Review of Environmental Factors - Transport for NSW - NSW ...

4.10 Visual Aesthetics and Urban DesignExisting SituationThe visual landscape surrounding the proposed site includes the South Coast railway line andassociated overhead power lines/communications poles. There is minimal vegetation in thesurrounding area apart from a row of trees located 20 metres east of the site.Residential dwellings are about 122 metres away on Gladstone Avenue, however none areexpected to have a direct view of the site due to their orientation and the presence of buildingsand other infrastructure.Receivers in the immediate area with views of the proposed site include nearby commercialproperties including the RailCorp Transit Police building and the Wollongong Infrastructureoffice.Potential ImpactsDuring construction the visual environment will be temporarily altered through the presence oftemporary work buildings, plant and equipment, such as cranes and trucks.While the site is operational, two new antennas will be present on an existing 30 metre highmast. The BTS equipment will be housed within the Wollongong Communications Room.A consideration of the impact of the new antennas should consider visual sensitivity and visualmagnitude. A photomontage of the new antennas is displayed in Figure 5.Visual sensitivity relates to the number of people who are likely to see the facility and theirpossible expectations of visual quality. For example, commercial properties are generallyconsidered less sensitive than private residences. The site is in an area of low-moderatesensitivity given the proximity of residential receivers who face the rail corridor.The visual magnitude of the proposal is derived from its scale and the level of visual contrastbetween the proposed facility and the existing visual environment. The new antennas will beaffixed to an existing mast and will be close to existing overheard wires and power poles ofsimilar appearance. The antennas are not bulky and will not be a dominant part of the visuallandscape. As such, the visual magnitude for the proposal is considered low.Visual impact is generally determined by reference to both visual sensitivity and visualmagnitude. Various combinations of visual sensitivity and visual magnitude produce low,moderate and high levels of impact. For this facility the overall impact is considered low.Possible Control MeasuresVisual impact will be minimised through a range of control measures which may include, but willnot be limited to, those outlined below.• The construction site will be kept tidy and rubbish free.• On completion of work, all vehicles, materials and refuse relating to the works will beremoved.Page 39 of 64