1 Introduction

1.1 Proposal identification

Roads and Maritime Services of NSW (Roads and Maritime) is undertaking an assessment under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) for the upgrade of about 11.5 kilometres of the Princes Highway between Schofields Lane (south of Berry) and Cambewarra Road, Bomaderry (the proposal). The proposal would provide a four-lane divided highway (two lanes in each direction) with median separation. The proposal is one of a series of upgrades to sections of the Princes Highway which aims to provide a four-lane divided highway between Waterfall and Jervis Bay Road, Falls Creek. This would improve road safety and traffic efficiency, including for freight, on the NSW South Coast. An overview of the concept design for the proposal is provided in Figure 1-1. A detailed description of the proposal is provided in Chapter 3. The proposal comprises the following key features:

Upgrade of the existing highway, including widening from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway (two lanes in each direction) with median separation (wire rope barriers generally, or concrete barriers where space is constrained, such as at bridge locations).

Provision for widening of the highway (if required in the future) to six lanes within the road corridor between Schofields Lane and around Pestells Lane.

Tie-in to the Berry bypass to the north of the proposal.

Grade-separated facilities1 at:

- Jaspers Brush Road and Strongs Road.

- Morschels Lane and Devitts Lane.

A grade-separated half-interchange at:

- Pestells Lane and Meroo Road.

Protected right turn bays at:

- Mullers Lane (northbound).

- Croziers Road (southbound).

- At the u-turn facility between Strongs Road and Turners Lane at about chainage 23200 (northbound).

- Between Strongs Road and Turners Lane at about chainage 24050, adjacent to Silos Winery (southbound).

- Lamonds Lane (northbound).

- Boxsells Lane (southbound).

- South of Abernethys Lane at about chainage 28590 (northbound).

1 Unlike a standard grade separated interchange which has full length on-ramps and off-ramps, a grade separated facility has

deceleration lanes to a connecting road that links to an overpass or underpass. Grade separated facilities have been used along the Pacific Highway and are informally referred to as Type S interchanges.

Princes Highway upgrade – Berry to Bomaderry 1 Roads and Maritime Services Review of environmental factors

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U-turn facilities at:

- Mullers Lane (to travel southbound)2.

- Croziers Road (to travel northbound).

- Between Strongs Road and Turners Lane at about chainage 23200 (to travel southbound).

- Between Strongs Road and Turners Lane at about chainage 24050, adjacent to Silos Winery (to travel northbound).

- Lamonds Lane (to travel southbound).

- South of Abernethys Lane at about chainage 28590 (to travel southbound).

A large cutting at Strongs Road, Jaspers Brush of around 300 metres long and up to a maximum of ten metres deep in addition to various smaller cuttings along the proposal.

Eight bridges over waterways3:

- Creek crossing No. 1 – Unnamed drainage line at chainage 19350, a three span concrete structure around 44 metres long and three metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 2 – Unnamed drainage line at chainage 19800, a single span concrete structure around 33 metres long and four metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 3 – Flying Fox Creek, a single span concrete structure around 18 metres long and seven metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 4 – Jaspers Brush Creek, a three span concrete structure around 44 metres long and six metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 5 – Wileys Creek, a five span concrete structure around 76 metres long and five metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 6 – Tandingulla Creek, a three span concrete structure around 44 metres long and three metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 7 – Tullian Creek, a three span concrete structure around 44 metres long and five metres high.

- Creek crossing No. 8 – Abernethys Creek, a three span concrete structure around 76 metres long and two metres high.

Major drainage and flood mitigation structures:

- O’Keefe’s Lane culvert – ten cell box culvert, with each cell around 2.5 metres wide, 1.5 metres high and about 70 metres long at chainage 21130.

- Flood mitigation bridge – located just south of O’Keefes Lane at about chainage 21200, a three span concrete structure around 45 metres long and 3.5 metres high.

- Pestells Lane culvert – eight cell box culvert, with each cell around 2.5 metres wide, 1.5 metres high and 130 metres long (between chainages 28020 and 28150).

