUAL AMENITY ASSESSMENT

The objectives of the visual amenity assessment are to describe the existing landscape features,

panoramas and views that have or could be expected to have potential value to the community

whether of local, regional, State-wide, national or international significance. Information will be

provided in the form of maps, sections, elevations and photographs to address the following key

issues:

Potential impacts on major views, view sheds, existing viewing outlooks, ridgelines and

other features contributing to the amenity of the area, as well as private residences in the

potentially affected area along the route;

Identification of focal points, landmarks (built form or topography), gateways associated

with the Project site and immediate surrounding areas, waterways and other features

contributing to the visual quality of the area and the Project site and potential impacts that

may arise from the Project;

Assess the existing characteristics of the local and surrounding areas including character

of built form (scale, form, materials and colours) and vegetation (natural and cultural

vegetation) directional signage and land use and potential impacts that may arise from the

Project;

Identification of the areas of the proposal that have the capacity to absorb land use

changes without detriment to the existing visual quality and landscape character; and

Assess the value of existing vegetation as a visual screen.

3.2 ASSESSMENT PROCESS

The assessment of visual amenity values, or defining the impact of visual change, is typically a

subjective process. Each individual will generally place a different perception of the value of a view or

landscape. Generally, the higher the proportion of human-made features, the less appealing the view.

Variation in vegetation type also provides a significant visual influence. The more diverse or ‘green’

the landscape, the more visually appealing it usually becomes.

Visual values will be assessed and presented in terms of the extent (magnitude) and significance of

the changed skyline as perceived from places of residence, work and recreation, from transport

routes, from the air and other known vantage points day and night, during all stages of the project as it

relates to the surrounding landscape.

To reduce the level of subjectivity involved with this type of assessment, the visual impacts of

structures and associated infrastructure from the Project will be addressed using visual simulation

methods, maps, sections, elevations and photographs. Special consideration has been given to public

roads, public thoroughfares and places of residence or work, which are within the line-of-sight of the

Project.

Visual impacts relate to the quality of what people see from places they frequent. Landscape impacts

relate to the landscapes ability or lack thereof to accommodate change associated with the Project.

Landscape and visual impact may potentially result from the following:


a) Construction of the proposed mine infrastructure, including effects such as lighting or fugitive

dust; and

b) Operation of the mine, including permanent loss of existing landscape features, permanent

structures, visible emissions and lighting.

Taking these factors into consideration, the following was undertaken to assess the potential impacts

of the proposed Project on visual amenity:

a) Field investigations to inspect the visual values of the Project site;

b) Panoramic and line-of-sight photographs taken from key vantage points surrounding the MLA

showing the existing landforms, vegetation and topography;

c) A review of the proposed mine stage plans and layout;

d) Review of topographical maps and aerial photographs; and

e) Analysis using appropriate simulation including diagrams, computer imaging, aerial

photographs, GIS and photos on near views and far views.

This assessment has been designed to help to quantify and summarise visual amenity values for the

Project and investigate any potential impacts associated with the Project. The design of the

assessment was heavily influenced by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department’s

Guidance Notes (GN 8/2010) on the Preparation of Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Under

the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EPD 2010).

3.3 VISUAL MANAGEMENT UNITS FOR THE PROJECT

The Elimatta Project site is expansive and incorporates a variety of different landscapes and values.

To provide a more precise assessment of the visual amenity values associated with the Project site,

Visual Management Units (VMUs) have been developed for this visual amenity assessment. VMUs

have been created by grouping landscapes with the same broad characteristics (vegetation, land use

etc.) found on the Project site. Utilising VMUs will allow the site to be broken down and analysed at a

more manageable and accurate scale and outcomes will be more detailed.

Landscapes with distinctive landscape characteristics will be categorised into VMUs to assess the

potential impacts on the surrounding landscape and to determine the ability of certain landscapes to

absorb impacts associated with the Project. Landscape VMUs differ with diversity of the range of

features and patterns present, and consequently in their ability to accommodate different types of

development. Some areas may be particularly sensitive to development and others more resilient.

Landscape sensitivity will have a bearing on the overall level of significance of the impact on visual

amenity values. The magnitude of change and sensitivity assessment criteria for key landscapes

associated with the Project can be found in Table 4.

Sensitive receivers will also be categorised into VMUs to determine how significant potential impacts

on particular groups of receivers are likely to be. This will involve determining the receiver’s location

and the duration of exposure to a disturbance associated with the Project. A crucial aspect of

assessing VMUs sensitivity is their distance to disturbances. For this Project the defined distance

levels have been determined by assessing the topography. The level of sensitivity and magnitude of

change will be determined to assess the overall level of significance of potential impacts.


Landscape VMUs are essentially what a receiver is looking at and Receiver VMUs are essentially how

many people are viewing a landscape, their distance to it and how long they view it for. The

Landscape VMUs for this site are presented in Table 2. The Receiver VMUs are presented in Table 3.

Table 2 Landscape VMU characteristics

VMU Characteristics

Rural/Grazing Predominantly cleared areas of improved pasture. Scattered trees or clumps of trees present, many fences and unformed roads/tracks.

Mine Development

Existing mine developments consisting of large unformed roads, overburden stockpiles, heavy machinery and generally well-developed infrastructure.

Remnant Vegetation

Patches of forest/woodland with relatively large or mature trees and a characteristically intact appearance. Grazed understorey typical. May include hunters, walkers

Main Roads / Highways The Leichardt Highway providing a route from south east Queensland to the western areas of Queensland

Residential Roads Constructed and unconstructed roads that provide access to residences surrounding the Project.

Residences Existing residences close to the MLA or Rail and Services Corridor that are <10 km.

Table 3 Receiver VMU characteristics

VMU Characteristics

Townships and settlements Many receivers with propriety interest and prolonged exposure durations

Homesteads and places of work

Many receivers with propriety interest and prolonged exposure durations

Main public roads or highways

Many receivers with intermittent or short term exposure durations and momentary interest

Lookouts and scenic routes Few receivers and moderate exposure durations with moderate interest

Constructed roads Few receivers and intermittent or short term exposure durations with momentary interest

Non-constructed roads Very few receivers and intermittent or short term exposure durations with momentary interest

Open-scale rural land uses Very few receivers with moderate exposure durations with moderate interest


These VMUs will be assessed against criteria set out in the following sections so that the overall level

of significance can be determined.

Location specific assessment involved taking photographs (panoramas and line-of-sight) from key

vantage points around the site. Certain sites were selected for more detailed analysis which involved

wide angled panoramic photographs with computer generated animations of proposed mine

components to show potential views of the Project. Other supplementary sites have also been

selected to provide north, east, south, west views or photos of areas of interest from sites surrounding

the Project.

