Our field surveys will help us to identify and understand the existing environmental values and condition of the ecosystem in the Project area, adjacent lands and waters and the broader Western Port wetlands.
Detailed and robust investigations will enable PoHC to identify key environmental and cultural values and consider how we can shape the Project to avoid and minimise impacts.
We have designed our field surveys to address the draft scoping requirements of the Environmental Effects Statement, focusing on collecting information on the ecosystem and its elements. The key field studies for the project include:
A ground survey has been undertaken at the OTRA site by a qualified archaeologist in consultation with members of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation. The purpose of the assessment was to identify the presence of Aboriginal places and determine likelihood that Aboriginal cultural deposits are present within the site.
A series of marine surveys and monitoring studies are being undertaken over a period of 2-3 years to collect information on the existing values and condition of the marine environment. These studies include:
The first underwater noise monitoring survey has also been undertaken for Western Port to collect data on existing underwater noise conditions.
Flora and fauna surveys are being undertaken at the Project site and nearby land parcels to identify ecological values. Targeted surveys for Glossy Grass Skink and Swamp Skink protected under the State’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, have also been completed.
Seasonal waterbird surveys continue to be undertaken in the North Arm and Lower North Arm of Western Port and adjacent coastal sites. For the context of the Terminal Project, waterbirds are defined as including all bird species that are wholly or substantially reliant on the waters of Western Port for breeding, nesting or foraging.
Field surveys of waterbirds include:
A waterbird tagging study in Western Port is also being undertaken to investigate detailed day and night foraging and roosting patterns and to further understand waterbirds and their habitats in Western Port.
A site survey, involving the mapping of waterways, flooding locations and landforms at the Project site and adjacent land areas has been completed.
Baseline artificial light monitoring has been undertaken at five locations around the Lower North Arm of Western Port to understand ambient light spill in the region.
The light monitoring methodology is in line with the National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife, utilising a unique, innovative monitoring tool, the Sky42 camera. The camera records ambient night-time light emissions on a landscape scale, including light on a full 180-degree horizon.
A field survey has been completed from both land and water to understand local geomorphological conditions, including:
On land day and night noise monitoring has been undertaken to establish background noise levels in the residential areas surrounding the Project site. Noise measurements are taken by hand-held or tripod-mounted sound level meter and recorded electronically.
Groundwater monitoring is continuing at the Project site to measure groundwater levels and understand the hydrological regime of the aquifer. Measurements are being taken from three geological horizons, the top fill soils and in the Baxter and Sherwood foundations. Water quality sampling has also been undertaken to understand existing groundwater quality.
A detailed geotechnical investigation, involving the collection and testing of sediment samples for soil composition and metal concentrations in both the marine and land environment has been completed.
