hawkes creek silica flour extraction pit development ... · tam currently operates two other...

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Prepared for: Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd

Prepared by: Jim LockleyDecember 2010

Hawkes CreekSilica Flour Extraction PitDevelopment Proposal andEnvironmental Management Plan

pitt&sherry ref: HB09445H001 Hawkes Creek DPEMP rep 31P Rev 00/JL/jt

Table of Contents

Foreword .......................................................................................................... iExecutive Summary ............................................................................................. ii

1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 12. Proposal Description ..................................................................................... 3

2.1 Proposal Outline ................................................................................. 32.2 Site Plan ......................................................................................... 102.3 General Location Map ......................................................................... 112.4 Offsite Infrastructure ......................................................................... 162.5 Technical and Management Alternatives .................................................. 162.6 Onsite Operating Infrastructure............................................................. 172.7 Public and Employee Safety ................................................................. 17

3. Existing Environment .................................................................................. 193.1 Planning Aspects ............................................................................... 193.2 Environmental Aspects ....................................................................... 213.3 Socio-Economic Aspects ...................................................................... 313.4 Alternative Sites ............................................................................... 31

4. Potential Effects and their Management ........................................................... 324.1 Air Emissions.................................................................................... 324.2 Liquid Waste .................................................................................... 344.3 Groundwater ................................................................................... 374.4 Noise Emissions ................................................................................ 384.5 Solid and Controlled Waste Management ................................................. 404.6 Dangerous Goods .............................................................................. 424.7 Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Values ............................................. 434.8 Marine and Coastal ............................................................................ 454.9 Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depleting Substances .................................... 464.10 Heritage ......................................................................................... 484.11 Land Use and Development .................................................................. 504.12 Visual Effects ................................................................................... 514.13 Socio-Economic Issues ........................................................................ 524.14 Health and Safety Issues ..................................................................... 524.15 Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment ...................................................... 554.16 Fire Risks ........................................................................................ 554.17 Infrastructure and Off-Site Ancillary Facilities ........................................... 564.18 Environmental Management Systems ...................................................... 564.19 Cumulative and Interactive Effects ........................................................ 564.20 Traffic Impact .................................................................................. 57

5. Monitoring and Review ................................................................................ 595.1 Monitoring....................................................................................... 595.2 Review ........................................................................................... 60

6. Decommissioning and Rehabilitation ............................................................... 607. Commitments ........................................................................................... 618. Conclusion ............................................................................................... 64

8.1 Positive Environmental Effects .............................................................. 648.2 Negative Environmental Effects ............................................................ 648.3 Summary ........................................................................................ 64

pitt&sherry ref: HB09445H001 Hawkes Creek DPEMP rep 31P Rev 00/JL/jt i

ForewordThis Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan (DPEMP) has been prepared tosupport a development application by Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd to the CircularHead Council.

The application is for the development and operation of a new silica flour extraction pit atHawkes Creek on Mining Lease 27M/2009 north of the Arthur River, approximately 35 kmsouthwest of Smithton, in northwest Tasmania.

The location of the proposed operation is on State Forest at Forestry Tasmania’s Chatlee Roadsite approximately 20 km south west of the Roger River Township and approximately 20 kmeast south east of Arthur River Township.

The purpose of this DPEMP is to provide:

Support to the development application to the Circular Head Council;

A basis for the Circular Head Council and the Board of the Environment ProtectionAuthority to consider the planning and environmental aspects of the proposal;

A basis for the conditions under which any approval can be given; and

A source of information for interested individuals and groups to gain an understanding ofthe proposal.

The DPEMP has been prepared according to the Board of the Environment ProtectionAuthority’s (EPA) General Guidelines for the preparation of a Development Proposal andEnvironmental Management Plan for Level 2 activities and ‘called in’ activities, May 2010 andthe EPA’s Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan Project SpecificGuidelines for Tasmanian Advanced Minerals – Proposed Development - Hawkes Creek SilicaFlour Pit, Chatlee Road (SR011 – Salmon River Block, State Forest) south of Smithton,Tasmania, June 2010.

The DPEMP project specific guidelines were developed by the Board of the EPA based on theinformation supplied by the proponent in a Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted June 2010 inaccordance with the Board of the EPA NOI guidelines and the requirements of Section 27B ofthe Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

The development application will be advertised by the Circular Head Council in the Advocatenewspaper and the DPEMP will be available for public scrutiny at the:

Circular Head Council offices in Smithton;

The Environment Protection Authority’s Internet site; and

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment library in Hobart, fora period of 28 days following the formal newspaper advertisement of the application.

Any member of the public may submit a representation on the proposal, describing theircomments and/or objections. Representations must be in writing and lodged within thestatutory period with:

Mr Greg WintonThe General ManagerCircular Head CouncilPO Box 348Smithton TAS 7330

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Council will consider the development application in accordance with its obligations under theLand Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 and the Environmental Management and PollutionControl Act 1994.

Because the proposed activity is deemed a Level 2 activity under Schedule 2 of theEnvironmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, the Board of the EnvironmentProtection Authority (the Board) will assess the potential environmental impacts and conditionsfor the proposed activity in accordance with the Environmental Management and PollutionControl Act 1994. The EPA has advised that the assessment will be undertaken as a class 2B.

The environmental conditions from the Board’s assessment will be forwarded to the CircularHead Council for inclusion in the permit, if and when Council approves the proposed activity.

Any persons who made written representations on the proposal will be notified by the Board ofits decision. Persons aggrieved by a decision to approve the development, or by the conditionsor restrictions of the permit, may appeal to the Resource Management and Planning AppealTribunal (the Tribunal). The applicant, Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd, may also appeala refusal of the proposal by the Board, or appeal the conditions or restrictions imposed by theBoard.

Appeals must be lodged in writing within 14 days of the Board’s decision. The Tribunal willhear appeals. The Tribunal will independently reassess the proposal, and either confirm,overturn or modify the decision and/or the permit conditions and restrictions.

A Forest Practices Plan is no longer required by the Forest Practices Authority, due toamendments to the Forest Practices Regulations 2007 dated 25 November 2009. The land usepermit will approve vegetation clearance once issued by the Circular Head Council.

Approval under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 is notrequired for this project. No other planning or environmental approvals are deemednecessary. Consultation with Forestry Tasmania is currently underway for approval toundertake the activity on State Forest and to use Forestry Tasmania roads.

An appreciation of the proposed new activity can be gained from the photographs on the frontcover and on the following page, of a similar activity undertaken by Tasmanian AdvancedMinerals Pty Ltd at other premises in the same municipality.

The project does not require, or is not likely to require, approval under the EnvironmentProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as the project has no potential to impactupon matters of national environmental significance or upon Commonwealth land.

The proponent has not referred, and does not intend to refer, the project to theCommonwealth Government for a determination on whether approval under the EnvironmentProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is required.

pitt&sherry ref: HB09445H001 Hawkes Creek DPEMP rep 31P Rev 00/JL/jt i

pitt&sherry ref: HB09445H001 Hawkes Creek DPEMP rep 31P Rev 00/JL/jt ii

Executive SummaryTasmania Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd (TAM) proposes to develop a new silica flour extraction piton Chatlee Road in State Forest (SR011 – Salmon River Block), approximately 35 km south westof Smithton in Tasmania’s northwest.

TAM currently operates two other similar operations at Corinna and Blackwater. Silica flourfrom these premises and the proposed new operation at Hawkes Creek will be transported toWynyard for beneficiation to an export product for realisation.

The operation is expected to produce approximately 50,000 m3/year of silica flour, equivalentto 100,000 tonnes/year. The product is a valuable resource and of important socio-economicvalue to the local area and Tasmania.

The operation involves the extraction of the resource from just below the ground level,screening over a vibrating screen and stockpiling and blending. The excavated materials arechemically inert and represent a minimal risk to receiving environment. The control of dustemissions on site are considered the major management issue.

The proposal is to undertake the operation over approximately 7 years based on theanticipated production levels. The primary driver for the development application is the factthat the new resource is required to supply the Wynyard processing plant and to service worldmarket demands.

The proposed activity will be a level 2 activity as defined in Schedule 2 of the EnvironmentalManagement and Pollution Control Act 1994. The environmental aspects of the proposal willbe assessed by the Board of the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) andregulated by the EPA Division of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water andEnvironment.

The proposed extractive pit and materials handling and processing operation will be located onMining Lease 27M/2009 issued by the Minister for Energy and Resources December 2010. Theland is managed by Forestry Tasmania and Forestry Tasmania is included as a key stakeholderas part of the Board of the EPA assessment process.

The operation if approved will be regulated by the EPA Division under the conditions of a newpermit and Mineral Resources Tasmania under the Mining Lease requirements.

A botanical survey and fauna habitat assessment was undertaken in March 2010 and thefindings and recommendations are included in this assessment. There were no valuesidentified.

There will be no impact on flora of national or state significance as no species listed by eitherthe Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or theTasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 were recorded in the project area or arethought likely to occur.

One fauna species, the Tasmanian devil, listed as threatened (endangered) on the TasmanianThreatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection andBiodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was noted (scats) from within the study area.

Species listed as “protected wildlife” on the schedules of the Wildlife Regulations 1999 werenot detected and no products of such species (e.g. nests, den sites, etc.) were recorded suchthat additional permits under these regulations will not be required.

No species classified as “declared weeds” within the meaning of the Tasmanian WeedManagement Act 1999 were recorded from within or near the study area.

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No evidence of plant disease was noted and the plant communities recorded are “low risk” toPhytophthora cinnamomi (root rot fungus). One management recommendation was made tominimise the risk of the introduction and spread of myrtle wilt to surrounding areas.

An Aboriginal Heritage Assessment was undertaken in April 2010. No Aboriginal Heritage siteswere located on the proposed project area and the potential for Aboriginal Heritage sites toexist is very low.