- Morschels Lane culvert – five cell box culvert, with each cell around 2.5 metres wide, 2.1 metres high and about 60 metres long at chainage 25070.

- Overflow channel – 300 metre long channel located upstream of the alignment to allow flood waters to follow the existing drainage path (between chainage 22320 and 22650).

A northbound heavy vehicle inspection bay at Jaspers Brush, staffed as needed and locked when not in use.

2 The u-turn facility within the proposal area at Mullers Lane (northbound) will be constructed under separate approval as part of

the Foxground and Berry bypass project, however the right turn bay would be constructed as part of the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade. 3 Existing waterway crossings at Flying Fox, Jaspers Brush and Abernethys creeks are all currently spanned by bridges. These

three bridges would be replaced as part of the proposal. The remainder of the new bridges would be constructed at the locations of existing culverts.

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Modifications to the connections between local roads and the highway, including Strongs Road, Jaspers Brush Road, Morschels Lane, Devitts Lane, Pestells Lane, Meroo Road and Abernethys Lane.

Physical modifications to about 16 existing property accesses.

Relocation and formalisation of existing southbound bus stops at Mullers Lane, Jaspers Brush Road, Morschels Lane and Lamonds Lane and existing northbound bus stops at Boxsells Lane, Croziers Road and Strongs Road. Bus stops would be relocated to sites where there is provision for safe vehicular access, set down and pick up.

Removal of the current southbound bus stop adjacent to Croziers Road.

Ancillary operational facilities, including permanent detention basins and stormwater treatment facilities.

Tie-in with the existing highway at the Cambewarra Road / Moss Vale Road roundabout.

Temporary construction ancillary facilities, including construction compounds, stockpile sites, haulage roads and sediment basins would be established and operated for construction and located as shown on Figure 1-1. The proposal is located entirely within the Shoalhaven local government area (LGA) on the NSW South Coast. The regional context of the proposal is shown in Figure 1-2. The construction footprint for the proposal extends from the junction of Schofields Lane and the Princes Highway, about 0.8 kilometres south of Berry (from the junction of Victoria Street and the Princes Highway), to the junction of Cambewarra Road and the Princes Highway, in Bomaderry. It includes the area that would be directly impacted by the proposal, including the upgraded highway, all junctions, grade-separated facilities and half-interchange, u-turn facilities, the heavy vehicle inspection bay, batters, cuttings, embankments, bridge access and construction pads, temporary construction ancillary facilities and construction and operational water quality basins. To the north, the proposal would tie-in with the Foxground and Berry bypass project, which is the upgrade of the section of the Princes Highway between Toolijooa Road and Schofields Lane. To the east of the proposal lies the South Coast Railway line, which extends from Waterfall in southern Sydney to Bomaderry. From Kiama, there is a single rail line that is not electrified. The Bomaderry (Nowra) train station is located on Meroo Street in Bomaderry. This is the last station on the South Coast Railway line. To the west of the proposal is the Cambewarra Range and to the north west is the Illawarra Range. These ranges contain a number of nature reserves and a National Park, including the Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve, Rodway Nature Reserve, Budderoo National Park and the Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. Waterways that would be crossed by the proposal include Flying Fox Creek, Jaspers Brush Creek, Wileys Creek, Tandingulla Creek, Tullian Creek and Abernethys Creek. These creeks are tributaries of Broughton Creek or the Shoalhaven River. Land uses around the proposal are generally rural with agricultural activities defining the settlement patterns and landscape character of the region. The large urban centres of Bomaderry and Nowra are at the southern end of the proposal. The southern extent of the proposal, Cambewarra Road, Bomaderry, is located north of the Nowra town centre, on the northern fringe of the urban area.

