noi long hill quarry - epa tasmaniaepa.tas.gov.au/documents/hazell_bros_long_hill_quarry... ·...

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT

QUARRY DEVELOPMENT

LONG HILL - SASSAFRAS

Prepared for: Hazell Bros Group

Prepared by: Barry Williams

19 January 2010

Issue Date Recipient Organisation

Draft 1 20 November 2009 Peter Bennett Hazell Bros. Group

Final 15 December 2009 Peter Bennett Hazell Bros. Group

Final 15 January 2010 Shane Hogue EPA

Final 19 January 2010 Leanne Rabjohns MVC

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT - LONG HILL QUARRY Final

Integrated Land Management and Planning | part a – proponent information 2

PART A – PROPONENT INFORMATION

Name Hazell Bros Group Pty. Ltd.

ABN 27 088 345 804

Residential

Address

8B Lampton Avenue

Derwent Park

Postal Address PO Box 430

Moonah TAS 7009

Phone (03) 6277 7888

Fax (03) 6273 4160

Contact Peter Bennett

Mobile 0488672522

Table of Figures

Figure 1: General layout plan ................................................................................................... 7

Figure 2: Location plan (topographic) ...................................................................................... 8

Figure 3: Mining Plan ................................................................................................................. 9

Figure 4: Cross section aa from Railton Road to Quarry Excavation Area .............................. 10

Figure 5: Cross setion bb from Bass Highway to Quarry Excavation Area .............................. 11

Figure 6: Cross section cc from Quarry Excavation to WTE nest 144 ...................................... 12

Figure 7: Cross section dd from Quarry Excavation to WTE nest 507 ..................................... 12

Figure 8: Typical cross section through sediment retention basin ......................................... 14

Figure 9: Typical cross section (rehabiilitation) ....................................................................... 21


Integrated Land Management and Planning | 3

CONTENTS part a – proponent information ................................................................................................ 2

part b – project description ....................................................................................................... 4

1. Description of project .................................................................................................... 4

2. Project area ................................................................................................................... 5

3. Operations planning ...................................................................................................... 6

part C – potential environmental effects ................................................................................ 13

1. Flora and fauna ............................................................................................................ 13

2. Rivers, creeks, wetlands and estuaries ........................................................................ 14

3. Groundwater ............................................................................................................... 15

4. Significant areas ........................................................................................................... 15

5. Air emissions ................................................................................................................ 16

6. Liquid effluent ............................................................................................................. 18

7. Solid wastes ................................................................................................................. 18

8. Noise emissions ........................................................................................................... 18

9. Transport impacts ........................................................................................................ 19

10. Other offsite impacts ............................................................................................... 19

11. Dangerous goods and chemicals ............................................................................. 19

12. Site contamination .................................................................................................. 19

13. Cultural heritage ...................................................................................................... 19

14. Site of high public interest ....................................................................................... 20

15. Rehabilitation .......................................................................................................... 20

part D – management commitments ...................................................................................... 22

part E – public consultation ..................................................................................................... 23

appendices ............................................................................................................................... 26


Integrated Land Management and Planning | part b – project description 4

PART B – PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1. Description of project

Hazell Bros. Group Pty Ltd propose establishing a hard rock quarry on a parcel of land

located approximately three kilometres north east of Kimberly in the central north of

Tasmania. The quarry is targeting a Jurassic dolerite sill overlying Permian mudstones, which

is a common geological sequence locally. The quarry will be operated on a campaign style

basis using drill and blast techniques for rock extraction and a mobile crusher / screener for

processing.

It is anticipated that the assessment of

the proposal will be completed in the

second quarter of 2010. Engineering

design will commence after a permit is

issued and construction of the main

features of the development will take

place in the third quarter of 2010. In

stages 1 and 2 of the development

900,000 cubic metres of resource will be

extracted. This volume will produce

1,130,000 cubic metres of processed

product.

The proponent will build up to a

maximum production rate of 100,000

cubic metres of processed product

annually. Excavation stages 1 and 2 will

equate to an operational life of 15 years.

Further development will extend the life of the quarry for at least another 5 years.

Blasting will occur between 0900 and 1500 on weekdays only and the crushing plant will

operate between 0600 to 1900 weekdays and 0600 to 1800 on Saturdays. Carting can occur

at any time according to demand and supply contracts.

Blasting will occur approximately five times annually and will consist of four shots each time

extracting a solid volume of 16,000 cubic metres. Five campaigns per year will produce a

solid volume of 80,000 cubic metres which when processed will bulk to the maximum

allowable of 100,000 cubic metres of processed product. Crushing will be timed according to

the availability of a mobile crusher and screener and ‘’stock on hand” to service contracts.

Hobart

Queenstown

Triabunna

Burnie Smithton

Launceston

100 0



2. Project area

The quarry is located approximately three kilometres northeast of the township of Kimberly.