The area of the proposed activity is remote and there are no residences within a 7 km radius ofthe area. The project is located on a ridge of raised ground with a NW to SE orientation. Themajor watercourse in the area is Hawkes Creek which flows south eastwards to the ArthurRiver adjacent to the works on the eastern side.

Hawkes Creek is approximately 300 m east of the proposed works and is classified as a Class 2stream under the Forestry Code of Practice 2000. A Class 3 tributary of Hawkes Creek islocated to the south the proposed works and flows east into Hawkes Creek. A Class 4/drainagedepression is located to the west of the proposed southern workings.

The project will not impact on the Forestry Tasmania streamside reserves and designatedProtection Formal Reserve adjacent to the proposed mining area. The Arthur Riverapproximately 1 km to the south forms the boundary of the emergency heritage listed Tarkinearea. Given the existing access roads and the existing activities around the mining area, theproposed mining activity should not have any significant impact on the existing Tarkinewildness quality south of the Arthur River.

The DPEMP has been prepared according to the Board of the Environment ProtectionAuthority’s (EPA) General Guidelines for the preparation of a Development Proposal andEnvironmental Management Plan for Level 2 activities and ‘called in’ activities, May 2010 andthe EPA’s Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan Project SpecificGuidelines for Tasmanian Advanced Minerals – Proposed Development - Hawkes Creek SilicaFlour Pit, Chatlee Road (SR011 – Salmon River Block, State Forest) south of Smithton,Tasmania, June 2010.

The proposed development will be undertaken in accordance with the EPA’s Quarry Code ofPractice 1999. No issues of environmental significance have been identified that would requiremore stringent management measures than those outlined in the Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

The specific commitments contained in this DPEMP demonstrate that appropriate operationaland management measures will be in place to minimise the risk of any potential emissions andto minimise the risk of causing any environmental nuisance or harm.

The DPEMP demonstrates that the proposal will comply with Tasmanian policies and legislation.

There are no apparent socio-economic disadvantages with the proposal. The proposal will giveenvironmental and operational security to the mineral processing activities from which thegeneral community already benefits.

The local community will benefit from the increased local employment opportunities, localwages expenditure and local mine expenditure.

The project does not require, or is not likely to require, approval under the EnvironmentProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as the project has no potential to impactupon matters of national environmental significance or upon Commonwealth land.

The proponent has not referred, and does not intend to refer, the project to theCommonwealth Government for a determination on whether approval under the EnvironmentProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is required.

pitt&sherry ref: HB09445H001 Hawkes Creek DPEMP rep 31P Rev 00/JL/jt 1

1. IntroductionTasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd (TAM) is proposing to develop a new silica flourextractive pit at Hawkes Creek on Chatlee Road, approximately 35 kilometres southwest of Smithton in northwest Tasmania.

The heavy vehicle access to the mine site from Smithton will be via the heavy vehicleroute - Irishtown Road, Grooms Cross Road, Trowutta Road, Roger River Road, LeensonsRoad, Lerunna Road, Salmon River Road and Chatlee Road and vice versa.

The light vehicle access route to the mine will be the same from Smithton to LerunnaRoad but the light vehicles will use a Lerunna Road spur road to Black Jay Road and onto Chatlee Road and vice versa.

Irishtown Road, Grooms Cross Road, Trowutta Road, Roger River Road (north of BuffsRoad turnoff) are Circular Head Council roads. Roger River Road (south of Buffs Roadturnoff), Leensons Road, Lerunna Road, the Lerunna Spur Road, Black Jay Road andChatlee Road are Forestry Tasmania roads.

TAM is a privately owned company, ABN 51 122 089 122, with a Tasmanian businessaddress at 19 Stennings Road, Wynyard, Tasmania 7325. The company contact is ChrisStuart – Managing Director.

The company’s medium term aim is to develop adequate high grade silica resourcesupplies to service its processing plant in Wynyard which currently supplies the worldmarket with high quality silica flour.

The company currently also has mining operations at Corinna in western Tasmania andBlackwater pit approximately 7 km due east of the proposed Hawkes Creek operation.

The Hawkes Creek project is located on the Hawkes Creek section of Exploration Lease35/2003 (EL). The boundaries of this section of the EL are the same for the MiningLease 27M/2009. The area of the Lease is approximately 200 ha in area. Themaximum proposed mining area is approximately 20 ha. The Minister for Energy andResources issued Mining Lease 27M/2009 in December 2010.

The land tenure on which the proposed extractive pit is State Forest managed byForestry Tasmania and is located in the Circular Head Council (CHC) municipality andsubject to the Circular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1 1995 planning scheme andsubsequent amendments.

The operation will extract silica flour from just below the ground level on the elevatedground in the proposed mining areas and will not disturb any drainage lines or creeks.The resource forms a carapace which drapes across the elevated ground. The resourceis required to secure the future operations of the company and its Wynyard plant.

Hawkes Creek is the main surface water feature in the area and runs from north of theproposed pits southwards on the eastern side of the proposed pit to the Arthur River.A tributary runs on the southern side of the proposed pit to its confluence with HawkesCreek below the proposed extraction sites.

The protected environmental values and water quality objectives for the surfacewaters and ground waters in the pit area are outlined in the - EnvironmentalManagement Goals for Tasmanian Surface Waters – Catchments within the CircularHead & Waratah/Wynyard Municipal Areas January 2000.


This DPEMP outlines the issues associated with the site, the risks associated with theissues and mitigation or management measures required to minimise any risks, inaccordance with the guidelines issued by the Board of the EPA June 2010.

The proposed extractive pits and materials handling activities will be undertakenwithin the Forest Resource Zone of the Circular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1, 1995- As consolidated at the 1st June 2006 (Scheme).

The proposed activity is best defined under the Scheme as ‘Industry Extractive’, whichis a discretionary use or development in the Forest Resource Zone of the Scheme.

The following legislative framework has been considered in the drafting of theDevelopment Proposal and Environmental Management Plan:

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Waste Management)Regulations 2000.

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.

Circular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1, 1995 as consolidated at the 1st June2006.

Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 and associated Regulations.

Mineral Resources Development Act 1995.

Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

Threatened Species Protection Act 1999.

Aboriginal Relics Act 1975.

Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995.

State Policy for Water Quality Management 1997.

Forest Practices Act 1985.

Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

The purpose of this document is to supply the Circular Head Council, Mineral ResourcesTasmania, the Board of the Environment Protection Authority and the general publicwith the following information:

Relevant details of the proposal.

Identify potential impacts and risks.

Outline management measures to mitigate any identified environmental risks.

Demonstrate the proposal complies with legislative and regulatory requirements.


2. Proposal DescriptionThe maximum annual extraction rate will be approximately 50,000 m3/year orapproximately 100,000 tonnes/year. This classifies the proposal as a Level 2 activityunder the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

The nominal production rate is expected to be approximately 25,000 m3/year orapproximately 50,000 tonnes/year which equates to a 7 year mine life.

The EPA will regulate the activity’s environmental management. MRT will regulate theminerals and Mining Lease requirements. FT manages the land and associated roadsand the project will be developed in consultation with FT.

The development will supply a valuable silica flour resource, which is of a very highquality and suitable for specialised glass products, including liquid crystal displays.

The quality of the silica flour resource may vary across the site so several workingfaces or areas will be open as required, to achieve a consistent blended product andgain the maximum benefit from the resource.

To maximise the company’s resources it is also necessary to blend this high graderesource with silica from the company’s operations at Corinna and Blackwater.

The product will be transported to an off-site processing facility located in Wynyardwhere it will be refined for export.

The main socio-economic benefits of the proposed extractive activity and its associatedprocessing are the local increased employment opportunities and the local economicflow on opportunities. There appears to be no socio-economic disadvantages.

Vegetation and soil will be progressively removed just ahead of mining, and stockpiledin a designated area immediately adjacent to the pit areas. The area of clearing willbe minimised so as not to excessively expose flour to possible contamination.

The timber in the proposed mining areas and across most of the Mining Lease has beenharvested in the past. The vegetation cover is mainly regrowth trees and scrub andremoval will be by excavator.

An indicative mine plan and layout is shown in Section 2. The north section will bemined from the south to the north. The southern section will be mined from the northto the south.

Further resource may lie to the south and this will be proven up and extracted overtime also.

2.1 Proposal Outline

2.1.1 General

Resource Definition and DetailsDrilling and pitting at the Hawkes Creek area has identified a viable resource of silicaflour. The proven resource to date is approximately 350,000 tonnes (pers. com. N.J.Turner).

Experience gained elsewhere from mining this type of deposit suggests that, duringmining, a percentage of this resource will be visually, physically and chemicallyassessed as unsuitable and will be rejected as flour waste.


The flour resource exists as a discrete thick ‘carapace’ draped over the top of a lowhill. A thin veneer of A-horizon soil covers the resource. The soil horizon, whichsupports eucalypt regrowth following former logging operations, is typically <0.5 mthick.

Marketable silica flour needs to be very pure, (99.9%) silica (SiO2), with limited tracesof metals. The limits of these metals are iron <50 ppm, titanium <120 ppm, chromium<5 ppm, manganese, copper and nickel <1 ppm and calcium and magnesium within setmaxima and minima.

Since the resource iron levels vary, silica flour from several resource pits must beblended to achieve the quality specification.

The grain size of the flour typically ranges from 0.025 mm (medium silt) to 5 mm(coarse sand), with fine silt and clay (<0.025 mm) make up approximately 3% of thetypical resource.

The oversized and low quality silica flours will be stockpiled for backfilling of theextractive pits, rehabilitation and for occasional sale for road works.

