Sediment movement and erosion in the Great Barrier Reef

Question

What monitoring and assessment has been undertaken regarding off-site erosion, spoil movement, downslope rock displacement and sediment transport arising from wind-farm construction activities in steep Queensland Great Dividing Range terrain? Specifically: 1. has the Department assessed whether excavation, blasting, cut-and-fill operations, road construction or spoil emplacement have resulted in soil, fractured rock, boulders or construction debris being pushed, rolled or displaced downslope beyond approved construction footprints into adjacent native forest and woodland ecosystems; 2. has the Department undertaken any mapping, aerial inspection, helicopter survey or compliance assessment of downslope spoil fields, rock movement or debris fans extending into surrounding vegetation communities below construction corridors and ridge-top works; 3. what monitoring is being undertaken for sediment movement and erosion in the headwaters of Great Barrier Reef catchments downstream of these developments; 4. has the Department quantified any additional sediment loads, turbidity risks or erosion hazards entering reef-draining river systems as a result of wind-farm construction activities; 5. what monitoring is being undertaken for potential impacts on aquatic fauna inhabiting upland streams, seepage systems and isolated rock-pool habitats, including impacts from sedimentation, altered runoff or hydrological disturbance; and 6. what assessment or monitoring has been undertaken regarding groundwater extraction and surface-water use for dust suppression, road construction and concrete batching activities, including any impacts on local creeks, springs or water availability?

Answer

Please see the attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000635.pdf (opens in a new tab)