Environmental assessment underway

Council has appointed Aquatica Environmental to undertake terrestrial and aquatic environmental assessments of the works zone for the Gipps Street Bridge. Aquatica Environmental has undertaken a range of similar projects for major bridge and road projects along the Great Ocean Road and southern Victoria and brings professional and qualified expertise to this process.

Starting in late September, the Aquatica team will undertake:

• desktop and onsite assessments aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, flora, fauna and estuarine habitats, including seasons considerations
• Identify ecologically significant area
• Identify potential direct and indirect impacts of the bridge project
• Identify any legislative and regulatory triggers
• Develop environmental management and mitigation measures for inclusion in the project Construction and Environmental Management Plan
• Develop an environment impacts and risk register.

The report and its findings will be considered and reviewed as part of ongoing works planning processes, with the final report due mid-November.

Moyne Shire Council would like to acknowledge the Federal Government $5 million funding contribution to the project through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program.