Project Overview : South East Flows Restoration Project - Public Information Session 11 December 2014
Purpose of the SEFRP • Primary function is to provide water - currently being discharged into the ocean near Kingston - to the Coorong South Lagoon. • This will assist in the protection of the environmental character of this wetland of international significance by helping keep salinity within a healthy target range
SEFRP channel will also : • Provide the opportunity to hydrate en route wetlands • dependent upon water quality and landholder agreement • Decrease outflows from the Blackford Drain near Kingston • Rebuild existing drainage infrastructure to ensure existing drainage service
April 2005 Needles north of Hell’s Gate
Low Barrage Flows • South Lagoon is particularly susceptible to significant increases in salinity, during periods of reduced barrage flows • 2010 the Coorong South Lagoon recorded extreme hypersaline conditions (over 175 g/L), five times the salinity of seawater. • Estuarine habitat disappeared with an ecological crash in both Lagoons occurring .
Salinity Target range to support a healthy ecosystem in the Coorong South Lagoon is between 60 g/L and a maximum of 100 g/L
CLLMM Recovery Project 2009 Long Term Plan for CLLMM region • Up to $137 million from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2016 • - Compliant - Compliant but Conditional - Program Management 20 Management Actions that contribute to managing the site for • ecological health and support the Long-Term Plan – community partnerships – stabilising ecological decline – protection of critical environmental assets – infrastructure projects, and – monitoring and research Scope, negotiate and implement emerging projects • Implement a MERI Framework – Mid Program Review •
CLLMM Management Actions Vegetation Program Other Lakebed Stabilisation Construction of Fishways • • Fencing Critical Fish Habitat • • Pest Management Ruppia Translocation • • Community Involvement Managing Acid Sulfate Soils • • Aboriginal Heritage Research Priorities • • Monitoring & Research Meningie Wetland • • Lake Albert Scoping Study • Restoring the Coorong South East Flows Restoration • Project South Lagoon Salinity Reduction • Scheme
‘SEFRP Project Announcement’ • Senator Birmingham & Minister Hunter announced SEFRP 12 June 2014 as a Deed of Variation to the CLLMM Funding Deed
The SEFRP will design & construct the SEFRP channel which will: • Replace & upgrade the existing Tilley Swamp & Taratap Drains (83kms) • Construct a new channel through the Murrabinna Flats to connect to the Blackford Drain (12kms)
SEFRP Project Area Morella Basin Coorong South Lagoon Tilley Swamp Taratap Murrabinna/ Lacapede Flats Blackford Drain outlet
Additional water to Coorong South Lagoon • 26.5 Gl/annum (median) • Expected range between 5 to 45.3 Gl/annum (90% to 10%) Modelling shows that the relative benefit of water from south east to water over barrages to the management of salinity in the Coorong South Lagoon is 40:1
Water to Coorong
Salinity Target range to support a healthy ecosystem in the Coorong South Lagoon is between 60 g/L and a maximum of 100 g/L Target salinity range for the South Lagoon (60 -100 g/L). • Modelled annual salinity cycle in the Coorong South Lagoon for three scenarios of South East inflow volumes with a barrage inflow of 2,000GL/annum. • Solid line represents the salinity at the northern end of the South Lagoon • Dashed line is salinity at the southern end of the South Lagoon
Benefits of channel approach; • Efficiency of delivery • Decreased transmission losses • Flexibility of delivery to environmental assets with regard to: – Water quality – Opportunities for diversions to en route wetlands • Management of inundation of productive land
SEFRP History • 2007- concept initiated by DWLBC • Initial SEFRP Steering Committee established comprising: – Government, nongovernment, regional stakeholders including regional landowners and traditional owners – At least 11 options considered – Preferred alignment selected November 2011 – Public consultation during 2012 – SEFRP Business Case submitted March 2013
Key criteria for selecting preferred flowpath • Potential yield to CSL • En route benefits • Vegetation clearance • Cost
Major SEFRP Alignment Options
Preferred Alignment as at November 2011 • Salt Creek to Blackford via Tilley Swamp and Taratap Flat • Blackford to Drain M via Reedy Creek
Preferred Alignment as at July 2012 • Salt Creek to Blackford via Tilley Swamp and Taratap Flat • Blackford to Drain M via Blackford and Avenue Flat drains 93% of construction on existing drain alignments enlarge existing drain, less “greenfields” construction no diversion from Drain M higher yield to Coorong
No SEFRP project works proposed on Blackford Drain south of Rowney Rd.
