We will be engaging with local government, stakeholders, residents and businesses as we progress the detailed design, from mid-2020.
Opportunities to participate in consultation activities will be advertised to our project subscribers. Subscribe to project updates here.
Noise and screen walls
A noise wall is a structure built between the road and a residential property. It improves amenity for surrounding residents by reflecting sound waves from the road, forcing sound to travel over and around the edges of the walls, thereby reducing the amount of noise that reaches nearby homes.
Screen walls protect residents’ privacy from passing traffic at the rear of their property only. We will consider screen walls in cases where the construction has reduced the existing level of privacy.
As part of this project, we expect to build noise or screen walls adjacent to most residential areas. The design and location of these will be finalised as part of the detailed design process. We have done noise modelling across the project area and noise mitigation would apply for areas that will be impacted by noise. We will ensure our noise mitigation meets the State Planning Policy 5.4 guidelines for acceptable noise levels.
If we need to construct noise or screen walls on property boundaries, the contractor will engage with individual property owners.
The team is still in early stages of design, but we are looking at options to reduce the noise from Redcliffe Bridge, which may include noise walls. We will continue to discuss options with the community while we work through this process.
Property Condition Surveys
If your property falls within the area that meets the criteria for a survey, you will receive a letter in the mail. If you believe your property has been damaged and you are not eligible for a property survey, please contact our team.
Dust and Vibration
You might feel vibrations and experience noise, but we will work with you to reduce noise impacts as much as possible – including considering the hours we work, type of equipment and machinery we use and noise walls. We have dust mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of dust on residents and businesses – including water carts, street sweepers and dust suppressants.
Road trains will continue to use Tonkin Highway. There are no current plans to revise the RAV access network arrangements.
Environment
This is a very constrained site and there is no way we can build the required infrastructure without clearing vegetation. However, we are committed to minimising the extent of clearing and are exploring opportunities for local and regional environmental offsets. Any clearing will also be undertaken with appropriate State and Federal government approvals.
Where an area of ground is disturbed and not finished with a sealed surface, such as asphalt, revegetation works will be undertaken. This will include a variety of native vegetation species, including trees.
Project approvals from environmental regulators including the Environmental Protection Authority of WA (EPA), Department of Water and Environment Regulation, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has been obtained for the project. All relevant works approvals from appropriate agencies including Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction, where the Swan River Trust is housed, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for groundwater and contamination issues and local government authorities for out of hours approvals will be sought.
Flora and Fauna
Environmental consultants were engaged to complete a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Tonkin Gap Project, which included the Swan River and land within the road reserve on both sides of the Swan River within the alignment of Tonkin Highway.
The assessment included a detailed flora and vegetation assessment, a Black Cockatoo and fauna habitat assessment including inspection of mature trees to record habitat and breeding trees suitable for use by Black Cockatoo species, and a water insect, water and sediment survey of the Swan River. While potential Black Cockatoo nesting trees were identified during surveys, none with suitable hollows were found.
We would prefer not to have any impact on nesting cockatoos. We will be looking for all potential solutions to avoid this. Where we do need to remove such a tree, our Environment Team will inspect the trees prior to check if any cockatoos are nesting and relocate if necessary. We are consulting with community before vegetation within the project area is cleared.
The Tonkin Gap Project was referred to the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) in 2019, and both the EPA and DAWE determined that the potential impacts of the project are not significant and does not require further assessment.
Park and foreshore changes
An area of Selby Park has always been reserved for a Tonkin Highway upgrade under the State Government’s Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS). This will be required to build the new loop ramp from Great Eastern Highway. We are working closely with the City of Belmont to minimise the impact and determine how best to reinstate the park at the conclusion of the works.
We have identified an area under the Redcliffe Bridge, on the City of Bayswater side, that we could enhance. We are already working with the City of Bayswater and other State Government agencies to consider opportunities in this location. Suggestions from stakeholders and the community have included a skate park, fishing platforms and shared path facilities. Further consultation with local government, stakeholders and the community will be undertaken.
