Lords Quarry - EER

Lords Quarry - Upgrade Environmental Effects Report

Prepared by: Barry Williams

Date: 11 January 2018

Issue Date Recipient Organisation

Revision 0 3 January 2018 Mr Malcolm Russell Huon Valley Council

Revision 1 8 January 2018 Environment Protection Authority

Revision 2 11 January 2018 Environment Protection Authority

Final 11 January 2018 Environment Protection Authority

Lords Quarry Upgrade – Environmental Effects Report Final

Integrated Land Management and Planning | Table of contents 2

This Plan is based entirely on information available to ILMP at the time of its creation. ILMP accepts

no liability for any loss or damage, whether direct or indirect, in the event that not all relevant

information that the Principal knows or should have known is provided to ILMP prior to the

implementation of this Plan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of contents .................................................................................................................................... 2

Figures ................................................................................................................................................. 4

Tables .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Part A proponent information ................................................................................................................ 5

2 Proponent Details ........................................................................................................................... 5

Part B – Proposal description .................................................................................................................. 5

1 Description of proposed activity ..................................................................................................... 6

1.1 Method of operation .............................................................................................................. 6

1.2 Industry standards .................................................................................................................. 7

1.3 Activity timeframe .................................................................................................................. 8

2 Proposal area .................................................................................................................................. 8

2.1 Description of the site ............................................................................................................. 9

2.2 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 10

2.3 Properties adjacent to and surrounding ............................................................................... 11

3 Map and site plan ......................................................................................................................... 12

4 Rationale and alternatives ............................................................................................................ 14

4.1 Economic ............................................................................................................................... 14

4.2 Social ..................................................................................................................................... 14

5 Planning information .................................................................................................................... 14

6 Existing activity.............................................................................................................................. 14

Part C – Potential Environmental Effects .............................................................................................. 16

1 Flora and fauna ............................................................................................................................. 16

1.1 Vegetation clearing ............................................................................................................... 16

1.2 Native vegetation communities ............................................................................................ 16

1.3 Native fauna .......................................................................................................................... 17

1.4 Weeds ................................................................................................................................... 18

2 Aquatic environment and stormwater ......................................................................................... 18

2.1 Existing situation ................................................................................................................... 18



2.2 Additional infrastructure....................................................................................................... 19

3 Significant areas ............................................................................................................................ 20

4 Air emissions ................................................................................................................................. 21

4.1 Air emission sources ............................................................................................................. 21

4.2 Receptors sensitive to air emissions ..................................................................................... 21

4.3 Mitigation measures to control dust .................................................................................... 21

5 Liquid effluent ............................................................................................................................... 22

6 Solid waste .................................................................................................................................... 22

7 Noise emissions ............................................................................................................................. 23

8 Transport impacts ......................................................................................................................... 24

9 Other Off-site Impacts .................................................................................................................. 25

10 Hazardous Substances .............................................................................................................. 25

11 Site Contamination (Historical) ................................................................................................. 25

12 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................... 26

13 Heritage ..................................................................................................................................... 26

13.1 Historic heritage .................................................................................................................... 26

13.2 Aboriginal heritage ................................................................................................................ 26

14 Sites of high public interest ....................................................................................................... 26

15 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................ 26

15.1 Air emissions ......................................................................................................................... 26

15.2 Sediment trap ....................................................................................................................... 26

16 Rehabilitation ............................................................................................................................ 27

16.1 Objective ............................................................................................................................... 27

16.2 Progressive rehabilitation ..................................................................................................... 27

16.3 Decommissioning and rehabilitation .................................................................................... 27

Part D Management commitments ...................................................................................................... 28

Part E – Public and Stakeholder Consultation....................................................................................... 29

17 References ................................................................................................................................ 30

Appendix 1 -Lords Quarry – Noise Assessment, Noise Vibration Consulting ....................................... 31



FIGURES

Figure 1: Schematic of process ............................................................................................................... 7

Figure 2: Locality Plan (Extract from TasMap Topographic Huonville 5023) .......................................... 8

Figure 3: Lords Quarry - mining plan .................................................................................................... 12

Figure 4: Section views.......................................................................................................................... 13

TABLES

Table 1: Proponent details ...................................................................................................................... 5

Table 2: Consultant preparing environmental effects report ................................................................. 5

Table 3: Project Title ............................................................................................................................... 5

Table 4: Proposal area ............................................................................................................................ 6

Table 5: Main pieces of equipment used ................................................................................................ 7

Table 6: Possible project time line .......................................................................................................... 8

Table 7: Operating hours ........................................................................................................................ 8

Table 8: Project Details ........................................................................................................................... 8

Table 9: Climate data ............................................................................................................................ 10

Table 10: Property Details ..................................................................................................................... 11

Table 11: properties adjacent to HVC parcel ........................................................................................ 11

Table 12: Existing operational permit conditions ................................................................................. 15

Table 13: Listed flora species within 5 kilometres ................................................................................ 16

Table 14: Listed flauna species within 500 metres ............................................................................... 17

Table 15: Listed fauna species within 5 kilometres .............................................................................. 17

Table 16: Weeds casually observed on site .......................................................................................... 18

Table 17: Time of concentration ........................................................................................................... 19

Table 18: Flow rate ............................................................................................................................... 19

Table 19: Retention Basin surface areas ............................................................................................... 20

Table 20: Clean out frequency .............................................................................................................. 20

Table 21: Separation distance to residences ........................................................................................ 21

Table 22: Maximum acceptable noise levels ........................................................................................ 23

Table 23: Traffic movements ................................................................................................................ 24


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Part A proponent information 5

PART A PROPONENT INFORMATION

1 PROPONENT DETAILS

TABLE 1: PROPONENT DETAILS

Proponent Huon Valley Council

Lessee Huon Valley Council

Address PO Box 210

HUONVILLE, Tasmania, 7109

ABN 77 602 207 026

Contact Malcolm Russell

Phone (03) 6264 0336

Mobile 0409 025 466

email [email protected]

TABLE 2: CONSULTANT PREPARING ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT

Name Mr Barry Williams

Business Integrated Land Management & Planning

ABN 67 057 193 880

Address 15 Marana Avenue

ROSE BAY Tasmania 7015

Contact [email protected]

Phone 0437 394 492

PART B – PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 3: PROJECT TITLE

Name Lords Quarry - Upgrade

Address Pelverata Road, Upper Woodstock


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Description of proposed activity 6

1 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY A Mining Lease (1797P/M) was granted in June 2005 to Huon Valley Council for a weathered dolerite

quarry producing road gravel off Pelverata Road at Upper Woodbridge. The quarry has operated

since granting as a Level 1 operation by Huon Valley Council for the purpose of supplying road and

shoulder gravel for the municipality’s annual road construction and maintenance program.

