Edithvale and Bonbeach Environment Effects Statement: Groundwater Levels

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Transcript

Edithvale and Bonbeach Environmental Effects Statement Groundwater Levels

[Vision:  Level crossing sign flashing - speedboat on water]

[Title:  Edithvale and Bonbeach Environment Effects Statement Groundwater Levels]

Tony - EES Groundwater Lead, LXRA Technical Advisor - AECOM-GHD joint venture

An Environment Effect Statement, an EES, is an assessment of the potential impacts of a project.

[Vision:  Time lapse of construction work on rail corridor]

It allows the government to make a decision around whether a project should proceed.

[Vision:  Tony speaking]

The focus of this EES is the level crossing removal projects proposed at Edithvale and Bonbeach.

[Vision:  Staff member analysing data on computer]

[Groundwater Levels - Groundwater Quality - Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands]

Specifically it focuses on three areas:  Groundwater levels, groundwater quality, the Edithvale-Seaford wetlands and other ecosystems.

[Vision:  View of wetlands]

[level crossing works would not impact the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands]

Our study has found that the level crossing removal projects wouldn’t impact upon the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands, and other impacts relating to groundwater were minor and could be managed.

[Vision:  Tony speaking]

Groundwater is water that occurs underground.

[Vision:  Aerial view of wetlands]

It occurs when water from rainfall or rivers or other sources seeps into soil and rocks.

Groundwater is essential for many ecosystems at Edithvale and Bonbeach including the wetlands.

[Vision:  Diagram of Edithvale groundwater design technique]

Our study predicted possible changes to groundwater levels as a result of the rail trenches required for the Edithvale and Bonbeach level crossing removal projects.

[Vision:  Tony speaking - aerial view of suburb and rail line]

[Edithvale design will minimise changes to groundwater]

At Edithvale, the groundwater level changes required us to use a design that would allow groundwater to flow from one side of the rail trench to the other side of the rail trench to minimise groundwater level changes.

[Vision:  Tony speaking]

[Bonbeach:  changes to groundwater levels would have extremely low impact]

At Bonbeach, the groundwater flows in a slightly different direction which means that the project would have negligible or extremely low impacts to groundwater.

[ongoing groundwater monitoring]

We’ll be monitoring groundwater during construction and for several years during operation to keep an eye on things.

[Vision:  Ducks in wetlands]

[For more information visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/ees or call 1800 105 105]

[Level Crossing Removal Authority - Victoria State Government]

[Speaker:  Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]