Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the Abbot Point State ...

162 Pages·2010·5.52 MB·English

by  Queensland Government

Land and Infrastructure Planning
Study for the Central Portion of the
Abbot Point State Development Area

November 2010
Glossary

12D Model digital software tool used to build digital terrain models
AHD Australian Height Datum
APCT Abbot Point Coal Terminal
APSDA Abbot Point State Development Area
AADT annual average daily traffic
AEP annual exceedance probability
ArcGIS geospatial information system software
Batters slope of earthworks
Consist term used to describe the group of rail vehicles making up a train,
or more commonly a group of locomotives connected together for
multiple-unit operation
Infrastructure APSDA Multi-user Infrastructure Corridor Study
Corridor Study
Cutting excavated formation
Department/DIP Department of Infrastructure and Planning
DERM Department of Environment and Resource Management
Developable the areas identified within this study as being areas that are not
areas highly constrained by ecological, geotechnical, and hydrological
constraints
Development Development Scheme for the Abbot Point State Development Area
Scheme
DTMR Department of Transport and Main Roads
Ecological an ecological community refers to the extent in nature in the
communities Australian jurisdiction of an assemblage of native species that
inhabits a particular area in nature and meets the additional criteria
specified in the regulations for the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
EDC ethylene dichloride
EIS environmental impact statement
Embankment built up formations
EP equivalent persons
EMP environmental management plan
EPBCA Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(Commonwealth)
GRP glass-reinforced plastic
ha hectares
HECRAS a computer program that models the hydraulics of water flow
through natural rivers and other channels.
KL kilolitres
km kilometres
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Land and Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of
Infrastructure the APSDA
Planning Study
LiDAR Light Detection and Ranging - used to collect detailed terrain data
over a large area
LNG liquefied natural gas
ML mega litres – equivalent to one million litres
m metre
Manning’s also known as the Gauckler–Manning formula, or Gauckler–
formula Manning–Strickler formula, is an empirical formula for open
channel flow, or free-surface flow driven by gravity.
MCF multi-cargo facility
mm millimetres
mtpa million tonnes per annum
MW megawatts
NCA Nature Conservation Act 1992
NET Plan Northern Economic Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012
NQBP North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited (formerly known
as the separate entities of Ports Corporation Queensland and
Mackay Ports Limited)
PAM pre-assembled module
PB Parsons Brinckerhoff
PVC poly vinyl chloride
Port Port of Abbot Point
Province North West Queensland Mineral Province
Q100 flood level which is likely to be exceeded, on average, once every
one hundred years
QR Queensland Rail
Railway horizontal and vertical position of the railway line relative to a
alignment datum
RE Regional Ecosystem. A vegetation community in a bioregion that is
consistently associated with a particular combination of geology,
landform and soil, as described under Vegetation Management Act
1999
RWTP recycled water treatment plant
SEVT semi-evergreen vine thicket
SPT standard penetrometer tests
SDPWO Act State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971
t/h tonnes per hour
tpa tonnes per annum
UPVC unplasticised poly vinyl chloride
VMA Vegetation Management Act 1999
vpd vehicles per day
Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the Abbot Point State Development Area 3
vte vehicle trip ends – refers to the number of trips generated from a
source (eg one truck delivering material to one destination and
then returning to a depot would generate 2 vte)
WWTP waste water treatment plant
Wetlands Kaili (Caley) Valley Wetlands