At its closest approach the Bass Highway is 1.2 kilometres away but the quarry is concealed

by intervening topography. The site is situated on top of a ridge line running parallel to and

south of, the Long Hill ridgeline. Another lesser ridgeline runs between this unnamed

ridgeline and the Mersey River. The ridgelines run approximately NNW and rise to R.L. 350

metres above the Rubicon River plain at R.L. 160 metres to the east and the Mersey River

plain at R.L. 50 to the west.

The native forest on the areas encompassing the quarry and processing area footprint have

been recently harvested and are still the subject of a forest practices plan number GPS0566.

Conservation features specified in the forest practices plan are retained for this

development. These features are described in Figure 1 as ‘wedge-tailed eagle exclusion’,

‘landscape reserve’ and ‘wildlife habitat clump’. Forest communities recently harvested from

the development site include Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on dolerite (DAD)

and Eucalyptus amygdalina – Eucalyptus obliqua damp sclerophyll forest (DSC). A nearby

area of Acacia dealbata forest (NAD) will not be affected by the quarry development.

Forestry Tasmania has extracted road construction materials from a quarry in this location to

service harvesting and plantation development activities over a number of years. These

products have been won using drill and blast techniques and processed using a mobile

crushing facility. The balance of the area that will be affected by the quarry has been

managed by Forestry Tasmania. The majority of area affected by the quarry development is

forest unsuitable for plantation development because of outcropping rock.

The quarry is located on crown land managed by Forestry Tasmania. The Mining lease

overlies one property CT 132658/2 and a cadastral parcel over Dan Road which is owned and

maintained by Forestry Tasmania. A forest reserve (Long Hill Forest Reserve) is located to

the west of the mining lease on the lease boundary.

The quarry site is immediately surrounded by forest operations including regrowth

Eucalyptus species forest, Eucalypt plantation forest and Pinus radiata plantation forest.

Formal and informal forest reserves are located further away to the south and west. The

river plains to the east and west are developed for production agriculture with a small area

of residential land located at Kimberley. This land is zoned ‘village’ under the Meander

Valley Planning Scheme most likely because of historic small cadastral parcels. Currently

there are few dwellings although it is possible that residential density will increase in the

future. Figure 2 is an extract from the 1:25000 topographic map with land use zoning

overlayed.

The closest existing residence in this community is located 1.7 kilometres away from the

closest approach of the processing area development. The new Meander Valley Planning

Scheme will seek to constrain residential density on the east side of Railton Road, closest to



the proposal site. The existing residences closest to the development areas are identified on

the aerial image Figure 1.

Much of the development site has Jurassic dolerite rock outcropping and skeletal orange

gravelly / clay topsoil derived from weathered dolerite. This soil is moderately erodible being

imperfectly drained but forms highly stable aggregates

3. Operations planning

The extraction site is at present a small slot cut across the ridge line running roughly east -

west. The first stage of development will include advancing the south face of the existing pit

to daylight on the SE corner and leaving a face to the SW. This will expose an operations area

at R.L. 328m leaving a face rising to 7 m high. The stage 1 operations area will be around 1.2

ha. Extracted volume is around 50,000m3 solid.

In stage 2 the SW face will be taken back until the top of the face is at around R.L. 331 m and

then the floor of the pit will be taken out down to R.L. 316m. Future expansion will advance

the pit into the area to the west. It is expected that stage 2 will add an area of 1.5 ha to the

operations area.

A material processing and stockpiling area will be developed across a shallow saddle to the

SE. This area will be around 3.5 ha in area and will be constructed by excavating a flat area

across the top of the crest gently graded from access road level R.L. 314m to R.L. 318. A low

cutting face will remain on the SW side of the ridge. Extracted volume is around 80,000 m3

solid.

Figure 3 shows the mining plan with extraction area for stage one and two and the

processing area. The processing area will remain operational for the life of the quarry.

Alternatives for future development include lowering the floor below R.L. 316 within the

existing footprint and expanding into the area marked future expansion on the mining plan.

Long Hill Quarry

FIGURE 1: GENERAL LAYOUT PLAN - showing project features, 1000 metres attenuation distance and records of sensitive values.

