ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING MEASURES

4.1 General

I

The environmental features described in Section 3 - Existing Environment - have been assessed relative to Section 2.3 - Proposed Operations. Consulta-tion with the relevant Government Authorities was part of that assessment.

This section discusses the significant impacts of the proposed operations and the measures necessary to eliminate or minimise any environmental impacts.

4.2 Zoning

The quarry site is zoned Rural 1(A) on which Extractive Industry is allowable with Development Consent. Additionally, the site was identified by Gobert (1974) as containing resources required for the construction industry and, therefore, worthy of "preservation" from competing land uses.

4.3 Land Use

The quarry operates in an area not suitable for general agricultural purposes, in harmony with surrounding grazing properties.

Quarrying is the most suitable land-use for such an area.

4.4 Landform and Stabilit

The site and the nature of the lateritic material make it eminently stable.

The landform assists surface drainage away from the quarry and prevents the site being visible to other than passing aeroplanes.

4.5 Climate

No adverse impacts are likely because of either the normal or any unusual climate patterns. Heavy rain and high wind speeds will not deleteriously

Nolan & Associates Pty. Ltd.

. 13 affect drainage and dust controls; screening of fine material likely to produce dust is not carried out in strong winds.

4.6 Drainage, Erosion and Sediment Control

The lateritic bauxite drains exceptionally well and, because it mainly

consists of iron compounds, is not readily eroded. Therefore sediment control is not a problem.

Rain falling outside the quarry drains away from it because it is on a topographic high.

Rain falling within the pit is readily absorbed by the porous pisolite material.

Erosion of the in-pit material and of temporary stockpiles is virtually non-existent. Stockpiles appear to provide their own relatively impervious surfaces which retain inherent moisture at about 11% and, similarly, prevent erosion.

I

Oils and greases spilt within the pit can be a problem because of the very absorptive nature of the material. Consequently no oil or fuel is stored

I

on-site. No major services are carried out on-site and fuelling is done only using 20L drums. A work shed is being erected at the north-eastern corner of the disturbed area, out of the extraction pit. When erected,

I

that shed will be the fuelling point for all machinery and then the area will be suitably mounded to control any minor spills.

I

A tank fed septic tank is being installed to control sewage.

I

4.7 Air Quality

The quarry generates minimal dust because of its Relative Density (1.8)

I

and moisture content (11%). Only the very fine fractions, when being screened, stockpiled or loaded for transport, generate significant concentrations

of visible dust.

I

I

Stands of trees, more than 20 metres wide, surround the quarry and provide

Nolan & Associates Pty. Ltd.

I

I

I

I

I

.

14

barriers to any dust emanating from the quarry operations.

Similarly, trees shield most of the access road to the east. In dry periods the operator waters the unsealed access road to minimise any dust pollution, mainly to the east because of strong westerly or north-westerly winds.

4.8 Noise

Noise generated in the quarry is shielded from residences by 3 - 5m of

embankments, stands of trees and at least 0.8km of distance. It is unlikely that in-pit operations are heard at the nearest residences which are much closer to vehicle noises on Canyonleigh Road.

I

Noise from trucks transporting material would impact only on those residences which are also close to Canyonleigh Road and where background noise levels also are above normal values for rural areas.

4.9 Fauna

I

No rare faunal species are known. The main native species, the wombat,

I

appears to be as suited to the quarried areas as to the undisturbed areas.

4.10 Flora

No rare floral species are known or considered likely, considering the long-term disturbance of the general quarrying area. Experience has shown that all native species rapidly regenerate naturally and the rehabilitation plan takes advantage of that natural regeneration.

4.11 Visibility

The quarry is only visible from the air.

Trucks leaving the quarry site are shielded from the east until they approach Canyonleigh Road.

Nolan & Associates Pty. Ltd.

I

^{• 15}

I

4.12 Traffic

Proposed operations in the quarry will generate, at the most, up to 20

I

vehicle trips per day. Currently about 10 of those vehicle trips are included in Shire counts for Canyonleigh Road.

I

Based on road counts and the expected number of quarry vehicles entering Canyonleigh Road, the existing Type A intersection meets RTA specifications.

4.13 Economic Aspects

I

The existing quarry provides some materials not available elsewhere in the Shire. It also provides material useful as base material for local roads or for blending with other local products.

The quarry has operated for 26 years and, although its products are no

I

longer required in the Port Kembla steel industry, it remains an economic benefit to the community.

4.14 Social and Cultural Aspects

The quarry is a social benefit in the community because it provides material not available from other sources. It also markets a significant proportion

1

of its products outside the Shire and, therefore, generates outside income which it mostly spends in the Shire.

I

The quarry has virtually no environmental effect on the community and therefore, no impact on the cultural aspects of the community.

4.15 Archaeology

Although the quarry and any proposed areas of extension are unlikely

I

to have any Aboriginal Heritage significance, the Regional Aboriginal Sites officer from the National Parks and Wildlife Service will assess

I

^{the area.}

I

4.16 Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation has been carried out on ?ML9, the area previously extracted.

Nolan & Associates Pty. Ltd.

I ⁰

¹⁶

The operator of the Canyonleigh Bauxite Pit carried out that successful

I

rehabilitation to an undulating grassed surface with occasional native trees and a small dam (see Photographs 10 and 11).

I

Under the conditions of PLL 1236, the holder and the operator of the quarry

I

must maintain shallow batters and rehabilitate themas soon as possible.

At present a bond of $5000 ensures rehabilitation if extraction ceases

I

at any time.

I

The rehabilitation plan is the same as for the previous area. As areas cease to be disturbed (e.g., on Photograph 3) they will be gently contoured, topped with overburden material, seeded with native grass and with native

1

trees and shrub species.

I

It is estimated that about 4,000 tonnes (2200m3) of overburden is stockpiled around the quarry pit. That amount is sufficient to provide at least 0.15m of "topsoil" to rehabilitation areas.

I

Although the operator plans to rehabilitate non-mining areas as soon as practical, the nature of the deposit precludes much rehabilitation until late in the life of the deposit. As discussed in Sections 2.2 and 2.3

I

and shown in Photographs 1 to 7, various marketable products are obtained from different sections of the existing pit.

When possible, rehabilitation will continue under the professional guidance of Mr. Greg Stone of Woodlands Vegetation, a local expert on native seeds.

The existing bushland obviously regenerates readily (some of it will have to be removed when overburden stockpiles are employed in rehabilitation) but Mr. Stone will provide advice as to the timing of disbursement of collected seeds.

On completion of rehabilitation of the deposit it will have the general configuration of the areas previously rehabilitated, i.e., of gentle undulations, grass cover, native trees with the whole area free draining as is the present pit.

Nolan & Associates Pty. Ltd.

I ^{0 17}

In document EIS 1251 ABO Statement of environmental effects for continued extraction of. decorative, special and road gravels from the existing (Page 24-29)