• Approved SEFRP Business Case is reduced in scope – No activities proposed south of the Blackford Drain – Bakers Range North upgrade not supported
Major SEFRP activities : • Detailed Design • Land Acquisition • Construction • Development of SEFRP Operations Manual • Community and landholder engagement
other SEFRP activities • General Approvals • EPBC Act Referral • Environmental (construction) monitoring • Completions & handover process to SEWCDB
Key project delivery matters: • Tight timelines with completion currently due December 2016 • Significant interdependencies
Anticipated Project Timeline 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 Oversight by SEFRP Steering Committee Community Engagement Approvals Detailed Design Land Land Acquisition Settlement Construction Develop Operations Manual Handover to SEWCDB Commencement on ground works proposed for spring 2015
All Approvals • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) • Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) – CSO Advice no Requirement • Water Act 2007 (Cth) • Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) • Crown Lands Management Act 2009 (SA) • Development Act 1993 (SA) – Exempt under Section 49(3) • Highways Act 1926 • Local Government Act 1999 (SA) • National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA) • Native Vegetation Act 1991 (SA) • Parliamentary Committees Act 1991 (SA) • River Murray Act 2003 (SA)
Key Approvals Key approvals listed in the Table below • A number of other (minor) approvals and notifications are required by June 2015 • Legislation Requirement Timeframe Environment Protection and Under Section 68 of the EPBC Act, proposed actions can be referred to the Submit early 2015 Biodiversity Conservation Act Minister to determine whether the action is controlled 1999 (Cth) Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 Cultural heritage clearances required to identify culturally significant Requirements determined through (SA) sites/objects/remains with a view to minimising potential damage, Heritage Surveys early 2015 – disturbance or interference. Depending on Survey, Ministerial Authorisation complete by June 2015 may be required under Section 23. Native Vegetation Act 1991 Approval required for Clearance of Native Vegetation. SEWCD Board has right Native Vegetation Surveys (SA) to clear vegetation under Section 27(1)(b) (pursuant to Regulation 5(1) commenced early 2015 to ensure approval before June 2015 Parliamentary Committees Act Parliamentary Works Approval required prior to Construction Submission to the Parliamentary 1991 (SA) Works Committee for approval early- mid 2015 (before June 2015)
EPBC Referral • EPBC Act focus on matters of National Environmental Significance (e.g. World Heritage Listings; National Heritage Listings; Ramsar Wetlands; Threatened and Migratory Species and Ecological Communities) • SA Government will refer the Project under the EPBC Act • Draft Referral is currently being finalised • Submission expected early 2015 • Public will be able to comment under Commonwealth process (notification will be on SEFRP website)
SEFRP Detailed Design • Will include: – Refined alignment & channel parameters – Specify channel & property infrastructure – Determine land acquisition requirements – Costings
Influences on Detailed Design • Statutory requirements – Vegetation clearance requirements, Heritage surveys, EPBC • Legal responsibilities • Preliminary Design • Steering Committee oversight • En route landholder requirements • En route local wetland opportunities • Operations & long-term maintenance • WHS & Cost
Preliminary Level Designs • Included: – Detailed survey – Hydraulic modelling – Modelled different depth/widths – Estimated excavation required – Considered the number / location of crossings & regulators – Considered the impacts on local drainage service • Allowed the development of cost estimates
SEFRP Preliminary Design Alignment
SEFRP Preliminary Design Alignment
SEFRP Preliminary Design Alignment
SEFRP Preliminary Design Alignment
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