TINTENBAR TO EWINGSDALE

Community information session No.11

Construction and traffic management look−ahead to February 2013

27 November 2012

Mucking (removal of blast material)Current site compound access from Bangalow Road

Artist’s impression of approach to Bangalow interchange from the northbound carriageway

Piling rig mobilised at Byron Creek bridge site ─ November 2012

Agenda

Update and look−ahead (December 2012 to February 2013) for:• Construction update• Traffic management • Controlled blasting and rock crushing • Environmental management• Advance signage strategy• Community involvement• Informal discussion with project team members.

Construction update

• Works have commenced across nearly all work fronts.

• Works are concentrated on water quality basins, cross drainage and clean water diversion drains.

• Clearing has also been completed in other key areas such as Bangalow and Ewingsdale to enable traffic staging works, gate construction and earthworks to commence.

Work has commenced on Emigrant Creek bridge

Construction update

• Traffic controls have been implemented on the Pacific Highway at Bangalow. These are expected to be in place for the next six months (weather permitting) until permanent contra-flow can be implemented on the northbound carriageway.

• Bridge construction has commenced at Byron Creek and Emigrant Creek with preparation works underway at Minor Creek (Yarrenbool Place).

Site preparation at Minor Creek, looking north

Construction update

• Earthworks have commenced at Ewingsdale to build the foundation of the future noise mound.

• Preparation works are underway at the southern portal for the commencement of controlled blasting in December (weather permitting). Southern portal preparation works, looking

South from St Helena

• Rock crushing at Ross Lane

• Water quality basin construction

• Drainage works• Martins Lane West

highway junction upgrade ─ water diversion

• Access road works• Ivy Lane upgrade• Delivery of retaining wall

materials at the old fish farm.

Construction update to December 2012─ Ross Lane and Knockrow

Looking North towards the future Martins Lane West arch underpass

Construction update to December 2012─ Newrybar

Pipe installation north of Broken Head Road

• Water quality basins• Gate accesses• Clearing and grubbing• Piling pad construction• Pier concreting• Sheet piling• Preparation for bulk haulage• Construction of Broken Head Road

temporary diversion• Haulage of earth between Minor

and Emigrant Creeks to Byron Creek to build the embankment for the new bridge

• Piling and concrete works at Emigrant and Minor Creek bridges

• Delivery of retaining wall materials to Emigrant Creek.

• Construction of a temporary steel bridge over Byron Creek to enable construction of the piers between the north bank and the railway line.

• Clearing and mulching• Clean water drains• Fill placement for the Byron

Creek bridge abutment• Culvert extensions• Construction of a wheel wash

facility for future creek works• Water quality basins

Construction update to December 2012 ─Bangalow and Tinderbox Valley

•Drainage installation

•Construction of piling platforms at Skinners Creek

•Bulk fill between Skinners Creek and Broken Head Road

•Pavement works on Pacific Highway at Bangalow

•Rock crushing

•Delivery of retaining wall materials at Tinderbox Road

•Tinderbox Road upgrade.

• St Helena Road upgrade continuing Drainage lines and water quality basins• Preparation works at the southern Controlled blasting

portal, including clean water drains Water quality basins• Property accesses Construction of compound and site amenities

Construction update to December 2012─ St Helena Hill

Current works at Southern tunnel portal Cross drains at Southern portal

Construction update to December 2012─ Ewingsdale

• Compound preparation• Clearing and grubbing• Gate construction• Cut to fill earthworks• Crushing of corestones• Preparation of the northern

tunnel portal• Water quality basin

construction.Construction of water quality basin at Ewingsdale compound

Additional activities scheduled to commence early in 2013 include:Knockrow•Drainage and fill to the new Martins Lane West•Bulk fill to the old Fish Farm•Arch construction at the old Fish Farm.Newrybar•Excavation north of Emigrant Creek for the diversion•Piling at Skinners Creek bridge•Opening of Broken Head Road temporary diversion•Excavation from Broken Head Road south to place fill back to Watsons Lane.

Construction look−ahead ─ 2013

Bangalow•Bangalow Road upgrade works (East of the new alignment)•Pacific Highway median pavement works•Drainage works East of the existing Pacific Highway•Bulk fill East of the existing Pacific Highway•Piling at Bangalow Road bridge.Tinderbox Valley•Drainage, water quality basins and excavation works•Retaining wall construction•Drainage works around the Ewingsdale interchange.

Construction look−ahead ─ 2013

St Helena Hill•Services relocations and controlled blasting for the new Tunnel Control Centre on St Helena Road•Controlled blasting and excavation for the tunnel portals•Drainage structures South of the tunnel•Bulk earthworks•Property access upgrades.Ewingsdale•Clearing on the western side of Ewingsdale interchange for the new roundabout and service road•Bulk earthworks•Controlled blasting and excavation of the northern tunnel portal.

