Plympton Mixed-Use Development - Assignment Example

SCOPING STUDY Plympton mixed use development, Anzac Highway/ Marion Rd Part One Using the information available in currently published reports, a site visit and formal scoping techniques, produce a scoping matrix which identifies and ranks the key environmental concerns in relation to this proposal. Air Water Noise Dust Lighting Materials Waste Access Linkages +7 8 Compartibility of land use -1 8 Microenviroment 1 5 Energy efficieny +6 10 Water sensitivity +8 8 Current retail climate Employment Traffic generation -2 +6 5 8 Car park +5 7 Access +6 8 Storm water use +8 10 Water recycling +8 10 Ventilation systems +7 8 odour -2 5 Height restrictions -1 2 Air emmission -1 10 Ground water 7 10 Construction impacts -2 -3 5 7 8 8 6 10 Operation aspects -3 -2 7 7 Figure 1 Scoping Matrix Your assignment must provide a brief background commentary to accompany the matrix. This should: provide a summary of how you developed your scoping method/matrix a justification for why you used this method, and a justification for the grading chosen in each instance. The first step was identification of all the proposed project actions, which are likely to have an environmental impact, placed vertically on the left margin. The present environmental conditions that are likely to be affected by the actions are placed horizontally on the top margin. Next was to determine the magnitude of the possible positive or negative impact represented by the digit on the upper left hard corner. A scale of -10 to 10 was used. The final step was to determine the importance of the impact on the environment. This is represented by a digit on the bottom right hand corner. Similarly, a scale of 1 to 10 was used. Leopolds matrix provides a detailed method of evaluating physical-biological and socio-economic environments (Ponce, 2014) . It is non-discriminatory in that it does not focus on any particular factors, however, it does not distinguish long-term from short-term impacts. Leopolds matrix is effective for deriving quantitative and qualitative data (Ponce, 2014). It is effective as it displays all information in one diagram making it easy for the reader to read the information. The value on each factor is based on the assessment report from the South Australia Government website. The report clearly identifies the impact that each activity in the project is likely to have on various environmental aspects. Of great significance is water resources since the region frequently experiences periods of water shortage, hence, the need to develop water reservoirs and to ensure that water is recycled. Air is also affected by a majority of the activities in for of gas emissions and dust during demolition of buildings. Others like the Lighting are only affected by the height of the buildings of which the effect is not very significant. Part Two This part asks you to assume that you are an environmental consultant employed by a developer to prepare and carry out a baseline study report (see Lecture 4) for the environmental assessment process. Using your scoping study, provide detailed guidelines, with justifications, for the components of the baseline study that need to be investigated more fully. For example, your matrix may have identified and ranked a number of major issues such as potential impacts on vegetation, fauna, traffic and water quality, and a number of minor potential impacts e.g. employment that need to be addressed before a decision maker can arrive at a decision. Environmental Impact Assessment is the procedure employed to find out the possible economic, social and environmental impacts of a project and establishing possible mitigation procedures to reduce the negative impacts. Decision makers rely on the environmental Impact Assessment to make decisions on a certain project proposal. The assessment also enables the community to make their suggestions on the proposal. Plympton mixed use Development- Anzac Highway/ Marion road proposal is a major development proposal in Australia. The project location is bordered by Anzac highway to the northwest, Marion road to the northeast and Elizabeth Avenue to the South. The two main roads provide the major points of entry to the city from the south western towns and from Glenelg. The proposed site of the project covers approximately 6,300m2. The most outstanding project on the site is the highway hotel, most of the buildings in the neighbouring shopping centre are one story buildings, and therefore, Highway hotel will be the landmark. Due to the expected impact of the project on the environment, economy and social aspects, it is crucial that an environmental assessment is undertaken. The project is likely to have an impact on the surrounding environment as well as on the daily activities of the development; hence the need for proper planning. Social impacts are likely to occur due to the probable influx of traffic resulting from the development. The two major issues of concern are the urban design and sustainability. The objective of the urban design is to determine if the proposed project takes into account adequate amenities to support the development. To determine whether there are adequate linkages to the development site for ease access by the locals and whether safe measures incorporated on the access routes. The plan consists of service managed residential to accommodate tourists and students and affordable rental houses. It also has a provision for corridors to ease access to the main roads and a parking for bicycles. These amenities will provide sufficient room for the development. Connectivity to the site is of major importance as it determines if the local people will have access to all the services that the need or they would have to source from a different locality. It is expected to have a diversified commercial outlook to provide all the services and products that the locals would need, accessibility is enhanced by the pedestrian pavements and public transport from the major roads; Anzac Highway