(Image date 27 Jan 2003)

north

Bass Highway

Mersey River

A

0 500 1000 1500 2000

B

B

Railton Road

A

Wedge-tailed eagle exclusion

Landscape reserve

Wildlife habitat clump

Processing

Possible future expansion

Stages 1 & 2

Kimberly

C

C

D

D

Long Hill Quarry

FIGURE 2: LOCATION PLAN (TOPOGRAPHIC) - showing surrounding local government areas; zoning and land use types; defined

watercourses with Conservation Management Priority status (base map extracted from 1:25000 series topographic)

Zoning: Latrobe - Rural A

Land use: Plantation forestry

Zoning: Meander Valley - Rural

Land use: Plantation forestry

Forest reserve

Zoning: Meander Valley - Rural

Land use: Agriculture

Zoning: Meander Valley - Village

Land use: Residential

Zoning: Kentish - Natural Resources

Land use: Agriculture, Rural residential

1000 metres

Staggs Creek CMP Moderate

297816 CMP Very High

297821 CMP High

297838 CMP Moderate

297824 CMP Very High

Long Hill Quarry

FIGURE 3: MINING PLAN - showing Stages 1 and 2 extraction areas and processing area. (Image date 27 Jan 2003)

Mobile crusher and screens

Processing and stockpile area

Future extraction area

Stage 2 extraction area

Stage 1 extraction area

(1.2 ha)

(3.5 ha)

(1.5 ha)

Stage 1 extraction

Stage 2 extraction Haul road

Stripping Regrowth

Haul road

Table drain

Sediment

retention basin

Existing access road (Dan 1 Rd)

Mining lease boundary

0 50 100 200 150

Mobile crusher

Stripping Product stockpiles

Cross section D - D processing area

Cross section C - C extraction area

north

C

C

D

D Diffuse discharge

Fall

Fall

Fall

New boom gate by HBG

RL 316

RL 316 RL 328

Culvert

40

0

60

0

80

0

100

0

120

0

200

700

300

5

00

900

110

0

100

Rai

lto

n R

oad

Wat

er

cou

rse

130

0

140

0

200

150

FIGURE 4: CROSS SECTION AA from Railton Road to Quarry Excavation Area

160

0

180

0

120

0

140

0

150

0

170

0

130

0

Long Hill Forest Reserve (Eucalypt forest) Agricultural land (class 3) in production

Me

rse

y R

ive

r

00

250

Ve

hic

le t

rack

M L

Bo

un

dar

y

200

0

190

0

210

0

100

50

300

250

350

200

Pit

acc

ess

Softwood plantation Long Hill Forest Reserve (Eucalypt forest) Stage 1 and 2

Re

sid

en

ce

40

0

60

0

80

0

10

00

20

0

70

0

30

0

50

0

90

0

10

0

Bas

s H

igh

way

Wat

er

cou

rse

250

200

FIGURE 5: CROSS SETION BB from Bass Highway to Quarry Excavation Area

Eucalypt forest Recently harvested plantation

Lon

g H

ill p

lan

tati

on

ro

ad

00

300

Dan

Ro

ad

M L

bo

un

dar

y

Softwood plantation

160

0

110

0

12

00

14

00

150

0

130

0

Eucalypt woodland

Pit

acc

ess

100

0

Stage 1 and 2

Softwood plantation

250

300

Trac

k

M L

bo

un

dar

y

350

FIGURE 6: CROSS SECTION CC from Quarry Excavation to WTE nest 144

400

600

00

200

300

5

00

100

Long Hill Forest Reserve (Eucalypt forest)

WTE

ne

st 1

44

M L

Bo

un

dar

y

800

700

900

Softwood plantation Eucalypt forest

Trac

k

300

250

Trac

k Stag

e 1

Stag

e 2

40

0

60

0

80

0

10

00

12

00

20

0

70

0

30

0

50

0

90

0

11

00

10

0

00

350

300

250

Stag

e 1

Stag

e 2

Trac

k

Long Hill Forest Reserve (Eucalypt forest) Softwood plantation Eucalypt forest

WTE

nes

t 5

07

(go

ne)

FIGURE 7: CROSS SECTION DD from Quarry Excavation to WTE nest 507

ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS REPORT- LONG HILL QUARRY Final

Integrated Land Management and Planning | part C – potential environmental effects 13

PART C – POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 1. Flora and fauna

Bushways Environmental Services were engaged to undertake a comprehensive flora and fauna survey of

the proposal site and to evaluate the risk of the development disturbing any of the values found. Bushways

conducted a desk top survey of available data and used this to inform a field survey conducted 6 October

2009.

The survey found no threatened vegetation communities on the site and no threatened flora species were

identified. The site has been recently harvested and it is possible that threatened flora species disturbed by

the logging have not had time to regenerate.

Three threatened fauna species are likely to be present or use the site. Spotted-tailed Quolls and

Tasmanian Devils might use the site for foraging, recent logging would have disturbed denning activities.

Wedge-tailed Eagles are known to nest nearby in the Long Hill Forest Reserve and may forage on the site.

A recent survey of the Wedge-tailed Eagle nests shows that no other nests are located closer to the

proposed development and that nest number 507 has gone. The location of nest 507 remains a potential

new nest site. The Flora and Fauna Assessment found that no Wedge-tailed Eagles nests are located within

500 metres of the proposal or 1000 metres ‘line of sight’.

Major risks to the site are the loss of 8 hectares of native bushland and possible disturbance to the breeding

activities of Wedge-tailed Eagles. Other impacts such as the spread of weeds and diseases can be controlled

with management programs.