Lords Quarry is an important source of red gravel products located in the northern portion of the

municipality. Huon Valley Council (Proponent) is well experienced in the operation of quarries having

successfully operated 12 sites with individual mining leases at different times since the early 90s and

others previously.

TABLE 4: PROPOSAL AREA

Existing area of disturbance 3.1 hectares

Area of expansion 0.9 hectares

Total area of un-rehabilitated land required for this proposal 4.0 hectares

1.1 METHOD OF OPERATION The Proponent is seeking approval to upgrade Lords Quarry to increase the maximum permitted

production from 5 000 m3 to 20 000 m3 per annum, which equates to approximately 32 000 tonnes.

In the existing area of extraction the source rock from Lords Quarry has a high clay component. To

provide the necessary strength for road sheeting an amount of hard rock is introduced from a

nearby quarry. The need for extraneous products may not be necessary as expansion proceeds.

The Lords Quarry operation will extract the source rock by ripping benches to produce stockpiles of

the typical products. A small proportion (>10 %) of these products will be used as select fill or

shoulder gravel without further processing. To produce higher specification road gravels, a crushing

contractor is employed to mobilise on site and process the various products by crushing, blending

and screening.

It is normal for the crushing contractor to produce product stockpiles to cater for the council works

program for one year over the course of three to four weeks work. For the balance of the year,

works at Lords Quarry will be predominantly limited to loading out the crushed and blended

stockpiles using a wheel loader.

It is preferable to undertake the crushing / screening activities during the summer / autumn period

when the raw product stockpiles are dry. The high clay content makes the product difficult to work

when saturated.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Description of proposed activity 7

FIGURE 1: SCHEMATIC OF PROCESS

TABLE 5: MAIN PIECES OF EQUIPMENT USED

description Make Model Size Power rating (kW)

Loader CAT 966h 216

Excavator Komatsu Pc 350 - 8 224

Primary crusher Metro jaw 119

Secondary Maxtrack 1000 Cone 242

Alt. secondary Maxtrack Vsi impactor 224

1.2 INDUSTRY STANDARDS The Proponent will undertake quarry operations in compliance with all relevant codes, standards

and conditions introduced by the Environment Protection Authority, Huon Valley Council and lease

conditions applied by Mineral Resources Tasmania. Guiding legislation, policies and codes are

detailed below:

• Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA)

• Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA)

• Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 (MRDA)

• State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997

• Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality) 2004

• Environment Protection Policy (Noise) 2009

• Quarry Code of Practice, 3rd Edition, May 2017

Extraction

Crushing screening

Stockpile Load out for delivery

Small proportion delivered as select fill


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Proposal area 8

1.3 ACTIVITY TIMEFRAME Lords Quarry will continue to operate under the existing permit arrangements until a new permit is

issued. To ensure the Council’s construction and maintenance program can proceed for the 2018

season, it is essential that contract crushing occurs before the wet weather commences, at the latest

in March.

From that point the quarry continues to operate within the existing footprint extracting the first

bench. Once this resource is exhausted a small area of clearing will facilitate development of the

second bench.

TABLE 6: POSSIBLE PROJECT TIME LINE

Continue under ex. permit

New Permit issued

Extraction 1st bench Clear 0.9 ha Extraction 2nd bench

Up to 5 000 m3 Up to 20 000 m3 100 000 m3 350 000 m3

Dec 17 – Mar 18 Mar 18 at max. prod.2025 2026 at max. prod. 2045

TABLE 7: OPERATING HOURS

Hours of Operation

Weekdays: 7.00 am to 7.00 pm

Saturdays: 8.00 am to 4.00 pm

Sundays, public holidays: No work

TABLE 8: PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Lords Quarry - Upgrade

Maximum annual production 20 000 m3 per year of product

2 PROPOSAL AREA

FIGURE 2: LOCALITY PLAN (EXTRACT FROM TASMAP TOPOGRAPHIC HUONVILLE 5023)

Lords Quarry 1797 P/M



2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE Lords Quarry is located approximately 6 kilometres southeast of the township of Huonville. The site

is situated on a ridgetop on the foothills to Grey Mountain. The Mining Lease encompasses land

from an elevation of 180 metres (AHD1) to 210 m.

Natural watercourses run in the valleys either side of the site. To the east is a tributary to Dillons

Creek which has a unique river reach identifier of 228094 and is located 250 metres away. Under the

Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystem Values (CFEV) program2 this water course has an integrated

conservation value (ICV) of High. Two watercourses in the valleys to the west are identified as

228290 which is a tributary to Kellaways Creek and 228319 which is a tributary to Victoria Creek.

Both these watercourse reaches have an ICV of Moderate. The former watercourse is located 200

metres from the quarry and the latter is 225 metres away.

The quarry site is surrounded by low forest and woodland mapped by the TasVeg3 database as

predominantly Eucalyptus pulchella dry forest and woodland (DPU). Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest

(DOB) occurs on the southern slope towards the north west corner of the quarry site. Adjacent to

the DOB forest is an area mapped as Eucalyptus globulus dry forest and woodland (DGL) although

the edge of the mapped boundary of this community is on the mining lease boundary.

