Land, water and contamination
Transport for NSW is committed to identifying, assessing and managing potential surface water, groundwater and land impacts of our activities and assets in accordance with NSW legislation and Transport for NSW policies and strategies.
Contamination management
Transport for NSW must demonstrate appropriate management of contaminated land during the purchase, management, and sale of property. Transport for NSW staff and contractors must proactively manage contaminated land to eliminate or minimise potential impacts to human health or the environment.
The Transport for NSW Contaminated Land Management Procedure provides practical information to prevent, identify and manage contamination affecting Transport for NSW land. The procedure ensures Transport for NSW staff and contractors take a consistent approach to managing contamination throughout the property asset lifecycle.
The procedure:
- supports the identification of potential contamination risks
- outlines requirements for registration, reporting and risk identification for contaminated sites
- facilitates legal compliance and minimises liabilities
- describes roles and responsibilities for the management of contaminated land.
Land management
Transport for NSW manages the environmental and human health risks associated with acid sulfate soils, acid sulfate rock, sodic soils and naturally occurring asbestos.
Acid sulfate materials are naturally occurring soils, sediments, and rock that if exposed to air, can result in acidic impacts to soils, surface water and groundwater.
If not properly managed, acid sulfate materials can cause environmental impacts including fish kills, habitat destruction, loss of agricultural productivity, geotechnical instability and corrosion of concrete and steel structures.
The Transport for NSW Guideline for the Management of Acid Sulfate Materials provides procedures for the environmental impact assessment, identification, investigation, and management of acid sulfate materials. This guideline is for use by Transport for NSW personnel, project consultants and contractors.
Water quality management
Water quality management for construction and the operation of Transport for NSW infrastructure is a key responsibility for Transport for NSW. Transport implements a suite of environmental guidelines tailored to help fulfil this responsibility when delivering and operating rail, maritime and road infrastructure projects.
Works will use the most appropriate water management practices in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Transport for NSW projects to conserve water and to protect the quality of water resources and ecosystems.
Ground water
Transport for NSW Groundwater Assessment Guideline adopts a tiered approach to recommend investigation and assessment scopes that are in line with the potential impact on groundwater resources, groundwater users and groundwater-dependant ecosystems.
The guideline is used by Transport staff and our industry partners to deliver environmental assessments that meet the requirements of the Water Management Act 2000, the NSW Aquifer Interference Policy 2012 and water sharing plans that have been approved under the Water Management Act 2000.
Erosion and sedimentation control
The construction of transport infrastructure can involve extensive earthworks with significant potential for erosion and sedimentation of surrounding waterways and the landscape. Managing Urban Stormwater – Soils and Construction (Blue Book) provides guidelines, principles and recommended minimum design standards for the good management practice in erosion and sediment control during construction.
Transport for NSW guidelines supplement the Blue Book and provide a framework to identify and
mitigate erosion and sedimentation risks associated with infrastructure construction projects.
Construction water quality
Run-off from construction sites can pose a risk to water quality in receiving waterways and to aquatic ecosystems. Transport for NSW manages captured water on construction sites (including in sediment basins, excavations, and sumps) to minimise environmental impacts. Transport for NSW guidelines promote the on-site reuse of captured water and require the testing (and where necessary) treatment of water prior to discharge.
Transport for NSW undertakes detailed assessment of the potential water quality impacts arising from the discharge of water from construction sites subject to an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) and works with the NSW EPA to identify discharge criteria that are protective of environmental harm.
Operational phase water quality management
Land development, urbanisation and the construction of infrastructure in urban and rural areas can impact water quality. Pollutants are derived from human activities (such as littering and leaks and releases from vehicles), as well as the atmospheric deposition of naturally occurring pollutants onto impervious services and followed by run-off into waterways.
Transport for NSW operational water management guidelines assist in the selection of appropriate types of stormwater treatment measures and provide guidance on process for establishing stormwater quality targets.