Recommendations included in the report are:

Clearing for the project should be kept to an absolute minimum and as progressive rehabilitation

takes place only local native species (selected from the plant species list included in the

assessment) should be utilised in revegetation works.

Expert advice should be sought on the risk of this development disturbing the breeding activities of

Wedge-tailed Eagles; Initial construction work should occur outside the Wedge-tailed Eagle

breeding season (as varies for year to year) and the eagle’s behaviour should be monitored during

the progress of the works to determine whether disturbance is occurring. If it is clear that

disturbance is occurring consideration should be given to constraining the expansion of

development and timing activities to occur only under favourable conditions.

A flora survey should be conducted over the damp sclerophyll forest in the proximity of stage 3 to

check for any threatened species that may have regenerated since the original survey.

Implement the recommendations of the ‘Weed Management Plan’ (Appendix 6), the ‘Washdown

Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control Edition 1’ (available from the DPIPWE website) and the

‘Quarry Code of Practice 1999’ to keep the site weed and disease free.

(Bushways Environmental Services - Tasmania A, 2009)

ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS REPORT - LONG HILL QUARRY Final


The complete assessment can be found in this report as Appendix 1.

2. Rivers, creeks, wetlands and estuaries

Figure 2 shows that the quarry site is located on a ridgeline with two tributaries of Stagg Creek situated in

the valleys on either side. The watercourse 297816 located on the southern side has a conservation

management priority of ‘very high’. The proposed processing area is located closest to this water course.

There are records of Engaeus granulates, the central north burrowing crayfish in the vicinity of his

watercourse. This species is listed as endangered under the Threatened Species Protection Act (Tas) and

the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Com). These species are particularly

vulnerable to stream siltation and water quality.

The processing area will have a slight fall towards the access road with a sediment retention basin located

on the western side of the cleared area. The runoff water from the quarry and the processing area will be

directed to the sediment retention basin through road side drains and culverts see mining plan Figure 3.

The sediment retention basin and drainage infrastructure will be sized to manage a one in twenty year

reoccurrence storm event see calculation in Appendix 2.

The sediment retention basin will have a diffuse outfall directed into the neighbouring vegetation. The

closest point of discharge will be over 400 metres away from the closest approach of the watercourse. The

sediment control infrastructure will be included in the first stage of the quarry development and will be

operational throughout the development and operational phases.

FIGURE 8: TYPICAL CROSS SECTION THROUGH SEDIMENT RETENTION BASIN

The proponent will implement best practice sediment management techniques during construction and

operation to minimise the quantity of sediment produced. These techniques along with the sediment

control infrastructure and the great distance between the single discharge area and the vulnerable

watercourse will protect the watercourse from any adverse impact from this operation.

Strip topsoil and windrow separately.

Strip subsoil and screen to recover cobbles for spillways.

Use site won cobbles to armour spillways along embankment.

Periodically excavate accumulated sediment and stockpile for rehabilitation.

Place topsoil over basin wall formation and revegetate.

2.0m

TWL R.L 310 m

Place and compact gravelly subsoil in basin to form liner.



The watercourse 297838 has a conservation management priority of moderate. All drainage from the

quarry development is directed away from this watercourse and dust emissions from blasting and

processing activities will be intercepted by the intervening pine plantation. Existing road drainage

infrastructure will serve to protect the watercourse from the effects of traffic on the access road.

The proposal will not require any impoundments or infrastructure to be established on any natural

watercourses.

3. Groundwater

The nearest groundwater bores are located at Merseylea (No. 2108) and in the vicinity of Staggs Creek (No.

2144). Both boreholes investigate different geology and hence are not representative of the development

site. The majority of the development area has bedrock either out-cropping or very close to the surface. It

is possible for dolerite to have confined aquifers within the rock as a result of water entering via fractures

and creating lenses in the rock by chemical weathering.

The existing quarry has a face height of 8 metres and a length of 60 metres and shows no sign of clay lenses

or aquifers confined or otherwise. The table drain on Dan 1 Road between the extraction site and the

processing area contains water only after recent rains and low positions in the topography are not

permanently wet. The southern side of the ridgeline has more abundant herbs as would be expected but

otherwise the vegetation is consistent over the development area with no localised communities of rushes

or reeds that might indicate a spring.

From surface investigations it is unlikely that the extraction taken to the depths planned will encounter

groundwater. By grading the site to control overland flow as shown in the mining plan excessive recharge of

the existing groundwater table can be controlled.

4. Significant areas

The Mersey River valley adjacent to the development area is part of the Central Highlands Cainozoic Glacial

Area predictive region. This area of the valley has a sensitivity value of 5. These sites are sensitive to

damage by high intensity shallow linear impact such as road or trench excavation. The development site is

outside the predictive region and will not impact on this geo-conservation feature.