The proposed extraction rate of silica flour will be 50,000 m3 per annum orapproximately 100,000 tonnes per year.

It is unlikely that reject or oversize flour and screenings will be sold offsite forbeneficial reuse or realisation because of the following:

Limited quantities.

Relatively remote extractive pit location.

Distance to markets.

Doubtful cost effectiveness.

Further exploration will be undertaken within the lease to prove existing reserves andto identify further silica resources by drilling or trenching, depending on the terrainand quantity of overburden.

Should a resource be identified, the overburden and topsoil will be stripped back forfurther exploration and to expose the resource for sampling for analysis to confirm thequality.

It is not possible to use samples from drill cores because the drilling contaminates thesilica flour from a resource identification perspective. Even excavator buckets must bepolished with waste product before handling the flour.

Trenches or costeans will be constructed in accordance with the Mineral ExplorationCode of Practice 1999.

During excavation, drainage and erosion control measures, as set out in the QuarryCode of Practice, will be adopted to minimise erosion and sediment loss.

ExtractionThe maximum resource production rate for the proposed development is up to50,000 cubic metres per annum (bulk or in ground volume) of saleable silica flour. Thisequates to approximately 100,000 t/y of dry weight product.

The typical rate is likely to be more like 50,000 t/y. This equates to an approximatemine life of 7 years based on the current reserve amount of 350,000 tonnes.


It is planned to mine the silica reserve horizontally as the resource is located as a typeof carapace on elevated ground. The flour resource is reasonably well defined and liesin a relatively flat plain on the slightly elevated ground. It is expected that somebenches may be up to 50 m wide.

In addition to the operational and rehabilitation benefits, this method has the majoradvantage of minimising contamination of the flour and maximising resource access.

The silica flour will be mined using a 20 - 25 t excavator (or similar) which will be usedto load two 15 - 30 t trucks (or similar) for internal transport. The excavator andtrucks will be kept clean and in good condition.

It may be necessary to blast some rock outcrops on site. Blasting is expected to be arare occurrence and will only be conducted when absolutely necessary and toWorkplace Standards Tasmania requirements.

Flour will be mined at a rate of approximately 400 - 500 tonnes per day for 250days/year, and trucked directly to a centralised onsite stockpile and screening site.

On-Site TransportationThe main onsite access will be via the existing FT road through the spine of theoperation.

With minor modifications, the roads can be maintained as is, by TAM, as a long-termaccess to the proposed mining areas as well as forestry areas surrounding the proposedarea of operations.

TAM will enter into an agreement with Forestry Tasmania and the forestry contractorfor the common use of the onsite roads, when forestry activity recommences aroundthe proposed mining areas.

The maximum onsite cartage distance is predicted to be about 400 m from the miningareas to the central screening and storage area.

TAM operations will be designed so as not to jeopardise the future FT use of the siteand roads or jeopardise future FT access to the surrounding timber resources.

Screening and StorageThere will be a dedicated area of approximately 1 ha at the mine site for screening andmaterial storage. There will be one screening station and several stockpiles in thisarea.

The screening and storage area will be constructed and paved with compacted oversizeflour and reject screenings from the screening station.

The compacted oversize flour and screenings are ideal in producing a sound hard standfor safe operations while allowing the product to be securely stored and managed.

The ‘run of mine’ stockpiled flour, as delivered from the mine areas, will be stockpiledin the vicinity of the screening station and heaped up with a front-end loader pendingscreening.

The material will be coarse screened using a portable vibrating screen, fed by arubber-tyred loader. A front-end loader will tip the silica flour onto a vibrating screenthat removes material greater than 25 mm.


The screened product will be taken by front-end loader to separate stockpiles.Depending on the resource quality there may at times be a separate stockpile for eachproduction area.

Samples will be periodically taken for analysis by an external laboratory to confirm thequality of the resource and to aid blending from the different production stockpileswhere required.

The screened product silica flour will be stockpiled adjacent to the screening stationready for transportation off site to the processing plant.

Some of the oversize material consists mainly of aggregated lumps and has thepotential to weather over time and break down to product sized loose flour. Materialidentified as having this property will also be separately stockpiled.

Poor quality coarse consolidated silica flour will be placed by the front-end loader onthe adjacent waste flour stockpile area.

Hours of OperationIt is proposed to be able to operate the extractive pits from 0700 to 1900 hours dailyfor 7 days a week. The operating hours will in part reflect the acceptable standardfrom the Tasmanian Quarry Code of Practice, June 1999.

The key standard in the code is that residential noise must not exceed 10 dB(A) abovethe normal ambient noise levels during daytime operations.

This is usually achieved by restricting operating hours of quarries or extractive pits inthe vicinity of residential premises, to 0700 to 1900 hours, Mondays to Fridays and 0800to 1600 hours Saturdays.

The proposed operating times (although not compliant with the suggested Quarry Codeof Practice’s hours) are deemed necessary for the following reasons:

The mining area is very isolated and the potential to cause noise nuisance isnegligible. The nearest residence is almost 7 km away.

The extractive activity will be very basic and the potential impacts negligible.

The required flexibility in the hours of operations due to extremely variableweather conditions in the area, variable nature of the resource and the need toextract and protect the integrity and purity of the resource once exposed.

No unfair competitive advantage will result, as there is no other silica flour pitoperator in the state.

The hours of offsite product transportation will in the main match the hours of onsiteoperations.

Major Equipment ItemsThe envisaged process equipment is itemised below.

2 excavators (approximately 20 - 25 t or similar).

4 trucks (approximately 15 - 30 t or similar). One truck capable of spraying water.

1 front-end loader (or similar).

1 portable screen.

2 light service vehicles.


Staff and Personnel1 manager.

Approximately 5 plant operators.

Site personnel will travel daily to and from the operation. There will be no permanentresidences on the proposed Mining Lease.

Off-site Transportation to Processing PlantThe stockpiled screened product flour will be loaded by front-end bucket loader into30 - 38 t covered trucks (or similar) for transport to a processing plant at Wynyard.

There will be an average of approximately 12-truck loads/day of product leaving thepremises for processing at the Wynyard premises, 5 to 6 days/week for 50 weeks peryear. The hours of offsite transportation will in the main match the hours of onsiteoperations. The maximum transport rate may on occasions reach 12 hours/d for 7 daysper week, but this is expected to be a rare occurrence.

Process DetailsThe raw material will be screened using a vibrating screen. There will be no other rawmaterial requirements.

Diesel will be required for the equipment and will be stored in an onsite portable selfbunded storage tank or on a utility tanker.

The project energy requirement will be supplied by an onsite diesel poweredgenerator.

The following wastes will be generated during the construction phase and during theoperations phase:

Reject silica flour. There will be no process by-products.

Domestic waste from the operators.

Sewerage.

Dust from the onsite trafficked areas and from the mobile screening plant.

It is envisaged that the project water requirements will be carted to the site by tanker.This water will be used by the operators as required for spraying on roads in dry windyweather.

Noise emission from the area will be from the mobile equipment used onsite. Not alldesignated machinery will be operating at the one time.

2.1.2 Construction

Pre-extraction PlanningThe pre-extraction planning will involve upgrading the existing resource access roadsand establishing the location of the site infrastructure.

N.J. Turner Geological Services Pty Ltd in consultation with Tasmanian AdvancedMinerals has undertaken extensive resource and mine planning. The plan and layout isshown in Figure 1 below along with the further details contained Appendix A.


The north section of the mine will be mined from the south to the north. The southernsection will be mined from the north to the south. The aims of the plan are tomaximise resource extraction, prevent contamination of the silica, minimise erosion,protect surface waters and ensure efficient rehabilitation.

Silica flour can be contaminated by surface waters drainage into the pit, leaf litter orvegetative matter falling in the pit, area wildfire ash, dust from topsoil and metals ordust/mud from machinery or trucks.

The pre-extraction plan will involve the following mine preparation works.

Silica flour resource identification, including the extent of the extraction.

Vegetation, timber, topsoil and overburden stockpiling. These will be locatedrelatively close to the works so that it is easy to respread the materials for runoffbunding and for the progressive rehabilitation.

In pit incident rainfall flow management and settling pond/bunding with dischargepoints to natural drainage buffer zones.

Access roads.

There will be only minor construction works. The site facilities will consist of re-locatable type site huts:

1 office/lunchroom hut.

1 ablutions/storage hut.

1 generator and fuel storage hut.

1 potable water tank and 1 fire fighting water tank.

1 septic tank system.

Two or three of the site huts will be located adjacent to the construction area asshown in Appendix A. The huts will then be relocated to the final location once theroad modifications, hard stand area construction and screening station establishmenthave been completed.

There will be a hard stand area developed using local oversize flour and screenings toform a safe and sound truck loading, screening and materials storage area.

A septic tank system will be installed on site and will be emptied as required over themine life by a licensed pumping contractor.

A 15 kVA diesel generator (or similar) is proposed to service the site and this should beadequate for lighting, office power and general purpose welding.

The generator-fuel storage will be equipped with a built in bund. Maximum fuelstorage will be 1,000 L of diesel.

The same equipment will be used for construction and operations as itemised below:

2 excavators (approximately 20 - 25 t or similar).

4 trucks (approximately 15 - 30 t or similar). One truck capable of spraying water.

1 front-end loader (or similar).

1 portable screen.

2 light service vehicles.


The project construction phase will basically involve the use of the mining equipmentto establish the initial mining area, storage areas, site huts and roadway changes.Access for the construction will be the same as for the operations using the existing FT,Circular Head Council and State roads.

Extraction Area PreparationVegetation and soil will be progressively removed just ahead of mining, and stockpiledin designated areas. This will reduce risks of fire and resource contamination, and willfacilitate later rehabilitation and revegetation.