Construction look−ahead ─ 2013

Construction compounds, ancillary sitesand batch plants

Location Description Installation Removal*

Ross Lane Sheds and amenities for deliveries Jan. 2013 CompletionOld Fish Farm Gate access off Pacific Highway; installation of sheds,

amenities and laydown areaJan. 2013 After

CompletionSouth of Minor Creek

Sheds and amenities Jan. 2013 Completion

Minor Creek Batch plant June 2013 Completion

Bangalow Main project compound for Baulderstone and RMS. Offices, community display centre, carpark

June 2012 Completion

Southern portal Sheds and amenities for tunnel and road works Jan. 2013 Completion

St Helena Rd/ Northern portal

Sheds and amenities for tunnel and road works Nov. 2012 Completion

Ewingsdale Sheds, amenities and laydown area Dec. 2012 Completion

Ewingsdale Batch plant Feb 2013 Completion

*weather permitting

Locations•Ross Lane•Old Fish Farm (Knockrow)•Minor Creek (batch plant)•Minor Creek (amenities)•Small mobile crib and wash facilities along the alignment, as required, for isolated work fronts.

Map of construction compounds, ancillary sites,batch plants and crushing plants

Locations•Baulderstone/RMS offices and community display centre (Bangalow)•Crushing site (Tinderbox Valley)•Southern tunnel portal (Tinderbox Valley)•Northern portal (St Helena Hill)•Ewingsdale (batch plant).

Map of construction compounds, ancillary sites,batch plants and crushing plants

Minor Creek concrete batch plant compound

Minor Creek batch plant will be:•installed from February 2013•operational from June 2013 to project completion•located away from local residents•required for paving concrete supply from Ross Lane to Bangalow Rd/Byron Creek bridge.

Haul route and access in/out compound

Ewingsdale concrete batch plant update

• Located on the western side of the highway away from residents

• Installed February 2013 to supply tunnel lining concrete and paving concrete from Byron Creek bridge to Ewingsdale

• Removed upon project completion.

Traffic summary ─ Pacific Highway staging

Upcoming traffic staging on the highway:•80 kph from Bangalow to Ross Lane ─ 5 December 2012•Knockrow ─ Northbound slow lane closure ─ February 2013•Bangalow ─ Switch northbound slow lane to fast lane ─ March 2013•Ewingsdale ─ Southbound fast lane closure ─ January 2013•Ewingsdale ─ Northbound fast lane closure ─ February 2013.

Ewingsdale traffic Stage 1A

Stage 1A: 20 weeks (Feb to June 2013)•North and southbound traffic reduced to one lane in each direction and realigned•Construction works in median for temporary pavement and permanent drainage.

Speed limit reduced to 60kph

Traffic control ─ local roads look ahead

Additional scheduled traffic control on local roads over coming months:•Tinderbox Road upgrade ─ from December 2012 (pending approval)•Martins Lane West upgrade ─ from December 2012•Broken Head Road tie-ins ─ from January 2013•Bangalow Road upgrade ─ from February 2013.

Traffic control on St Helena Road

Proposed controlled blasting schedule

Location Start Date+ Duration^ Frequency*

Southern portal ─ controlled open cut blast December 2013 12 weeks 1−3 per week

Southern portal ─ controlled blast for driven tunnel

January 2013 48 weeks 1−2 per day

Northern portal ─ controlled open cut blast January 2013 12 weeks 1−2 per week

Northern portal ─ controlled blast for driven tunnel

April 2013 40 weeks 1−2 per day

Ewingsdale ─ controlled open cut blast January 2013 2 weeks 1−2 per week

Bangalow ─ controlled open cut blast February 2013 4 weeks 1−2 per week

Arundel Hill ─ controlled open cut blast October 2013 12 weeks 1−2 per week

Minor Creek ─ controlled open cut blast December 2013 8 weeks 1−2 per week

+Target date (subject to weather and program constraints)*Target frequency (pending productivity and quantity)^Target duration (subject to actual rock level and strength encounter during excavation)

Proposed crushing schedule

Two types of crushing are being utilised:•Mobile crushing (intermittent) ─ corestones and floaters•Semi mobile crushing ─ following the controlled blast program. Location Start Date End Date Frequency (approx.)Ewingsdale at William Flick Lane December 2012 December 2013 1 week per monthTinderbox Valley November 2012 February 2013 1 week per monthSouthern portal December 2012 April 2013 Construction hoursNorthern portal February 2013 March 2014 Construction hoursBangalow February 2013 April 2013 One 2−3 week blockKnockrow/Fish Farm March 2013 4 weeks As requiredArundel Hill October 2013 December 2013 Construction hoursMinor Creek December 2013 February 2014 Two 2−3 week blocksTinderbox Valley ─ tunnel March 2013 March 2014 Construction hours

Note: Ross Lane crushing completedDates are indicative only and subject to change

Fauna management

• Fauna is managed in accordance with the Flora and Fauna Management Sub-Plan

• Two qualified ecologists has been engaged to handle aquatic and terrestrial species identified in work areas. 25 Carpet Pythons have been relocated from site

Fauna management

• Clearing and grubbing cannot occur without a pre-clearing permit, including habitat inspection.

