What's happening...
Following earlier reports supporting the need for, and commercial viability
of, Kholo Creek, the Parsons Brinckerhoff (formerly PPK) Road Transport
Planning Study was released for community consultation in March 2003.
SIRA's concerns with the PB Report are as follows:
- The study report does not meet stated terms of reference. See SIRA's
concerns.
- The comparative ratings methodology used in the study is largely arbitrary
and subjective.
- The vegetation survey was inadequate and did not take into account
existing mapping. Moreover, ground truthing of vegetation did not include
critical "endangered regional ecosystems" areas. See Review
of Vegetation Survey
and Vegetation
Map *.
- The noise analysis is based upon incorrect data and is misleading.
See Review
of Noise Report.
- The concept of community severance has not been understood,
- Some engineering assumptions used in the report cannot be substantiated,
- Some data collected in the study were ignored in the report,
- Deficiencies in the acquisition and evaluation of data, as evidenced
by SIRA's investigations, engender a lack of confidence in the report
findings.
* Note: The released version of the PB report includes modifications
to the vegetation survey and acknowledgement of mapping brought to the
attention of KCAP and PB by SIRA. However, no further ground truthing
has occurred and SIRA's position remains as stated.
Full Report
- Parsons Brinckerhoff website
Outline
Map of recommended Quarry Haulage Route, Detailed
Map Chuwar, Detailed
Map Mt Crosby South, Detailed
Map Mt. Crosby North
Timeline for related events:
| 3rd ~ 5th March, 2003 |
State Government distribute flyers to householders in
the vicinity of Mt. Crosby detailing the proposed haulage route |
| 17th March, 2003 |
SIRA distributes community
newsletter to residents advising of issues and concerns |
| 19th March, 2003 |
Public Information night at Mt. Crosby Hall run by the Department
of State Development under the auspices of KCAP |
| 26th March, 2003 |
Public Meeting at Mt. Crosby Hall convened by SIRA |
| 29th May, 2003 |
Revised closure date for public responses |
| 31st July, 2003 |
KCAP considers public feedback, call for amendments |
| 14th August, 2003 |
KCAP considers revised report, call for further amendments |
| 30th October, 2003 |
KCAP considers revised report, call for further amendments |
| 30th March, 2004 |
KCAP considers revised report, call for closure and acceptance |
| 30th November 2004 |
BCC obtains an independent review and assessment of Kholo Bridge
Risk Evaluation by Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality &
Treatment |
| 2nd December 2005 |
State Govt advises KCAP that it will proceed with protection of
Option H (PB report recommendation). Public announcement to follow. |
| January 2006 |
KCAP members to be provided with a new "final" copy of
PB report, with amendments to Water Quality risk assesment. |
| 2006... |
Identification of resource and haul route to appear on BCC and ICC
town plans... |
Where to from here?
It is known that the CMC review and assessment was highly critical of
the PB study and recommeded against the haul route alignment determined
by the PB study. As at 5th December 2004, it is not known by
SIRA on what basis the State Govt determined to proceed, given a flawed
haul route study and well qualified advice to BCC that the haul route
should not proceed. The content of negotiations with BCC which
led to this abysmal decision has not been provided to KCAP or SIRA. The
CRC study has also remained confidential to BCC and has not been formally
povided to KCAP members for consideration.
A public announcement is due from the State Government.
|
About
SIRA: |
Our Objective:
If there must be a quarry, to ensure the best possible outcome
and least impact on the local community. |
Contact
us: |
You can
contact us via email at contact@sira.org.au.
Please ensure you include your contact details in the body of the
email. |
How
to join SIRA Inc. |
It's free!
Please send an email to membership@sira.org.au
with your name, address and contact details. |
|
