It’s not just SAVE saying the Geham-Hampton stretch of the New England Highway is an iconic drive that should be saved. The Department of Main Roads own consultants made the very same points three years ago, when the road project was at concept stage. Below are extracts from their report.
(*Full title: Connell Wagner, Review of Environmental Factors – Concept New England Highway Project Department of Main Roads Job No. 40/22A/45, 27 September 2006)
Page 1 The purpose of the Review “is to determine if the proposed project has a significant impact on the environment … through identifying, describing and evaluating the environmental advantages, disadvantages and constraints associated with particular broadly defined routes, or corridors.”
Page 1 “ The objective of this project is to improve the road network in this area to provide safer travel for road users between Crows Nest and Geham and TO ENHANCE THE VISUAL AMENITY OF THE ROUTE AS A TOURIST DRIVE AND AN ACCESS FOR TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE CROWS NEST AND HAMPTON AREAS.” (our emphasis)
Page 3 “‘The route of the Highway , its physical characteristics (lined corridor of canopy vegetation) and the rural landscapes contribute to the tourist value of the project area.”
Page 26 “The New England Highway is a unique state controlled road in regards to the vegetation canopy covering sections of the highway. Visually, the 20 km stretch between Crows Nest & Geham has a high aesthetic value with large trees lining sections of the highway project area providing a canopy over the road. Due to the unique vegetative composition of the highway, its location and the connectivity that it provides between regional town centres, the highway holds a high tourist value”.
Page 33 “vegetation clearing should be kept to a minimum throughout the project area ….”
Page 34 (identifying socio-economic impacts) “The clearing of the canopy and roadside vegetation flanking this section of the New England Highway may diminish the tourist value of the highway if not managed correctly. The high environmental and tourist value of the road project area needs to be largely taken into consideration when developing engineering design of the highway upgrade. A balance of the two issues should be found for the final design.”
Page 35 (identifying landscape and visual amenity impacts) “Construction activities will involve clearing and removal of significant tracts of roadside vegetation. This is likely to have significant impact on the visual amenity of the road project area and the connectivity of vegetation corridors within the surrounding area. Project design will need to incorporate a number of mitigation measures in an effort to minimise the impact of construction and subsequent operation of the road project area.
Due to the high tourist value of the highway project area and the unique vegetative canopy of the project area, the proposed project will potentially have a high impact on visual amenity. The extent of this impact can be alleviated by:
- Minimising the amount of vegetation required to be cleared;
- Restricting clearing to one side of the highway, where practicable and safe to do so;
- Using wire rope barrier as a safety measure instead of clearing vegetation; and/or
- Providing intermittent courtesy bays instead of an overtaking lane.”
Page 46 – “The greatest impact the proposed project will have on the environment is the loss of the vegetative canopy and the disruption of the vegetation corridors with the surrounding area. This has the potential to decrease biodiversity, reduce the movement of fauna through the area and diminish the tourist value of the project area by reducing its aesthetic value.”
Page 52 “The project area was identified as passing through a dominant Endangered RE (Regional Ecosystem) (12.5.6) between Hampton and Geham … The section of the project area identified as containing the most suitable habitat for Phascolarcotos cinereus (koala) was observed between Hampton and Geham.”
Appendix B – Relevant Legislation
“Despite the limited legal obligations for Main Roads under the Act (Vegetation Management Act 1999), the protection and management of the State’s native vegetation is a matter of State interest. As such, Main Rds still needs to consider the significance of clearing ‘endangered’ and ‘of concern” Regional Ecosystems and any regional vegetation management plan that has been prepared under the Act, for a region within which it is planning or working.”
Looking after Queensland’s environment
(Information from Main Roads website)
We continuously improve our environmental performance through:
- integrating environmental processes into general management practices
- monitoring, reviewing and reporting on environmental performance
- delivering environmental awareness training
- developing and implementing environmental practices to minimise predicted impacts
- engaging the public and other stakeholders in our decisions.
We have a multi-disciplinary, state-wide team responsible for environmental management, including:
- environmental scientists, engineers and planners
- landscape architects
- cultural heritage officers.
Air quality
Air pollution is an environmental concern for the whole community. It affects our health and our quality of life. Industry and transport systems are major contributors to air pollution and greenhouse gases. The department, in partnership with other government agencies, undertakes activities to ensure minimal detrimental impacts to air quality. We also contribute to the attainment of national and state greenhouse response strategies.
Climate Change
Queensland’s climate is changing. Temperatures are increasing more rapidly than global and national averages. In the future Queensland’s climate could become more extreme, with the potential for increases in droughts, heat waves and heavy rainfall.
Along with this, Queensland’s population continues to grow. Transport currently contributes 11.9% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Queensland. Roads are an essential part of the state’s economy and overall development. In some parts of the state, roads are the only link between communities.
In some areas, traffic congestion is a growing concern. When vehicles enter a congested traffic stream, operation costs and trip travel times increase. This can potentially double greenhouse emissions.
Impacts of climate change on roads
An increase in the frequency of extremely high temperatures in areas already experiencing a hot climate could result in road surface damage. The damage includes pavement softening, traffic-related rutting and melting of older pavements.
In coastal areas, predicted higher sea levels combined with high tides and storm surges could result in increased flooding.
Climate change could affect virtually every aspect of the road network, the lifeblood of many Queensland communities.
