The design has taken a number of impacts into consideration, including:

• short‐term impacts to water quality during the works
• loss of public access during the works area
• short‐term noise and vibration impacts associated primarily with the piling works
• minimising loss or damage to seagrasses (including Seagrass friendly moorings)
• rotation of the current layout to minimise the impact of vessel movements on the seagrass and has moved the structure away from the seagrass bead, therefore minimising the disturbance of the seagrass by construction
• risk of dislodgement and dispersal of the aquatic pest Caulerpa taxifolia
• pushing ferries out to deeper water by providing a new berthing face that ensures safe berthing at all levels of the tide
• minimising short‐term impacts to biodiversity, particularly White’s Seahorse, due to noise and localised loss of habitat and water quality impacts.

We engaged a local ecologist to provide advice and a report regarding ecological impacts on the site. We have also engaged a heritage consultant to assist us in delivering these sensitive works. These recommendations have informed our draft Review of Environmental Factors (REF).

The most significant environmental impact from construction would be potential damage to Posidonia Grass (seagrass) and the White Seahorses.

To mitigate these risks specialised dive teams will relocate all seahorses before any demolition works commence. Construction would be timed to avoid the seahorse breeding season.

Barge work will also be undertaken to minimise any potential damage to seagrass.

Mitigation measures may include:

• working only in high tides
• no anchors or spuds to be used to hold barges in place.
• no extended period of mooring barges in the same location (such that seagrass is deprived of sunlight)
• offsetting losses of seagrass by planting new sprouts away from the new structure.