The Water Information System of Tasmania (WIST) shows the section of the Mersey River Valley adjacent to

the development site as being a karst system. This system is not identified in the Latrobe Planning Scheme

under special areas. The quarry development is outside this area and on unrelated geology and will not

impact on this karst area.

Both the Bass Highway and the Railton Road are significant tourist routes and any development in bushland

along these routes should be considered for visual impact. Figure 1 shows two white cross section lines, one

originating from Railton Road and the other from the Bass Highway. Figures 4 and 5 show a graphical

representation of the natural topography along these lines at a vertical exaggeration of 2. It can be seen

that in each case the ridgelines running parallel to the ridgeline where the quarry is located effectively

screen current and future development from view.

The mining lease on the western side shares a cadastral boundary with the Long Hill Forest Reserve. This

formal forest reserve is managed by Forestry Tasmania and occupies the western slope from the lesser



ridgeline down to the bank of the Mersey River. There are no roads or established tracks in this area of the

forest reserve although neighbouring plantation development has provided road access to the eastern edge

of the reserve.

As part of securing the quarry development site to protect the public from hazardous vertical faces, the

proponent will establish a boom gate on Dan 1 road (see Figure 3). When combined with the existing

Forestry Tasmania boom gate on the other end of this road vehicle access to the quarry and the forest

reserve will be better controlled.

5. Air emissions

Under certain weather conditions all activities on the site can be expected to cause dust emissions.

Weathered dolerite is often associated with fine clays. Handling these materials with earthmoving

equipment especially loading into trucks and hoppers under dry conditions can produce dust. Blasting can

cause dust created by the drilling equipment, to be ejected off the surface and into the air. Blasting can

cause an acute problem that although potentially visible will be short lived.

The crushing equipment, especially the mobile equipment can cause a chronic dust problem. Quantities will

be small but because the equipment is operating for extended hours the accumulated volume over time

can become a problem.

Another chronic source of dust will be vehicles using the haul road between the extraction and processing

areas and the access road between the quarry and the Bass Highway. Both light vehicles and trucks can

cause dust from the gravel road surface directly and can cause mud from the gravel roads to be trafficked

onto the sealed road. When this deposited mud dries it can create dust from the sealed road surface.

A mitigating factor in dust generated from blasting is that the substrate is pure dolerite and the drilling will

produce mainly chips rather than dust. Dust from blasting should be kept to a minimum by stripping the

topsoil from new extraction areas.

The crusher will be transported to the site and setup on the processing area. The surrounding natural and

plantation forest will capture much of the dust produced by crushing activities. On very windy days water

sprays will be directed onto drop points. The stockpiles will be hosed down periodically to keep dust from

the surface of the piles.

Dust generated by loading road trucks from the stockpiles will be controlled using a water spray where

required. Loads will be kept level to the sides of trucks or covered to prevent dust coming from the trucks

during haulage. The proponent will maintain the access road leading to the Bass Highway to a very high

standard. A well maintained road will prevent mud from developing on the road surface in wet conditions

and limit the amount of dust generated in dry conditions.

The quarry development site is surrounded by forest or established plantations. The nearest observers

likely to see dust emanating from activities on the site would be either on the Bass Highway or on the

Railton Road. Analysis undertaken by the Bureau of Metrology and represented in Appendix 3 by seasonal

wind roses provides an insight into the seasonal wind strength and direction at the closest weather station

at Sheffield. It is likely that dust will arise while activities are undertaken at the site. It is less likely that wind

will pick up dust from the surface of stockpiles or traffic areas during periods of inactivity. Analysis of the

observation records show that:



1. In summer, during working hours the wind will be coming from the north the majority of the time.

Less frequently stronger winds will come from the west in the afternoon.

2. In autumn the majority of the winds will be lighter and coming from the north. Less frequent but

stronger winds will come from the northwest or southeast.

3. In winter the majority of the wind will come from the northwest and to a lesser degree from the

west in the afternoon.

4. In springtime the stronger winds will come from the west but the more common winds will come

from the north.

It is fortuitous that the site has a steep sided ridgeline to the west that will deflect the less frequent but

stronger westerly winds upwards causing the wind at ground level to be lower velocity. Less energy wind

will be unable to carry the dust particles a great distance. Dust transported by the northerly or nor-westerly

winds will not carry far because these winds are lower energy. The surrounding tall forest and plantations

will further dissipate the wind energy causing the particulate load to drop out close to the quarry site.



6. Liquid effluent

The operation will create no liquid effluent other than stormwater runoff. A transportable toilet will be

used during each campaign for human waste and no equipment will be serviced on the site. Accidental oil

spills as a result of hydraulic failure or refuelling activities will be immediately cleaned up using a ‘spill kit’.

Discharge of stormwater runoff will be strictly control using a series of surface swales and drains and a

sediment retention facility described in section 2.