and Marion Road. However, to further open up the region, the proposal should consider pedestrian pavements linking West tower and the shopping centre and Elizabeth avenue (The Palmer Group, 2009). Further, the external parking should be improved to accommodate cycling paths, pedestrian pavements and incorporation of visible pedestrian crossing points to prevent accidents. Recreation facilities should enhance interaction of the people living in the residential areas. There are cafes within the proximity that allow for family activities however the project should make considerations for direct recreation facilities, and an open area for the public. The layout of the project with the apartment way of living could however limit this proposal. The proximity of the residential houses to the hotel, traffic on the main roads and general sound transmission within the building is a likely to generate a lot of noise to the residential. It is necessary that the developers take into account measures of minimising noise both in the choice of construction materials and in the interaction of the residential and the commercial components. For example the apartments can be build at a distance from the commercial elements, the hours of operation of the commercial component can be limited to 10 hours between 8 to 6 p.m. Late night noise should be managed by the security. The apartments should have glazing or thicker glass and the glazing for bedrooms should be treated. Landscaping helps to reduce environmental effects such as development of urban heating sink (Government of South Australia, 2013) hence the need for plantings and cushioning hard edges through the design used in building. While the planned landscaping of the project is adequate additional features should be incorporated into the plan. Necessary steps have also been taken to minimise overshadowing. Crime rates are likely to intensify with the development making it necessary to identify factors that will reinforce security. Lighting from the two major roads, Anzac Highway and Marion road, provide a well lit environment while the eating places will provide lighting in the late evening. However, adequate lighting at the ground level car park should be put into place and adequate security personnel should be recruited. Surveillance cameras should be fitted in the basement parking, shopping mall and in the car park. High people density is likely to provide natural surveillance. The sustainability aspect seeks to address efficient use of energy resources. the proposal details use of north/south orientation, use solar heated water, use of high performance glazing and shading as measures of energy conservation (Government of South Australia, 2013)In addition the urinals are waterless and the water used for flushing is recycled. However, it needs to take into account the energy cycle, anticipated rate of consumption of water, power and materials. It should also consider waste management systems and impact on the local and national community. Designs that address efficient use of water amid the shortages are of great concern. The designs focus on protecting natural systems, utilisation of storm water, and reduction of water runoff and protection of water quality. The plan shows rain water reservoirs and underground reservoirs. Storm water needs to be treated before use and hence developers should consider using informal swales, pollutant traps and oil and plate separators (Government of South Australia, 2013) Development of the site would require demolition of existing buildings; tree shops, residential units and car parks necessity. There is likely to be a lot of dust, noise and vibration, waste, storage of chemicals and the flow of traffic is likely to be affected. Mitigation measures for all these factors should be in place. Harvested storm water can be used to control the dust; use of the right machines at the appropriate hours would considerably reduce the noise levels. Collection bins should be provided to avoid littering of waste and the proper storage equipments for chemicals and fuels should be provided. The waste should first be separated to enable proper disposal of waste based on its properties. According to the plan, there are two systems of waste removal; one for the residential and the other for the commercial tenants. Bins will be reserved primarily for the recyclable waste. Waste from commercial tenants will be collected in large bins and will be removed daily. In addition they should recruit personnel to control traffic. Since these are sensitive factors, the mitigation procedures should follow the guidelines as provided by the appropriate bodies. The car parks and commercial kitchens will be fitted with large ventilation systems and fitted with devices for reduction of noise. A more elaborate plan on ventilation is required. Ventilation intakes are required to ensure that exhaust from the traffic is not directed to the basement section. Cafes and restaurants should be fitted with exhausts that will discharge the fumes from the rooftop. Further clarification is required on the height at which the emission should be discharged at. It is also important to ensure that the fumes are directed away from the residential apartments (Government of South Australia, 2013). References Government of South Australia. (2013, December). Assessment Report for the Development Report: Plympton Mixed use Development Anzac Highway/Marion Road. Retrieved from Government of South Australia website: http://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/87142/Assessment_Report_Plympton_print_final_dec13.pdf Ponce, V. (2014). The Leopold Matrix for Evaluating Enviromental Impact. Retrieved from Miguel Ponce's Website: http://ponce.sdsu.edu/the_leopold_matrix.html The Palmer Group. (2009, May). Mixed use Development retail, Commercial and Accommodation-Anzac Highway and Marion Road. Retrieved from Government of South Australia: http://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/11541/Plympton_Development_report.pdf Read More