MAIN ROADS Western Australia COALFIELDS HIGHWAY PROJECTS ROADSIDE REVEGETATION MANAGEMENT Presentation - South West Region - Alan Grist, Project Manager, Environment (November 2015)
Protecting and enhancing the environmental values of road reserves Minimising the impact on the natural environment of roads and road use; & Conserving natural resources and minimising energy consumption and waste.
Aims for MRWA Roadside Revegtation CONSERVATION OF INDIGENOUS VEGETATION • Assist in the development of construction and maintenance techniques to ensure the conservation of existing natural vegetation. • Manage roadside burning and roadside fuel reduction programmes. • Implement Main Roads Dieback Policy. • Management of rare and endangered flora (DRF) and fauna with DEC. ROADSIDE REHABILITATION • Vegetation programmes to enhance roadside verges and borrow areas during and following construction. • Ensure all rehabilitation and conservation aspects are carried out in accordance with Main Roads policy and accepted standards. • Document treatment methods and report on results.
Coalfields Highway Surveys Environmental assessments for the Coalfields Hwy Project (15.9- 26.3 SLK) commenced in spring 2010 during the alignment selection process. Surveys completed over the course of project development included: • Flora and vegetation Assessment • Fauna Survey • Aboriginal Heritage Survey • Follow up Rare flora Survey • Project clearing was determined to be 25 ha of native vegetation • Dieback Study and Management Plan
• Project Location • Coalfields Hwy • 15.9 to 26.30 SLK
Environmental Approvals • The project was referred to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment in June 2013. DotE determined that assessment under the EPBC act was not warranted in August 2013. • The Project was referred to the WA Environmental Protection Authority in April 2013. In July 2013 the EPA determined that the Project did not warrant formal assessment under the WA Environmental Protection Act • The Approvals for clearing and environmental offset were approved in July 2014. • Project clearing was conducted under the WA Clearing Regulations and MRWA Internal Process
PROJECT PLANNING • Landscape planning by the MRWA Landscape Manager • MRWA have developed software from “Archibus and CAD SIS” to document landscape works and implementation requirements • Topsoil Management Planning completed and implemented in accordance with project plans • Seed collection and plant propagation requirements identified early (2014) to obtain resources required • Vision Zero requirements and Recovery zones included in design criteria. New safety requirements make conservation of existing roadside vegetation more challenging
Design considerations for Vegetation Placement and Clear Zones Any woody species likely to exceed 150 mm diameter, or 1 m height in table drain and up to 1 m up backslope Any woody species likely to exceed 150 mm diameter, or 3 m height within 14 m of shoulder edge 6m Minimum Overhead Clearance
Vegetation Placement - Sightlines
Topsoil Condition and Management Planning ( Reference MRWA Doc 6707-053 ) • Topsoil Classification – Utilise a spreadsheet to document this into condition and value, prior to stripping, mixing or placement • Considerations of Dieback Free sites to protect area • Precautions for working within Dieback Infected sites • Utilisation of existing natural resources – Mulch, Manufactured soil mixes • Remove unsuitable materials • Conserve and protect valuable topsoils
Existing Vegetation Topsoil management 1* Vegetation Condition Scale 2* Topsoil Condition (Main Roads) Topsoil Management (Main Roads). (use in topsoil assessment) (use in project revegetation planning) Condition Description Condition Description Strategy Description Pristine or nearly so, no Sections of native Pristine obvious signs of disturbance vegetation that have Selective clearing and Well (6) no weed invasion and stockpiling of Conserve conserved Vegetation structure intact, a broad vegetation/topsoil. Excellent and reuse disturbance affecting representation of (5) (5) May be mixed in single individual species and weeds native vegetation operation. are non aggressive Respread on site over Vegetation structure altered Usually fringe obvious signs of disturbance. Conserved Very Good finished surfaces. vegetation related to (4) (4) well conserved sites that have minor grass infestations Vegetation structure Upper storey Selective clearing