The vegetation removal will mostly be by excavator. The excavator will then load thetrucks for transport to the dedicated stockpile area, as outlined in the Figure 1 belowand Appendix A.

The following measures are proposed to control any potential impacts from erosion andsediment transport arising from the preparation and construction activities:

Site clearing will be restricted to acceptable weather conditions. No clearance orconstruction works will be undertaken during high rainfall conditions to reduce therisk of sediment loss to the environment.

Site clearing will not be undertaken during hot, windy conditions to minimise dustgeneration and dispersal of soil by wind.

Silt stop fencing and sediment bunding will be utilised where practical to preventthe transport of any eroded material.

Stockpiled topsoil will be managed to encourage water infiltration, microbialactivity and prevent erosion in the period between stockpiling and use in siterehabilitation.

Areas will be rehabilitated with topsoil and revegetated as soon as practicable.

2.1.3 CommissioningThe commissioning works will consist of the following:

Establishment of the storage areas.

Initial vegetation and topsoil removal.

Storage of vegetation and topsoil.

Development of mining working faces.

Commissioning of the screening station.

There will be no unit processing and operations commissioning involving processingtanks and chemicals as such. The commissioning will involve the use of mobile miningequipment, transport equipment, mobile screening station and dedicated hard standareas established for the process stockpiles.

During commissioning, run off from around the work areas will be directed to sedimentsettling bunds and ponds with overflows to natural drains as outlined in the QuarryCode of Practice.

The mine will be commissioned as indicated in the Figure 1 and Figure 5 below and asoutlined in Appendix A.


2.2 Site PlanA plan of the site is shown in Figure 1 below. The plan shows the project footprint, theproposed infrastructure location and the surrounding environment (figure courtesy ofN.J. Turner Geological Services Pty Ltd).

Figure 1 – Site Plan


2.3 General Location Map

2.3.1 Regional SettingThe general location of the project is shown in regional map in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2 – Regional Setting of Project

Mine site


2.3.2 Area SettingThe area setting of the project north of the Arthur River at Hawkes Creek is shown inFigure 3 below. The Forestry Tasmania roads are also shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 – Area setting

The nearest residence is located on Jaegers Road approximately 7 km to the east ofthe pit.

The nearest potential sensitive land use is possibly the Arthur River approximately 1 kmaway to the south of the mine and the Tarkine area which is further to the south of theArthur River.

2.3.3 Mining LeaseThe boundaries of ML 27M/2009 which were the boundaries of the former HawkesCreek section of EL 35/2003 are shown in Figure 4 below (courtesy Mineral ResourcesTasmania).

Mine site

Nearestresidence


Figure 4 - Mining Lease 27M/2009 boundaries

ML 27M/2009Former part of EL

35/2003


2.3.4 Mine PlanThe mine plan details are outlined in Figure 5 and Figure 6 below (courtesy of N.J.Turner Geological Services Pty Ltd report). The full report is in Appendix A.

Figure 5 – Mine plan


Figure 6 - Mine plan with long section and cross section views


2.4 Offsite InfrastructureNo new off-site ancillary facilities will be required to allow the proposal to proceed.Access to the project will be via the existing Forestry Tasmania roads, Council roadsand State owned highway.

Some fencing may be installed at the entrance for the new mine. Mine signposting,gating and security will be based on Chatlee Road.

The product from the Hawkes Creek pit will be transported by trucks to the TasmanianAdvanced Minerals processing plant in Wynyard. The proposed transport route is:

Chatlee Road.

Salmon River Road.

Lerunna Road.

Leensons Road.

Roger River Road.

Trowutta Road.

Grooms Cross Road.

Irishtown Road.

Bass Highway.

The proposed mine product cartage is summarised in the Table 1 below.

Nominal production 100,000 tonnes paMaximum cart period 7 days/week 12 h/dTypical cart period 5 days/week 8 h/dTypical days per year 250Typical tonnes per day 400Truck capacity Approximately 32 tonnesLoads per day Average Approximate 12Trips on route 24 vehicle movements per day

Table 1 - Mine Product Cartage

The project establishment and construction traffic movements will be very similar tothe ongoing operating traffic movements, as the same personnel and equipment will beused for the establishment/construction as for the ongoing operations.

During the project establishment and mine life it is likely that forestry loggingoperations will occur in the area using the same roads.

2.5 Technical and Management AlternativesThere are no other appropriate technical and management alternatives to the proposaldevelopment.

The location and mode of the proposed operation are considered to be the mostappropriate.


2.6 Onsite Operating InfrastructureThe proposed onsite facilities likely to be associated with the proposed developmentare summarised below and their locations are indicated in the plans in Appendix A:

1 office or lunchroom site hut.

1 ablutions and storage site hut.

1 site power generator and a fuel storage container.

1 potable water tank.

1 fire fighting water tank.

1 septic tank system.

Two or three of the portable site huts will be located together in the approximatelocations as shown in the site plans contained in Appendix A. The roofing area may beused to catch rainwater for the water storage tanks.

The facilities will be sited adjacent to the screening site and storage areas to facilitateboth operational supervision and control of traffic on and off site. The roofing areamay be used to catch rainwater for the water storage tanks.

The facilities will be sited near the screening site and product storage to facilitateboth operational supervision and control of traffic on and off site.

The project sewerage treatment requirement will be serviced by a septic tank systemwhich will be emptied as required by a licensed pumping contractor.

A 15 kVA diesel generator (or similar) is proposed to service the site powerrequirements and this should be adequate for running the area lighting, appliances andgeneral purpose repairs such as welding.

The screening station fuel requirement will be stored in a 1,000 L storage tank near thescreening station. The storage tank will be bunded. Diesel for general equipment usewill be stored and transported around the project by utility tankers (approximately1,000 L). Contractor requirements will be serviced by their own utility tanker(1,000 L). The maximum onsite diesel amount at any one time will be approximately3,000 L.

2.7 Public and Employee Safety

2.7.1 Public SafetyThe general public’s safety will be managed by appropriate signage at the mineentrance and appropriate fencing where necessary. There will be a locked boom typegate at the mine entrance to prevent unauthorised vehicular access to the mine.

Safety and danger signs will be mounted at the main entrance, in accordance with MRTand WST requirements. There will be a company premises identification sign at themain entrance/exit to the property. This area is also likely to be the emergencymeeting point. No other major signs are proposed at this time.

A traffic impact assessment has been undertaken and the findings indicate the therewill be no major increase in traffic risk above that which already exists. The trafficimpact assessment report is contained in Appendix B.

Truck loads will be covered to minimise potential offsite impacts to the public.


2.7.2 OHSEmployee safety will be managed in accordance with the Tasmanian Workplace Healthand Safety Act 1995 and associated regulations and any Workplace Standards Tasmaniarequirements.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals has a safety management system for its overall companyoperations in Tasmania. The same safety management prescriptions will apply to theHawkes Creek operation as for the other Tasmanian operations.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals will employ appropriately qualified and skilledmachinery operators. It is proposed to have up to 5 operators employed at the minesite. Employees will wear highly visible clothing and safety equipment such as hardhats, safety boots, safety glasses, sunglasses and dust respirators, if and whenrequired.

The depth of the silica deposit to be excavated below ground level will vary fromapproximately 0.5 m to 16 m. The potential maximum vertical working face height of16 m has the potential to be an operational safety hazard.

The height of the working faces proposed for the Hawkes Creek operations will beapproximately 4 - 5 m. Vertical faces of approximately 4 - 5 m represent a low risk ofburying extractive equipment. This approach is in accordance with the Quarry Code ofPractice 1999.

The sizing of the extracted material is expected to range from medium silt to coarsesand. The dusting potential of this type of material is minimal due to the wateradhesion nature of the material.

The respirable fraction (i.e. <10 microns or 0.00001 m particle size fraction) in thematerial is expected to be low and only approximately 3% of the material is expectedto be less than 25 microns. The Australian Exposure Standard for crystalline silica is0.1 mg/m3 (8 h time weighted average) and 0.05 mg/m3 (calculated 12 h timeweighted average). Tasmanian Advanced Minerals has undertaken several OHS dustsurveys and this is reported in detail in Section 4.14.2.

It is proposed that the mobile equipment used at the mining operation will have sealedpressurised cabins with air conditioning to minimise exposure to particulate matter.An appropriate mine plan will be employed to ensure a safe, level and stable workingarea. A speed limit of 25 km/h is proposed for vehicular movements on the mine site.

Mine equipment will be appropriately serviced and maintained. Employees willundertake a daily vehicle safety check before commencement of daily duties. If anydefects are identified, the vehicles will not be operated.

There is a limited mobile phone service available at the mine site. A service exists at aspecific location on the site. A good coverage is available at the gravel quarry onChatlee Road approximately 1.5 km to the north of the mine. The limited onsitemobile phone service and the Chatlee Road quarry service will be used as and whenrequired and in emergencies. There will be no land line at the site.

The mine office and the mobile extractive equipment will use portable and vehiclemounted UHF radios for communications. The UHF system will be compatible withForestry Tasmania and forest a contractor system which is currently used in the areaand will be used to communicate with Forestry Tasmania and forest contractors whenin the area.


3. Existing Environment3.1 Planning Aspects

The area of the proposed resource extraction is located in the Circular HeadMunicipality.

The relevant provisions of the Circular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1, 1995 arediscussed in the following sections.

3.1.1 Zone and UseThe Mining Lease and surrounding area are within the Forest Resource Zone of theCircular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1, 1995 (the Scheme).

The intent (4.9.1) of the Forest Resource Zone is:

1) To identify the areas of forest on Crown Land which are under the control of theForestry Commission;

2) To identify private land where a Private Timber Reserve or Timber Harvesting Planhas been sought and approved by the Forestry Commission;

3) To identify other land which is suitable for Commercial Forestry operations.

