31 August 2020
Updated 20 September 2024
Publication of the Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan and Edithvale Wetlands Monitoring and Mitigation Plan is a requirement for this project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Planning and Environment Act 1987 (P and E Act).
Two level crossings (Edithvale Road, Edithvale and Bondi Road, Bonbeach) have been removed by lowering the rail line into trenches.
In March 2017, the Minister for Planning determined an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) was required for the Projects to assess potential impacts to groundwater levels, groundwater quality and the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.
A requirement of the EES was the development of an Environmental Management Framework (EMF) which included specific Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) for the project.
Due to the proximity of the projects to the Edithvale Wetland, which is one of 2 wetlands that form the Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Ramsar Site, the projects also required approval under the EPBC Act. Approval 2017/7906 was granted for the projects under sections 130(1) and 133(1) of the EPBC Act by the then Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, now the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), on 3 December 2018.
Importantly, the EES identified that groundwater levels and quality could be maintained for the Edithvale and Bonbeach Projects within acceptable thresholds through engineering controls and implementation of the EPRs.
As such, LXRP prepared 2 plans;
- A Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan (PDF, 3.5 MB) to address the requirements of EPR_GW2 and Conditions 1-3 of Approval 2017/7906.
- A Edithvale Wetlands Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (PDF, 10.1 MB) to address the requirements of EPR_FF7 and Conditions 4-6 of Approval 2017/7906
In summary, the purpose of the Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan is to ensure that the existing groundwater conditions (quality and levels) are not adversely affected by the project.
The purpose of the Edithvale Wetlands Monitoring and Mitigation Plan is to identify whether groundwater mounding (as a result of the project) reaches Edithvale Wetland and whether this groundwater increase affects the suitability of the habitat and therefore use of the wetland by birds.
It also identifies mitigation measures to be implemented if an impact is detected at Edithvale Wetland that is attributable to the level crossing removal project.
The Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan and Edithvale Wetlands Monitoring and Mitigation Plan were originally approved by the Australian Minister for the Environment on 2 December 2019.
The Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan and Edithvale Wetlands Monitoring and Mitigation Plans were revised to account for design changes. The Australian Minister for the Environment accepted these changes on 3 July 2020.
There have since been a further 3 revisions to the Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan as follows:
- Revision to account for groundwater monitoring changes. The Australian Minister for the Environment accepted these changes on 26 August 2020.
- Revision to account for groundwater monitoring changes. The Australian Minister for the Environment accepted these changes on 4 January 2022.
- Revision to reduce extent of groundwater monitoring, given monitoring undertaken since October 2020 has shown no unreasonable project-induced impacts. The Australian Minister for the Environment accepted these changes on 8 January 2024.
Annual Compliance Report
The approval under the EPBC Act requires us to publish an Annual Compliance Report for each 12 month period following the project’s commencement.
Please note the Annual Compliance Reports relate only to the EPBC Act approval.
Annual Compliance Report – No. 1
Accordingly, the Annual Compliance Report No.1 has been prepared for the reporting period between 13 October 2020 and 12 October 2021.
The Annual Compliance Report shows the project was compliant with all conditions specific to the project during the reporting period.
Annual Compliance Report – No. 2
The Annual Compliance Report No. 2 has been prepared for the reporting period between 13 October 2021 and 12 October 2022.
The Annual Compliance Report shows the project was compliant with all conditions specific to the project during the reporting period.
Annual Compliance Report – No. 3
The Annual Compliance Report No. 3 has been prepared for the reporting period between 13 October 2022 and 12 October 2023.
The Annual Compliance Report shows the project was compliant with all conditions specific to the project during the reporting period.
Independent Audit Reports
The approval under the EPBC Act also requires us to undertake Independent Audits of compliance with the approval conditions at specified times. The Independent Audits only relate to the EPBC Act approval.
Independent Audit Year 1 (October 2020 to October 2021)
The Independent Audit for the first year of the EPBC Act approval has been completed. The Independent Audit has been submitted to and approved by DCCEEW.
Note: The Independent Audit for the first year was re-issued on 17 July 2024 to correct an error subsequently identified by the Independent Auditor. The corrected error is explained further in the Executive Summary.
Independent Audit Years 2 and 3 (October 2021 to October 2023)
The Independent Audit for the second and third years of the EPBC Act approval has been completed. The Independent Audit has been submitted to and approved by DCCEEW.
Under the EPBC Act approval, Independent Audits continue to be required every two years. The next Independent Audit is required for the period October 2023 to October 2025 and is anticipated to be published in 2026.
If you have any questions about the Independent Audits or the EPBC Act approval, please email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.