3.4 PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATION POINTS

All visual assessment sites (photo sites) are shown in Figure 6. These are sites where detailed line of

sight analysis was conducted and standard photographs and panoramic photographs were taken.


Figure 6 Visual assessment sites and sensitive receivers


3.5 DEFINING OVERALL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Level of Significance will be determined for each VMU, which will provide an indicator as to how

significant the potential impacts from disturbances could be. This will assess disturbances according

to their severity as having potentially substantial, moderate, slight, or no significant impact on

associated receivers or landscapes. The severity or significance of an impact depends on both the

extent of change (a function of the nature, scale and visibility of the mine) and the sensitivity of the

landscape or observer to the change.

The more severe value will be used when a VMU falls between two classes.

The assessment process will follow the structure set out in Figure 7.

Figure 7 Assessment process for determining level of significance

The Level Of Sensitivity

•Will be determined for landscape and reciever VMUs

The Sensitivity of

Recievers

•Will be determined by their proximity to the Project

The Level of Significance

•Will be determined for landscape and reciever VMUs


Table 4 Magnitude and sensitivity description

Level of Sensitivity

Magnitude Sensitivity

Low Sensitivity

Landscape Almost imperceptible change in components or character of

the landscape.

A landscape which is not valued for its scenic quality and tolerant of substantial change.

Visual Few viewers affected by minor

changes in view. A viewer with passing or momentary interest in

its surroundings, e.g. motorists.

Moderate Sensitivity

Landscape Moderate change in

landscape components and character.

A moderately valued landscape, perhaps a locally important landscape, tolerant of some

change.

Visual Many viewers affected by

moderate changes in views. A viewer with moderate interest in their

environment, e.g. users of recreational facilities.

High Sensitivity

Landscape An obvious change in

landscape components over an extensive area.

A landscape of particularly distinctive character or nationally valued for its scenic quality.

Visual Many viewers affected by obvious changes in view.

A viewer with proprietary interest and prolonged viewing opportunities, e.g. residents.

Table 5 Sensitivity assessment for receiver VMUs values

VMU

Visual Sensitivity Assessment Classes

Visible from less than 1km

Visible from 1 – 3km

Visible from 3 – 5km

Visible from more than 5km +

Townships or Settlements

High Sensitivity High Sensitivity Moderate Sensitivity

Low Sensitivity

Homesteads and Places Work

High Sensitivity High Sensitivity Moderate Sensitivity

Low Sensitivity

Lookouts and Scenic Routes

High Sensitivity Moderate Sensitivity


Low Sensitivity

Main Public Roads or Highways



Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity

Constructed Roads Moderate Sensitivity


Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity

Non-Constructed Roads


Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity

Open-scale Rural Land Uses

Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity Low Sensitivity

The criteria for defining the Level of significance for visual impacts are outlined in Table 6 below. The

overall level of significance is a combination of the number of receivers potentially affected, the


distance of receivers to a disturbance and magnitude or extent of change. Levels of significance are

used throughout this document to standardise results of the assessment.

Table 6 Evaluation of level of significance for impacts on receivers

Magnitude of Visual

Change High Visual Sensitivity

Moderate Visual

Sensitivity Low Visual Sensitivity

Dominant landscape

component (adverse or

beneficial)

Significant impact Moderate impact Slight impact

Clearly discernible

landscape component

(adverse or beneficial)

Moderate impact Slight impact No significant impact

Small or negligible

landscape component

(adverse or beneficial)

Slight impact No significant impact No significant impact

Table 7 Evaluation of level of significance for landscapes

Loss of existing beneficial

components or introduction

of new inappropriate

components

With High

Landscape

Sensitivity

With Moderate

Landscape

Sensitivity

With Low Landscape

Sensitivity

Dominant landscape


beneficial)

Significant Impact Moderate Impact Slight Impact

Clearly discernible landscape


beneficial)

Moderate Impact Slight Impact No significant impact

Small or negligible landscape


beneficial)

Slight Impact No significant impact No significant impact

This method of assigning the level of significance of an impact takes into account the number of

viewers affected, the magnitude or extent of landscape change and the sensitivity of receivers and

landscapes. If many viewers will be affected the level of significance for that location would be higher

than if few viewers were affected. The same applies to landscape; where the scale of change is higher

the impact will be more significant. Landscape and receivers can be assessed and compared in a

more subjective way using this assessment method.


The potential impacts and the level of significance for visual amenity values and landscape values will

be discussed in Section 6.0.


4.0 MAJOR MINE COMPONENTS

4.1 MINE COMPONENTS

The potential impacts from various mine components can vary dramatically. The key factors in terms

of visual amenity values at this site will be vertical profile and magnitude or extent of change from

associated disturbances.

Major components of the Project will be described to determine the specific potential impacts

associated with each component. Many of these major elements will vary throughout the life of the

mine as will the associated impacts (see mine staging Section 4.3). Spoil dumps will be at their

greatest extent at the end of mine life, but will also be progressively rehabilitated, which will help to

reduce the potential effects. Certain mine components may also block existing or future mine

components from causing an impact. One example would be a spoil dump blocking the MIA from view

from certain locations.

Mining Areas, Final Voids and Extraction

Final voids will have relatively small disturbance areas. One public road, Perretts Road, will be

relocated east around the mining area associated with MLA 50254. The related visual amenity

consistent with previous descriptions characterising the eastern boundary of the southern lease, of

substantial vegetation should remain, providing measures such as minimal vegetation clearing are

carried out.

Disturbance areas consistent with MLA 50254 maintain up to 2477 ha may be disturbed for the

purpose of mine excavations and coal mining. Mining areas will be a dynamic component of the

Project, as they will move as the mine progresses. Progressive rehabilitation will reduce the visual

impacts of the in-filled pits, as land will be returned similar to previous land suitability. The design of

the site layout has placed voids in areas where they will potentially blend into the existing landscape.

Progressive rehabilitation will limit visual impacts to short time frames until the end of mine life stage.

At the end of mine life stage bunds will be constructed around all final voids, consistent with the

Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Exploration and Mining in Queensland,

which states that the bund wall should be a minimum of 2 m in height. This is mainly for safety

purposes, but as rehabilitation progresses, they will provide a buffer and reduce potential visual

impacts.

Extraction will involve heavy machinery that may be visible from certain locations around the site. Coal

will create a sharp contrast with the existing environment, which will create potential impacts on visual

amenity values. Sharp contrast with existing environments will arise from dark coloured coal and the

existing natural colours.

Extraction and voids in particular will have significant impacts when they are within line-of-sight for

sensitive receivers. These potential impacts will be limited by the dynamic nature of these

disturbances and progressive rehabilitation of the bunds surrounding the final voids.