The resource extraction is best defined as Industry Extractive / Extractive Industry1,which is a discretionary use or development in this zone.

Industry Extractive: means any land used for the excavation of any resource(s) such assand, earth, soil, clay, turf, gravel, rock, stone, minerals or the like.

3.1.2 Standards for Use and DevelopmentCompliance of the proposal with the relevant Development Standards is summarised inTable 2 below.

Issue CompliancePart 4 Development Standards

4.9.3 1) Height All buildings proposed are less than 12metres.

4.9.3 2) Building Setback

The location of the site administrationoffices and ablutions room is shown inFigure 5 of Section 2.3 above and inAppendix A.These buildings meet the buildingsetbacks required in this clause. (Front50m, side and rear 25m, rivers andcreeks 30m).

4.9.4 Subdivision Not applicable - no subdivision isproposed.

Table 2 - Compliance with relevant Scheme standards

1 Clause 4.9.2 Use of Land list “Extractive Industry” rather than Industry Extractive as defined in Part 13 ofthe Scheme. It has been assumed these definitions refer to the same activity and the difference is the resultof an error in drafting the Scheme.


Part 6 Hazard Controls and Land Protection

6.2 Unstable Land

There will be no subdivision of land orconstruction of buildings on “unstableland” as defined in the Scheme.Mining activity will be undertaken on theWelcome Swamp/Salmon/BlackwaterKarst System. Site investigationsundertaken to date demonstrates themining area is stable. A geological andgeo-conservation assessment has beenundertaken and is discussed later in thisplan. Mineral Resources Tasmania islikely to assess this also as part of theDPEMP assessment process.

6.3 Fire Hazard Area

The location of the resource, method ofextraction, general weather conditionsand water holding properties of theresource will minimise any fire risk. Thefire risks will be managed in accordancewith Forestry Tasmania requirements(land manager and fire authority). Therequirements of the local fire brigadeand the State Fire Service will beconsidered if applicable.

6.4 Flood Prone Areas

The resource extraction areas andancillary buildings are not located inareas known to be flood prone. The twoclosest waterways (Arthur River andHawkes Creek) are greater than 300metres from the maximum extent of theproposed works.

6.5 Coastal Protection Not applicable.

6.6 Watercourse Protection Areas There are no buildings proposed within30 metres of a watercourse.

6.7 Tree Preservation Not applicable.

6.8 Distances Between Dwelling Unitsor Residential Zones and ScheduledPremises or Sources of Pollution

There are no nearby residential useslikely to be effected by the proposedresources extraction.

Part 9 Roads and Access ProvisionsAll provisions are dealt with in theaccompanying traffic impactassessment

Traffic Impact Assessment contained inAppendix B.

3.1.3 National Estate ListingsThere are no listings on the National Estate in the proposed Mining Lease area.


3.2 Environmental AspectsThe extractive pit site is located in mature, mixed forest that has been selectivelylogged in the past. Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas andthere is a large, road gravel quarry 1.5 km north of the mine site, on Chatlee Road,which services the forestry operations.

There are no private residences within approximately 7 kilometres of the proposedmine and it will not be visible from any roads in the surrounding area. A generalappreciation of the mining area is shown by the photographs in Appendix C.

Hawkes Creek flows past the project area on the eastern side. There are nodownstream sensitive surface water users. The groundwater in the project area isexpected to be below the extent of mining, as discussed later, and is expected to flowin the general direction of Hawkes Creek. There are no groundwater users in the area.

There is no evidence of any karst systems in the proposed mining area and the rainfallinfiltration rate in the area is expected to be good due to the relatively permeablenature of the surface geology and materials.

The operation will need to integrate effectively with the current or future forestryactivities in the area. Traffic management will be required for periods of simultaneousoperations with FT.

No conflicting private land use is likely and there are no rural land owners in the area.Forestry Tasmania will be consulted during the approvals assessment and the ForestryTasmania requirements will be included in detailed site operating plans.

3.2.1 TopographyThe proposed mining area is outlined in the figures shown above in Section 2. Theareas of the proposed mining are slightly elevated in relation to the surroundingcountry with RLs of approximately 50 to 70 m.

The land slopes are generally low to moderate in the area as the country slopes to theArthur River to the south at RL approximately 25 m. It is expected that the depth ofmining will result in the flattening of the existing ridge and no major below groundexcavations are envisaged.

The mine plan cross sections show that the area will be generally flat following miningand progressive ongoing rehabilitated with overburden and soils.

3.2.2 Surface WaterThe project area is in the Hawkes Creek catchment which flows in a southerly directionpast the mining area on the eastern side into the Arthur River. Hawkes Creek is about300 m from the maximum possible extent of mining.

There is a small tributary of Hawkes Creek which runs in an easterly direction belowthe southern extent of the proposed mining area. The small tributary joins HawkesCreek below the proposed works. There are no other major rivers or streams in theproposed mining areas. There are no surface water users in the area.

Hawkes Creek water quality has been monitored below the proposed mine area andbelow the confluence of the small tributary for approximately 6 months to establish abaseline database.

The database is contained in Appendix D. The location of the monitoring site is shownin Figure 7 below.


Figure 7 - Surface Water Monitoring Site

The State Policy on Water Quality Management 1995 requires that the quality ofTasmanian surface waters must be maintained or enhanced.


Therefore any potential aqueous emissions from the mine site must not jeopardise thewater quality of the surrounding aqueous environment.

The former Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment (now theDepartment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment) and the CircularHead Council established and ratified the Protected Environmental Values (PEVs) forthe Arthur River catchment under the State Policy for Water Quality Management inJanuary 2000.

The document is entitled the Environmental Management Goals for Tasmanian SurfaceWaters, Catchments within the Circular Head & Waratah/Wynyard Municipal Areas,January 2000.

The PEVs for the Arthur River catchment in the area of the proposed mine areinterpreted (based on the Surface Water in the State Forest land tenure) to be:

A. Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems:

(i) Protection of modified (not pristine) aquatic ecosystems.

a. From which edible fish are harvested.

Having regard for Forestry Tasmania’s ‘Management Decision Classification System’.

B. Recreational Water Quality & Aesthetics:

(i) Primary contact water quality.

(ii) Secondary contact water quality.

(iii) Aesthetic water quality.

That is, as a minimum, water quality management strategies should seek to providewater of a physical and chemical nature to support a modified, but healthy aquaticecosystem.

The management strategy should also seek to provide water from which edible fishmay be harvested; which will allow people to safely engage in recreation activitiessuch as swimming, kayaking, paddling or fishing in aesthetically pleasing waters.

The baseline Hawkes Creek water quality analyses and field measurements, containedin Appendix D, show that the Hawkes Creek water quality is of a high quality.

The results are comparable with the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Freshand Marine Water Quality 2000 (ANZECC guideline) trigger values for the 95%protection of aquatic ecosystems.

3.2.3 GroundwaterAs part of the pre-extraction planning, 14 resource bores were drilled in the mineareas. The borehole logs and the analytical results for each 1 m core sections arecontained in Appendix E.

During the drilling of the resource boreholes, no significant groundwater wasencountered. Only 2 sites (#28 and #33) showed any signs of groundwater at depth.When the drilling was extended past the resource, into the dark brown silica layer, thecores showed signs of moisture (pers. con. N.J. Turner). Even though this is not acompletely satisfactory way to determine the exact groundwater depth, it is stillindicative of the approximate groundwater depth.

Assuming, that the static depth of the groundwater is around the depth of the darkbrown silica flour layer (not unreasonable given the permeable nature of the ground),then the groundwater is, on average, about 11 m below the surface with a potentialmaximum depth of about 16 m as evaluated in Appendix E.


The bore log information in Appendix E indicates that the groundwater depth will bebelow the silica resource extent and below the proposed mining extent.

As negligible groundwater was encountered in the resource boreholes no qualitymeasurements were undertaken. The groundwater quality is expected to be of a highstandard and similar to the surface waters due to the permeable nature of the materialin the mining area. It is expected to flow in the general direction of Hawkes Creek.

The groundwater flow is expected to form the majority of the Hawkes Creek flowduring long periods of dry weather, as evidenced in February 2010.

Groundwater is not expected to be an issue in the designated mining areas due to thefollowing:

The site elevations, mine design and slopes and relatively shallow extractiveoperation and the relatively porous nature of the underlying and surroundingearth.

The mine plan will not result in any major depressions (resource located on theelevated ground), will minimise resource exposure (minimise area) andprogressively rehabilitate mined areas.

Based on the above, the groundwater charging rate, level and movement rates are notexpected to be significantly impacted by the proposed operations.

3.2.4 Geo-ConservationA geo-conservation assessment report was undertaken and prepared by N.J. TurnerGeological Services Pty Ltd. The report is contained in Appendix F.

The report findings are summarised as follows:

The geology of the area has been mapped (Figure 2 in Appendix F) at a scale of1:25,000 by Everard et al (1999, Mineral Resources Tasmania) and the stratigraphyis described by Everard et al (2007).

N.J. Turner Geological Services Pty Ltd and Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltdhave carried out detailed work in the area of the silica resource and in theadjacent areas (Figure 3 in Appendix F).

The oldest rocks in the proposed Mining Lease are sedimentary and volcanicformations that include the Salmon River Siltstone (top), Smithton Dolomite,Spinks Creek Volcanics and Keppel Creek Formation (bottom).

Of these formations the Salmon River Siltstone may be Early Cambrian to MiddleCambrian in age, but the underlying formations are Neoproterozoic.

300 m northeast of the proposed silica mine area there is an unusually goodoutcrop of the Smithton Dolomite in Hawkes Creek that includes a 70 m longsection in which there are several short intervals of underground drainage.

