Rowville-Rail-Study-Final-Stage-1-Report-FINAL

8.5 Environmental and social effects
The Environment and Planning Investigation Report presents details of the main
environmental and social effects of the rail line, summarised as follows:
Final Stage 1 Feasibility Report
Costs, benefits and impacts
Surface water – the eastern end of the route presents some inherent hydrological risk in
crossing of watercourses along the Wellington Road corridor; detailed design would need
to be carried out in close consultation with Melbourne Water.
Groundwater – management measures would be required during construction of
underground sections of the project, including grouting, dewatering, retaining walls and
various stabilisation techniques where groundwater is encountered.
Ecology – street trees in Wellington Road provide nesting and feeding sites for birdlife,
but the main ecological concerns would be related to the Dandenong Creek Valley and its
watercourses, which are known to contain platypus and rare fish (Dwarf Galaxias) with
remnant native vegetation (trees and grasses) as well. The Wellington Road alignment
would have little overall impact, however.
Cultural heritage – a rail alignment along Wellington and Stud Roads would not present
significant risks to known aboriginal or European heritage sites, but ongoing research and
monitoring would be required.
Contamination – there are moderate risks of encountering contaminated land and
groundwater, especially at Huntingdale (railway land) and generally along Wellington
Road. Past and present industrial land uses would require close attention.
Noise and vibration – impacts on residential areas and sensitive commercial/industrial
sites (especially the Australian Synchrotron and nearby bio-medical facilities) would need
full assessment and mitigation during both construction and operation of the rail line.
Track isolation and acoustic barriers would be required on elevated track sections in
particular. The rail line would generate different types of noise to existing traffic activity,
creating public reaction.
8.6 Initial appraisal
Table 13 provides a summary of the overall results of our initial, high-level appraisal of the
Rowville rail line, using a framework based in the objectives of the Transport Integration Act
2010 (TIA).
The appraisal illustrates the effects of the Rowville rail line compared with the consequences
of not proceeding.
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