Public comment on Ginninderry's application for EIS exemption

To: Chief Planning Executive

From: * (Your email address)

Subject

Message * (Please edit this text to reflect your concerns)Ginninderry is unique in the ACT. It encompasses not only environmentally sensitive river corridors but a dissected plateau where many vulnerable and endangered fauna and flora species have survived due to the area's relative isolation. In view of this, the comprehensive reports already commissioned by Riverview still have to be reviewed to ensure full transparency of the ACT planning process. Examples of specific issues to be addressed by a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) report include: Riverview acknowledges the endangered and vulnerable species that will be impacted by their development activities. Even so, an EIS is needed to evaluate the claims for environmental offsets and, if offsets are considered necessary, then the proposed offsets have to be shown to be adequate. Furthermore, little research has been done for larger species and their ranges are more difficult to confirm. Two examples are the Little Eagle and the Rosenberg's Monitor. Others such as the Scarlet Robin are sensitive to the proximity of urban areas but the research is not yet clear. The tip has been used for decades and is a 'hot spot'. Methane gas is being produced and monitored and every so often the tip smoulders and, on occasions, fire trucks are required to control fire flare-ups. There are many other disposal sites in the tip area, such as for cardboard, paper and oil, which will need to be remediated and monitored for safe habitation. The tip will need to be continuously monitored for OH&S concerns forever, even after it is closed and remediated. This area requires an EIS to be satisfied that no hazard is presented to increasing activities around it. Building rubble, contaminated by loose-fill asbestos and wrapped in plastic (150,000 tons) from 1024 ACT homes, is being "layered" (not buried) in clay gullies at a separate site within the tip. This will produce a "Mr Fluffy" mound which is proposed to be "capped" and grassed for sporting activities. Other such "Mr Fluffy" capped and grassed areas in Melbourne and Sydney have not been successful. Over time, carcinogenic asbestos fibres have found their way to the surface. Summary The senior partner of the joint venture is the ACT Government and it is clear that this is an ACT Government residential development project. As such, especially for a complex development like Ginninderry, an independent EIS is critical. Yours sincerely, Signature * Postcode *