PLATE 1: SECOND BENCH WITH E. PULCHELLA FOREST BEHIND

1 AHD – Australian Height Datum 2 The Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystem Values (CFEV) (pronounced program is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE). Its aim is to ensure that priority freshwater values are appropriately considered in the development, management and conservation of the state's water resources. 3 TASVEG is prepared by DPIPWE as a comprehensive digital map of Tasmania's vegetation, including sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. The map depicts the extent of more than 150 vegetation communities, including coastal heathlands, eucalypt forest and alpine communities.



2.2 CLIMATE The closest Bureau of Meteorology weather station recording a complete suite of data is the

Cemetery Road station at Geeveston (094137).

TABLE 9: CLIMATE DATA

Weather Station Geeveston (Cemetery Road) 094137

Mean temperatures (ºC) Maximum 16.9 Minimum 6.1

Mean annual rainfall (mm) 881.1 Mean number of days of rain (>= 1mm)

119.3

(BOM, 2017)

The Huon Valley Council purchased the quarry along with the parcel of land off a private landowner.

The quarry was privately operated prior to HVC taking possession. An area of land upslope from the

quarry has been used to bury dead farm animals at some time in the past. The HVC is not aware of

any other land uses for this parcel.



TABLE 10: PROPERTY DETAILS

Address Pelverata Road, Upper Woodstock

Property ID 2148332

Certificate of Title Main parcel 126703/12

Access road 126703/10

Tenure Local Government Land

Land Owner Huon Valley Council

Land Capability Class 6 land marginally suited to grazing due to severe limitations

Municipality Huon Valley Council

Zone area (HVC, 2015) 26.0 Rural resource

Overlay area (HVC, 2015) Landslide Hazard Area, Class: Low

Operating a quarry is consistent with the zone intent, no rezoning is required to issue a permit for an

extractive use in this zone. The quarry is regulated under the Mineral Resources Development Act

1995 by issue of Mining Lease number 1797 P/M.

2.3 PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO AND SURROUNDING No other properties directly adjoin the mining lease boundary. The land to the east of the parcel is

incorporated into the Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area managed under the Nature Conservation

Act 2002.

The table below shows those parcels sharing a boundary with the HVC parcel.

TABLE 11: PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO HVC PARCEL

Address Certificate of title Residence

1695 Pelverata Road 123630/3 no

1695 Pelverata Road 123630/1 yes



67 Goodwins Road 245056/1 no

67 Goodwins Road 120775/1 no

Goodwins Road 237858/1 no

The parcels without residences are mostly fully vegetated with native woodland to forest

community. The properties with residences have been partially cleared to improve the bushfire risk

category. The balance of the land is open grazing country with no other sensitive uses.

Quarry development area

New sediment trap

Possible future expansion

Existing sediment trap

Figure: 4 – Mining Plan

Revision: 1, Drawn: BW, Date: Jan 18

N

0 50 100

Mining Lease Boundary

A

A

0 100 200 300 35025015050

190

200

210

0 100 200 300 35025015050

Quarry development area


Min

ing

Leas

e b

ou

nd

ary

Min

ing

Leas

e b

ou

nd

ary

Section through A-A


Section through A-A

Figure: 4 – Sectional views

Revision: 1, Drawn: BW, Date: Jan 18180

190

200

210


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Rationale and alternatives 14

4 RATIONALE AND ALTERNATIVES

4.1 ECONOMIC The Huon Valley Council is undertaking a strategic rationalisation of its quarry holdings. The

objective is to concentrate effort in developing key operations and surrendering those less used and

less viable operations. The outcome will be to target the Council’s resources on a small number of

well-run quarries with extensive future reserves. A reduced number of legacy operations will save

the Council money and enable the same resources to be better utilised on a smaller number of sites.

4.2 SOCIAL The Huon Valley Council has embarked on this program of rationalisation and development to

improve efficiency in the delivery of Council services. The ratepayers of Huon Valley municipal area

will ultimately benefit from a more efficient service delivery.

5 PLANNING INFORMATION Environmental aspects of the proposed upgrade of Lords Quarry will be assessed by the Board of the

Environment Protection Authority. The final permit will be issued by Huon Valley Council acting as

the Planning Authority. The Planning Authority has been consulted with regard to this proposal and

has determined that the upgrade cannot be treated as a minor amendment to the existing permit

and hence a new permit is required.

(a) A permit under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (LUPAA) is required.

(b) A single permit application will be lodged with the Huon Valley Council.

(c) The application will be made under Section 57 of LUPAA, meaning the application will be

‘discretionary’.

(d) The land for the development site is zoned as Rural Resource. The development of extractive

industries is consistent with the intent of the zone. No rezoning will be required.

(e) Intensification of the existing permitted use being Extractive Industries is still consistent with

the Rural Resource Zone intent and hence does not require a planning scheme amendment.

As stated under Section 10 of the Notice of Intent, referral to the Commonwealth Government for

approval under the EPBCA is not warranted. Therefore, assessment pursuant to the Bilateral

Agreement made under section 45 of the EPBCA is not required.

6 EXISTING ACTIVITY The existing quarry operation has continued without any known public complaints received by

council or regulators, any breaches of the operational conditions or regulatory approvals or

contraventions of environmental law.

The overburden stockpiles on the western perimeter of the quarry extend slightly outside the mining

lease boundary, but the slopes are fully vegetated and stable and pose no threat.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Existing activity 15

TABLE 12: EXISTING OPERATIONAL PERMIT CONDITIONS

Mining Lease 1797P/M Mining Lease area 8 hectares

Permitted use: Existing use rights as a Level 1 quarry

Regulatory Limits: Extraction of rock or gravel producing up to 5 000 cubic metres per year.

Crushing, grinding or milling rock ores or minerals at a rate up to 1 000 cubic metres per year.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Part C – Potential Environmental Effects 16

PART C – POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

1 FLORA AND FAUNA

1.1 VEGETATION CLEARING Lords Quarry has ample area to expand its operation within the existing footprint of the quarry.

Expanding the lower bench toward the east will yield approximately 100 000 cubic metres. However,

during the projected life of the quarry, it may be necessary to expand further east, clearing a portion

of highly disturbed native woodland on the crest of the ridge. The total area cleared will be

constrained by the mining lease and hence will be small at around 0.9 hectares. This area is located

away from the important swift parrot foraging habitat and in an area of the surrounding vegetation

which is already heavily disturbed.

