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Effects of transportation on the environment

The land transportation system, particularly road and rail, may have potential adverse effects on the environment such as:

• degradation of visual amenity values
• negative social effects, including community severance
• land take, including loss of productive land
• unacceptable levels of noise and vibration
• disruption or destruction of plant and wildlife habitats (eg, putting a road or rail corridor through a habitat can lead to fragmentation, and create corridors for pests and weeds to spread)
• modification or destruction of historic heritage
• pollution of water resources (eg, stormwater quality and quantity, increased siltation of water bodies due to road construction, disruption of water bodies through the use of culverts and piping which can affect fish migration)
• unacceptable levels of air emission
• effects on pedestrian and cyclist safety and amenity including availability and safety of walkways, footpaths, cycle lanes, tracks, level and impacts of weather protection (including shade).

The location of hazardous substance storage facilities, and the transportation of hazardous substances on the roading network, may also have potential adverse environmental effects. In addition, spilt milk and stock effluent can also have significant environmental impacts.