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Contents

1. Introduction .....................................................................................8
1.1. Background and context..........................................................................................8
1.2. Purpose and objectives..........................................................................................13
1.3. Study area scope...................................................................................................14
1.4. Contents and structure of report............................................................................15
1.5. Methodology...........................................................................................................17
1.6. Study limitations.....................................................................................................22
2. Constraints analysis.....................................................................25
2.1. Introduction.............................................................................................................25
2.2. Purpose of the constraints analysis.......................................................................25
2.3. Ecological assessment...........................................................................................25
2.4. Geotechnical assessment......................................................................................42
2.5. Hydrological assessment......................................................................................47
2.6. Summary................................................................................................................49
2.7. Recommendations.................................................................................................49
3. Analysis of potential industries...................................................59
3.1. Introduction, methodology and assumptions.........................................................59
3.2. Potential industries that may develop in the APSDA.............................................61
3.3. Potential export trade.............................................................................................70
3.4. Infrastructure required to support the potential industry mix..................................70
3.5. Summary................................................................................................................71
4. Traffic and transport analysis......................................................73
4.1. Travel demand assessment...................................................................................73
4.2. Bruce Highway interchange...................................................................................80
4.3. Road network/hierarchy.........................................................................................86
4.4. Bruce Highway realignment...................................................................................87
4.5. Summary................................................................................................................88
5. Indicative development parcels and road network design.......93
5.1. Introduction and methodology................................................................................93
5.2. Amalgamation of ecological and geotechnical constraints....................................94
5.3. Application of hydrological constraints...................................................................96
5.4. Identification of developable land...........................................................................99
5.5. Indicative development parcels and road network.................................................99
5.6. Summary..............................................................................................................103
6. Hypothetical development scenarios........................................111
6.1. Scenario 1 – Light metals precinct.......................................................................113
6.2. Scenario 2 – Base metals precinct.......................................................................116
6.3. Other potential scenarios.....................................................................................118
6.4. Summary..............................................................................................................119
7. Infrastructure scenarios and analysis ......................................122
7.1. Introduction...........................................................................................................122
7.2. Methodology.........................................................................................................123
7.3. Multi-user infrastructure corridor..........................................................................124
7.4. Parcel servicing strategy......................................................................................124
7.5. Water....................................................................................................................125
7.6. Sewerage and wastewater...................................................................................127
7.7. Roads...................................................................................................................128
7.8. Rail.......................................................................................................................130
7.9. Conveyor..............................................................................................................137
7.10. Pipes.....................................................................................................................141
7.11. Power infrastructure.............................................................................................144
7.12. Conclusions and recommendations.....................................................................145
Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the Abbot Point State Development Area 5
8. Conclusions.................................................................................152
8.1. Summary..............................................................................................................152
8.2. Findings................................................................................................................152
8.3. A way forward.......................................................................................................155
9. Bibliography................................................................................160

List of figures
Figure 1.1 Location of study area……………………………………………………………….23
Figure 2.1 Field verified regional ecosystems.....................................................................51
Figure 2.2 Flora constraints................................................................................................52
Figure 2.3 Fauna constraints..............................................................................................53
Figure 2.4 Ecological constraints........................................................................................54
Figure 2.5 Geology..............................................................................................................55
Figure 2.6 Geotechnical constraints....................................................................................56
Figure 2.7 1 in 100 year flood map.....................................................................................57
Figure 2.8 Catchment plan..................................................................................................58
Figure 4.1 Potential options for principal interchange locations.........................................90
Figure 4.2 Indicative ultimate and interim Bruce Highway interchange..............................91
Figure 4.3 Bruce Highway realignment options..................................................................92
Figure 5.1 Typical engineered drainage channel................................................................99
Figure 5.2 Combined ecological and geotechnical constraints.........................................105
Figure 5.3 Indicative creek corridor cross sections...........................................................106
Figure 5.4 Hydrological features, indicative corridors and redirection channels..............107
Figure 5.5 Developable land.............................................................................................108
Figure 5.6 Indicative development parcels and road network..........................................109
Figure 5.7 Connectivity between the Bruce Highway, study area and proposed MCF....110
Figure 6.1 Hypothetical development scenario 1..............................................................120
Figure 6.2 Hypothetical development scenario 2..............................................................121
Figure 7.1 Indicative rail network for scenario 1...............................................................147
Figure 7.2 Indicative rail network for scenario 2...............................................................148
Figure 7.3 Indicative overland conveyor layout.................................................................149
Figure 7.4 Indicative piped services layout.......................................................................150
Figure 7.5 Typical 600MW power station plan..................................................................151
Figure 8.1 Indicative development parcels and road network..........................................159