Princes Highway upgrade – Berry to Bomaderry Roads and Maritime Services Review of environmental factors

MUST READ INFO: SAME FILE AS “BBU DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL” + “BBU OVERVIEW OF PROPOSAL ZONING” (Difference: In “overview” file lane markings are switched off and layer “midian” switched on. In the “zoning” file the cuts and fills, waterways, railway and roads are also switched off. In the detailed file all lane markings are switched on but “midian” switched off) NOTE: ANCILLARY SITES LAYER ADDED TO FIGURE 1-1 + figure 3-1 to 3-3 ONLY!

Tullian Creek

Broughton Creek

Wiley’s Creek

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Figure 1-1 Overview of the proposal

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BERRY

BOMADERRY

Andersons LaneMullers Lane

Existing Princes Highway

Croziers Road

O’Keefes Lane

Jaspers Brush Road

Strongs Road

South Coast Railway

Turners

Lane

Mor

sche

ls L

ane

Dev

itts

Lane

Lamonds Lane

Boxsells Lane

Fletchers Lane

Pestells Lane

Gra

ham

s R

oad

AbernethysLane

Meroo R

oad

Moss Vale

Road

Flying Fox Creek

JASPERS BRUSH

MEROOMEADOW

Jaspers Brush Creek

Abernethys Creek

Tandingulla Creek

Cambewarra RoadTO

NOWRA

TO KIAMA

Tie-in with Foxground and Berry bypass

Right turn in and u-turn bay

Right turn in and u-turn bay

A northbound heavy vehicle inspection bay near Jaspers Brush

Right turn in and u-turn bay

Right turn in and u-turn bay

Right turn in and u-turn bay

A local road underpass at Morschels Lane and

Devitts Lane

Right turn in and u-turn bay

Subject to detailed design.

Extent of proposal

Extent of proposal

Morschels Lane and Devitts Lane grade separated facility

Jaspers Brush Road and Strongs Road

grade separated facility

A local road overpass at Strongs Road and Jaspers Brush Road

Pestells Lane and Meroo Road grade separated half-interchange

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0 1km0.5

LEGENDUpgraded highway

Access roads

Existing Princes Highway

Highway tie-in

Local roads

South Coast Railway

Potential operational water quality basins and construction sediment basins

Bridges, overpasses and underpasses

Potential construction ancillary facilities

Potential construction ancillary facility site number

Embankment, fill

Embankment, cut

Chainage

Construction footprint (The construction footprint does not show structures for architectural noise treatment or flood treatments, which are to be determined during detailed design in consultation with the property owners.)

Aerial photography is dated 2009.

Aerial photography under licence to Roads and Maritime by Land and Property Information (LPI)

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II

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ILLAWARRA LALC

Crooked River

Beach Road

Harley Hill

Road

Agars Lane

Agars

Lan

e

Coolang

atta Road

Wh

arf

Fern

Str

eet

Rose Valley Road

Kangaroo

Road

ValleyHitchcocks LaneSchofields

Mullers Lane

Moe

yan

Roa

d

Wo

od

hill

Millers Lane

Irwinss Creek

Broughton M

ill

Brough ton

Creek

Connors Cr eek

Bundew

a llah

Blue Angle Creek

GERROA

Seven Mile Beach

National Park

Seve

n M

ile B

each

Foys Swamp

Coomonderry Swamp

MoeyanHill

WerriBeach

South Coast Railw

ay

BROUGHTONVILLAGE

BROUGHTONVALE

GrahamPark

Connollys

WILLOW VALE

Bro

ught

on C

reek

Dooleys

Road

TOOLIJOOA

Wingeewah RoadWalkersBeach

SharpesLane

Houston

Place

Swam

p R

oad

Creek

Tin

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lls L

an

e

Sun

nym

ed

e L

an

e W

ire Lane

WerriLagoon

Omega

Crooked River

Bac

k

Road

Forest

Bryces R

oad

Bro

ugton Creek

Mount PleasantRidge

Illawarra Range

‘the

Sandtra

ck’

