A Review of Environmental Factors published in June 2006 pointed out that the area was prone to becoming water-logged with periodic inundation.

A Department of Natural Resources submission said that the project would need to be licensed if the proposed roadworks intercepted the surrounding groundwater table.

Among other things the project would need to provide ‘‘details of the predicted impacts of any final landform on the groundwater regime’’ and ‘‘details of any proposed works likely to intercept groundwater.’’

All necessary approvals for the Shortland-Sandgate section of the project were gained before work began.

Despite that, the Department of Roads and Maritime Services is now investigating whether the project’s construction is affecting rising water levels in the adjacent Sandgate Cemetery.

Five ground water monitors have been installed in the cemetery to collect water level data in coming months.

The 16-hectare cemetery has a history of flooding problems, however, there are concerns that water levels have risen in recent times.

The Newcastle Herald reported last week that about two thirds of the cemetery is either water-logged or flooded.

Consistent heavy rainfalls in recent times have exacerbated the problem.

The Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Authority does not believe the reopening of the Ironbark Creek floodgates, about a kilometre away, has affected water levels in the cemetery.

In its submission to the Department of Planning about the floodgate project it noted that the cemetery was on higher ground than the floodgates.