Managing the environment
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is committed to minimising the potential impact of the Pacific Highway Upgrading Program on the natural environment of the NSW north coast.
The RTA ensures that identified impacts on the natural environment are managed in accordance with current NSW State and Federal environmental legislation.
All projects undergo rigorous environmental assessment and community consultation before they proceed. Some of the RTA's environmental assessment and management activities are highlighted below.
Environmental assessment
The RTA ensures that any potential environmental impact is managed according to current State and Federal environmental legislation.
Studies investigate and assess the possible result of proposed works on both human and ecological environments:
Air and water quality.
Aquatic ecology, e.g. rivers, creeks, wetlands.
Cultural heritage (indigenous and non-indigenous).
Flora and fauna, including important animal habitats.
Noise and vibration.
Hydrology, drainage and flooding.
Residential and commercial areas.
Property and land uses.
Traffic and transport.
Visual quality and landscape character.
Other factors to consider when developing a road include:
Geology and soil conditions.
Utilities and services current and proposed.
Earthworks required.
The RTA prepares an environmental assessment for the project as required by the Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Act and the RTA’s own guidelines.
When preparing an environmental assessment, the RTA liaises with various organisations, including State Government agencies, local government, the community and groups or individuals as appropriate.
Community involvement
Community involvement ensures effective planning and decision making. It provides important information on RTA road development and maintenance proposals and helps to identify relevant issues and possible community concerns.
The RTA works to create interest and awareness in options and proposals, to provide opportunities for the community to be involved in contributing to decisions that affect them.
The RTA seeks community involvement through a wide range of activities, such as community information evenings and workshops, community focus or liaison groups, media announcements, letterbox drops, site open days, advisory committees, newsletters and questionnaires.
Community consultation occurs in the early planning stages of Pacific Highway upgrades and then form part of the RTA’s overall environmental management strategy.
Documents are placed on exhibition for public information and comment. Issues raised in submissions from the community are considered when making a decision on a project.
For more information on community involvement, please see the Fact Sheet 'Environmental Management on the Pacific Highway', stored under dosuments on the Pacific Highway home page.
Environmental management during construction
The RTA uses a number of measures to minimise impacts on the environment during construction and operational stages. These measures include:
Erosion and sedimentation controls including temporary and permanent controls and the installation of sediment basins.
Fauna underpasses where warranted or where they can be integrated with drainage structures and fauna exclusion fencing in important fauna corridors.
Revegetating of areas with native species.
A thorough search for potential heritage items, or items of cultural interest.
Noise mounds, noise walls or treatment of residences, where noise criteria are exceeded on new construction projects.
Air and water quality monitoring.
A construction environmental management plan, or other appropriate environmental plan is prepared for each Pacific Highway project. The plan shows how to implement safeguard measures and how the conditions of approval identified during the environmental assessment are to be met.
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