Bundewallah Road

SHOALHAVENHEADS

CoolangattaMountain

Co

olangatta Roa

d

Wileys C

reek

TandingullaCreek

Tullian Creek

Abernethys Creek

WOODHILLWATTAMOLLA

Ryd

ers Creek

Kangaroo Valley Road

Wattamolla Road

BELLAWONGARAH

BellawongarahMountain

BUDDEROO

BOMADERRY

Pig Island

BOLONG

Shoalhaven River

Strongs

Lamonds

Lane

Lane

Edwards Avenue

Bolong

Han

nig

ans

Lan

e

NUMBAA

Wattamolla Road

Brogers Creek

TO NOWRA

TO KIAMA

BACKFOREST

MEADOW

B ud

BERRY

BUNDEWALLAH

MEROO

Devitts Lane

Boxsells

Gra

ham

s R

oad

Pestells

Abernethys Lane

MossValeRoad

Meroo R

oad

Turners

Andersons Lane

O’Keefes LaneJaspers Brush

North Street

Tannery Road

Tomlins

Austral Park Rd

Toolijooa

FARMEADOW

Private Road

ROSE VALLEY

FOXGROUND

Selectors Road

Roa

d

COOLANGATTA

SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL

KIAMA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Mou

ntai

n R

oad

Ooaree

Woodhill Mountain

Mo

rsch

els

L

ane

NOWRA LALC

JERRINGA LALC

Road

Cambewarra Range

Nature Reserve

RodwayNature Reserve

Barren GroundsNature Reserve

BudderooNature Reserve

GERRINGONG

Bo

ma

derry Cre

ek

Cambewarra Road

Jaspers Brush

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om

pso

ns R

oad

Belinda Street

Bolong Road

Existing Princes Highway

Road

Lane

Fletchers

Sou

th C

oast

Rai

lwayLane

Ro

ad

Road

Flat

Creek

Road

Creek

Cr eek

Exi

stin

g Pr

ince

s H

igh

way

Lane

Lane

CreekRoad

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LEGENDExisting Princes Highway

Tie in into highway

The proposal

Other roads

Eastern Gas pipeline

South Coast Railway

Urban area(current and future)

Waterbody

Wetland

National parks/reserves

Elevated areas

Council border

Local Aboriginal Land Council

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Fount ainda le

Cre

ek

UPPER KANGAROO

VALLEY

BARREN GROUNDS

dero

o Trac

k

Jerr

ara

Cre

ek

Gerr ingong Creek

Kings Creek

Figure 1-2 Regiona

I

l context of the proposal

N20 1 3km

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1.2 Purpose of the report

This review of environmental factors has been prepared by AECOM on behalf of Roads and Maritime. For the purposes of these works, Roads and Maritime is the proponent and the determining authority under Part 5 of the EP&A Act. The purpose of the review of environmental factors is to describe the proposal (refer to Chapter 3), to document the likely impacts of the proposal on the environment (refer to Chapter 6), and to detail protective measures to be implemented (refer to Chapter 6 and Chapter 7). The description of the proposed works and associated environmental impacts have been undertaken in the context of clause 228 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EP&A Regulation) (summarised in Appendix A), the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (FM Act), and the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (summarised in Appendix A). In doing so, the review of environmental factors helps to fulfil the requirements of section 111 of the EP&A Act, that Roads and Maritime examine and take into account to the fullest extent possible, all matters affecting or likely to affect the environment by reason of the activity. The findings of the review of environmental factors would be considered when assessing:

Whether the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on the environment and therefore the necessity for an environmental impact statement to be prepared and approval to be sought from the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure under Part 5.1 of the EP&A Act.

The significance of any impact on threatened species as defined by the TSC Act and/or the FM Act, in section 5A of the EP&A Act and therefore the requirement for a species impact statement.

The potential for the proposal to significantly impact a matter of national environmental significance or Commonwealth land and the need to make a referral to the Australian Government Department of the Environment for a decision by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment on whether assessment and approval is required under the EPBC Act.

Princes Highway upgrade – Berry to Bomaderry Roads and Maritime Services Review of environmental factors