The concept design has taken a number of environmental 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
• loss of or damage to seagrasses
• risk of dislodgement and dispersal of the aquatic pest Caulerpa taxifolia
• short‐term impacts to biodiversity, particularly White’s Seahorse, due to noise and localised loss of habitat and water quality impacts

We have engaged a local ecologist to provide advice and a report regarding ecological impacts on the site. These recommendations will be fed into our Review of Environmental Factors (REF).

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

To mitigate risks to the environment, specialised dive teams will relocate all seahorses before any demolition works were to commence.

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 seagrass away from the new structure.