Report reveals impact Rockhampton Ring Road build could have on wildlife

The Rockhampton Ring Road project is in full swing with public comment now open on the environmental impacts the project could have on native wildlife. See how you can have your say.

Rockhampton locals have until Wednesday to have their say on one of the regions biggest road infrastructure projects.

Draft preliminary documentation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is on display at the Rockhampton Southside Library.

The report describes the future ring road as a “key piece of road infrastructure” within the Fitzroy river Flood plain, aimed at addressing long term solutions to the impacts flooding has on freight, road and rail transport in and around the Beef Capital.

CONCEPT MAP: The $1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road will include the construction of a new bridge across the Fitzroy River.

The alignment of the ring road will integrate with other major road infrastructure including the Yeppen North and South and currents works on the Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade and Capricorn Highway Duplication between Rockhampton and Gracemere.

The preliminary documentation details some of the infrastructure included in the ring road project including a new four lane bridge across the Fitzroy River, which will be one of 18 new bridge structures.

Other construction will include new intersections, connection roads and lights.

According to the document, the Department of Transport and Main Roads considered the project “may have or is likely to have” a significant impact on several threatened species and migratory species within the project area.

Listed threatened species include the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle, Australian painted snipes, koalas, with the vulnerable grey-headed flying fox also listed.

The report says during the survey period, conducted before the report was completed, not all species, including koalas, flying foxes and the snapping turtles, were seen in the project area.

“Field surveys to support the Detailed Business Case were undertaken in 2019 and 2020, with additional surveys undertaken in 2020 and 2021 during the Preliminary and Detailed Design phases of the Project,” the report says.

“The scope of field surveys is discussed in the following sections. It is noted that all field surveys represent a ‘snapshot’ of the species using the Project Area and Survey Area at single points in time, and do not account for seasonal or long-term variations in fauna movements.

“It was assumed that no detection did not equate to absence, especially where potential habitat was identified and/or species records occurred nearby.”

While the Fitzroy catchment is also well-known to be croc country, no crocodiles were spotted in the survey area.

However, it was conceded that they may occur in “low abundance” in the project area.

The preliminary documentation will be on public display at the Rockhampton Southside Library until Wednesday and it can also be viewed online on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website. 

Written submission can be posted or emailed to: Department of Transport and Main Roads Rockhampton Ring Road Project Central Queensland Region, PO Box 5096, Red Hill Rockhampton Qld 4701 or [e-mail].

The deadline for public comment is March 23.