Monorail Removal Project - Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

approval under the Heritage Act, would ensure that the proposal is undertaken in a manner thatis sympathetic to the heritage significance of these items. Overall, the proposal would result in apositive heritage outcome for these items, as it would remove intrusive elements from theheritage listed structures.The works are not anticipated to require significant excavation which would result in potentialdisturbance to any archaeological relics/precincts located along the proposal site.For listed heritage items located adjacent to the proposal site, the works would not impact onthe heritage signicance of these items, provided that measures are taken to prevent accidentalphysical impact to these items.The original construction of the Monorail had a detrimental impact on the setting of a number oflisted heritage items along the route, and it impacted on views to many individual items. Theproposal would result in long term positive impacts to these items by improving the setting of,and views to, the items. The removal of the Monorail would reinstate the former setting of theheritage items, and allow appreciation of these items via uninterrupted views from the publicdomain. From a heritage perspective, this is a substantial positive impact.Noise and vibrationThere are a large number of potentially sensitive receivers and land uses located in the studyarea. These include residential apartment buildings, hotels, museums, child care centres andplaces of work.The assessment indicates that works associated with work component 2 would result in noiseimpacts. However, these impacts would be mitigated by the highly localised and short termnature of the work; the rapid progression of works around the route; the timing of the works; andthe mitigation measures that would be implemented.Work components 3 and 4 are predicted to result in impacts at some receivers in the vicinity ofwork sites. Any impacts would be temporary; limited to the duration of the works; and managedby the implementation of mitigation measures.Work component 5 is predicted to result in exceedances of the noise management levels atsurrounding residential apartments and hotels at the western end of the bridge during standardconstruction hours. Apartments and hotel rooms directly facing the bridge would be more likelyto experience impacts than rooms shielded from the works. Any impacts would be temporary,short term, and managed by the implementation of mitigation measures.With consideration given to building damage criteria for typical commercial buildings, it isconsidered that the expected magnitude of ground vibrations would not be sufficient to causedamage to buildings located within 5 metres of the works. A dilapidation survey and compliancevibration monitoring would be undertaken for any commercial buildings located within 5 metresof these works.In relation to heritage buildings, a dilapidation survey of all heritage buildings located within 20metres of pedestal removal works and compaction equipment would be undertaken. Groundvibration monitoring would be undertaken at heritage buildings located within 20 metres ofworks to ensure compliance with building damage criteria.Visual amenityThe existing visual environment is characterised by its highly developed urban nature includinga range of built form, tall buildings, paved areas, transport infrastructure (roads, rail, bridges)and water (Darling Harbour).GHD | Transport for NSW - Monorail Removal Project REF | ix