The Dudgeon Point Coal Terminals project involves the development of two new coal terminals with a combined capacity of 180 mtpa throughput at Dudgeon Point, within the Port of Hay Point. NQBP required environmental approval for the project under separate Queensland and Australian Government legislation and terms of reference.
The Situation
The Dudgeon Point Coal Terminals project involves the development of two new coal terminals with a combined capacity of 180 mtpa throughput at Dudgeon Point, within the Port of Hay Point.
NQBP required environmental approval for the project under separate Queensland and Australian Government legislation and terms of reference.
Challenges faced in the execution of the project included:
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Obtainment of environmental approval for the new coal terminal capacity, and relocation of dredged material, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA)
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Stakeholder management and engagement at local, regional, state and national levels
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Framework development for ongoing joint management of port related impacts
Approach
Advisian was engaged as project manager for the environmental investigations and compilation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), working in parallel with the project engineering team to develop the project design.
Highlighted services:
- Executed targeted early-stage environmental investigations
- Managed and/or executed all of the specialist environmental investigations required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIS
- Developed preliminary approvals documentation
- Led the assessment of dredge material relocation options through multi-criteria analysis and detailed modelling of potential impacts to the values of the GBRWHA
- Supported community and regulator engagement activities
- Led social impact assessments including engagement with numerous communities located adjacent the project area
- Facilitated the early development of a management framework to manage cumulative impacts associated with the existing and proposed port development
Results
The development of specialist studies was effectively completed and the EIS was in compilation phase, with the joint management framework under development, when the project was put on hold. Through the execution of targeted early stage environmental investigations, working in parallel with the project engineering in design, development and provision of quality advice, appropriate recognition was given to areas of community and environmental significance at the earliest stage possible. During project layout and design, impact was avoided or minimised, enabling approvals to be processed and risk to be reduced.