1.2 NATIVE VEGETATION COMMUNITIES Lords Quarry is surrounded by native woodland and forest. Eucalyptus globulus forest is important

foraging habitat for swift parrot. TasVeg 3.0 mapping identifies an area of forest on the western

boundary of the mining lease as (DGL) Eucalyptus globulus dry forest and woodland. This community

is listed as a threatened community under the Nature Conservation Act 2002. There is no proposal to

expand the quarry in this direction. There will be no impact on this community.

There are no observations of flora species listed under commonwealth or state legislation within 500

metres of the quarry site. A diverse array of communities is exhibited within 5 kilometres of the

quarry site. There are observations of flora species listed under commonwealth and state legislation

within 5 kilometres of the site.

TABLE 13: LISTED FLORA SPECIES WITHIN 5 KILOMETRES

Species Common name State listing National listing Date

Allocasuarina duncanii conical sheoak rare - 2017

Deyeuxia minor small bentgrass rare - 2010

Dryopoa dives tasmanian giant mountaingrass rare - 2010

Juncus amabilis gentle rush rare - 2010

Prasophyllum amoenum dainty leek-orchid vulnerable endangered 2011

Westringia angustifolia narrowleaf westringia rare - 2012

There is a single observation site located on the south west corner of the mining lease boundary

with a series of observations attached to it. Importantly the observations listed include swift parrot,

a species which is linked to the E. globulus community on the boundary of the mining lease; there is

no proposal to disturb this community.

The quarry is an existing operation, which has continued for at least 20 years in the same location

and substantially in the same manner. The new permit will allow an increase in the quantity of


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Flora and fauna 17

product processed through crushing and screening, but these changes are unlikely to substantially

change the impact of the operation on the surrounding woodlands.

1.3 NATIVE FAUNA

TABLE 14: LISTED FLAUNA SPECIES WITHIN 500 METRES


Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk endangered - 1977

Haliaeetus leucogaster white-bellied sea-eagle vulnerable - 1979

Lathamus discolor swift parrot endangered C. endangered 1979

Tyto novaehollandiae masked owl endangered P. vulnerable 1977

There are other observations of listed fauna species within 5 kilometres of the site:

TABLE 15: LISTED FAUNA SPECIES WITHIN 5 KILOMETRES


Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk endangered - 2011

Alcedo azurea subsp. diemenensis

azure kingfisher or azure kingfisher (tasmanian)

endangered endangered

Aquila audax wedge-tailed eagle P. endangered P. endangered 2010

Aquila audax subsp. fleayi tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle endangered endangered 2013

Botaurus poiciloptilus australasian bittern endangered 2010

Dasyurus maculatus spotted-tailed quoll rare vulnerable 2012

Dasyurus viverrinus eastern quoll endangered 2013

Haliaeetus leucogaster white-bellied sea-eagle vulnerable 2010

Lathamus discolor swift parrot endangered C. endangered 2010

Perameles gunnii eastern barred bandicoot vulnerable 2012

Sarcophilus harrisii tasmanian devil endangered endangered 2017

Tyto novaehollandiae masked owl endangered P. vulnerable 2007

The closest known raptor nest is a wedge-tailed eagle nest (number 1258) located some 2.6

kilometres away to the northwest.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Aquatic environment and stormwater 18

1.4 WEEDS Quarries supplying product to road construction works in particular, need to be aware of the

potential to distribute weeds along with the road construction products. Lords Quarry has small and

isolated populations of weeds common to the region. The following species were observed during a

non-targeted site visit conducted on 12 October 2017:

TABLE 16: WEEDS CASUALLY OBSERVED ON SITE

Species Common name Declared; Management area

Weed of National Significance

Cytisus scoparius english broom Zone B Yes

Erica lusitanica spanish heath Zone B Yes

Cirsium vulgare spear thistle no no

Workers accessing the quarry will regularly inspect and report on weed infestations observed in the

quarry and surrounds. Lords Quarry is included in the HVC annual weed control program. The threat

of new weed species being introduced to Lords Quarry or the quarry being a vector for weeds

spreading off-site will be controlled by the application of protocols recommended in the Weed

Management and Hygiene Guidelines (DPIPWE (b), 2015).

COMMITMENT 1: WEED CONTROL

Commitment Description Responsible Timing

1. Lords Quarry will continue to be included in the HVC annual weed control program.

Proponent At all times

COMMITMENT 2: WEED & DISEASE MANAGEMENT


2. HVC will apply protocols consistent with the Weed Management and Hygiene Guidelines (DPIPWE (b), 2015).

Proponent On issue of a permit

2 AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT AND STORMWATER

2.1 EXISTING SITUATION Lords Quarry is situated on the lower slopes of a ridge and hence has natural watercourses on three

sides. The watercourses are separated from the quarry by dense natural vegetation. The closest

watercourse (228290) is situated 182 metres away to the west on the opposite side of the switch

back in the access track. This watercourse reports to a farm dam adjacent to Pelverata Road and

hence the water is likely to be used for watering stock.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Aquatic environment and stormwater 19

The proposal will not result in any changes to a natural watercourse. The ultimate design for the

quarry includes a small amount of clearing which will occur around 184 metres away from

watercourse 228319. The intervening land is heavily vegetated.

Lords Quarry currently has an upper and lower bench with relatively flat floors. Ponds form in the

upper bench in various locations and runoff is diverted towards the lower bench. The lower bench

has a shallow ill-defined surface pond which acts as a detention basin but will quickly fill and

discharge in a rain event. The lower bench drains to an intercept drain which runs around the

western edge of the floor and is rock pitched to limit flow velocity towards the discharge point.

A pond on the eastern side of the quarry is isolated from the trafficked surfaces on the quarry by a

bund wall. A well-defined sediment retention trap and secondary sediment trap intercept runoff

from the most heavily trafficked areas. These traps provide detention time before discharging into

dense vegetation on the eastern side of the quarry.