7. Solid wastes

The dolerite deposit has little overburden. Materials unsuitable for processing will be retained in low

windrows, to be used in future rehabilitation activities. Oversized material will be retained on the benches

and periodically treated with an excavator mounted rock breaker.

Wrappers from lunches and failed parts, rags and grease cartridges will be taken off site at the end of each

day. At the end of each campaign an employee will inspect the site to ensure that no rubbish remains.

8. Noise emissions

Blasting, crushing and loading activities are responsible for generating noise and vibration. The

development area has been located to ensure that any sensitive uses including residences are outside the

Standard Recommended Attenuation Distance for noise of 1000 metres. In addition to the attenuation

distance the intervening topography that screens the development from view provides the best protection

from noise. Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional representations through the topography on either side of the

development. These distant topographic features will effectively screen sensitive uses on lower ground

from noise generated by the quarry. Additionally the sensitive uses are located on sediments and not on

the same geological formation as the blasting and hence ground vibration will not be as readily transmitted

to those properties.

Figure 1 shows the location of those residences that are located closest to the proposed quarry; the mining

lease boundary and a white line indicting a separation distance of 1000 metres from the mining lease

boundary. Extraction activities will be confined to the coloured shaded areas shown on this plan and will

not approach the mining lease boundary. The separation distance between sensitive uses and the actual

noise producing activities is therefore greater than that shown.

Figure 2 shows the mining plan in which both the extraction and processing areas have faces remaining on

the western side. The noise producing activities in the processing area will occur behind the face. The face

will act as a noise barrier close to the source. As blasting proceeds in the extraction areas the benches will

be lowered to below the remaining face. The noise from blasting will be further attenuated by this

intervening face.



9. Transport impacts

The Proponent commissioned Terry Eaton (Consulting Engineer) to undertake a Traffic Impact Assessment

on the proposal. The complete report is included as Appendix 4 and the conclusions are summarised here.

Over twenty years of quarry operation the traffic volume on the Bass Highway is expected to increase to

around 14,000 vehicles per day. The Traffic Impact Assessment found that maximum traffic movements

during periods of operation will be up to 19 truck / trailer movements per day and 5 right turn movements

from the southbound lane on the Bass Highway per hour.

The assessment found that the intersection required an upgrade to the left turn exit radius and encouraged

widening of the gravel verge opposite Dan Road to enable stored right turn vehicles to be passed safely.

The report also recommends the installation of ‘Truck Turning’ signage to be erected at times when carting

is occurring.

(Eaton, 2009)

The final report is included in this document as Appendix 4.

10. Other offsite impacts

It is highly unlikely that upgrading this quarry to a commercial operation will have any offsite impacts other

than those dealt with in other sections of this report.

11. Dangerous goods and chemicals

No dangerous goods or explosives will be stored at the site. Equipment will be refuelled with mobile

refuelling vehicle. Similarly oils will be brought onto site as required. If it is necessary to temporarily store

fuel at the site the drums will be stored on a bunded pallet.

The blasting contractor will bring sufficient explosives onto the site as are required for the current

campaign. The explosives will remain in the designated vehicle until deployment. Unused explosives will be

removed from the site at the end of the day.

12. Site contamination

There are no signs of historic or current contamination. The development will not cause contamination in

either the construction or operational phases. Any localised contamination caused by accidental spills or

breakages will be cleaned up immediately with best practices earthmoving techniques, including the

deployment of ‘spill kits’ and booms.

13. Cultural heritage

The Proponent engaged Cultural Heritage Management Australia to undertake an aboriginal heritage

survey and prepare a report to be submitted to Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania (AHT). The survey and report

have been prepared in accordance with AHT’s brief for consulting archaeologists. An essential part of an

investigation into Aboriginal cultural heritage is consultation with the Aboriginal community. Mr Leigh

Maynard was engaged by the proponent to undertake this work.



After preliminary searches of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Site Index and all relevant literature a field survey

was undertaken on 29 October 2009. The entire area that will be disturbed over the life of the project was

mapped on the ground including areas of possible future expansion. The study area included stripping and

overburden stockpile areas behind the excavation faces and areas for sediment retention infrastructure.

The Archaeological Team were accompanied by the Aboriginal Heritage Officer for the duration of the field

survey.

The study found no Aboriginal cultural heritage sites or artefacts during the survey or any areas of potential

archaeological deposits. The report includes no specific cultural heritage management recommendations

other than to provide details of a ‘plan’ to be initiated should an unanticipated heritage item or site be

discovered during the works.

(Cultural Heritage Management Australia, 2009)

The final report is included in this document as Appendix 5.

14. Site of high public interest

The Long Hill area is most noted for the extensive pine plantation that has been harvested recently and has

now been replanted. This pine plantation dominates the landscape from the Bass Highway viewpoint. From

the Railton Road viewpoint the Long Hill Forest Reserve can be seen up to the skyline. This view field will

remain unchanged through the life of the project. There are no other sites of high public interest that can

be affected by this proposal.