List of tables
Table 2.1 Ecological ranking criteria..................................................................................28
Table 2.2 Regional ecosystems known to occur within the study area.............................33
Table 2.3 Declared pest plants and significant environmental weeds...............................35
Table 2.4 Commonwealth listed fauna species considered likely to utilise habitat
resources within the study area...............................................................................................36
Table 2.5 State listed fauna species considered likely to utilise habitat resources within the
study area. 38
Table 2.6 Borehole locations and depths..........................................................................43
Table 2.7 Identified potential constraints in the study area...............................................44
Table 3.1 Potential industries and land and infrastructure requirements..........................68
Table 4.1 Construction traffic estimate..............................................................................74
Table 4.2 Estimated average traffic requirements per day for scenario 1.........................75
Table 4.3 Estimated average traffic requirements per day for scenario 2.........................76
Table 4.4 Proposed traffic growth on Highway at the study area......................................77
Table 4.5 Proposed traffic growth on the Bruce Highway towards Bowen........................78
Table 5.1 Constraint rankings/weighting for ecological constraints...................................94
Table 5.2 Constraint rankings/weighting for geotechnical constraints...............................94
Table 5.3 Scores assigned within the potential fauna corridors........................................95
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Table 5.5 Indicative development parcel characteristics.................................................101
Table 6.1 Indicative suitability of industries to indicative development parcels...............118
Table 7.1 Coal rail services characteristics (derived from QR ‘rolling stock’ standards). 133
Table 7.2 Conveyor details..............................................................................................138
Table 7.3 Comparative costs of conveyors......................................................................141

Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the Abbot Point State Development Area 7
1. Introduction
1.1. Background and context
The Abbot Point State Development Area (APSDA) was declared by the Governor in Council
on 19 June 2008 under section 77 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation
Act 1971. The APSDA forms a key part of the Queensland Government’s Northern Economic
Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012 (NET Plan) which seeks to establish a geographical
triangle of mineral processing and industrial development between Mount Isa, Townsville and
Bowen over the next 50 years. Its declaration was consistent with Strategies 19 to 26 of the
NET Plan, which involved establishing industry at Bowen.

The initiative aims to ensure appropriate planning is undertaken and critical infrastructure is
planned for, to underpin the establishment of Abbot Point, near Bowen, as a major new
industrial hub for large-scale industries. The establishment of industry at Abbot Point
complements the existing deep water Port of Abbot Point (the Port) adjacent to the APSDA.

Located approximately 20 kilometres west of Bowen, the APSDA forms a key part of the
Queensland Government’s NET Plan. A key objective of the NET Plan is to facilitate the
development of a new industrial area for large scale industries, adjacent to the existing Abbot
Point deepwater port facility and close to transport links such as the Bruce Highway and
railway infrastructure.

The APSDA enables the State to facilitate and effectively manage the planned development
and operation of the area and associated infrastructure for industrial purposes of regional,
State and national significance. The Development Scheme for the APSDA (Development
Scheme) is used to plan and manage development within the APSDA.

The APSDA is strategically located due to its remoteness from urban development, ready
access to an adjacent deep water port and major transport linkages, including the Bruce
Highway and rail infrastructure. The APSDA comprises approximately 16,230 hectares, and
provides for the establishment of large-scale industrial development of regional, State and
national significance, while protecting environmental, cultural and community values.

An infrastructure corridor which runs along Abbot Point Road towards the Port, is already
established within the APSDA. The planning for an additional infrastructure corridor must
complement this existing infrastructure corridor and acknowledge the need to preserve the
integrity and functioning of the existing infrastructure corridor for future industry and
infrastructure development within the APSDA.

A significant portion of the Industry Precinct within the APSDA, especially to the north and
south of the Bruce Highway, has been acquired by the Queensland Government through the
Coordinator-General and the Minister for Industrial Development of Queensland to help
facilitate large scale industrial development.

The Development Scheme is a statutory document that establishes a procedure for
determination of the suitability of uses in the APSDA by the Coordinator-General. The
Development Scheme establishes objectives for the APSDA and provides guidance and a
framework for the assessment, determination and management of development within the
APSDA.

The Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the APSDA (Land and
Infrastructure Planning Study), has been undertaken to identify parcels of land suitable for
large scale industrial development. The study has also included a review of possible
industries that may locate in the study area, and the infrastructure that may be required to
service those industries.

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All development within the APSDA must comply with the Development Scheme, approved by
Governor in Council in June 2008. This study therefore aims to support the objectives of the
Development Scheme

The Land and Infrastructure Planning Study builds upon the earlier assessments undertaken
to identify a multi-user infrastructure corridor (the selected infrastructure corridor), titled the
APSDA Multi-user Infrastructure Corridor Study (the Infrastructure Corridor Study).
The Land and Infrastructure Planning Study and the Infrastructure
Corridor Study
As part of the strategic planning for the APSDA, the Department undertook the Infrastructure
Corridor Study. The aim of the study was to identify a corridor that would provide space for
infrastructure connections from the northern part of the Industry Precinct to the proposed multi
cargo facility (MCF) at the Port over the next 50 years.