2.2 ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE The ongoing development at Lords Quarry will cause the surface area of the first bench (lower) to

increase and the upper second bench to decrease. This will be the case until the first bench is

worked out and the second bench is developed.

As part of this proposal a new sediment retention trap will be developed to intercept and detain

runoff from the first bench area. It is assumed the existing sediment traps will be isolated from the

majority of the area opened up by quarry development.

TABLE 17: TIME OF CONCENTRATION

Formula

Flow line L (km)

Catchment area A (ha)

Equal area Slope Se (m/km)

Time of concentration Tc (min)

Tc = 91L/(A 0.1 * Se0 . 2 )

0.26

3.1

58

9.4

(BOM, 2017)

TABLE 18: FLOW RATE

Formula

Coefficient of runoff C (no units)

Intensity of rain event i (mm/hr)

Catchment area A (ha)

Flow rate Q (m3/s)

Q = C . i . A 360

0.35

78

3.1

0.24

Assume sediment trap area 15 x 6, surface area 90 m2

Assume 1 metre deep, side slopes 2 to 1 base area = 22 m2


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Significant areas 20

TABLE 19: RETENTION BASIN SURFACE AREAS

Flow rate Q (m3/s)

Retention basin area from WSUD Figure 4.2 for 90% capture (m2)

Actual basin surface area (m2)

0.24

75

90

Total storage capacity (90 + 22)/2 = 56 m3

Assume sediment storage of 50% total capacity = 28 m3

TABLE 20: CLEAN OUT FREQUENCY

Formula

Capture efficiency (R)

Contributing catchment A (ha)

Storage volume St

(m3)

Sediment loading rate Lo (m3/ha/yr)

Desired Cleanout frequency Fr (yrs)

Fr = St / (A x R x Lo)

0.90

3.1

28

6 1.7

The calculated clean out frequency is 1.7 years demonstrating that an annual cleanout will be

sufficient. The sediment won from the annual cleanout should be mixed with the production or

rehabilitation materials.

COMMITMENT 3: SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN


3. A new sediment retention basin will be constructed on the lower level with a total capacity of 58 m3.


3 SIGNIFICANT AREAS Lords Quarry is located on a parcel of land which shares boundaries with the Snug Falls State

Recreation Area. This Nature Recreation Area is a formal reserve managed by the Parks and Wildlife

Service under the Nature Conservation Act 2002. The Lords Quarry is downslope from the reserve

boundary and is separated by over 1 kilometre of forested land.

It is highly unlikely any impact will occur to the Sung Falls State Recreation Area as a result of the

upgrade to Lords Quarry.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Air emissions 21

4 AIR EMISSIONS Health effects associated with the upgrade of Lords Quarry are likely to be associated with dust

generated from processing and carting gravels and noise from crushing. The increase in production

at the Lords Quarry will be realised with an increase in frequency of extraction and duration of

crushing campaigns.

4.1 AIR EMISSION SOURCES During dry weather it is likely that dust will be generated by;

1. ripping and pushing source rock from the face,

2. operating the crusher and screener to process the rock,

3. loaders dropping product onto stockpiles and loading trucks,

4. mobile plant trafficking the quarry surface, and

5. trucks on the unsealed access road.

The first 2 dust emission sources will only occur for the period of the extractive and processing

campaign most likely once per year. The extractive and processing campaign will proceed for a

period of 4 to 5 weeks usually once per year but only when the source rock is dry.

The necessarily dry conditions heighten the risk of dust emissions but the overall effect is reduced by

the short duration. It will be feasible to apply extra controls to suppress dust emissions for the short

period of the extractive and processing campaign.

4.2 RECEPTORS SENSITIVE TO AIR EMISSIONS Two residential properties are located within 750 metres of the operation; 750 metres is generally

considered the minimum attenuation distance for quarries where crushing takes place. These

properties are listed below:

TABLE 21: SEPARATION DISTANCE TO RESIDENCES

Type Address Separation distance (m)

Residence 1695 Pelverata Road 600

Residence 1775 Pelverata Road 500

The existing mining plan and ground form supports overburden stockpiles on the western perimeter

of the footprint. These features will remain in future mining operations and will continue to provide

a visual and sound screen for the nearest residence, 1775 Pelverata Road. The combination of

topographic screening, intervening forest creating screening and the only occasional use of a crusher

/ screener will limit the harmful effects associated with the proposed upgraded operation on these

residences.

4.3 MITIGATION MEASURES TO CONTROL DUST Extra controls are feasible during extraction and processing campaigns:

• Moderate force and speed used in ripping

• Use suppressant on output conveyor when dry windy conditions prevail.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Liquid effluent 22

• Keep drop distance low when loading to stockpiles.

During normal operations the following measures may be applied when conditions demand:

• Keep mobile plant travel speed slow in the quarry site.

• Vehicle speeds kept slow within the perimeter of the quarry area.

• Drop distances small when loading trucks.

• Keep load below the height of the sides of the tray when loading trucks.

• Vehicle speeds on access road kept slow by steep incline.

COMMITMENT 4: DUST SUPPRESSION CONTROLS


4. Use control measures appropriate for the conditions to prevent dust causing a nuisance to neighbours.


5 LIQUID EFFLUENT During extractive and processing campaigns when Lords Quarry has workers on site every day, ‘Port

a Loo’ type amenities will be transported to the site for the use of the personnel. No permanent

facilities will be established on the site and facilities will not be provided for the use of occasional

visitors to the quarry. At the completion of an extractive and processing campaign the relocatable

toilet will be emptied at a designated black water dump point and returned to the hire company.

It is envisaged if dust suppression is required fine mist sprays of water will be applied and no other

chemicals.

The mobile plant will be energised with diesel engines which will be refueled using a utility mounted

refueling facility. A proprietary hydrocarbon spill kit will be available for immediate deployment

during refueling operations.