Spoil Dumps

Spoil dumps will likely become the most prominent feature of the Project site. Like the mining pits, they

will be dynamic and will change as the mine progresses. The final rehabilitation plan for dumps will be

detailed in the EIS and Environmental Management Plan (EM Plan). Conceptual planning has

assumed the final slope of the overburden dump face to be between 14 and 17 percent depending on

the competency of the waste material.


The greatest visual impact is expected at the end of mine life. Although sizeable features of the

Project site, spoil dumps will be rehabilitated progressively, which will limit the time those impacts will

be significant.

Mine staging will have a considerable bearing on the severity of impacts from spoil dumps. Spoil is

initially stored in out-of-pit spoil dumps, located in the south-west corner and north along the western

boundary, to accommodate the mining pit and during this period the out-of-pit spoil dumps will

increase in size quite quickly. The southern ex-pit dump is expected to reach a maximum height of

60m above the original topography before progressive rehabilitation commences, reducing overall

disturbance areas and blending the surface into the surrounding environment. During rehabilitation of

the southern ex-pit, in-pit methods are utilised. In-pit dumping will be scheduled to maximise the area

at RL250 before continuing to dump higher, where a maximum height of RL300, approximately 55 m

above original topography, will be employed, relieving the visual impact from ex-pit utilisation.

Mine Infrastructure Area

The MIA has a range of varied structures located within it. The MIA is located approximately 35 km

north-west of the Wandoan township. Analysis has determined the MIA should not conflict with

regional outlooks from the Wandoan township as distance, current vegetation and existing

disturbances consistent with the adjacent mining tenements and operations render the Project’s visual

impact insignificant. The MIA, located in MLA 50270, shall be most notable from Perretts Road,

adjacent to the eastern boundary. However, as the site is in close proximity to numerous other,

unrelated, mining activities, receivers shall be desensitised to the location of the MIA and existing road

side vegetation buffers shall assist in visual amenity.

Operations will run 24 hrs a day; therefore artificial lighting will be predominant throughout the night.

There is a substantial amount of vegetation between residences and the MLA boundary; however,

lighting may cause impacts during night time hours.

Impacts from buildings will depend on the final design specifications of the buildings and in particular

the colours chosen for the exterior of the buildings. Exteriors should be earthy / natural colours to help

blend with the surrounding natural environment.

Tailings Storage Facility

There will be two surface TSFs situated on the Project site, within MLA 50270, in close proximity to the

MIA. The tailings dams shall have a moderate vertical profile for this Project, and are expected to be

approximately 16 m high, possessing a moderate visual significance. Mature vegetation and

surrounding topography will assist in concealing the majority of visual impact associated with both

TSFs.

Haul roads

The main haul road associated with the Project site is identified as MLA 50271, in between the

northern and southern leases. The transport corridor is expected to be approximately 60 m wide.

Although, haul roads and access roads will be visible, they are not expected to have a significant

impact on visual amenity values, due to their lack of vertical profile.

Fugitive lighting has the potential to cause an impact from haul roads, which will be restricted to night

time hours. The effects of fugitive lighting will also be limited by factors such as house orientation,

vegetation and topography. Lighting from vehicles will also be limited to short time frames.


Other impacts will be increased traffic volumes and size of vehicles using the roads. These impacts

are likely to be minor in terms of visual impact. Impacts can be minimised by implementing a rostering

system for haulage.

Rail and Services Corridor

The rail loading facility is situated within the northern lease, MLA 50270, with the rail alignment

spanning approximately 36 km east to connect with the Surat Basin Rail line. Rail loading facilities

have a low vertical profile and are unlikely to be seen behind existing vegetation. The rail alignment

also has a low vertical profile and will have minimal visual amenity impacts for sensitive receivers

located in close proximity to the rail.

Visual significance of the Rail and Services Corridor will vary intermittently with the transport of

product coal along the rail. At most sensitive receivers, visual amenity impacts will be minimised by

undulating topography and scattered vegetation.

The existing Surat Basin Rail is used by other mining operations in the region and the increase in

volume on the railway is predicted to be negligible, therefore impacts are expected to be insignificant.

Vegetation clearance

Vegetation clearance will have primary and secondary impacts; firstly, existing visual amenity values

will decrease from the loss of vegetation and secondly the vegetation may no longer be able to shield

other disturbances from view of sensitive receivers. Vegetation clearance will create a contrast in the

landscape and a change in surface structure. Many areas where vegetation clearance occurs

(particularly voids and spoil dumps) will be rehabilitated progressively, which will reduce the contrast

between existing landscapes and future landscapes. This will return the colours and tones of the

environment to a state similar to pre-mining.

Vegetation will play an integral role in mitigating the potential impacts from the Project.

4.2 LIGHTING FROM THE PROJECT

The Project will utilise artificial lighting during night hours around certain infrastructure and vehicles.

This will primarily be located within the MIA, CHPP, loading facilities and power generating sites. The

affects of artificial lighting will be restricted to night time hours and is likely to primarily affect

surrounding residences. Potential affects or impacts will also be influenced by the prevailing climatic

conditions. It is likely that lighting will be visible from surrounding residences. To accurately distinguish

where the effects of lighting will be greatest, an in depth analysis will need to be conducted from inside

and around each residence.

4.3 MINE STAGING

Mine staging is going to have a significant bearing on the magnitude and extent of landscape change

from disturbances and associated potential impacts. Disturbance areas (spoil dumps and voids) will

increase and change location as production rates increase. Figure 8 illustrates the production rates of

ROM coal for the Project operations. Production rates are anticipated to be consistent throughout the

life of the mine with up to 8 Mt of ROM coal expected to be mined pa to produce on average 5 Mt/pa

of product coal for export.

Target commencement date for production is mid-2013, with the mine life estimated to exceed 25

years. The ML for both mine operations and transport will cover an area of approximately 4460 ha.


The area of land disturbance is estimated to be approximately 3312 ha over the life of the Project,

based on a prefeasibility mine design.

The magnitude of disturbance areas within MLA 50254 (the southern lease) is not anticipated to

exceed approximately 2477 ha, including the open-cut pit and overburden dumps, whereby a final

rehabilitation plan will be detailed in the EIS and EM Plan defining progressive rehabilitation and end

of mine life vertical extents of waste dumps. In addition, the diversion of Horse Creek will see a

proportion of the disturbance on MLA 50254 become apparent early within the life of the mine as

Horse Creek is progressively diverted during the early years of mining, using both temporary and

permanent diversions.

The disturbance areas owing to MLA 50270 (the northern lease) shall be consistent with the CHPP,

two surface TSFs and one void TSF, mine infrastructure and train loading facilities and is not

anticipated to exceed approximately 342 ha of disturbance, as consistent production rates shall not

require upgrading of the mine infrastructure. Associated TSFs shall be augmented as the life of mine

progresses to accommodate production rates; however, progressive rehabilitation of mine areas shall

reduce the overall magnitude of disturbance experienced by receivers from the Project site.