15. Rehabilitation

During the active life of the quarry it will be necessary to maintain a cleared processing and stockpiling

area. The area developed for processing and stockpiles will be 3.5 hectares. This size is required because of

the campaign nature of the operation. Large stockpiles must be developed to services contacts between

campaigns. If five campaigns are staged each year the stockpile area will have to accommodate at least

20,000 cubic metres of processed product. Assuming that there will be three different products or grades of

aggregate stockpiled the stockpiles will have a base area of 3000 square metres each. With separation

distances, 1.5 hectares will be required for stockpiling processed product. The shot rock will have to be

stockpiled and room set aside for the mobile crusher and discharge stockpiles as well as heavy vehicle

manoeuvring.

The extraction area will be developed in two stages (see Figure 3). At the completion of the second stage a

decision will be made regarding future development. If the rock on the floor of the combined stage 1 and

stage 2 areas is sound it is likely that another face will be cut in the floor. If areas of unsuitable material

have been exposed the third extraction area shown on the mining plan will be developed and the stages 1

and 2 extraction areas will be rehabilitated.

As areas are developed stripping materials will be stockpiled in low windrows (average height not

exceeding one metre) along the western edge of the disturbance. The vegetation will be placed outside the

topsoil and subsoil materials and unsuitable will be placed closest to the disturbance.

Rehabilitation will take the form of fracturing the floor of the area and cutting down the face on the

western side, overburden and unsuitable material will placed along the toe of the face and new surface



contoured to a maximum grade of 1 in 3. Stripping will then be drawn over the surface and seeds of native

plants selected from the list found in the flora and fauna survey will be broadcast over the surface.

FIGURE 9: TYPICAL CROSS SECTION (REHABIILITATION) through worked out quarry face to show rehabilitation

earthworks.

This work will occur in autumn to give time for the rehabilitation effort to consolidate over winter in

preparation for spring germination. The progressive rehabilitation effort will be monitored for seedling

failure and weed infestation and works instigated at least once per year to repair failed areas and control

weeds.

At the end of the quarry’s life the entire area of disturbance will be rehabilitated. The land that will be

occupied by the quarry development is currently naturally regenerated forest and the final land use will be

similar. The proponent will ensure that the final surfaces are self draining and all drainage infrastructure is

self sustaining. Once natural vegetation has stabilised areas of exposed soil the sediment retention facility

and connecting culvert will be removed and drainage re-established as existing.

The rehabilitation effort will be inspected by officers of Mineral Resources Tasmania to ensure that it is self-

sustaining before the proponent (Lessee) can claim for a return of a security deposit and the lease can be

surrendered.

Cut away edge of face

Place cut, overburden and unsuitable material at toe

Fracture pit floor to

promote drainage

Re-contour new surface to 1:3 max. slope

Spread stripping roughly over surface


Integrated Land Management and Planning | part D – management commitments 22

PART D – MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS

Section Commitment

1.Flora and fauna Progressive rehabilitation will use local native species (selected from the plant species

list included in the Flora and Fauna Assessment) in revegetation works.

Expert advice will be sought on the risk of this development disturbing the breeding

activities of Wedge-tailed Eagles.

Initial construction work will occur outside the Wedge-tailed Eagle breeding season

(as varies from year to year). Advice will be sought on the length of this year’s

breeding season.

Wedge-tailed Eagle’s behaviour will be monitored during the progress of the works to

determine whether disturbance is occurring.

Before expanding into stage 3 a flora survey will be conducted over the damp

sclerophyll forest in the proximity to check for any threatened species that may have

regenerated since the original survey.

The recommendations of the ‘Weed Management Plan’ (Appendix 6), the ‘Washdown

Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control Edition 1’ (available from the DPIPWE

website) and the ‘Quarry Code of Practice 1999’ will be implemented to keep the site

weed and disease free.

2 Rivers, creeks,

wetlands and

estuaries

The sediment retention basin and drainage infrastructure will be sized to manage a

one in twenty year reoccurrence storm event.

The sediment control infrastructure will be included in the first stage of the quarry

development and will be operational throughout the development and operational

phases.

The proposal will not require impoundments or infrastructure to be established on

any natural watercourses.

3 Groundwater By careful grading of the site to control overland flow recharge of the existing

groundwater table will be controlled.

4 Significant areas When combined with the existing Forestry Tasmania boom gate on the southern end

of Dan 1 Road, a new boom gate will better control vehicle access to the Long Hill

Forest Reserve.

5 Air emissions On very windy days water sprays will be directed onto drop points on the mobile

crusher / screener.

The stockpiles will be hosed down periodically to keep dust from the surface of the


Integrated Land Management and Planning | part E – public consultation 23

piles.

