What's happening...

The Parsons Brinckerhoff (formerly PPK) Road Transport Planning Study has been released for community consultation and feedback. Information about this report can be found on the State Development web site.

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.

Draft Report – Kholo Creek Hardrock Resource Road Transport Planning

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 current events:

PLEASE NOTE: This may be the only opportunity that residents have to formally respond to the State Government on this issue. If you do not want 1400 trucks a day passing through the district, now is the time to state your objections.

Where to from here?

The Department of State Development, Parsons Brinckeroff and KCAP will evaluate response from the community with a view to formulating a haul route recommendation to Cabinet in June 2003.

If the PB report is accepted by Cabinet, the haul route is expected to be protected by legislation and will therefore subsequently appear on Brisbane and Ipswich City Council Town Plans.