The amount of land clearing conducted within MLA 50271 should be minimal and consistent with the

proposed transport corridor which shall be approximately 60 m wide, to accommodate ROM coal

haulage from the southern to the northern lease. The magnitude of disturbance is not expected to

exceed 15 ha.

In addition, the employment of pro-active vegetation planting, considering the associated time scales

of mine establishment, will provide rehabilitation of disturbed landscapes before the magnitude of

landscape change becomes significant, minimising total disturbance at any one time.

Figure 8 Production rates of ROM coal


5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE PROJECT ON VISUAL MANAGEMENT UNITS

5.1 VISUAL EFFECTS ANIMATED

This section presents the visual effects from key locations surrounding the Project in an animated form

to simulate potential visual impacts from the Project. These have been taken from points that

summarise a view of the Project site.

Detailed analysis of aerial photographs, contour maps, road maps and vegetation maps was

conducted in conjunction with receiver locations to determine sites that would best summarise a group

of receivers. Taking this into account, sites have been selected to best summarise the potential

impacts from each side of the Project.

Panoramas have been taken to show the existing conditions and animations have been generated to

show the potential impacts of the Project from these same locations. Animations have been generated

for the end of mine life only, due to the amount of vegetation surrounding the site and the difficulty

locating sites with significant views of the Project. If, at the end of mine life, infrastructure is not visible

then only the existing landform panorama will be presented.

Spoil dumps will have more severe impacts when they are earthy brown, but because these

animations are produced for End of Mine Life stage it is likely that these areas would be released for

rehabilitation at this stage. This will be the spoil dumps final position and mining will have ceased at

this stage. Animations of spoil dumps have been rendered in green because this is how they will

appear shortly after progressive rehabilitation has commenced and they will remain in this condition

for some time.

Animations have been produced for End of Mine stage because for the majority of sites no other

stages were visible (see Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15).

These animations provide a detailed assessment of visible components consistent with the Project.

Many of these sites are in close proximity to the Project boundary and show variation that can occur

within the different outlooks associated with the End of Mine stage results for the Project site.

5.2 DESCRIPTION OF PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHS AND ANIMATIONS

These animations have been generated to show wide angle (panoramic) views of the Project area

from particular locations. An initial site visit was conducted to take panoramic photographs of the site

so that animations could be generated of mine components. These sites were specifically targeted as

sites that would summarise groups of receivers having high potential to provide significant views into

the Project site and associated mine components. Due to the nature of the site, where the horizon is

often in close range due to either topography or vegetation, mine components were rarely obvious.

As the animations illustrate, the most significant aspects of the Project, the spoil dumps, are mainly

visible when viewing east and west towards the northern portion of the southern lease (MLA 50254)

(see Figure 10 and Figure 12).

The landscape is particularly sensitive to visual amenity impacts in areas where vegetation is sparse

and has minimal potential to buffer the Project related visual impacts (see Figure 10). There are also

areas in the vicinity of the Project site where landscape aspects, including topography and vegetation,

provide substantial buffering for Project related visual impacts, such as the Mine Infrastructure Area

(see Figure 11).


The key factors are the amount and size of existing vegetation around the site and on existing

properties and the density of wind breaks along roads, road reserves and property boundaries.

Sections of disturbances, in particular from spoil dumps will likely be visible from some residences,

although these are likely to be moderate to minor.

Figure 9

Panorama taken from site VA2, situated along Bundi Road, shows elevated in-pit spoil dumps. The

spoil dump is visible at this location at the End of Mine stage above the surrounding vegetation, but

due to the distance involved it appears very low on the horizon. Views of the mining void are obscured

by the rising topography, which shall benefit sensitive receivers in proximity to VA2.

Figure 10

Panorama taken from site VA3, situated west of MLA 50254. This site probably experiences the most

significant impacts from the Project. The existing landform is large pastoral sections fringed by

vegetated wind breaks, which do not provide extensive visual amenity. However, spoil dumps in this

region are located at distance from any major roads.

Figure 11

Panorama taken from site VA5, along Goldens Road, situated west of MLA 50270. This site provides

outlooks towards the MIA and the southern tailings dam (Dam TDN) towards the north-east. This site

is fairly typical of a number of sites surrounding the Project, where disturbances are visible but only

through small gaps in vegetation. Impacts to receivers are likely to produce a moderate impact due to

the vegetation’s effect on views of the Project. Views of disturbances from these sites will vary from

each location around this area, but are likely to be similarly intermittent or irregular views.

Figure 12

Panorama taken from site VA9, along Ryals Road, situated east of MLA 50271. This site provides a

view of the extensive vegetation barrier between sensitive receivers, using Ryals Road, and the mine

haul road (MLA 50271). Although the main pit and its neighbouring in-pit spoil dump are located in

view of the horizon, creating moderate visual impact, vegetation does provide extensive buffering

which will shield sensitive receivers from haul road vehicles and their associated lighting during twilight

operations.

Figure 13

Panorama taken from site VA13 provides a view from the local school and several residencies. This

view is associated with the West Surat Link. The view south presents a ridge line which effectively

curtains any intermittent visual disturbance from the proposed rail link. Visual disturbances, due to the

link, directly south are vague along the horizon and only present a slight impact.

Figure 14

Panorama taken from site VA7, situated along Perretts Road north of MLA 50270. This site shows the

view looking south to the proposed Rail and Services Corridor and towards the Project MLA from north

of the ridgeline approaching the Project. As shown in this panorama, neither the West Surat Link nor

the Project MLA is visible from this location due to the present ridgeline. There are two residences

located in this area that may gain views of the West Surat Link, but are unlikely to gain significant

views of the Project.


Figure 16

Panorama taken from site VA15, situated along the Leichhardt Highway, provides a summary of the

visual impacts upon sensitive receivers along a populated and frequently used portion of thoroughfare

associated with the West Surat Link. Views south towards the associated rail system from the

Leichhardt Highway are obscured by the immediate topography. Scattered vegetation will also assist

in disguising the intermittent use of the West Surat Link.


Figure 9 Site VA2 – Existing landform (top) compared with End of Mine Life (bottom)








Figure 13 Site VA13 - Existing landform (top) compared with views of the West Surat Link during mine operations (bottom)


Figure 14 Site VA7 - View south towards the Project

Figure 15 Site VA15 – View south towards the West Surat Link


5.3 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR RECEIVER VMUS

This section highlights groups that have been determined to potentially be significantly impacted upon

by the Project. Residential receivers are considered to be the most sensitive receptor group owing to

their proprietary interest and their prolonged exposure. Recreational receptors have a shorter

exposure to potential impacts but are also considered to be sensitive due to the value they place in the

landscape. Transient users (users of trains or roads) are of moderate sensitivity as they pass through

the Project area intermittently. The least sensitive groups are those already affected by a similar type

of visual impact, for example workers at adjacent mines. The level of significance for Receiver VMUs

is summarised in Table 8.