There is an Informal Reserve at the northern end of the silica deposit that is 70 mclear of the proposed mine workings.

Conservation of the above features will require close attention to themanagement of sediment-bearing mine runoff.

The silica resource is geologically unusual, but similar materials are wellrepresented along strike of the proposed mine, at other places in the Arthur Riverdistrict and elsewhere in Tasmania.

The LIST - Natural Values Atlas - database indicates that the Mining Lease will besituated in the Welcome Swamp/Salmon/Blackwater Karst System. Particularattention was paid during the N.J. Turner Geological Services Pty Ltd field assessmentto search for karst landforms in and around the proposed mine area.


Geological coverage within the proposed mine area has been intensive and no sinkholes or other karst landforms have been found. Foot traversing in adjacent areas(Figure 3 of Appendix F) did not identify any karst or sink holes either. No evidence ofkarst systems has been identified over the periods of forestry activity or exploration.

The silica flour deposit is likely to have been formed by post-depositional leaching ofthe soluble carbonates from the dolomite, leaving behind very fine and unusually puresilica flour. A geological map and a geo-conservation map taken from the N.J. TurnerGeological Services Pty Ltd report in Appendix F are shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9below.

3.2.5 Natural ProcessesThere are no natural processes associated with the existing environment. There is nohistory of land instability, flooding, seismic events, wildfire, landslips or storm forcewind damage in the propose project area.

3.2.6 Conservation Reserves or Wilderness AreasA Forestry Tasmania streamside reserve and a Forestry Tasmania - Protection FormalReserve exists within 500 m of the proposed mining area. These reserves are shown inmore detail in Section 3.2.11.

There is a high quality wildness area within 20 km of the project area. The ArthurRiver which forms the boundary of the emergency heritage listed Tarkine area.

3.2.7 Soils

Land SystemsThe following two land systems, as mapped by Richley2, occur in the area:

613121 Ekberg Creek:This land system has developed on gently undulating plains on Precambrian dolomite.On the low rises the soils are very gravelly, light grey uniform sand soils with a loamysand surface texture, high permeability and an average depth >1.8m. These soils havea high susceptibility to rill and gully erosion.

On the flats the soils are mottled light brownish grey, yellowish brown gradational soilswith a loam surface texture, moderate permeability and an average depth of 1.6m.These soils have a low susceptibility to flooding and water logging.

624131 Olearia Road:Gradational soils have developed on low hills on Cambrian greywacke turbiditesequences. On the broad undulating crests the soils are yellowish brown in colour,have a loam surface texture, moderate permeability, an average depth >1.8m and alow susceptibility to sheet erosion.

On the low hills and steep valley slopes they are brownish yellow in colour, have apeaty loam surface texture, moderate permeability, an average depth of 1.8m and ahigh susceptibility to sheet erosion.

The soils are stony, gravelly dark yellowish brown in the drainage lines, have a gravellyloamy peat surface texture, high permeability, an average depth of 0.5m and amoderate susceptibility to gully erosion.

2 Richley, LR (1978). Land Systems of Tasmania Region 3. Department of Agriculture, Tasmania


3.2.8 Land CapabilityThe land in the area of the proposed mine site has not been mapped for landcapability. However, as this area is currently protected as State Forest it is excludedfrom agricultural use and would be classified as an Exclusion Area in land capabilitymapping.

Figure 8 - Geological features


Figure 9 - Geo-conservation features


3.2.9 ClimateThere is no weather station at the proposed mining site. The Bureau of Meteorologyhas weather stations at Marrawah 26 km to the northwest, Smithton 35 km to thenorth-northeast and Savage River 52 km to the southeast.

Although these reference sites have varying elevations and distances to the coast, theygive an indication of the mine climate, which is temperate with a high annual rainfall,generally cool with westerly winds and a low average number of sunny days per year.

The following climate estimates for the site are based on the Bureau of Meteorologyfor the three reference sites3:

The mean rainfall is estimated to be approximately 1,500 mm/year with highestmonthly rainfall in July and August approximately 200 mm/month.

The mean temperature is expected to be approximately 16ºC with mean maximumtemperatures of approximately 20ºC in February and mean minimum temperaturesof approximately 4ºC in July month.

The mean number of rain days per year (>1 mm rainfall) is expected to beapproximately of 200 days per year.

The common wind direction is from the west due to the roaring forties. Hot drynortherly winds can occur occasionally in summertime.

Based on the Savage River Pan A evaporation data, the period of highest dustnuisance will be during months when the mean monthly evaporation exceeds themean monthly rainfall. This mainly occurs on average in January (53 mmdifference) and February (47 mm difference) of each year.

3.2.10 Previous ActivitiesThe area of the proposed silica flour extractive pit operation is located on a multipleuse State Forest managed by Forestry Tasmania. The area is zoned as Forest Resourceunder the Circular head Council’s Planning Scheme.

It is apparent that historic logging activity has been conducted in the area in the past.Mineral exploration activities have recently been undertaken in the area in accordancewith Mineral Resources Tasmania’s Mineral exploration Code of Practice.

3.2.11 Forestry Tasmania Stream Side ReservesForestry Tasmania has stream side reserves for water courses in State Forest asprescribed in the Forest Code of Practice 2000.

The reserves for Hawkes Creek and its tributaries in the vicinity of the project area areshown in Figure 10 below (figure courtesy of Forestry Tasmania).

Hawkes Creek is classified as a Class 2 stream (30 m streamside buffer) and the smalltributary to the south of the mining area is classified as a Class 3 stream (20 mstreamside buffer) as prescribed in the Forest Code of Practice 2000.

3 Bureau of Meteorology – Climate Averages by Numberhttp://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/ca_tas_names.shtml

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


Figure 10 - Forestry Tasmania stream side reserves


3.2.12 Ecological AssessmentECOtas undertook an ecological assessment of the mining area in March 2010. One ofthe recommendations from ECOtas, was that an aerial eagle search should beundertaken over potential eagle habitat and nest locations in and around the mine site.

Forestry Tasmania undertook the aerial eagle habitat and nest survey in April 2010 andthe results of the Forestry Tasmania survey are contained in the ECOtas report. Thefindings of the report are summarized below. The report is contained in Appendix G.

The study area supports the following TASVEG mapping units, namely:

Extra-urban miscellaneous (FUM);

Acacia melanoxylon swamp forest (NAF);

Nothofagus-Atherosperma rainforest (RMT);

E. nitida forest over rainforest (WNR); and

E. obliqua forest over rainforest (WOR).

These mapping units are not classified as threatened under Schedule 3A of theTasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002.

No flora species, listed on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and BiodiversityConservation Act 1999 or the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, wererecorded from the study area.

One fauna species, the Tasmanian devil, listed as threatened (endangered) on theTasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the CommonwealthEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, was noted (scats)from within the study area.

There is potential habitat for several threatened species including the wedge-tailedeagle, spotted tailed quoll, masked owl, grey goshawk, Tasmanian devil and keeledsnail. A targeted search for nests of the wedge-tailed eagle has been undertaken andno nests were detected.

Species listed as “protected wildlife” on the schedules of the Wildlife Regulations 1999were not detected and no products of such species (e.g. nests, den sites, etc.) wererecorded such that additional permits under these regulations will not be required.


No evidence of plant disease was noted and the plant communities recorded are “lowrisk” to Phytophthora cinnamomi (root rot fungus). Some managementrecommendations are made in regard to minimising the risk of the introduction andspread of myrtle wilt to surrounding areas of rainforest.

3.2.13 Aboriginal Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage Management Australia undertook an Aboriginal heritage survey of theproposed mining area in April 2010. The report is contained in Appendix H.

The findings of the field survey and assessment are that no Aboriginal heritage sites orareas of potential archaeological sensitivity were identified.

The report states with a high level of confidence that the negative results of the fieldsurvey assessment are an accurate reflection of the very limited extent of Aboriginalheritage values within this area.


3.2.14 Baseline SurveysBaseline surveys have been undertaken in the mining area as listed below:

Geo-conservation survey.

Ecological survey including a Forestry Tasmania aerial eagle search.

Aboriginal heritage survey.

Surface water quality survey.

Traffic impact survey.

The findings of these surveys and other project issues are summarised as follows:

No karst systems or geo-conservation values exist in the proposed mining area.

No threatened species have been identified in the proposed mining area.

No Aboriginal Heritage has been identified in the proposed mining area.

No historic cultural heritage has been identified in the proposed mining area.

The impact from increased traffic movements will be negligible.

Hawkes Creek water quality is very good.

No land ownership issues have been identified in the proposed mining area. FTwill be consulted as part of the project approval process.

No planning scheme buffer zone issues or restrictions exist.

No major hazardous materials storage, handling and transport issues exist.

No major waste management issues exist.

The process operation is very basic with negligible process emissions.

No process water supply is required and onsite water tank storage is proposed.

No groundwater issues have been identified based on the drilling log data.

Negligible impact is envisaged on the water quality of Hawkes Creek.

No major traffic issues are envisaged.

The mining activity should not interfere with future land use and strategies.

3.3 Socio-Economic AspectsThe project has net economic and social benefits at the local, regional and State scale.This is due to the expected increase in local employment, local incomes, localexpenditure and local service and local supply provisions.

There will be no onsite a camp. Workers will commute to work daily from localtownships. There will be no net economic or social downside to the project.

3.4 Alternative SitesThe proposed mining and screening activities are confined to the resource location.Onsite screening and resource management minimises the cartage volume and traffic,fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

It also means that reject material is readily available for onsite reuse or progressiverehabilitation. There are no other feasible alternative sites.


4. Potential Effects and their ManagementThe construction and operation of the new silica flour extractive pit by TasmanianAdvanced Minerals on mining area of ML27/2009 will be undertaken as generallyoutlined in Section 2 above and the information contained in the N.J. TurnerGeological Services Pty Ltd report contained in Appendix A.