6 Liquid effluent Any fuel temporarily stored on the site will be stored in drums resting on bunded

pallets.

7 Solid wastes At the end of each campaign an employee will inspect the site to ensure that no

rubbish remains.

10 Traffic impact The proponent will improve the intersection with the Bass Highway to ensure the

safety of road users and their own employees and contractors.

11 Dangerous goods

and chemicals

Unused explosives will be removed from the site at the end of the day.

13 Site contamination Any localised contamination caused by accidental spills or breakages will be cleaned

up immediately with ‘best practice’ earthmoving techniques, including the

deployment of ‘spill kits’ and booms.

14 Cultural heritage If an item of cultural heritage is unearthed in the course of the works an

‘unanticipated discovery plan’ will be put into effect.

16 Rehabilitation The progressive rehabilitation effort will be monitored for seedling failure and weed

infestation and works instigated at least annually to repair failed areas and control

weeds.

Once natural vegetation has stabilised areas of exposed soil, the sediment retention

facility and connecting culvert will be removed and drainage re-established as

existing.

PART E – PUBLIC CONSULTATION

1. Stakeholder Consultation Process

The Proponent has already held meetings Forestry Tasmania and negotiated an amicable financial

settlement to transfer operation of the quarry including agreement on access arrangements, maintenance

of road infrastructure and supply of road construction and maintenance materials.

A Notice of Intent was forwarded to Mr Shane Hogue of the Environment Protection Authority subsequent

to a site visit on 31 July 2009. The same NOI was forwarded to Mr Peter Rowlands District Manager of the

Mersey District of Forestry Tasmania. A mining lease application has been made to Mr Brett Stewart, Senior

Leasing Officer of Mineral Resources Tasmania. The mining lease application number is 7m/2009. The

application process will proceed once this document is finalised and can accompany the application.

The Meander Valley council requires a Development Application (DA) to change the use of the quarry from

a private forestry pit to a commercial operation. The Council planning department have been consulted and



a representative from the planning department attended a site visit with representatives of the

Environment Protection Authority on 30 July 2009.

As part of the Aboriginal cultural heritage investigation Mr Leigh Maynard conducted Aboriginal community

consultation on behalf of the proponent. The results of this consultation form part of the Aboriginal cultural

heritage report included, in part in the Appendices.



References:

BOM. (2008, July 25). Rainfall Intensity Frequency Duration Data. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/has/cdirswebx/index.shtml

Bushways Environmental Services - Tasmania. (2009). Flora and Fauna Assessment - Long Hill Proposed

Quarry Site. Trevallyn: Bushways Environmental Services - Tasmania.

Cultural Heritage Management Australia. (2009). Long Hill Quarry - Aboriginal Heritage Assessment.

Canberra: Cultural Heritage Management Australia.

Eaton, T. (2009). Proposed Quarry Activity - Hazell Brothers Long Hill Access to Bass Highway Traffic

Assessment. Bridgenorth: Terry Eaton Consulting Engineer.

ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS REPORT- LONG HILL QUARRY Final

Integrated Land Management and Planning | appendices

APPENDICES Appendix 1 - Flora and Fauna Survey Report (Bushways Environmental Services - Tasmania A, 2009)



Appendix 2 – Sediment retention basin design calculations

Runoff retention capacity Primary Retention Pond

For sediment retention facilities use 1 in 20 year reoccurrence interval

Flood intensity for this location is 30mm/hr (BOM, 2008).

The total area of Stages 1 and 2 is 2.7 ha.

The total area of the processing area is 3.5 ha.

Total volume of runoff to be considered in 0.030 * 27000+35000 = 1860 cubic metres

Assuming the blast fracturing in the extraction area is only effective to 0.75 m deep, the capacity in the

floor is: 2.7 ha * depth of 0.75 m * 0.05 = 1010 cubic metres

The capacity of the sediment retention basin must be (1860-1010) cubic metres to retain the runoff from a

1 in 20 year reoccurrence rainfall event with duration of 1 hour.

A pond with an area of 600 square metres on the surface and 300 square metres on the bottom and an

average depth of 2.0 metres will provide the necessary capacity of 850 cubic metres.

If the flood intensity of 30mm/hr is exceeded the pond will discharge through a diffuse discharge area into

a densely forested area.

The basin will be constructed from permeable materials so that the runoff contained will seep away over

time. Periodically the accumulated silt will be recovered and stockpiled for use as rehabilitation material.

Routine cleaning will prevent an increase in the permeability of the lining materials and a consequent

reduction in rate water will filter through the structure.



Appendix 3 – BOM seasonal wind direction and strength roses for Sheffield



Appendix 4 – Traffic Impact Assessment (Eaton, 2009)



Appendix 5 – Cultural Heritage Report (Cultural Heritage Management Australia, 2009)



Appendix 6 – Weed Management Plan (Bushways Environmental Services - Tasmania B, 2009)

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