Factors taken into account when determining the level of significance are the total number of

receivers, their distance to the disturbance, the magnitude or extent of landscape change and the

sensitivity of receivers.

Townships, settlements and places of work in the area have the potential to be significantly impacted

on by the Project. This is primarily due to the value they place on their surrounding visual values and

the duration for which they are exposed to disturbances. Receivers using main roads and in particular

Perretts Road have the potential to be moderately impacted on by the Project. Disturbances along

Perretts Road are in close proximity to receivers and there are a moderate number of receivers.

However viewers using these roads have an intermittent exposure to disturbances and place a lower

value on visual values while using these roads. Other roads and rural grazing users have a slight

potential to be impacted by the Project.


Table 8 Level of significance of the Project on receiver VMUs

Visual

Management

Unit

Characteristics No. of

Viewers

Distance to

Disturbance

Magnitude of

Change

Receiver

Sensitivity Level of Significance

Townships or Settlements

Many receivers with propriety interest and prolonged exposure

durations Many Low (>5 km)

Small or Negligible

Low No Significant Impact

Homesteads and Places

Work

Many receivers with propriety interest and prolonged exposure

durations Many High (<2 km) Dominant High Significant Impact

Main Public Roads or Highways

Many receivers with intermittent or short term exposure durations

and momentary interest Many

Moderate (<2km)

Dominant Moderate Moderate Impact

Lookouts and Scenic Routes

Few receivers and moderate exposure durations with moderate

interest N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Constructed Roads

Few receivers and intermittent or short term exposure durations

with momentary interest Few

Moderate (<2km)

Dominant Moderate Moderate Impact

Non-Constructed

Roads

Very few receivers and intermittent or short term exposure durations with

momentary interest

Very few Low (<2 km) Dominant Low Slight Impact

Open-scale Rural Land

Users

Very few receivers with moderate exposure durations with moderate

interest Very few Low (<2 km) Dominant Low Slight Impact


5.4 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR LANDSCAPE VMUS

Table 7 (Section 3.5) was used to determine levels of significance for landscape impacts. The

assessment was based on combinations of landscape sensitivity (the nature and value of any

landscape resources likely to be affected and the character of the landscape and its ability to

accommodate change) and impact magnitude (extent of loss of beneficial components or addition of

inappropriate components). Results are presented in Table 9 below.

Table 9 Level of significance of the Project on landscape VMUs

Visual

Management

Unit

Landscape Characteristics Landscape

Magnitude

Landscape

Sensitivity

Level of

Landscape

Significance

Rural/Grazing

Predominantly cleared areas of

improved pasture. Scattered trees or

clumps of trees present, many fences

and unformed roads/tracks.

High Low Slight Impact

Mine

Development

Existing mine developments consisting

of large unformed roads, overburden

stockpiles, heavy machinery and

generally well-developed

infrastructure.

Low Low

No

Significant

Impact

Remnant

Vegetation

Patches of forest/woodland with

relatively large or mature trees and a

characteristically intact appearance.

Grazed understorey typical.

High Moderate Moderate

Impact

Riverine/Aquatic

Ecosystems Immediate Riparian Zone High Moderate

Moderate

Impact

Residential Existing residences close to the MLA

or Rail and Services Corridor. High Moderate

Moderate

Impact

Roads and

Public View

Points

Existing roads and public viewpoints

close to the MLA. High Low Slight Impact

5.5 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS

The areas that are likely to be exposed to the most significant impacts are residences located in close

proximity to the Project and Rail and Services Corridor, and receivers on Perretts Road. Receivers

using Perretts Road will be exposed to disturbances associated with the Project intermittently.

Receivers situated more than 5 km from the Project site are likely to experience only slight impacts.

Spoil dumps will be the most substantial component from the Project and will likely cause the most

significant impacts on visual amenity values. The transport corridor joining the northern and southern

leases will be visible from Perretts Road and possibly in various places lacking vegetation buffering

along Ryals Road which will create intermittent exposures to receivers.


The MIA will potentially be visible from Goldens and Perretts Road, although it is not likely to produce

a significant impact due to its vertical scale and the amount of vegetation present. The most significant

impacts will be to residential receivers and receivers using main roads in the Project area.

Both surface TSFs will be potentially visible from residences located to the west of the northern ML,

however, this land form is not expected to exceed 16 m in height.

The Rail and Services Corridor will likely be visible from residences located in the vicinity of Perretts

Road where it approaches Cattle Downs Road, and on Kabunga Road where it approaches the

proposed location of the Corridor.

The potential impact from lighting is restricted to night time hours. Light will be visible from certain

viewpoints; during this time potentially affected receivers will likely be indoors and the effects will be

limited. The amount of surrounding vegetation will also limit the potential impact from artificial lighting.

Components of the Project (particularly out-of-pit spoil dumps) will be visible from locations around the

site and they will have impacts on visual amenity values. However many of these impacts are

predicted to be moderate as shown in Section 5.1. The main area that will be affected will be along

sections of Perretts Road and west of MLA 50254 as the topography is generally flat. South of MLA

50254, viewing north onto the Project site (photo site VA2), a vertical profile of approximately 50 m

does not appear to be significant at more than ~1 km away along the Bundi Highway. In addition,

receivers are protected from significant visual impacts concerning the mining void, throughout the life

of the Project, as existing vegetation conceals the pit.


6.0 MITIGATION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS

The potential impacts of the Project on visual amenity values are predicted to be moderate based on

the analysis conducted in this report. Some sites may have line-of-sight views of Project components,

but the majority of impacts are not predicted to be significant. The gentle topography does not provide

any views that overlook the Project and because of this the components of the mine appear minimal

on the horizon (as seen in Section 5.1). The impact may be mitigated by the nature of the existing

surrounding environment and in particular existing vegetation. Vegetation should remain intact along

important buffer zones to mitigate any potential visual impacts.

6.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT SITE

The Project site has been divided into four sectors that have been categorised according to their

sensitivity to landscape changes associated with the Project. This will assist in identifying areas that

have the potential to buffer and those that are more sensitive to the visual amenity impacts associated

with the Project.

The first of these areas is the southern MLA 50254, which includes the majority of the mining

operations, with the exception of the CHPP facilities. The central area, the transport corridor (MLA

50271), joins MLA 50254 to MLA 50270 and contains no static mining infrastructure but will be used

for the transportation of ROM coal from the pit to the CHPP. The northern MLA 50270 area will house

the CHPP and other associated mine infrastructure including tailings storages and the accommodation

village (refer to Figure 16).