The key potential environmental issues identified for the new silica flour extractive pitare:

Surrounding geo-conservation values.

Groundwater and surface water quality.

Threatened species.

Aboriginal Heritage.

Materials handling, storage and transport.

Integration with FT requirements and forest contractor operations including trafficmanagement.

Current and potential future land use and closure strategy.

The potential health impacts identified are:

Dust generation during construction, operations and transport.

Increase in traffic movements.

The envisaged life for the new silica flour extractive pit is approximately 7 yearsdepending on the achieved extraction rate and resource amount and availability.

4.1 Air EmissionsThe primary air pollutant sources will be dust from the construction, mining, screening,stockpiling and transport activities during long dry, hot, windy weather. There will beno designated or scheduled air emission stacks or vents.

4.1.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas and there is a large, roadgravel quarry 1.5 km north of the mine site, also on Chatlee Road.

Vegetation growth is reasonably thick and diverse over the project area. Current dustemissions from the mining area are negligible due to the vegetation cover and lack ofactivity.

The forestry roads in the vicinity of the proposed new extractive pit are unsealed.They provide access to and from the mine site for construction and operations. Dustemissions may occasionally occur from Chatlee Road, Salmon River Road, Lerunna Roadand Leensons Road during timber harvesting operations in hot dry weather.


4.1.2 Performance RequirementsAir emissions from new extractive pit must comply with the following:

Tasmanian OHS requirements (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 1998).

National Environment Protection Measure (Air) – PM 10 and PM 2.5 limits at theboundary of the premises.

Tasmanian Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality) 2004.

Tasmanian Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

Tasmanian Environmental Management and Pollution Control 1994 environmentalnuisance provisions.

4.1.3 Potential EffectsEnvironmental factors such as the weather play a large role in the nature of diffuse airpollution and dust emissions.

Dust has the potential to cause an environmental nuisance if it is blown beyond theboundary of the proposed construction and operating activities. It can causerespiratory annoyance or problems, reduce visual amenity and fall out onto land orsurfaces in other ownership.

In addition to nuisance to people, dust can also fall onto vegetation and in extremecases retard plant growth by blocking photosynthesis. Diesel exhaust fumes can causean environmental nuisance and, like all fossil fuel exhausts, contribute to greenhousegases.

Construction and operation of the new extractive pit may result in the generation ofthe following air emissions:

Dust generation during clearing of the site and stockpiling of soil forrehabilitation.

Dust generation during operations, associated with movement of vehicles andmachinery and excavation, transportation and emplacement of rock and soil.

Smoke and associated particulates during any burning off of the clearedvegetation.

Severe smoke and associated particulate impacts from the loss of control ofvegetation burn offs.

Exhaust fumes from vehicles.

4.1.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe following mitigation measures will be utilised to minimise the generation of airemissions during construction and operations:

Vegetation clearance will not be undertaken during hot, dry and windy periods.

Extra care will be taken when operating at times of high wind speed, or duringother adverse weather conditions, to minimise dust emissions.

Roads will be watered as necessary during hot, dry and windy conditions. Ifnecessary operations will be suspended during extreme weather conditions.

Cleared vegetation will not be burned off but will be stored in windrows andreused as soon as possibly in rehabilitation works as dust/sediment containmentberms. This will prevent any potential health effects from smoke on the generalcommunity and construction and mine site workers.

Reputable civil contractors using well maintained equipment will minimise exhaustemissions.


Maintaining existing native trees for windbreaks and utilizing the existingtopography and embankments to shield the new extractive pit and working areasfrom prevailing winds.

Transport trucks will not be overloaded and will have the loads covered.

There will be an onsite speed limit of <25 km/h.

FT does not have speed limits for their roads but advises public and commercialusers to drive carefully and to the conditions. The mine transport speeds will belimited to <50 km/h on Chatlee Road and <70 km/h on the other Forestry roads onthe transport route (refer to the TIA in Appendix B).

4.1.5 Assessment of EffectsPotential air emissions will occur primarily during the materials handling and cartageactivities after long periods of dry, hot weather. Air emissions are expected to benegligible during wet weather as the silica flour hold a significant amount of water.

The silica flour generally remains well saturated even when allowed to drain forseveral days.

Keeping transport speeds below the specified speed limits both onsite and offsite willsignificantly reduce road dust generation especially during long periods of dry hotweather.

Commitment 1: Vegetation clearance will not be undertaken during hot, dry andwindy periods.

Commitment 2: Dust impacts will be minimised by road tanker watering as requiredand by the suspension of site activities in extreme weather conditions.

Commitment 3: Traffic speeds on the mining lease will be limited to <25 km/h andspeeds will be limited to <50 km/h on Chatlee Road and <70 km/h on the otherForestry Tasmania roads through to Roger River Road.

4.2 Liquid WasteThe mining and screening operations will be dry processes and there will be no waterusage apart from the occasional watering of roads and work areas as required. Therewill be no scheduled liquid waste or designated aqueous discharge point from the newextractive pit.

A portable crib room and toilet will be installed, and all liquid waste (includingsewage) will be treated onsite in a septic tank system and the septic tank will bepumped out as required over the mine life by an authorised contractor for disposal atan approved wastewater treatment plant.

A mobile fuel tanker will be used to refuel the mining equipment. Another mobiletanker will be used by the contractors. The volume of each tanker will beapproximately 1,000 L. A 1,000 L bunded diesel storage tank will be located near thescreening station and will be the dedicated supply for the vibrating screen.

The key potential risks to surface water quality will be sediment runoff from themining and storage areas and potential fuel spills during refilling.

4.2.1 Existing ConditionsThere is currently no chemical or fuel storage conducted on the Mining Lease.Vegetation is relatively thick and diverse over the project area. There are three mainsurface water drainage lines emanating from the project area.


The main one is Hawkes Creek (Forest Practices Regulations Class 2) which travels in asoutherly direction from the north of the mining area to the south of the proposedmining area on the eastern side for approximately 1 km before joining the Arthur River.

Another unnamed Hawkes Creek tributary (Forest Practices Regulations Class 3) runsfor approximately 0.5 km across the southern extent of the proposed mining areabefore it joins Hawkes Creek to the east. A drainage line (Forest Practices RegulationsClass 4) runs south on the western side of the proposed mining area, before joining thesouthern tributary.

Currently the storm water around the proposed mining area drains to naturallyoccurring drainage lines and ultimately into the above mentioned receiving waters.

4.2.2 Performance RequirementsThere are no designated discharge points for this project. However any diffuseaqueous emissions to receiving waters during construction and operations must complywith the requirements of the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997.

The policy requirements are outlined in the Environmental Management Goals forTasmanian Surface Waters – Catchments within the Circular Head & Waratah/WynyardMunicipal Areas January 2000. The protected environmental values for the site surfacewaters and groundwater and the water quality objectives have been discussed inSection 3.2.2.

The standard measures to control and manage surface water quality and sedimentloads during extraction pit activities are outlined in the Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

Portable site huts/crib room and toilet will be used. The waste water from theseportable facilities will be disposed of by an appropriate contractor using an approvedwaste transporter to an approved waste facility. The operation must be undertaken inaccordance with the Tasmanian Environmental Management and Pollution Control(Waste Management) Regulations 2000.

4.2.3 Potential EffectsThe primary potential water contaminant from the project will be sediment loss fromthe mining and storage areas. This may occur due to the collection of incident rainfallin these areas and the uncontrolled or unmanaged drainage of the water to thereceiving waters.

Sediment loss to Hawkes Creek has the potential to:

Increase turbidity and reduce visibility for natural predation and sunlight forphotosynthesis.

Displace aquatic animals from river bed habitat by filling up the spaces betweenthe rocks and gravels on the river bed.

Affect fish gills and respiration under extreme sediment loads.

The water quality in the area is very good based on the data contained in Appendix D.The water quality is comparable to the ANZECC Guidelines for Fresh and Marine WaterQuality 2000, protection of 95% of aquatic ecosystems.

The onsite mining, screening and storage of the silica flour should not present a risk ofinorganic chemical contamination to Hawkes Creek and its tributaries.


This is based on the following:

Negligible observed impacts from the currently exposed silica flour and gravels inthe local and general areas.

The chemical analysis contained in Appendix E.

The highly weathered geological nature of the silica resource and its chemicalinactivity and stable nature (refer to geological report Appendix F).

It is possible to lose diesel fuel or hydraulic oil from equipment operations andrefuelling. Loss can occur from spillage, breakage or vandalism.

A fuel spill has the potential to impact on groundwater quality. However groundwaterlevels are generally 10 m below the existing ground level and the silica flour/sand hasa very high absorption capacity as do most sands. Any potential loss of fuels or oils willbe absorbed by the local soils and vegetation. It is unlikely that any fuel spills willhave a measurable impact on groundwater quality.

The septic tank system may not work to design.

4.2.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe following avoidance measures are proposed:

Site clearing will be restricted to acceptable weather conditions. No clearance orestablishment works will be undertaken during high rainfall conditions to reducethe risk of sediment loss to the environment.

The area of mining will be minimised and the surface water drainage from theproject storage areas will be controlled and managed to drain to naturalvegetated drainage lines in accordance with the Quarry Code of practice.

During project establishment, temporary settlement basins and silt fencing will beused as required and surface water runoff will be directed to naturally vegetatedgently sloping ground.

Sediment settling bunds will be established around the designated mining area.The bunding will consist of overburden and felled vegetation as the supportingstructure. The location of the bunding is shown in Figure 5 of Section 2.3.4 and inFigure No 3 in Appendix A.

The waste stockpiles will be no closer than 30 m to any Class 4 drainage line.