• Fauna are relocated, as required, to suitable habitat within the area (away from the alignment of the new highway).

Ring-tailed possum mother and 2 joeys were successfully rescued and relocated to suitable habitat off the alignment

Koala management on the project

• Project team has consulted extensively with regulatory agencies on fauna passages on the project, including consultation with Steve Phillips, one of Australia's leading koala experts.

• Extensive pre-clearing surveys have been undertaken prior by a local ecologist to identify areas of likely fauna habitat across the project.

• An ecologist is present at all times when habitat trees are cleared.

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Koala management on the project

• A koala has recently been observed near the noise barrier at St Helena Hill adjacent to the construction zone.

• The koala’s movements are being monitored daily by the project ecologist.

• Specialists have advised that koalas usually relocate themselves.

• No works will be carried out within the vicinity of the koala.

• All workers have been briefed on what to do should they see any wildlife within the works zone.

Fauna management on the project

Key project enhancements for native fauna include:• Designing combined fauna underpass and drainage culverts.• Removing banana and camphor laurel vegetation and replanting

with lowland rainforest species to enhance the natural habitat.• Nesting boxes for birds and tree-dwelling fauna have been

installed in trees on land adjacent to the Project boundary to provide compensatory habitat for these animals.

• After clearing, any suitable hollows are retained and relocated to adjacent bushland to provide additional fauna habitat.

• Landscaping works will include the planting of koala feed tree species.

Platypus management protocol

• An assessment of potential platypus habitat found nine locations along the project that could be used by platypus.

• To minimise any impacts during construction, a Platypus Management Protocol has been developed by a platypus expert, and in consultation with EPA.

• Prior to working in waterways identified as platypus habitat, the project ecologist performs dawn and dusk surveys and searches for potential burrows.

• If no burrows are identified, construction works may proceed with caution. If burrows are found, or activity is observed, then a number of management options are explored.

Platypus Management Protocol cont’d.

•If a platypus is located on site, the ecologist may recommend relocating the platypus.•If burrows in the construction zone are identified, the ecologist must supervise gentle excavation of the creek banks, scraping back the earth 10-20cm at a time. A platypus habitat identified on the project

Aquatic fauna management

Relocation of fish and eels

• An aquatic ecologist has been engaged to relocate any native fish species found in ponds in the construction zone.

Trial blasting for tunnel excavation

•On Friday 19 October, four small trial blasts were held at the location of the southern portal of the St Helena Hill tunnel.•The trial used a series of blasts of varying explosive charge weights to establish the vibration characteristics of the local geology.•The results of the trial will now be used to inform a predictive model of vibration and overpressure.•The model will provide a benchmark to check that project criteria are not exceeded at the nearest residence. Blast monitors being installed at St Helena

Trial blast results

Results Max PPV Max dB

Trial Blast 1 1.11 99.50

Trial Blast 2 1.10 101

Trial Blast 3 3.33 107

Trial Blast 4 2.81 109.50

Minister’s Conditions of Approval Air Blast Overpressure (dB)

Minister’s Conditions of Approval Allowable Exceedence

115 5% of total blasts during 12 months

120 Never

Minister’s Conditions of Approval Peak Partical Velocity (mm/s-1)

Minister’s Conditions of Approval Allowable Exceedence

5 5% of total blasts during 12 months

10 Never

Location of trial blast monitors

Trial blast results

• There were no exceedences of determined vibration and overblast pressure limits

• Predictions made prior to the blast were conservative

• The results confirm previous modelling and allow the project to better predict vibrations from various sized blasts during construction, so that project criteria can be met.

Data collected at trial blasts has been used to check modelling for future tunnel blasting program

Dust management

• Dust is managed on-site using various mitigation measures such as:

• Spraying haul roads and stockpiles with water trucks or water cannons

• Reducing speed limits on unsealed roads

• Stabilising stockpiles by seeding or covering with fabric

• The drier weather and the shortage of water available for dust suppression requires alternative methods for dust control to be considered.

Water suppression is used during mulching to minimise dust

Dust management

• Baulderstone has undertaken a trial of a soil binder on stockpile sites

• The product is a biodegradable, natural gum and polymer based emulsion

• The concentrated liquid emulsion is diluted with water and sprayed on the surface

• A second trial using a similar product for use on access tracks will also be conducted

• If suitable, the soil binder will be used to manage dust and minimise water usage in drier weather.