The fourth of these areas is consistent with the least amount of disturbance upon operational land; the

planned Rail and Services Corridor termed the West Surat Link. This will connect the northern lease,

MLA 50270, with the Surat Basin Rail, approximately 36 km away, to the north east of the Wandoan

township.

This section will identify which components of the Project are located in these areas.


Figure 16 Mine site layout


Southern MLA 50254

The southern MLA (50254) encompasses the largest area of disturbance occupied by the Project. It

contains the area of Mining associated with the open-cut pit and two out-of-pit dumps, one located in

the south-west corner of the lease, the other nearing the north. The operations of the southern lease

require the diversion of Horse Creek and Perretts Road and may potentially affect the visual amenity

of sensitive receivers such as residencies and those utilising local roads, such as Bundi or Perretts

Road, particularly within 1 km from the mining lease boundary.

There are 12 sensitive receivers within 5 km of the southern lease boundary that are buffered by

various degrees of vegetation. Sensitive receivers south of MLA 50254 are subject to significant visual

impacts associated with mining operations and stockpiles. Sensitive receivers located to the east of

MLA50254 are provided with substantial buffering along Ryals Road and those located west are

provided with only sparse coverage as historic clearing has left the landscape with substantially

exhausted vegetation.

Existing vegetation, topography and ground structures may be of visual amenity to potentially affected

sensitive receivers. The associated visual amenity correlated with the out-of-pit dumps is best

represented by photo sites VA4, VA3 and VA2.

Patchy vegetation is located at distance from the mining lease boundary, helping to reduce the visual

impact of landscape changes. On approach to the southern boundary vegetation provides sufficient

buffering of mining disturbances.

The eastern boundary provides very little vegetation to buffer the view of the out-of-pit dumps.

However, the typically flat topography does not provide any substantial viewpoints down onto the

Project site and patches of shrub land will provide moderate buffering.

The area of mining encompasses the majority of the southern lease and the anticipated visual amenity

provided by vegetation and existing landscapes is best represented by photo sites VA2, VA3, VA4,

VA9 and VA10.

Scattered vegetation owing to VA9 shall provide good visual amenity from the northern section of the

southern lease, which houses one out-of-pit dump and associated open pit disturbances. VA10 shows

substantial road side buffering along Ryals road whilst VA2 shows minimal buffering from Bundi road

looking north. Dense vegetation provides buffering along the southern boundary.

Topography and vegetation surrounding the southern lease generally has the ability to buffer

moderate levels of landscape change associated with mining disturbance. However, west of the lease,

where the landscape is predominantly non-remnant grassland there is minimal buffering capacity to

the visual amenity impacts associated with the Project.

Central Transport Corridor MLA 50271

The central lease is responsible for minimal ecological disturbance associated with the Project. No

static mine infrastructure is anticipated within the transport corridor. This area will be used primarily to

transport ROM coal from the southern lease pit to the CHPP within the northern lease.

The main associated disturbances within the central lease shall be large machinery necessary for the

transportation of ROM coal. The projected visual amenity is best represented by photo site VA9 which

shows exceptional vegetation buffering located alongside Ryals Road and into the horizon.


There are 2 sensitive receivers located within 5 km of the transport corridor; in addition receivers may

also be associated with Perretts Road which runs north to south adjacent to the central lease

boundary. Although variable between receivers, distance from disturbance along with subsequent

buffering and intermittent use of the transport corridor should facilitate reasonable visual amenity for

such receivers. In addition, flat topography with consistent vegetation provides moderate buffering

capacity to minimise impacts to visual amenity.

Northern MLA 50270

The northern lease is consistent with the MIA, two surface TSFs, the western extent of the West Surat

Link and the anticipated mining village. There are 3 associated sensitive receivers surrounding the

lease with anticipated visual amenity best represented by photo sites VA8, VA7, VA6 and VA5.

VA6, located towards the southern end of the northern lease, facing east, displays scattered

vegetation on undulating hills. However, a clear view of the horizon and the associated elevated

topography may provide views of the various elements associated with this portion of the mining

lease.

VA5 is located closer to the mining lease along Goldens Road. There is minimal vegetation buffering

associated with this view onto the northern lease, however, only one sensitive receiver is in close

proximity to this location (approximately 2 km from the lease boundary). Visual interference from the

associated mining infrastructure may be experienced.

VA8 and VA7 look south-west onto the northern portion of the lease, where associated infrastructure

will include the western end of the West Surat Link, the mining village, Dam TDN further south, and

Dam TDNA to the west. These photo sites were located on Perretts Road and demonstrate, on

approach to the Mining Lease boundary, elevated topography and existing agricultural infrastructure

which will assist to buffer the view of mining infrastructure from a distance. As Perretts Road continues

within close proximity to the eastern boundary of the northern lease visual amenity is also protected,

although minimally, via elevated topography.

West Surat Link

There are many sensitive receivers associated with the West Surat Rail Link as the Link spans

approximately 36 km, through (approximately) 21 properties, connecting to the Surat Basin Rail, north

east of the Wandoan township.

The ability of landscape aspects, such as topography and vegetation, to buffer landscape changes

associated with the West Surat Link is best represented by photos VA11, VA12, VA13, VA14, VA15,

VA17 and VA18. The eastern portion of the link is characterised by predominate vegetation cover

along Kabunga Road in both, north and south directions. Scattered trees and uneven topography

protect sensitive receivers located in close proximity (within 1 and 2 km) of the link.

VA13 shows the central portion and illustrates the visual amenity provided approximately 1 km from

the West Surat Link, where sensitive receivers, school and residencies are located.

The western end of the West Surat Link passes in close proximity to VA7, located within the 1 km

buffer zone from the Project area. Visual amenity values of the two sensitive receivers located near

site VA7 will likely be impacted, albeit not significantly, by the WSL and associated Corridor

infrastructure. Topography and scattered vegetation minimise visual amenity impacts for these

receivers.


As viewed a small embankment is provided between sensitive receivers and proposed disturbances.

The associated colour contrast associated with cleared pastures and scattered vegetation should

provide buffers to assist in visual amenity.

Views from the Leichhardt Highway are represented by photo sites VA14, VA15 and VA16 and

incorporate the visual amenity experienced by sensitive receivers located within 2 km of the West

Surat Link.

Undulating hills, scattered trees and sparse vegetation provide contrasting aesthetics that provide a

filter for receivers associated with the eastern portion of the rail link.

VA16 illustrates how dynamic the landscape is in relatively small and seemingly unrelated portions.

Viewing east along the proposed rail location, the visual amenity is represented by embankments,

scattered trees and disjointed vegetation. Although similar, viewing west along the proposed location

of the link, the landscape is characterised by large clearances and sparse vegetation.

