VG Polacks Flat Road . n - Roads and Maritime Services€¦ · VG Polacks Flat Road . ... Water truck drivers accessing w ater pump facilities . ... Assessment of visual impact significa

VG Polacks Flat Road

Rea sons for selection . Representative of publicly available views from a local road w here the existing bridge wou ld appear in the middle ground of views

Base line information Location On Polacks Flat Road approximately 1.2 km north of existing

bridge Expected view ers . A small number of residents, workers and tourists travelling

in private vehicles through the area

Existing views . Fleeting view seen as part of a sequential view from an elevated location .

. The view is dominated by dense foreground vegetation .

. Glimpses of the river and existing bridge are possible through gaps in the vegetation .

. Refer to Figure 3 .1 0 .

Predicted visu al effects Predicted effects . The proposed bridge will be behind the existing bridge and is

likely to be almost unnoticeable.

. The sediment and spi ll basins are also likely to be well screened by the bridge and foreground vegetation.

. Refer to Figure 3 .11 .

Mitigation opportunit ies Assessment of visual impact significance Sensitivity . The view is from a quiet local road .

. Viewers are expected to be less sensitive to changes in this view because it will be seen fleetingly in the distance while they are t ravelling.

Rating : Low sensitivity Magnitude . The proposal will introduce small scale changes to the view

in the middle ground which w ill be largely obscured by the foreg round vegetation .

Rating : Low Sign ificance of visual effects

. Sensitivity and magnitude are low .

Rating : Low significance

Widening Bridge over the Bemboka River Landscape character and visual impact assessment

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Figure 3.10: V6 Polacks Flat Road (looking south)

Figure 3.11: V6 notes on visual effect


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V7 Water pumping point

. Rea so ns for selection View from publicly accessible access road, best view of the side elevation of the existing bridge

Base line inform atio n Location On access road looking north east, approximately 40 m from

the existing bridge Expected viewers . Water truck drivers accessing w ater pump facilities

. People interested in heritage bridges or the river

.Existing views The view to the side elevation of the existing bridge across expanse of water is enclosed by tall vegetation along river banks. The elegant proportions and curves of the bridge in the foreground provide dominant visual elements contrasting w ith the naturali stic surrounds.


Predic t ed visual effects Predicted effects . The proposed bridge extension will be in front of the existing

bridge and closer to the view er.

. The new straight edged concrete Super T Planks w ill mask the curves of the existing bridge.

. The new piers will be in front of every second pier on the existing bridge.

. The new bridge has bulkier structural elements and w ill appear visually heavier than the existing bridge.


Mitigation . The option to build the new bridge on the northern side of opportunit ies the existing bridge has been examined and rejected .

. The new piers will be aligned with the existing piers .

. It is recommended that options be explored to create a publicly accessible viewpoint on the northern side of the bridge to offset the visual impacts of the proposal on th is viewpoint.

Assessment of visual impact significa nce Sensitivity . The existing bridge has State heritage significance .

. The water truck drivers are relatively small in number and are may be less sensitive to changes in the view since they are working.

. Other visitors are also likely to be small in number but highly aw are of the visual changes resulting from the proposal. People visiting the view point for heritage interest currently have no other opportunities to view the side elevation of the bridge from a public area.

Rating : Moderate sensitivity


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Magnitude • The proposal will introduce major changes to a key element of the view through a change in architectural style.

Rating: Moderate Significance of visual effects

• The proposal introduces a large scale change to a unique view with heritage significance viewed by a relatively small number of people.

• There are opportunities to offset the loss of visual amenity.

Rating: Moderate significance without alternative viewpoint Rating: Low significance if alternative viewpoint established

Figure 3.12: V7 Water pumping point (looking north east)


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Figure 3.13: V7 notes on visual effect


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V8 Proposed B&B site

. Reasons for selection View from site of approved Bed and Breakfast (B&B) cabin on private property (not constructed)

Baseline information On Pyke property looking north west, approximately 180 m from the exist ing bridge and close to V4

Expected viewers

Location

. B&B visitors and visitors learning about platypus habitat

.Existing views Views across relatively flat ground towards the river are park-like in character with clumps of trees and shrubs interspersed with open grassy areas. The road embankment rises steeply from the river flat and is covered with long grass, woody weeds and dying acacias. The large trees and grassy un derstorey in the foreground screen views to the existing bridge.


. Predicted visu al effects The proposed bridge extension will be in front of the existing bri dge but the existing trees will screen view s of the bridge from the B&B.

Predicted effects

. The fresh earthworks of the road embankment will be clearly visible on the right hand side of the view and cont rast in colour until vegetation is established on disturbed areas.

Mitigation . It is recommended that t he road embankment be opportunit ies revegetated with indigenous plant material (Lowland grassy

woodland of the southeast bioregion species) immediately after completion of the proposed earthworks. This revegetat ion should include trees an d shrubs along the toe of the embankment to screen views to the embankment in the longer term (refer to Figure 3. 15 for predicted effect). Refer to Figure 3 .16 for proposed location of screen plant ing .

. It is recommended that t he mature trees and shrubs currently screening views to t he bridge be protected from damage during construction of the proposed bridge w idening project. As a minimum, the dripline of the trees should be fenced during the entire construct ion period and construction activity such as excavation , parking and materials storage exclu ded from these areas. AS 4970-2009 Protection of Trees on Development Sites is the re levant Australian stan dard.