The Department engaged consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to carry out background
work to inform the Infrastructure Corridor Study. The study resulted in the identification of a
selected alignment for a multi-user infrastructure corridor, the corridor’s land area
requirements and an indicative profile for the corridor.

PB also carried out background work to inform the Land and Infrastructure Planning Study.
The Land and Infrastructure Planning Study complements the Infrastructure Corridor Study,
as each study assists in informing the outcomes of the other. Together, the studies will assist
in planning for the orderly establishment of large scale industrial development and supporting
infrastructure in the APSDA over the next 50 years, by identifying an infrastructure corridor,
indicative development parcels and an indicative road network suitable for large scale
industrial development.

The Infrastructure Corridor Study documents the methodology and external influences that
led to the identification of the ‘selected infrastructure corridor’. It sets out the progression of
the Infrastructure Corridor Study from the identification of Revision 1 through to Revision 2
and Revision 3. Revision 3 of the infrastructure corridor is the final selection, and is also the
version of the corridor that has been incorporated into the maps for the Land and
Infrastructure Planning Study.

The Land and Infrastructure Planning Study and the Infrastructure Corridor Study have been
developed consistent with and in support of the objectives of the Development Scheme.

The Department’s Infrastructure Corridor Study and its conclusions are referred to throughout
this report. Recommendations from the Infrastructure Corridor Study of relevance to this
report include:

• the location of the selected infrastructure corridor in relation to the study area
• the selected width of the infrastructure corridor and its ability to cater for a range of
infrastructure and services
• an overview of potential large scale industries that may locate in the APSDA and their
possible infrastructure requirements
• potential exports through the Port from both within the APSDA and external areas
• constraints associated with accessing the existing Port and proposed MCF across the
Kaili (Caley) Valley Wetlands (Wetlands).
Land and Infrastructure Planning Study for the Central Portion of the Abbot Point State Development Area 9
Bowen and Abbot Point Industrial Land Concept Plan and Infrastructure
Plan
The Bowen & Abbot Point Industrial Land Concept Plan and Infrastructure Plan: The Demand
for Industrial Land (2007), prepared by Worley Parsons for the Coordinator-General,
investigated the demand for industrial land within the region. This report was a conceptual,
desk-top analysis which essentially informed the declaration of the APSDA. The report
strategically identified a range of potential industries suitable for the area based on:

• the region’s suitability for minerals processing

• proximity to the natural resources within the Bowen Basin

• potential access to competitively priced power and water

• proximity to port, road and rail infrastructure

• efficient port handling facilities

• advantageous climatic conditions

• physical separation from populated areas

• Bowen local government area socio-economic profile (i.e. population, education
workforce).
North West Queensland Mineral Province
The North West Queensland Mineral Province (Province) is centred on the Mount Isa –
Cloncurry region and boasts a significant portion of the world's known lead and zinc resources
as well as large resources of silver, copper and gold (Department of Mines and Energy,
2009). It also contains phosphate, limestone and uranium deposits.

Key existing mines in this Province include:

• Mount Isa/George Fisher mining and metallurgical complex, being the mainstay of
base metal production in the Mount Isa – Cloncurry region

• Century mine, located 250 km north-north-west of Mount Isa, which is the second
largest producing zinc mine in the world

• Cannington underground mine, located 180 km southwest of Julia Creek, which is
one of the world's largest producing silver and lead mines (Department of Mines and
Energy, 2009).

The Province remains relatively under-explored, with the potential for new mineral
discoveries. State Government efforts to stimulate mining exploration and investment,
including in areas that cover the Province are expected to result in new mining development
(particularly of lead, zinc, silver, copper, phosphate and gold) in future years.

Although there are uranium deposits in the region, this study has not considered uranium
exploration and mining as a potential future export trade.
Planning for development of the APSDA
In addition to the Department’s background investigations supporting this study and the
Infrastructure Corridor Study, a number of other studies have been, and are being progressed
to inform the development of large scale industry and infrastructure within the APSDA. These
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