COMMITMENT 5: HYDROCARBON SPILL CONTROL


5. A proprietary hydrocarbon spill kit will be available for immediate deployment during refueling operations.


6 SOLID WASTE

The equipment used at Lords Quarry for each productive campaign will be serviced prior to delivery and will not require servicing until after demobilisation.

Litter associated will lubricating equipment, minor spares and food scraps will be collected in the machine operator’s utes and taken to a disposal facility at the end of each day.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Noise emissions 23

COMMITMENT 6: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL


6. Waste including food waste, lubricating tubes and other spares and packaging will be collected in the machine operator’s ute and disposed of off-site at an approved disposal facility.


7 NOISE EMISSIONS The Proponent contracted Noise Vibration Consulting to conduct a noise assessment considering the

proximity of residences, the type and occasional nature of activities.

The Quarry Code of Practice (QCoP) sets out acceptable noise levels when measured at sensitive

receptors for various time of the day.

TABLE 22: MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS

Time of day Hours Acceptable noise level (dBA)

Day time 0700 to 1900 45

Evening 1900 to 2200 40

Night time 2200 to 0700 35

(Environment Protection Authority, May 2017)

The noise assessment report applied modelling techniques to calculate the level of noise exposure at

all residents within 1 kilometre of the quarry and is included as Appendix 1.

The noise assessment used noise modelling software and analysis to produce the following list:

Location Distance Predicted noise level (dBA)

A 445 37

B 560 33

C 710 36

D 710 36

E 710 37

F 710 32

G 805 37

H 890 37

I 845 36

j 760 27

K 930 34

L 960 31

A

B D

L K

J

I

H G

F

E

C


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Transport impacts 24

Lords Quarry will operate between the hours of 7.00 am and 7.00 pm, which is considered ‘daytime’

by the QCoP. The QCoP sets a maximum acceptable noise level at any premises of 45 dBA during this

period. The predicted noise levels determined as a result of modelling in the noise assessment are all

well below the accepted maximum.

The report recommended that the existing bund to the west be maintained to retain screening in

this direction. The mining plan shows there is no plan to disturb this bund until the quarry is

decommissioned (Noise, Vibration Consulting, Jan 2018).

COMMITMENT 7: NOISE


7. The overburden bund on the western perimeter of the quarry will be maintained for the life of the operation.


8 TRANSPORT IMPACTS Cartage from the Lords Quarry will be provided either by the Proponent, by a client or by sub-

contractors. Cartage will be mostly provided by medium combination trucks with a conservative

payload of 32 tonnes.

TABLE 23: TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS

Maximum production (m3) / (t)

Truck payload (t)

Annual production Operating weeks

Movements per week

Movements per day

Truck loads Movements

20 000 /

32 000

32 1 000 2 000 44 45 8

The machinery operator attending the site will account for 2 light vehicle movements, hence a total

on average of 10 movements per day is likely. The traffic from the quarry will vary according to how

contracts are serviced and there may be occasions when up to 30 movements per day will occur for

a short duration.

The quarry access originates at a junction with Pelverata Road. Pelverata Road is gravel construction

with tight radius curves and steep inclines in places. The access junction is located north of a tight

radius bend over a pipe culvert.

Although vehicle speeds are low on Pelverata Road the quarry access is less visible due to

encroaching vegetation on both approaches. To ensure that road users are aware that heavy

vehicles may be entering onto Pelverata Road at this location, warning signs will be erected on the

approach from north and south.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Other Off-site Impacts 25

PLATE 2: NORTHERN APPROACH PLATE 3: SOUTHERN APPROACH

COMMITMENT 8: TRAFFIC WARNING SIGNS


8. Trucks entering warning signs (W5-22) will be installed on the southern and northern approach to the Lords Quarry entrance.


9 OTHER OFF-SITE IMPACTS

The Lords Quarry operation will be self-sufficient in terms of energy, all the machinery and equipment will be energised with diesel engines. No electrical power infrastructure will be required to operate this facility.

No off-site impacts are envisaged other than dust as discussed in Section 4 and transport as discussed Section 8.

10 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

The Lords Quarry operation will require no permanent storage of any hazardous substances. Fuel required to energise the mobile equipment will be contained within vehicle mounted tanks and will be less than the manifest quantity that may cause the storage to be defined as a hazardous use.

The Proponent uses a utility mounted refuelling tank to refuel mobile equipment. A hydrocarbon spill clean-up kit will be available for immediate deployment if a fuel spill occurs.

11 SITE CONTAMINATION (HISTORICAL)

There are no known site contamination issues relating to this or previous operations at the Lords Quarry site. The area to the south of the existing quarry disturbance has been used by previous land owner to bury animals.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Climate Change 26

12 CLIMATE CHANGE

Lords Quarry site is not vulnerable to risks associated with climate change apart from the likely increase in the incidence and severity of bushfires. There is no permanent infrastructure at risk on the quarry site apart from the mobile crushing equipment. In the event the site is threatened by a bushfire the response will be early evacuation of all personnel to a safe place.

13 HERITAGE

13.1 HISTORIC HERITAGE The two heritage places listed under the Tasmanian Heritage Register as being on Pelverata Road are

located at 1305 and 609, neither of which is close to Lords Quarry (Tasmanian Heritage Register,

2017). It is highly unlikely the quarry development will have any impact on historic heritage.

13.2 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE The Lords Quarry site was significantly disturbed when the quarry was first established. Further

disturbance will be confined to the small (0.9 hectare) area immediately south of the existing quarry.

This area has been used by the previous land owner as a site to bury dead animals and is highly

disturbed and degraded.

COMMITMENT 9: ABORIGINAL HERITAGE


9. If suspected Aboriginal heritage sites or items are unearthed, an Unanticipated Discovery Plan will be put into immediate effect.


14 SITES OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST As stated in Section 3, the parcel of land holding the quarry shares boundaries with the Snug Falls

State Recreation Area. The actual quarry is separated from the reserve by over a kilometre of native

woodland. The quarry faces are orientated away from the reserve and the higher ground between

the quarry and the reserve is well forested. It is unlikely that the quarry would be visible from

vantage points on tracks within the Snug Falls State Recreation Area.

