Overview
Roads and Maritime Services aims to minimise any potential effects work on the Pacific Highway has on the natural environment.
Any identified impacts are managed in line with current NSW State and Federal environmental laws.
Environmental management starts before the project is approved and continues through all stages of the project.
Considering the environment before construction
Before a project has been approved, environmental effects are assessed and the community and key stakeholders are consulted.
Environmental studies may include:
- Air and water quality
- Aquatic ecology (rivers, creeks, wetlands)
- Cultural heritage (indigenous and non indigenous)
- Plants and animals
- Noise and vibration
- Hydrology and drainage
- Geology and soil conditions
- Earthworks required
- Utilities current and proposed
- Residential and commercial areas
- Property and land use
- Traffic and transport
- Visual quality and landscape character.
Generally Pacific Highway upgrade projects require approval by the NSW Minister for Planning. Depending on the nature of impacts, approval by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment may also be needed.
Approved projects have a number of conditions that have to be met before, during and after construction.