and Good Partially Treat and significantly altered by very vegetation intact with stockpiling of chipped (or Conserved reuse obvious signs of multiple (3) some natural slashed) vegetation and disturbances. Retains basic (3) understorey but with topsoil. vegetation structure or ability grass species May be mixed in single to regenerate invading the sites operation Weed control as needed. Respread on site over finished surfaces. Basic vegetation structure Pasture land or Selective clearing and Degraded Degraded Treat and severely impacted by farmland that will stockpiling of chipped (or reuse or disturbance. Scope for (2) (2) require herbicide slashed) vegetation and dispose regeneration but not to a control to manage topsoil. state approaching good weed infestations May be mixed in single condition without intensive operation. management Weed control program. May be respread in selected areas. May be buried on site The structure of the Weed-dominated Selective clearing and Completely Unsuitable Dispose vegetation is no longer intact sections that include stockpiling of Degraded and the area is completely or (1) declared plants and vegetation/topsoil and almost completely without (1) other undesirable disposal off site. native species. species
Topsoil Condition Spreadsheet TOPSOIL STRIP and TOPSOIL MULCH RESPREAD MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (Check description describes what is being planned - eg Strip or Respread or both combind) Trim File - ADD PROJECT TITLE HERE Classification key 5 = Well Conserved 4 = Conserved 3 = Partially Conserved 2 = Degraded ( To 1 = Unsuitable ( Other - See comment Drawing References be spoiled off site or Dispose off site to spoil) ( Aligns with Vegetation buried under Condition Rating) 500mm class 1, 2 or 3 topsoil) Item # Chainage Chainage Distance LHS Classification LHS Management Actions Proposed Direct Seed Area - RHS Classification RHS Management Actions Direct Seed Area General Comments Start Finish m2 Proposed m2
Development of Topsoil Plan – Management of Weeds and Topsoil
Windrowed Topsoil and Mulch mixed and stripped in one operation.
Topsoil Respread Plan – Replace conserved topsoil onto site
Topsoil Respread from stockpiles
Landscape Treatment Plan – Hamilton Section
Planting reports • Reports from Project Seed Library • Individual Seed Mixes
Planting Reports • Produces a various cost reports • Provides Seed Mixes per lot • Provides Total seed requirements • Provides tube stock reports for ordering
Landscape Works • Propagation native seedlings – Order well in advance • Collection of native seed – Define requirements and availability • Soil preparation – Site specific, scalping, rip-mound, or rip-furrow • Application of pre mixed seed mixes – Direct seeding • Planting – Hand or machine planting, auger plant. • Maintenance and infill planting continued in following years • Weed Control – Pest Control
GENERAL LANDSCAPE NOTES • 1.1 Refer to the schedules in the specification for hold points, composition of plant and seed mixes. • 1.2 Service locations are only indicative and must not be used for excavation. Accurate service locations should be identified prior to excavation. • 1.3 Trees that will develop trunks larger than 100mm shall not be planted closer than 11m from the painted edge line or driving edge of the road or closer than 3m from adjacent property boundaries and fence lines. • 1.4 Shrubs and ground covers shall not be planted closer than 6m from the painted edge line or driving edge of the road or closer than 3m from adjacent property boundaries or fence lines. • 1.5 All planting to be located to preserve the visibility and integrity of road signs and intersections sight lines.
RIP MOUND AND PLANT - RMP • 2.1 Apply herbicide control of Glyphosphate 360 at 3L/Ha. • 2.2 Site preparation by rotary hoeing along rip lines. • 2.3 Rip to a min depth of 500mm and mound to a min height of 300mm. • 2.4 Apply Glyphosphate 360 at a rate of 2L/Ha and Simazine 500 at a rate of 4L/Ha prior to mulch application. • 2.5 Apply natural mulch material evenly over mounds to achieve a minimum cover of 50mm. • 2.6 Plant seedlings in the centre of the mounds directly above the rip line, approximately 2.0m apart or as specified by the relative plans and place a fertiliser tablet 200mm deep and 200mm away from the seedling. •
Rip and Mound Planting with Covers to protect against Kangaroo grazing
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