15 MONITORING

The Proponent will monitor the following parameters during operational phases of the Lords Quarry operation:

15.1 AIR EMISSIONS

If dust is observed to be creating a nuisance, the Proponent will use dust suppression techniques until such time as the adverse weather conditions subside.

15.2 SEDIMENT TRAP

The sediment traps will be monitored to ensure the total capacity of the impoundments are not reduced by more than half. If accumulated sediment is excessive, the traps will be cleared out and the spoil set aside with overburden to be used in future rehabilitation works.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Rehabilitation 27

16 REHABILITATION

16.1 OBJECTIVE

Rehabilitation works on Lords Quarry will seek to restore the site to a regenerated native forest, woodlands and grasslands community similar to that surrounding it.

16.2 PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION

Lords Quarry occupies a small footprint for the mining lease area. The existing quarry footprint is constrained for the purposes of vehicle manoeuvring, materials stockpiles access to processing equipment and truck loading. Future expansion of the quarry will consist of developing a single bench above the existing. There will be little opportunity to rehabilitate areas until such time as extractive operations cease.

16.3 DECOMMISSIONING AND REHABILITATION

The Lords Quarry has a substantial productive life based on the reserves observed in the existing faces. If the operation becomes uneconomic or there is no longer a market for the material the Proponent will close and decommission the quarry. Decommissioning and rehabilitation will entail the following steps.

• All equipment will be demobilised and any gravel surfaces will be ripped to facilitate infiltration.

• The faces will be made stable and benches will be made impassable. This will be achieved by spreading overburden against faces and site won topsoil over benches and allowing natural recruitment for the surrounding pasture grasses to colonise the new surfaces.

• The sediment traps will remain in place but be cleaned out and the silt won will be lost in the rehabilitation works. The sediment traps will continue to provide detention to runoff during the revegetation phase until the traps are full of sediment, at which time disturbed surfaces will be stabilised with a cover of natural recruitment vegetation.

During the revegetation phase the Proponent will deploy weed treatment contractors to ensure any colonising weeds are controlled until reasonable ground cover with native species is achieved.

To prevent further disturbance the gate over the access road will be maintained and secured to exclude vehicles.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Part D Management commitments 28

PART D MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS


1. Lords Quarry will continue to be included in the HVC annual weed control program.


2. HVC will apply protocols consistent with the Weed Management and Hygiene Guidelines (DPIPWE (b), 2015).


3. A new sediment retention basin will be constructed on the lower level with a total capacity of 58 m3.


4. Use control measures appropriate for the conditions to prevent dust causing a nuisance to neighbours.


5. A proprietary hydrocarbon spill kit will be available for immediate deployment during refueling operations.


6. Waste including food waste, lubricating tubes and other spares and packaging will be collected in the machine operator’s ute and disposed of off-site at an approved disposal facility.


7. The overburden bund on the western perimeter of the quarry will be maintained for the life of the operation.


8. Trucks entering warning signs (W5-22) will be installed on the southern and northern approach to the Lords Quarry entrance.


9. If suspected Aboriginal heritage sites or items are unearthed, an Unanticipated Discovery Plan will be put into immediate effect.



Integrated Land Management and Planning | Part E – Public and Stakeholder Consultation

29

PART E – PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION The application to upgrade Lords Quarry is considered an ‘intensification’ of the existing ‘permitted’

use under Section 25 (1A) (b) of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. The

legislation requires that the application is dealt with in accordance with Section 57 of the Land Use

Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (EMPCA). This section requires that the application is treated as

discretionary and hence the planning authority must advertise the application and call for

representations. As the proposed activity is classified as a Level 2 under EMPCA the application must

be directed to the Board of the Environment Protection Authority for consideration.

Stakeholders that have been consulted through this process include the following:

• Huon Valley Council has been consulted regarding the status of the existing permit and

consideration of a new Development Application.

• The Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been consulted prior to

submission of the Notice of Intent.

• The process of upgrading Lords Quarry has been discussed with Mineral Resources

Tasmania.

During the subsequent application assessment process these additional stakeholders will be

consulted:

• HVC acting as the Planning Authority with regard to traffic impacts on Pelverata Road.

• Policy and Conservation Advice Branch of DPIPWE with regard to land clearing required for

the future quarry expansion.

• Any property owners that share a boundary with the development site through a direct

notice from the Planning Authority.

• Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania to consider the heritage significance of the site.


Integrated Land Management and Planning | References 30

17 REFERENCES BOM. (2017, Decemeber 20). 2016 Rainfall IFD Data System. Retrieved from Bureau of Meteorology:

http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/revised-

ifd/?coordinate_type=enz&easting=506897&northing=5230264&zone=55&sdmin=true&sdh

r=true&sdday=true&user_label=Lords+Quarry&year=2016

BOM. (2017, December 2017). Climate Statistics for Australian locations. Retrieved from Bureau of

Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_094137.shtml

DPIPWE (b). (2015). Weed and Disease Planning and Hygiene Guidelines - Preventing the spread of

Weeds and Disease in Tasmania. Hobart: DPIPWE.

Environment Protection Authority. (May 2017). Quarry Code of Practice 3rd Edition. Hobart: EPA.

HVC. (2015). Huon Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015. Hobart: Tasmanian Planning Commission.

Noise, Vibration Consulting. (Jan 2018). Lords Quarry - Noise Assessment. Hobart: unpublished.

Tasmanian Heritage Register. (2017, April 24). Heritage Listed Places. Retrieved from Heritage

Tasmania: http://heritage.tas.gov.au/heritage-listed-places/search-the-register


Integrated Land Management and Planning | Appendix 1 -Lords Quarry – Noise Assessment, Noise Vibration Consulting

31

APPENDIX 1 -LORDS QUARRY – NOISE ASSESSMENT, NOISE VIBRATION

CONSULTING

CW Butler, trading as NVC A.B.N. 55 452 696 986 PO Box 476, Rosny Park, TAS 7018 t. 6244 5556 [email protected]

Huon Valley Council 22 December 2017 40 Main Street Huonville Tasmania 7109 5636.docx Attention: Malcolm Russell

LORDS QUARRY – NOISE ASSESSMENT Huon Valley Council (HVC) operate a Level 1 quarry off Pelverata Road, Upper Woodbridge. They are seeking to upgrade the maximum permitted production, and thus the EPA requires a noise assessment to form part of the Environmental Effects Report (EER) for the proposal. This letter presents the results of this assessment, conducted by NVC in December 2017.