However, it is these landscape aspects, variable topography and the assortment of vegetation

configurations that provide buffering to the visual amenity impacts associated with the proposed Rail

and Services Corridor. The landscape associated with the eastern extent of the link, where the

connection is made to the Surat Basin Rail, is characterised by scattered vegetation and existing

agricultural infrastructure.

Furthermore, the proximity of sensitive receivers to the existing Surat Basin Rail may desensitise

receivers to the development of the proposed rail link.

6.2 ROADS

The Leichhardt Highway has a high number of short term or intermittent receivers and is in close

proximity to the West Surat Link associated with the Project. However, it was identified that there are

less than moderate impacts on the values associated with the highway from the West Surat Link.

Existing intact vegetation buffers where present should remain intact throughout the life of the Project,

further reducing any potential visual impacts from intermittent locomotive use.

The impacts associated with Bundi Road, Perretts Road and Ryals Road are expected to vary, as

potential impacts will be consistent with the associated vegetation buffering and topography owning to

portions of the roads. However, exposure to mining related activities shall only be intermittent while

driving and many of the roads surrounding the Project site have only a small number of people using

them.

The majority of roads around the Project site have vegetation buffers present. These buffers create a

closed in view for receivers (refer to Photo Plate 19). Vegetation buffers also surround the Project site

which will further reduce potential impacts.


Photo Plate 19 Dense vegetation buffer from Ryals Road towards MLA 50254 and the transport

corridor (refer to VA9 Figure 4)

Newly constructed roads from the Project will likely have a limited impact on visual amenity values due

to the limited vertical profile. The impacts from new roads will be mitigated by the low vertical profile

and the nature of these types of disturbances.

6.3 MINE COMPONENTS

One of the major features of the Project that may potentially impact on visual amenity values are the

spoil dumps. It has been assumed that the southern out-of-pit spoil dump will remain less than 60 m,

while the in-pit spoil dump may reach a height of between 40 m – 60 m. These dumps will become

dominant features of the Project site. The amount of material that reaches the out-of-pit spoil dumps

will be minimised by the utilisation of in-pit spoil disposal methods.

Out-of-pit spoil dumps from the Project have been located in areas where landscape aspects provide

buffering of the visual amenity impacts associated with the spoil dumps. Locating spoil dumps in these

locations will help to: (a) shield the dumps from view for residences located behind naturally raised

areas of the Project site, and (b) help the dumps to blend into the surroundings by having similar

topography to the existing landscape.

Spoil will be dumped into the mining pits, which will greatly reduce the height of the out-of-pit spoil

dumps. Both in-pit and out-of-pit spoil dumps are to be progressively rehabilitated as the mine

progresses. Progressive rehabilitation will utilise local species, which will help the dumps to blend into

the surrounding landscape. It will also restrict the timeframes that receivers are exposed to potential

impacts.

Final voids will have small scale bunds surrounding them (approximately 2 m), which will help to shield

the voids themselves from view. These bunds will be rehabilitated as per the rest of site. The potential

impact on visual amenity values will be affected by the dynamic nature of the voids and will likely be

limited to short time frames for many locations. In addition, as seen in Figure 9, the existing landscape

aspects have the potential to buffer the visual amenity aspects associated with the final void. The mine

infrastructure area is not likely to have a significant impact as it is not in close proximity to surrounding

residences. However, potential impacts will be reduced by the embankment and vegetation, although

this will depend on the amount of vegetation left intact and the types of infrastructure present.


The alignment of the West Surat Link (WSL) Rail and Services Corridor will impact, to some extent,

visual amenity values. The Corridor passes in close proximity to sensitive receivers located on, or in

the vicinity of Perretts Road approaching Cattle Downs Road, and Kabunga Road approaching the

proposed location of the Corridor. Despite variable topography and vegetation providing a degree of

mitigation, some impact on visual amenity values is likely to be experienced.

6.4 OUTLOOKS, VIEWING POINTS AND WALKWAYS

There are no existing viewing outlooks associated with the Project area. The primary land use of the

surrounding environment is low intensity cattle grazing and cropping, which will likely continue

throughout the life of the Project. There are some gentle ridgelines present, but these are on average

only 20 m – 30 m above the surrounding landscape and are not obvious on the horizon. It is unlikely

that these raised land forms are used for scenic purposes and the majority are on private land, so are

not accessible to the general public.

6.5 WATERWAYS

Horse Creek is planned to be diverted to accommodate the Project. The extent of change in this area

will be significant; however visual amenity impacts are minimal due to the lack of immediate sensitive

receivers. The final permanent diversion system is in place by year 10 and has a total length of 8.5 km

and incorporates three, two metre, drop structures, which cannot be viewed from Ryals Road (see

Figure 12). The final diversion is in place for at least 25 years prior to closure, under the current mine

plan.

The sensitivity of creeks in the surrounding area to visual amenity impacts associated with the Project

is minimal.

6.6 EXISTING RESIDENCIES

Animated panoramas were constructed from locations that summarised a group of properties

prospective views of the Project, including the Rail and Services Corridor. These locations were

selected after detailed analysis of topographical maps, aerial photographs, road closure maps,

cadastral boundaries and residence location maps.

Currently, two residences are located within the Project MLA boundary: one within MLA 50254 and the

other within MLA 50270. A further 12 residences are located less than 1 km from the Project and

Corridor, and are considered highly sensitive due to their proximity. A total of 25 residences are

located 1 – 3 km from the Project and Corridor, and are also considered sensitive due to their

proximity. Six residences are located 3 – 5 km from the Project and Corridor and are considered to

have moderate to low sensitive to the Project. A further nine residences are located more than 5 km

from the Project and Corridor. These residences have low sensitivity to the Project.

The residences likely to experience the highest impacts are those located west of the Project. This is

due to the lack of existing vegetation and the existing topography.

Analysis of aerial photography suggests 7 residences, surrounding the 3 MLAs, may potentially have

views into the Project MLA site. However, animation and photographs from around these sites showed

that although the spoil dumps are visible they are not as prominent on the horizon as predicted (see

Figures 9 and 11).

This analysis is dependent on vegetation adjacent to the Project and vegetation on private residences

either remaining unchanged throughout the life of the Project or increasing in density.


6.7 PLACES OF WORK

A school is centrally located along the West Surat Link, approximately 20 km from the Project site. The

landscape surrounding the school is protected by a gentle ridgeline and scattered vegetation and as

such the school in addition to the associated residencies, are not predicted to gain significant views of

the West Surat Link or Project site. No other places of work in the region are predicted to be impacted

on by the Project in terms of visual amenity values.