Main Roads meets the climate challenge
Main Roads’ is tackling the climate change challenge in many ways.
Sustainable transport solutions are at the forefront of our decisions. The Department of Transport and Main Roads program of work outlines projects that support pedestrian ways, cycleways and public transport.
Main Roads works closely with community groups, environmental organisations and other government departments on sustainable transport.
Climate proofing roads
In managing the road network for now and the future is about addressing the impacts of climate change when planning the location of new infrastructure. This includes:
- designing for climate change
- allowances for an increase in sea level when building infrastructure in coastal areas.
The new Houghton Highway bridge in South East Queensland has been designed to withstand a 1-in-2000 year storm event, the first of its type in Australia. It will be 3.6 metres higher than the existing bridge.
Other initiatives
We are also:
- managing salinity in the design and delivery of roads
- evaluating and addressing air quality impacts on road projects
- maintaining fleet vehicles, plans and equipment according to the Australian Standards for air quality emissions
- using fibre composite materials in bridge building instead of timber
- using energy-efficient road lighting
- negotiating with other government departments to develop codes of practice when communities are effected by flooding.
Trees for tomorrow
***Trees are the planet’s lungs, and vegetation is essential for reducing the impacts of climate change. In some parts of Queensland, road corridors contain the only remnant vegetation and provide important wildlife corridors. *** (our emphasis)
Road building and maintenance can impact on vegetation. From time to time it is necessary to clear vegetation as part of the construction process or to ensure the safety of road users.
Our trees for tomorrow commitment is about keeping vegetation clearance to a minimum and compensating for lost habitat by replanting activities.
Working with Greening Australia the department take an active role in planting trees for tomorrow.
Drivers can help too
Did you know that poor driving techniques can increase fuel consumption by 10–15%.
Here are some tips to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save you money.
- Check your tyre pressure as under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption.
- Undertake regular vehicle maintenance.
- Avoid wasting fuel, don’t idle as this uses excess fuel.
- Only use air conditioning when it’s really necessary.
- Choose the right gear for the conditions.
- Don’t speed.
- Don’t rev the engine unnecessarily.
- Minimise drag by keeping the windows closed, if possible. Remove heavy items from the boot and take off the roof racks when not in use.
- Plan your trip ahead. Try to avoid the peak periods. Consider leaving for work earlier or starting later.
- Use your car less. If you can, take public transport more often, or arrange car pooling to work or school.
Vegetation management
Main Roads is committed to managing vegetation in the road corridor. Roads may impact directly on a vegetation community. Careful planning and design of roads will minimise the impact and optimise the rehabilitation of the area.
The department ensures that remnant vegetation on roadsides is protected and that activities affecting roadsides are controlled. Main Roads is balancing road development and vegetation management. This is achieved by ensuring protection of rare and threatened species, prevention of further land degradation and use of best conservation practices in road planning and design. As a result visual amenity and landscape quality are maintained and enhanced. As roads dissect vegetation communities, it is important to manage the impacts of roads. Through appropriate planning, impacts on vegetation communities and conservation values are properly managed.
The Road corridor environmental assessment (RCEA) is an important tool in vegetation management and through its continual development and implementation, impact will again be reduced.
Fauna management
The conservation and protection of native fauna, including threatened and endangered species, is important to Main Roads. Road corridors and reserves are maintained to support unique flora and fauna species. Many state-controlled road reserves have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as wildlife corridors. Others contain important habitats for endangered fauna. Main Roads assesses the impact of all projects on fauna corridors, fauna habitat and the potential for road kills. The department designs fauna mitigation measures for all projects, according to the level of risk to species and populations.
This can be done, in most cases, by:
- reducing clearing
- revegetating or restoring habitat of fauna corridors
- preserving hollow trees translocating fauna hollows or installing manufactured tree hollows nest boxes within the road reserve
- installing fauna–sensitive road design principles
- installing fauna exclusion fencing
- installing significant environmental area signage and other fauna signage.
Main Roads researches and documents the impact of roads on fauna, through:
- Fauna Sensitive Road Design (Vol 1)
- trials of fauna-sensitive road design principles.
Hollows in mature trees provide shelter and nests for fauna.
Sustainability
We are committed to sustainable and environmentally-aware business practices which address climate change and protect Queensland’s unique natural environment, for now and future generations.
Our commitment includes contributions to whole-of-government environmental sustainability initiatives in the ClimateSmart 2050 Strategy, by establishing medium and long-term targets to achieve this.
Our commitment also contributes to the Queensland Government’s Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland ambitions. This state-wide plan has among its ambitions a focus on protecting Queensland’s unique natural environment.
We deliver on our commitments by continuously improving our environmental performance and implementing strategies and practical, sustainable solutions.
Our efforts and resources are focused on three key environmental management areas:
• energy and water management
• carbon emissions
• waste management.
Our annual report outlines our achievements in environmental management and sustainability.
Waste management
Main Roads aims to minimise waste generated across all sections of the department. Day-to-day operations can generate a number of waste products including; construction and demolition materials, vegetative materials and office consumables. Management of these activities will assist us in achieving minimal waste. We are aware of the importance of resources and we employ procedures that include:
- resource recovery
- material reuse
- construction techniques
- recycling and purchasing recycled products
- avoiding generating waste
- waste management.