1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 1.1 QUARRY SITE OPERATIONS The quarry is located just south of Pelverata Road in a Rural Resource zone, and operates from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Monday to Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM Saturdays. The quarry’s current permit allows a processing volume of 5,000 m3 per annum, which is proposed to be increased to 20,000 m3 p.a. under the new permit. Figure 1 shows an aerial image of the quarry and surrounding area, with radii of 750m and 1000m marked approximately from the quarry boundary.

Figure 1: Aerial Image of Site and Surrounds

N

1000m

750m A

E

F

D B C

L J

K

G

I

H

LORDS QUARRY – NOISE ASSESSMENT

< 5636.docx Page 2

The quarry operation is to extract rock by ripping benches to produce stockpiles of product. Much of this product will be used without further processing, with the remainder to be processed on a campaign basis. A crushing contractor is to be employed over a three to five week period per year, to process the product via crushing and screening. The remainder of the year the operations will comprise only extracting raw product and loading from the various stockpiles for transport off site.

For processing the quarry is expecting to use a primary jaw crusher, a secondary cone crusher, a mechanical screen, a loader and an excavator, with potential intermittent use of a vertical shaft impactor.

When crushing is not occurring, the equipment will comprise of just an excavator and a loader.

The operation is currently focused on the southern half of the quarry. The pit floor is beneath the natural ground level on the west, south and east sides of the quarry, which offers topographical screening to the residences.

1.2 SURROUNDING AREA The immediate surrounds of the quarry are bush, and zoned as Rural Resource. There are a number of residences to the west and north of the quarry, in a combination of Significant Agricultural, Environmental Living and Rural Resource zones. There are no nearby residences to the east and south-east of the quarry.

The Huon Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2015 specifies, in Table E9.1, an accepted attenuation distance of 750m between the boundary of a quarry which crushes rock and a ‘sensitive use’, such as a residential dwelling. Figure 1 shows an aerial view of the site and surrounding area, with the red and orange circles indicating radii of 825 m and 1075 m respectively from the site. The quarry operations are contained within a radius of approximately 75 m from the centre of site, and thus this distance is added to the attenuation distance. Six residential dwellings (locations A – F) have been identified within this region.

Additionally, the EPA has requested all dwellings within 1000m of the site be considered in the assessment. The 1075 m radius represents this area. A further eight dwellings have been identified in this region, marked as locations G – L. Locations J and K each encompass two neighbouring residences. All residences have a combination of topographical and foliage screening from the quarry pit.

2.0 NOISE PREDICTIONS Sound power levels (PWL) for similar equipment have previously been measured by NVC, and are shown in Table 1. The PWL assigned to the crushing / screening plant was measured on a plant comprising a primary jaw and secondary cone crusher, as well as a mechanical screen. This equipment has been assigned a combined sound power level due to the nature and proximity of its operation. The front end loader PWL uses several measurements made while the loader was working moving product. The excavator PWL was measured while ripping dolerite.

Table 1: Equipment in Use Equipment Type Sound Power Level (dBA)

Mechanical Screen / Crushers 119 Front End Loader 107 Track Excavator 106

Due to the number of receivers, noise predictions were completed using the noise prediction software iNoise, in accordance with ISO9613.1/2. The predictions account for spherical spreading, topographical screening and air and ground absorption. The ground in the quarry is taken to be ‘hard’, with ‘mixed’ ground used for the remaining area.

The predictions assume simultaneous operation of the equipment listed above. This is a worst-case scenario, which will only occur for up to 32 days per year. For the remainder of the year the quarry noise emissions will be significantly lower.

The predicted noise levels at the receivers are shown in Table 2, and the noise contours are shown in Figure 2.


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Table 2: Predicted Noise Levels

Location Distance from Quarry (m)

Predicted Noise Level, SPL (dBA)

A 445 37 B 560 33 C 710 36 D 710 36 E 710 37 F 710 32 G 805 37 H 890 37 I 845 36 J 760 27 K 930 34 L 960 31

Figure 2: Predicted Noise Contours

3.0 CRITERIA To determine acceptable noise levels at the nearby residences, the EPA Tasmania Quarry Code of Practise 2017 is referred to. It defines the following pertaining to noise emissions:

“Noise from quarrying and associated activities, including equipment maintenance, when measured at any neighbouring sensitive use must not exceed the greater of;

- the A-weighted 10 minute L90, excluding noise from the quarry, plus 5 dBA, or,

- the following levels;

o 45 dBA from 0700 to 1900 hours(day time),


< 5636.docx Page 4

o 40 dBA from 1900 to 2200 hours (evening),

o 35 dBA from 2200 to 0700 hours (night time). ”

Background noise levels near the quarry have not been measured, and as such the criterion during the day time is taken as 45 dBA. It should be noted that the measurement of background noise levels can only result in an increase of this criteria.

4.0 ASSESSMENT The quarry operates within the day time period of 0700 to 1900 hours as defined in the TAS Quarry Code of Practise, and therefore only day time operation is assessed. The predicted noise emissions from the quarry are significantly below the criterion at all nearby residences. The maximum predicted noise level at any residence is 37 dBA, which is still 8 dB below the criterion. Figure 3 shows the regions which are below the criteria in green, and those which are above in red. It may be seen that all residences fall well within the acceptable zone, and as such the noise emissions are considered acceptable at all nearby residences.

Figure 3: Assessment Noise Contours

In order to ensure that quarrying noise in the community is minimised, it is recommended that the existing bund on the eastern side of the quarry is maintained.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call this office directly. Yours faithfully

Jack Pitt

Documents

Lords Quarry - EER