6.8 SENSITIVITY OF THE LANDSCAPE TO VISUAL AMENITY IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT

The existing nature of the site is open scale pasture with wind break vegetation around the perimeters

and along roads. The open, sparsely vegetated areas of the Project site have the potential to provide

some buffering to visual amenity impacts associated with the rehabilitated Project site. Post-mining

land forms will be raised from existing levels, but will be returned to a condition similar to pre-mining. It

has been assumed that in-pit spoil dumps will raise areas of the Project site by between 40 – 60 m.

Vegetation buffers on Project boundaries will also help in minimising the sensitivity of the existing

environment to visual amenity impacts.

There are a number of exploration and mining leases surrounding the Project, which will desensitise

certain viewers to the Project. Coal operations are common in the region and provide a valuable

economic input into the community. The Surat Basin contains numerous EPCs and the region has

been exposed to mining activity for several decades. There are also several MLs within close

proximity to the Project site. This region has been exposed to exploration and mining operations for

the past few decades, which could potentially desensitise some receivers to the Project.

Project design has placed key mine infrastructure and landforms in areas where aspects of the

existing landscape provide a natural buffer. Efforts have been made to place dumps alongside high

points and ridgelines so they will not significantly raise the landscape from its existing level. Once

rehabilitated modified landscapes should blend into the surrounding environment and have a similar

final appearance. They will however be at a slightly raised level. Much of the infrastructure such as

dams have been located in low points around the Project site, primarily for functional reasons, but this

will also mitigate their visual impact.

6.9 BUFFER ZONES SURROUNDING THE PROJECT

The Project is predicted to take several years before the extent of landscape change becomes

significant. Planting of buffer zones along boundaries, especially those located west of the (southern

lease) Project area, and allowing existing buffer zones to increase in density, will help to

militateagainst potential impacts on visual amenity values, by shielding the receivers from the Project

or breaking up potential views of the Project. Plantings can take up to 20 years to become mature, but

after about 10 years they will begin to assist in breaking up views of the Project.

Natural regeneration or planting along affected buffer zones could reduce the impacts in this area, but

any potential mitigation will take several years before it becomes effective. The Project has a life span

of 32+ years, so this strategy could be beneficial for the later stages of the Project.

6.10 LIGHTING

If light sources are located within 1 km from sensitive receivers and in direct line of sight, it is

recommended that directional lighting be used and be directed away from receivers. Lighting hoods

can also be utilised to shield these residences if necessary. This will be reliant on further analysis from

individual residences to determine the appropriate mitigation strategy.


7.0 SUMMARY

The potential impacts on visual amenity values from the Project on the surrounding environment have

the potential to create a significant impact depending on the circumstances of the receiver. For the

majority of receivers the distance from the Project and the amount of mature vegetation surrounding

the site will be sufficient to mitigate any potential impacts that occur within the Project. Other receivers

will have potentially significant views of disturbances associated with the Project and will require

further in depth analysis. The topography of the site will help to shield receivers from certain elements

of the Project, while increasing the exposure of others. Progressive rehabilitation of the site will help to

blend features into the surrounding environment and significantly reduce the potential impacts on

visual amenity.

The effects of topography at the site are generally beneficial to the Project as the horizon is often

difficult to distinguish from viewing distances of more than 2 – 3 km. The combination of topography

and vegetation is likely to reduce the potential impacts for many receivers. It is predicted that existing

topography will be exaggerated by spoil dumps rather than changing them significantly. Sites in the

south eastern vicinity of the Project, including the final void, will likely have lower impacts due to the

site being shielded from many of the residences from raised topography and vegetation. The Project

landscape and associated views are not of significant national, state, regional or local value and is

reasonably uniform with the wider region. The existing gentle rolling topography is typical of the

surrounding rural grazing landscapes. The range in topography at the Project site is approximately

50m.

Mine staging is going to have a significant bearing on the extent of impacts of the Project on

surrounding receivers. The Project has a 21 month construction period, before operations begin to

satisfy the production of 8 Mt of ROM coal per annum. Due to the relatively shallow depth of the first

coal in the mine schedule minimal time is needed to establish a working face and working room to

mine coal. It is anticipated however to take 15 months to ramp up to the full annual mine production

rate of approximately 8 Mtpa ROM. With operations ramping up over time it is possible to implement

mitigation measures like planting, before the disturbance areas increase.

It is recommended that all vegetation remain intact surrounding significant disturbances from the

Project. In some areas it may be possible to plant vegetation, due to the time available with mine

staging. Managing vegetation effectively will also help to preserve and improve existing remnant

vegetation.

Receivers using non-constructed roads, in close proximity to the Project, are predicted to be

moderately impacted. However, these instances will be of limited occurrence as non-constructed

roads are normally not used by the general public.

Visual amenity values of sensitive receivers situated in close proximity to the West Surat Link are

likely to be impacted. Undulating topography and vegetation will minimise these impacts at some

locations.

The single workplace in proximity to the West Surat Link is unlikely to be impacted in terms of visual

amenity values, due to the amount of vegetation present, landscape form and distance from

disturbance. There are no public lookouts in the area. Gentle ridgelines and hills are present in the

area, although these are not likely to create significant viewpoints as potential users are limited to local

residents.

Perretts Road is quite sensitive to visual amenity impacts, due to its close proximity, impending

diversion and the lack of vegetation in some sections. Other roads in the area such as Goldens Road


which will undergo closure and connection to Cattle Creek Road are also considered to be sensitive,

although increasing vegetation buffering will help minimise the sensitivity of these roads to the visual

amenity impacts associated with the Project.

The value of existing vegetation surrounding the Project is a vital aspect in reducing potential impacts

on visual amenity values. It is highly recommended that vegetation be left intact where possible, as it

will provide a visual buffer around large parts of the Project. This visual buffer could also be extended

with planting to cover further areas of the Project boundary. Even if the buffer zone surrounding the

Project is minimal it will still help to buffer the visual amenity impacts associated with the Project.

Established vegetation surrounds a large proportion of the Project, with the exception of the western

side, adjacent to MLA 50254, which would benefit from the establishment of vegetation buffering.


8.0 REFERENCES

Department of Mines and Energy (1995). Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of

Exploration and Mining in Queensland – Land Suitability Assessment Techniques.

Environmental Protection Department (2010).EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2010 – Preparation of

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Under the Environmental Impact Assessment

Ordinance. The Government of Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong,

Available from: http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/hb/materials/GN8.pdf.

PMS Australia Pty Ltd (2009). Northern Energy Corporation Ltd, Horse Creek Diversion Preliminary

Design. Report No: 313.01

Sattler and Williams eds. (1999). The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems.

Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. Brisbane.

Documents

Appendix R - newhopegroup.com.au · proposed Surat Basin Rail line north of Wandoan. 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION The Project is located within the Surat Energy Resources Province and the