Cumulative impact on employment activities (including supply chain)

Construction phase

Magnitude of impact

114.           The potential impact of the Branxton BESS Project on employment activities is estimated as circa 40–60 ‘local area’ jobs (EastCoastGridServices, 2022). In addition to the potential cumulative impacts described in Section 13.12.1 of Volume 1, Chapter 13 of the Onshore EIA Report, the scale of Branxton BESS Project impacts are considered low.

115.           The cumulative impact is predicted to be of local spatial extent, medium term duration, intermittent and high reversibility. It is predicted that the impact will affect the receptor directly. The magnitude of the Branxton BESS Project cumulative impacts is therefore, considered to be low (beneficial).

Sensitivity of receptor

116.           The receptor is deemed to be of low vulnerability, high recoverability and high value. The sensitivity of the receptor is therefore, considered to be low.

Significance of effect

117.           Overall, the magnitude of the cumulative effect is deemed to be low (beneficial), and the sensitivity of the receptor is considered to be low. The cumulative effects associated with the Branxton BESS Project will, therefore, be of negligible to minor (beneficial) significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.

Secondary mitigation and residual effect

118.           The Applicant has committed to enhancement of beneficial effects as per Section 13.9 of Volume 1, Chapter 13 of the Onshore EIA report. No other secondary mitigation is required.

Operation and maintenance phase

Magnitude of impact

119.           No material operation and maintenance phase impacts are assessed for the Branxton BESS Project. The scale of Branxton BESS Project impacts is therefore considered negligible.

120.           The cumulative impact is predicted to be of local spatial extent, medium term duration, intermittent and high reversibility. It is predicted that the impact will affect the receptor directly. The magnitude of the Branxton BESS Project cumulative impacts is therefore, considered to be negligible.

Sensitivity of receptor

121.           The receptor is deemed to be of low vulnerability, high recoverability and high value. The sensitivity of the receptor is therefore, considered to be low.

Significance of effect

122.           Overall, the magnitude of the cumulative effect is deemed to be negligible, and the sensitivity of the receptor is considered to be low. The cumulative effects associated with the Branxton BESS Project will, therefore, be of negligible significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.

Secondary mitigation and residual effect

123.           The Applicant has committed to enhancement of beneficial effects as per Section 13.9 of Volume 1, Chapter 13 of the Onshore EIA report. No other secondary mitigation is required.

Decommissioning phase

124.           No material decommissioning phase impacts are assessed for the Branxton BESS Project.

125.           The scale and duration of decommissioning activity is uncertain. The exact approach to decommissioning is not yet confirmed as best practice at the time is not currently known.

126.           Based on knowledge of existing industry practice, and in line with the approach taken to assess decommissioning phase cumulative impacts in volume 1, chapter 13: Socio-economics of the Onshore EIA Report, the workforce for the decommissioning of the onshore infrastructure associated with the Branxton BESS Project (as with other cumulative projects) is assumed to be supported in a similar way to installation and commissioning. However, the scale of activity is assumed to be greatly reduced.

127.           Based on currently available information, the cumulative effects associated with the Branxton BESS Project will, therefore, be of negligible significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.

Secondary mitigation and residual effect

128.           The Applicant has committed to enhancement of beneficial effects as per Section 13.9 of Volume 1, Chapter 13 of the Onshore EIA report. No other secondary mitigation is required.

Summary

129.           Overall, within the context of socio-economics the potential cumulative impacts associated with the Branxton BESS Project do not change the significance of cumulative effects on employment activities (including supply chain) assessed within Volume 1, Chapter 13: Socio-economics of the Onshore EIA Report.

2.7. Land Use, Tourism and Recreation

130.           An assessment of the likely significance of the cumulative effects of the Proposed Development upon tourism and recreation receptors arising from each identified impact is given in Volume 1, Chapter 10 of the Onshore EIA Report.  This Addendum section provides a cumulative effects assessment of Branxton BESS Project with the Proposed Development. A worst-case scenario has been assumed whereby the construction and operational phases of the developments overlap.

131.           To avoid duplication of reporting, the cumulative assessment of SPEN Eastern Link – Branxton Grid Substation and SPEN Eastern Link Project – Converter Station & Cable Route on tourism and recreation receptors are not included in this Addendum section and is provided in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Section 14.12 of the Onshore EIA Report.