Understanding how VNI West may impact plants, wildlife and natural habitats in the project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Native vegetation.

• Habitat.

• Threatened species.

• Migratory species.

• Protected flora and fauna.

• Offset requirements (compensating for biodiversity losses).

• Other factors.

Determining how Aboriginal cultural heritage values may be impacted by the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Aboriginal places, objects and ancestral remains.

• Landmarks, artefacts and ceremonial sites.

• Plan(s) in accordance with requirements for a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).

• Plan(s) or partnerships with Registered Aboriginal Parties and Traditional Owners to protect cultural heritage.

• Other factors.

Learning more about potential impacts to different land use types in the project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Short and long-term disruptions.

• Existing and proposed land uses (including agriculture).

• Public infrastructure and future upgrades.

• Fire and emergency management.

• Economic and social effects.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential social impacts posed by the project and its influence on individual and community wellbeing.

Studies aim to assess:

• Potential effects on the community and social setting (including wellbeing).

• Social cohesion.

• Other factors.

Understanding how local and regional economies may be impacted by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Tourism and tourist attractions.

• Direct and indirect effects on employment, farming and agriculture.

• Direct and indirect effects on businesses, housing and the local and regional economy.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential project impacts to agriculture and farming.

Studies aim to assess:

• Productivity.

• Biosecurity risks.

• Constraints to cropping or grazing.

• Accessibility of land with farming equipment around transmission lines.

• Restrictions on farming practices.

• Other factors.

Understanding potential impacts of bushfire risk associated with the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• Bushfire risk across project stages.

• Ability to manage and fight fires in proximity to transmission infrastructure.

• Bushfire suppression on surrounding land.

• Ignition risks.

• Other factors.

Determining potential project impacts on historic heritage, places, archaeological sites and landscapes.

Studies aim to assess:

• Listed sites in registers

• Previously unidentified places, objects and sites of historic heritage significance.

• Direct and indirect effects on sites.

• Managing historic heritage during construction.

• Other factors.

Establishing how the project may impact landscape and visual amenity in the VNI West project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Landscape character and features.

• Landforms in the project’s vicinity.

• National parks and reserves.

• Visual effects for neighbours, residents and communities.

• Public and private viewpoints.

• Cumulative impacts with other visually significant developments.

• Other factors.

Understanding how the project may contribute to greenhouse gas and climate change impacts throughout all stages of the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Credible climate change scenarios

• Scope of emissions from construction and operation

• Detailing initial climate risks and management controls.

• Other factors.

Learning more about local and downstream hydrology, surface and related environmental values that may be impacted by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Transmission line crossing at significant waterways.

• Installation of infrastructure within floodplain areas.

• Other factors.

Determining potential impacts to groundwater quality and movement in the VNI West project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Groundwater quality and movement

• Groundwater bore users

• Ecological character of any groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs).

• Water extraction/dewatering.

• Other factors.

Establishing potential impacts to surface and sub-surface soil and rock conditions.

Studies aim to assess:

• Contaminated soils.

• Acid sulphate, saline or dispersive soils.

• Potential for erosion due to construction, operation or vegetation loss.

• Other factors.

Determining potential traffic and transport impacts associated with the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• The use of local roads for construction corridor access.

• Safety issues related to property access and egress.

• Use of roads that overlap school bus routes.

• Risk of road deterioration from construction traffic.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential project impacts on aviation due to the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• Adverse effects on aerial safety.

• Use of aircraft for farming practices, maintenance and fire-fighting.

• Aerodromes, air traffic control communications, radio navigation and surveillance facilities.

• Other factors.

Understanding potential impacts to air quality during all stages of the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Local air quality.

• Sensitive land use during construction.

• Other factors.

Establishing potential noise and vibration impacts posed by the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Existing noise environment.

• Background noise criteria.

• Vibration level criteria.

• Other factors.

Determining potential adverse effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) introduced by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Risks to human health.

• Electromagnetic or other radiation emissions.

• Electromagnetic interference with communication or infrastructure systems.

• Other factors.

Learning more about potential project waste impacts during construction and operation of the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Generation, treatment and transport of solid and liquid waste.

• Disposal of solid and liquid waste.

• Management of impacted soil.

• Other factors.

Desktop research will include geographic information system (GIS) analysis of the area and relevant data on current land uses, including economic development strategies, ABS stats, legislation and other guidance.

Field surveys include on-site walkovers to determine land uses, agricultural values and farming operations, as well as confidential interviews with landholders undertaken by independent consultants.

Desktop research will identify areas of high risk with a more detailed assessment and site visit to follow in areas deemed at greater risk of contamination.

Field surveys include geotechnical drilling investigations where rock and soil samples from the drilling activity will be used to assess the broader geological features of the region.

Geotechnical investigations may include hand excavation or the use of borehole drilling equipment within fenced work zones. Remediation works are immediate.

Desktop research will review potential air quality, noise, vibration and waste impacts from construction activities, focusing on above-ground areas like construction compounds and excavation sites.

Field surveys include:

• Noise monitoring equipment to gather background and existing noise data through attended and unattended monitoring on public and private land respectively.
• Air and dust monitoring equipment placed temporarily in the project area.
• Discussions with landholders regarding operations.