Soil binder trial

Signposting: introduction

RMS and Destination NSW provide road users with guide, service and tourist signposting which inform and direct to assist in the safe and efficient use of the road network.

These signs may indicate:• Destinations• Route names or markers• Distances on the route being travelled• Point to geographical, historical or tourist interest• Provide directions to services and accommodation.

Signposting: update

• The business signposting strategy for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade project is now available for your feedback.

• The primary objective of the signposting strategy is to ensure that local businesses, attractions and experiences, within the vicinity of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade project, canuse the section of existing Pacific Highway for promotion through the use of appropriate signposting within the current guidelinesand policies.

Business signposting strategy

• The strategy is to be used as a guide to assist in the marketing of businesses bypassed by the upgrade project and attracting visitors through:

• Application of standard guide and tourist signposting (includingrevised numbered tourist drives).

• Re-naming of the existing Pacific Highway.• Exploring opportunities to include information on Visitor

Information Signs on approach to the region.• Potential enhancement of the lookout opportunities along the

bypassed route, including interpretive signage.

Signposting layout

• The signposting layout is available in full on the project website and at the community display centre on Bangalow Road, Bangalow.

• The strategy includes all guide signs, approved tourist signs and draft signage for the proposed tourist drive extensions including advanced direction signs, exit signs and reassurance signs.

Tourist drives

• As part of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade project, there are three tourist drives (24, 28 and 30) to take into consideration.

• Currently, Tourist Drive 30 ends at the Ewingsdale interchange, and signage will be provided for this. There are no proposed changes to this tourist drive.

Tourist drive 24

Tourist Drive 24• Tourist drive 24 currently extends

from Woodburn through Lismore to Bangalow. Part of this route (Lismore to Bangalow) follows route B62 which is a state road.

• This tourist drive is proposed to be extended from Bangalow, along the existing Pacific Highway and terminate at the Ewingsdale interchange. This has been supported in principle by TASAC but is yet to receive formal commitment from the local councils.

Tourist Drive 28

Tourist Drive 28• Tourist Drive 28 currently extends from

Wardell through Alstonville to the Ross Lane interchange.

• This tourist drive is proposed to be extended from the Ross Lane interchange, along the existing Pacific Highway to Coolamon Scenic Drive, to Mullumbimby, connecting back onto the Pacific Highway at the Gulgan Road interchange (north).

• Additional signage will also be installed along this drive to promote some of the wider business areas, tourist attractions and experiences.

• This proposed extension has been supported in principle by TASAC but is yet to receive formal commitment from the local councils.

Re-naming the existing Pacific Highway

• The name of the existing Pacific Highway has also been discussed with regards to tourism in the area and the promotion of local business areas, attractions and experiences.

• After further discussion with the group and review of the initial feedback form and consultation process, the group developed a list of four alternative options to rename the existing Pacific Highway.

• A feedback form has been developed for broad community consultation inviting the community to preference these four options or provide any further suggestions.

• The community consultation period will close Monday 17 December 2012 (inclusive).

Re-naming the existing Pacific Highway

• The names to be considered by the group for wider community consultation include:

− Macadamia Drive− Pacific View Drive − Hinterland Way− Coastal Ridge Drive

• If no clear preference is evident, then the existing Pacific Highway may be re-named the Old Pacific Highway.

Naming of new local roads

• As part of the project, there are five new local roads that will be constructed to allow access for existing residents’ which will need to be named.

• RMS will seek to consult directly with these residents and the corresponding local council on alternative options for the new road name.

Proposed scenic lookouts

• A commitment has been made to make improvements to the existing scenic lookout at the northern end of the upgrade project at the intersection of Coolamon Scenic Drive and the Pacific Highway.

• RMS has also committed to investigate the development of a southern scenic lookout at a site near Martins Lane West.

• The development of any scenic lookouts as part of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade project will require consultation with local councils, directly impacted community members and broad community consultation.

What’s next?

• Following the closure of the community consultation period, all feedback received will be reviewed and considered by RMS.

• The business signage focus group will meet to discuss the outcomes.

• RMS will then make a recommendation to both Byron and Ballina Shire Councils to adopt the new name once the upgrade is complete, and a submission will be made to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for approval.

Christmas calendar

Christmas/New Year close down period:The Tintenbar to Ewingsdale project will close over the Christmas period from Saturday 22 December until Thursday 3 January 2013.

For any urgent inquiries during this time, contact the project information line on 1800 882 787 (toll free).

The first community information session for 2013 will be held on Tuesday 26 February 2013.

From RMS and Baulderstone

Merry Christmasand

Happy New Year!See you in February 2013