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Stages of Work

During Stage 1 of the RHDA (15,000 lots in 1994), we implemented the following best practice environmental features:

• a) Designed and constructed a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant with biological treatment and artificial wetlands and a recycled water plant;
• b) Provided recycled water distribution to the Stage 1 urban area;
• c) Provided stormwater quality and quantity controls to ensure the stormwater leaving the catchment did not diminish the quality of water downstream or increase downstream flooding;
• d) Restored and landscaped areas disturbed by the works;
• e) Managed extensive environmental monitoring, pollution and environmental controls during construction; and
• f) Obtained and complied with all required statutory approvals and consulted regularly with all relevant Statutory Authorities.

During Stage 2 (10,000 lots in 2001), we built upon our Stage 1 approach and extended our commitment to best environmental practice. The following lists some of the additional environmental features we introduced:

• a) Extended the area serviced by recycled water to an additional 10,000 lots;
• b) Consulted with the three Aboriginal community groups to identify Aboriginal Heritage sites and involved the Groups in the archaeological salvage and monitoring programme;
• c) Moved from simple landscaping to a process of the restoration and rehabilitation of the native ecosystems along creek lines. We had considerable success in certain areas with the application of bush regeneration techniques; and
• d) Revised our stormwater strategy to remove structures on the creek lines to aid in restoring the creeks to their natural state.

During Stage 3 (10,000 lots in 2005) we introduce the concepts of sustainable development into our infrastructure design. Some of the environmental features we introduced include:

• a) Design for Environment

  We introduced the concept of “Design for Environment”, one of the key aspects of Sustainable Development. To support our approach we have had our Environmental Management System certified by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance to AS14001 and required our major suppliers to be certified.

• b) Changed Environmental Objectives

  After extensive consultations with Statutory Authorities we established a design objective to “avoid impacts on significant native flora and Aboriginal heritage sites” rather than our Stage 2 objective of “minimise damage”. This resulted in the reduction of potential impacts by approximately 75% and in many significant areas being preserved.

• c) Involvement of Design Engineers

  This was achieved by involving the engineering design teams and encouraging them to provide innovative solutions that not only maintained their engineering integrity but achieved significant environmental benefits. The engineering solutions required, in some instances, moving infrastructure and micro-tunnelling under significant sites.

• d) Landscape Architect and Soils Specialist

  We required our landscape architect in conjunction with his soil scientists to review past practices and to inspect established landscapes from Stage 1 and Stage 2 and then develop a more environmentally responsive approach to landscape restoration and rehabilitation.
  Instead of the traditional approach of restoration of the topsoil layer we have restored the whole soil profile. This provides a more natural base for plant growth and reduces the potential impact of development on soil salinity and erosion. Our Contractor developed innovative measures to strip, store and segregate and restore the soil layers.

• e) Water Sensitive Urban Design

  We worked with other stakeholders in the area to consider and trial different approaches to Water Sensitive Urban Design. We have installed for Landcom areas of bio-filtration within our stormwater basins to improve the quality of the water leaving Landcom’s urban development. We are also a part of the Government sponsored program developing and documenting standards for Water Sensitive Urban Design features.

• f) People Aspects

  We have also enhanced our approach to environmental training and to the monitoring of environmental aspects of both design and construction. Both Australian Water and our Contractor employed site environmental officers to support our Environmental Manager.

• g) Occupational Health and Safety

  We implemented Workcover NSW’s Construction Hazard Assessment Implication Review (CHAIR) – Safety in Design tool and employed a full time safety officer to monitor the management of the Project safety management system and site safety.

• h) Landowners and other Stakeholders

  We undertook extensive liaison with landowners in the areas affected by the Project works and with all the relevant statutory authorities, both at the start of the project and as the Project unfolded.