Laverton North Data Centre Screening (demo)

The site is zoned IN2Z - INDUSTRIAL 2 ZONE. Zoning establishes whether the proposed generation use is envisaged, assessable with consent, or prohibited, and sets the assessment pathway.

Legislation: State planning legislation and the applicable planning scheme / Planning and Design Code

• Confirm zone provisions and the assessment pathway with the planning authority

Cadastral screening covers the legal parcel: lot and plan identifiers, registered ownership, and the easements or covenants that bind the land. Infrastructure corridors crossing the site are flagged as likely registered easements from the mapped network data; the Certificate of Title and plan of subdivision remain the controlling documents and must be ordered before site layout and any acquisition.

Legislation: Real Property / Land Title Act (state land registry); Survey and cadastral standards (state)

• Order a Certificate of Title and plan of subdivision from the state land registry
• Commission a survey-grade boundary identification if the project proceeds to design

No mapped planning overlays were found intersecting the site boundary (the planning-scheme overlay catalogue for this state is complete).

Legislation: Applicable planning scheme / Planning and Design Code overlays

• Confirm with the current planning scheme that no overlays apply

The site is outside a mapped Area of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity, so a Cultural Heritage Management Plan is not automatically triggered. This is a statutory sensitivity model, not a register of recorded sites: Aboriginal sites and objects remain protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) regardless, so an unexpected-finds procedure should apply during works.

Legislation: Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic)

• Unexpected finds procedure during ground-disturbing works
• Confirm with a Heritage Advisor if the activity is high-impact

Historic and federal heritage were screened against world, national and Commonwealth heritage datasets. Listed places can trigger assessment under the EPBC Act or state heritage law.

Legislation: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth); State heritage legislation

• Confirm against the Australian Heritage Database and the state heritage register

The site is not within a mapped bushfire prone or hazard area.

Legislation: Australian Standard AS 3959; State bushfire planning provisions

• Confirm the classification with the fire authority before detailed design

Ecology was screened against threatened species and ecological community mapping, conservation reserves (CAPAD), Ramsar wetlands and native vegetation. Clearance of native vegetation and impacts on listed biota are key approvals risks for greenfield energy sites.

Legislation: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth); State native vegetation / biodiversity legislation

• Flora and fauna survey by a qualified ecologist
• Native vegetation clearance assessment and offsets if required
• EPBC Act self-assessment / referral if a listed matter may be significantly impacted

The EPBC Act applies to actions likely to have a significant impact on a Matter of National Environmental Significance. This screen uses mapped MNES and historical referrals; it is not a substitute for a Protected Matters Search and a formal self-assessment.

Legislation: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)

• Generate a Protected Matters Search Tool (PMST) report for the site
• Self-assess against the nine MNES and refer to DCCEEW if a significant impact is likely

Flooding was screened against state flood hazard mapping and flooding overlays, with internal site drainage inferred from terrain slope. Plant platforms and critical equipment should be set above the relevant flood level and a stormwater management strategy prepared.

Legislation: State flood policy and the applicable planning scheme flooding controls

• Confirm the relevant flood level (e.g. 1% AEP) with the floodplain authority
• Prepare a stormwater management strategy and set finished levels accordingly

Noise impact was screened by distance to the nearest sensitive receptor (the closer of the nearest GNAF dwelling address point and the nearest residential zone). Combustion turbines and rotating plant emit mechanical noise; separation distance and attenuation determine compliance with the state noise policy.

Legislation: Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Vic) noise provisions

• Environmental noise assessment / modelling against the state noise policy
• Select low-noise equipment and acoustic treatments as required

Visual exposure was screened from an 8-direction elevation model. Site at 32.0m has mixed surrounding terrain (7 points lower, 9 higher, 8 similar). Partial visibility likely from some directions.

Legislation: Applicable planning scheme amenity and landscape provisions

• Visual impact assessment with photomontages from key viewpoints
• Landscape concept plan to limit visibility from sensitive receptors

Site slope was estimated from the SRTM 30m elevation model. Slope affects platform earthworks, drainage, access gradients and construction cost.

• Confirm levels and gradients with a feature and level survey

Geotechnical conditions (foundation capacity, reactivity, rock, groundwater) cannot be assessed from desktop spatial data and require intrusive investigation at detailed design.

• Commission a geotechnical investigation (boreholes / test pits) at detailed design

Soils were screened against acid sulfate soil mapping and the national soil grid. Acid sulfate and reactive soils affect earthworks, foundations and disposal of spoil.

• Confirm soil conditions in the geotechnical investigation

Proximity to enabling infrastructure was assessed. For generation projects, closeness to transmission and (for gas plant) a gas pipeline is an enabling opportunity; distance is a commercial connection risk.

Legislation: National Electricity Rules (connection); Gas pipeline access regulation

• Network connection study with the transmission operator
• Servicing strategy for water, sewer and telecommunications

Traffic was screened on project type rather than site-specific counts. Utility-scale energy projects generate concentrated heavy-vehicle traffic during construction and deliver major components as OSOM loads. A Traffic Impact Assessment and OSOM route assessment are required at the development application stage; operational traffic for a generation / storage site is low.

Legislation: State road / planning authority traffic impact and OSOM permit requirements

• Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) covering construction and operation
• OSOM route assessment and permits for major plant deliveries
• Construction Traffic Management Plan agreed with the road authority

Contamination was screened against the state EPA contaminated sites register. Prior land use can require a Phase 1 environmental site assessment before disturbance.

Legislation: State contaminated land / environment protection legislation

• Phase 1 environmental site assessment if prior industrial use is suspected

Air quality was assessed from the project type. Combustion generation produces emissions to air that are a prescribed activity and require an EPA works approval, licence and dispersion modelling; non-combustion projects are limited to construction dust plus, for standby generation, intermittent generator testing.

Legislation: State environment protection (air quality) policy; National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure

• Confirm EPA licensing thresholds for the aggregate standby generator capacity
• Construction air quality management plan

The principal on-site hazard is bulk diesel storage for standby generation, a dangerous good under AS 1940 storage and handling requirements. Quantities are typically below Major Hazard Facility thresholds but must be confirmed; any UPS battery rooms are subject to their own fire-safety standards.

Legislation: Dangerous goods (storage and handling) legislation (state); AS 1940:2017 (the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids)

• Confirm diesel storage quantities against dangerous-goods manifest and notification thresholds
• Fuel storage design to AS 1940 (bunding, separation, fire protection)
• Fire safety study covering generator halls, fuel storage and any UPS battery rooms