Assessm ent of visual impact significan ce .Sensitivity The view is seen by a small number of people from private lan d and has been identified by them as important.

. W hile small in number, the view ers are people who w ill experience th is tranquil view as part of a residential or tourist experience.

Rating : High sensitivity


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Magnitude • The proposal will introduce moderate changes to the view through changes to the embankment. These changes can be hidden with screen planting.

Rating: Low Significance of visual effects

• The number of viewers is relatively small but they are sensitive to visual change and will see the tranquil view for extended periods. The magnitude of the visual effects can be reduced through screen planting and tree protection measures.

Rating: Moderate significance

Figure 3.14: V8 Proposed B&B site (looking north west)

Figure 3.15: V8 Notes on design to reduce visual effects

Widening Bridge over the Bemboka River 35 Landscape character and visual impact assessment

Figure 3.16: V8 Location of proposed screen planting

Note: location of screen planting shown in green

A typical planting program would be to rip compacted soils and plant indigenous shrub and tree tubestock at approximately 3 metre centres using 50–70% shrubs with the balance being trees.


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3.3 Visual impacts summary The significance levels listed in this table assume that the sediment and spill basins will be constructed from materials that blend visually with the existing landscape and that their surfaces will be vegetated with native grassing.

Viewpoint Key visual impacts Significance V1 Snowy Mountains Highway – western approach

• Top of road and bridge double in width

• Eastern spill basin may be highly contrasting, depending on materials used

Low

V2 Snowy Mountains Highway – eastern approach

• Top of road and bridge double in width

• All spill and sediment basins may be visible and highly contrasting, depending on materials used

• Road cutting will be contrasting in short-term

Low

V3 Bemboka River private recreation space

• Minimal visual effect Negligible

V4 Driveway, Pyke residence

• New bridge will obscure existing bridge

Moderate

V5 Triggel residence • Minimal visual effect Negligible

V6 Polacks Flat Road • Minimal visual effect Low

V7 Water pumping point • New bridge will obscure existing bridge in best view available to public of existing bridge

Moderate to Low

V8 Proposed B&B site • Earthworks for embankment will be visible and highly contrasting until revegetated

Moderate


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3.4 Summary of mitigation recommendations Recommendation Reason 1. That proposed sediment and spill basins be fully vegetated with native grasses on all surfaces.

Other finishes, particularly geotextile and concrete will contrast starkly with the surrounding landscape.

2. That native screen planting be established between the road and proposed sediment and spill basins where feasible.

The basins are likely to be visible as part of a sequential view, particularly when travelling west along the Snowy Mountains Highway. The basins will be seen together with the existing materials stockpile area.

3. That the landowners to the south- The existing bridge is a focal point in the view east of the bridge be consulted from the driveway and the proposal will alter about their preference for the character of the view. New earthworks establishing new vegetation to along the road embankment will be clearly screen views to the proposed bridge visible. and embankment.

4. That options be explored to create a publicly accessible viewing location on the northern side of the bridge.

The existing bridge has heritage significance and the best view available to the public is from the unnamed access road to the water pumping facility on the southern side of the bridge. The southern elevation of the existing bridge will be obscured by the proposal. The northern elevation of the existing bridge will be less affected by the proposal. Creating a new viewing location on the northern side would offset the loss of visual amenity on the southern side.

5. That the RMS Urban Design section review and collaborate with the RMS Bridge Design section to make the new bridge design as compatible as practical to the visual and landscape character of the existing bridge.

The current bridge design has adverse effects on the landscape character and views of the heritage bridge and its curtilage, particularly for the downstream elevation of the bridge.


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4 Conclusion

The proposed Widening Bridge over the Bemboka River is subject to assessment under Part 5 of the EP&A Act. The landscape character and visual impact assessment has examined and taken into account to the fullest extent possible all matters affecting or likely to affect the visual landscape by reason of the proposed activity.

A number of potential landscape character and visual impacts from the proposal have been avoided or reduced during the concept design development and options assessment. The proposal as described in this report best meets the project objectives but would still result in some moderate-high impacts on the visual landscape. Implementation of the recommendations for mitigation measures as detailed in this landscape character and visual impact assessment would ameliorate or minimise these expected impacts to a low significance level. On balance the proposal is considered justified since low significance visual impact can be achieved.


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5 Certification

This landscape character and visual impact assessment provides a true and fair review of the proposal in relation to its potential effects on the visual landscape. It addresses to the fullest extent possible all matters affecting or likely to affect the visual qualities as a result of the proposal.

Jennie Curtis Registered Landscape Architect Fresh Landscape Design 26 August 2013


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6 References

nghheritage 2013, Statement of Heritage Impact: Widening Bridge Over Bemboka River. Bega, NSW.

RMS 2013, EIA-N04 Environmental Impact Assessment Practice Note: Guideline for Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment. Roads and Maritime Services, Sydney, NSW.


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Documents

VG Polacks Flat Road . n - Roads and Maritime Services€¦ · VG Polacks Flat Road . ... Water truck drivers accessing w ater pump facilities . ... Assessment of visual impact significa