Reputable properly trained contractors will be employed using properlymaintained equipment to reduce the risk of operator error and the risk ofmechanical failure.

Fuel will be transported, stored and dispensed in a mobile tanker with anexpected capacity of approximately 1,000 L. The fuel tanker will be parked in asecure area. The tanker will carry fuel cleanup equipment in case spills occur.

A 1,000 L onsite fuel storage will be properly bunded and used to supply thescreening station. The storage volume will be restricted to 1,000 L.

Any oil or diesel contaminated soil will be removed immediately and taken to anauthorised disposal site by an authorised waste transport contractor.

Any equipment maintenance undertaken on site must be in a secure area.

The site septic tank system will be designed and installed to the plumbing code.The system will be emptied as required over the project life by an authorisedcontractor and disposed of at an authorised site.


4.2.5 Assessment of EffectsThe surface water drainage should not present a risk to the environment. Surfacewater runoff will be controlled using surrounding settling bunds to collect and settlethe dense silica particles and direct the water to existing natural vegetated drainagelines. The distance to receiving waters is also a significant mitigation measure.

The use of bunding constructed from overburden and felled trees (as the supportingstructure) have proven very effective at other TAM silica flour extraction sites.

Restricting the total onsite fuel storage to 3,000 L, and having a 1,000 L limit on thescreening station diesel storage, having the screening station diesel tank located in adedicated bunded area, and having a site fuel spill cleanup kit readily available willreduce the risk of any hydrocarbon spill reaching receiving waters.

Commitment 4: Site clearing will be restricted to acceptable weather conditions. Noclearance or establishment works will be undertaken during high rainfall events.

Commitment 5: During project establishment, temporary surface water runoffsettlement basins and silt fencing will be used as required and the water will bedirected to natural vegetated gently sloping ground.

Commitment 6: The surface water drainage from all mining and storage areas will becontrolled and managed in accordance with the Quarry Code of Practice. Final runoffwill be directed to the existing naturally vegetated drainage lines.

Commitment 7: Diesel stored on site for the screening station will be stored in adedicated tank with a maximum capacity of approximately 1,000 L. The 1,000 L tankwill bunded and located in a secure area. The volume of fuels stored in mobiletankers will be restricted to approximately 1,000 L each. The tankers will carry fuelcleanup equipment in case spills occur on site.

Commitment 8: Any hydrocarbon contaminated soil will be removed immediately andtaken to an appropriate authorised disposal facility by an authorised transportcontractor. The Director, Environment Protection Authority, will be notifiedimmediately.

Commitment 9: A septic tank system will be designed and constructed to the plumbingcode and pumped out as required by an approved contractor for disposal at anapproved facility.

4.3 GroundwaterGroundwater exists in the project area at an average depth below ground level ofapproximately 11 m. Refer to spreadsheet in Appendix E.

The groundwater aquifer is expected to be unconfined due to the permeable nature ofthe silica gravels, flours and sands in the local area. Aquifer recharge is expected tobe local and based on rainwater infiltration as the area is on elevated ground.

The project is not expected to encounter any significant groundwater flows and thegroundwater flow and quality should not be impacted by the project.


4.3.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations occur in the areas. Vegetation growth is reasonably thick anddiverse over the project area.

The groundwater in the project area is predicted to be at an average depth belowground level of approximately 11 m. There is no evidence of any karst system in theproject area.

Groundwater is expected to flow in the general direction of Hawkes Creek.

4.3.2 Performance RequirementsState Policy on Water Quality Management 1997.

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

Water Management Act 1999.

Groundwater Act 1985.

4.3.3 Potential EffectsThe potential impacts on groundwater quality are considered to be primarily from fuelor hydrocarbon spills. The management measures used to protect surface watersquality from contamination will also protect the groundwater quality.

The project has the potential to alter the local groundwater levels and flows further tothe natural variations that are likely to occur over the seasons each year.

4.3.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresNo new mitigation measures have been identified extra to those measures alreadyidentified for the surface water.

4.3.5 Assessment of EffectsRestricting the onsite fuel storage to 1,000 L with bunding and having a fuel spillcleanup kits should reduce the risk of any hydrocarbon contamination reachingreceiving waters.

It is expected that groundwater levels and flows will not vary significantly from thenatural seasonal variations that already exist.

4.4 Noise EmissionsNoise emissions will be associated with the onsite mobile equipment and screeningstation and offsite traffic. The sources will be mainly from the onsite diesel enginesand offsite traffic and road noise.

4.4.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations occur in the areas. Vegetation is reasonably thick and diverse.

The site is subject to variable background noise levels ranging from natural backgroundlevels to noise levels from forest harvesting and forestry transport activities.


4.4.2 Performance RequirementsNoise emissions from proposed activities must comply with the following:

Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 – environmentalnuisance.

Environment Protection (Miscellaneous Noise) Regulation 2004.

The Quarry Code of Practice.

4.4.3 Potential EffectsThe project has the potential to generate noise emissions from the onsite earthmovingequipment, transport and screening station. Noise emissions have the potential tocause a nuisance to neighbouring residences. Exposure to high noise emissions canaffect human health.

An engine power of up to 162 kW has a sound power level emission of about 105 dB(A).A large front end loader will have a similar sound power level. The screening stationand trucks can have a sound pressure level at 1 m distance of approximately 90 dB(A),which equates to a sound power level of 100 dB(A).

The maximum sound power emissions from simultaneous operations of the equipment(assuming 2 excavators and 2 trucks) expressed as a point source emission will be thelogarithmic addition of 105, plus 105, plus 100, plus 100 dB(A), which is a worst case ofapproximately 109 dB(A).

Assuming half-spherical sound propagation from this source over flat ground, the dropin sound pressure levels with distance from the source can be calculated.

The reduction in sound pressure levels at various distances from the project noisesources (assuming no screening or topography effects) are shown in Table 3 below.

Distance from noise source(m)

Sound pressure level(dB(A))

100 62500 48630 45

1,000 422,000 367,000 25

Table 3 - Estimated sound pressure level with distance from source

Under schedule 2 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control(Miscellaneous Noise) Regulations 2004, noise from equipment such as front endloaders and dump trucks must not exceed between 82 dB(A) (for <110 kW engines) and92 dB(A) (for >450 kW engines) at a distance of 7.5 m away. The noise emission fromthe worst case 105 dB(A) machine will measure approximately 79.5 dB(A) at 7.5 mwhich complies with the noise regulation schedule 2.

Under Regulation 4, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Environment ProtectionAuthority, noise from the equipment must not exceed 45 dB(A) at domestic premisesoutside the 0700-1800 hours Monday-Friday, 0800-1800 hours Saturday and 1000-1800hours on public holidays.

As shown in Table 3 above, the 45 dB(A) level is achieved at the 630 m radius which iswell inside the 7 km distance to the nearest residence and therefore compliant withthe noise regulations for construction and operations. The necessary separationdistance will be less than this due to noise screening by topography and vegetation.


There is no need for onsite construction and operating hour restrictions.

4.4.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThere are no nearby residences or sensitive land users (nearest residence 7 km away).Vegetation growth is relatively thick and will assist with any local noise mitigation.

The mining activity will be restricted mainly to daylight hours. The maximum hours ofoperation proposed are 0700 hours to 1900 hours, 7 days a week. Ambient noise levelswill not be significantly altered above the variable levels that already occur.

The local elevated noise levels during the day are not expected to have any adverseimpacts on terrestrial, marine and freshwater wildlife. There will be no impact onlivestock – there are no livestock within the vicinity of the proposed mine.

There is one residence located on Jaegers Road over one kilometre off Leensons Road.Traffic noise on Leensons Road should not impact significantly on this premises.

A traffic impact assessment has been undertaken and is contained in Appendix B. Theassessment shows that the increased degree of traffic saturation for the keyintersection of Leensons Road with Roger River Road is extremely low.

It also shows that the increased traffic generated by the development will haveminimal impact on the surrounding road network and that the traffic operations of thesurrounding road network will continue to operate at an acceptable level of service.

One residence is located on the intersection of Leensons Road and Roger River Road.The impact on this residence from the project above that which already exists fromother activities is minimal. Restricting the product transport hours between0700 hours and 1900 hours to match the proposed maximum mining hours will ensureminimal impact from traffic noise on the transport route.

4.4.5 Assessment of EffectsNoise from equipment will meet the requirements of the Environmental Managementand Pollution Control (Miscellaneous Noise) Regulations 2004.

Ambient noise will meet the requirements of the Quarry Code of Practice and will notcause an environmental nuisance under the Environmental Management and PollutionControl Act 1994.

Commitment 10: The product transport hours will be restricted to between 0700 hoursand 1900 hours.

4.5 Solid and Controlled Waste ManagementThe proposed development will produce the following wastes:

Waste silica flour and overburden.

Domestic waste from the operators.

Black water and sewerage sludge from the onsite septic tank system.

The wastes are not classified as a controlled waste as interpreted under the Schedule Aof the National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste betweenStates and Territories) Measure as varied December 2004.

Fuel and oil contaminated wastes from routine minor onsite machinery maintenancewill be stored in garbage bins and disposed of by the mine supervisor as required.


4.5.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations occur in the areas. Vegetation growth is reasonably thick anddiverse over the project area.

There are no obvious wastes stored on site or any evidence of activities that may haveinvolved waste storage or management. No impacts to the surrounding environmenthave been measured or observed.

The geological nature and properties of the waste silica have been documented inSection 3.2.4 above. The waste silica and overburden is physically and chemicallystable and benign and this is not expected to change over time.

4.5.2 Performance RequirementsSolid and controlled waste from project site must comply with the following:

Tasmanian Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 –Environmental nuisance or harm provisions.

National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between Statesand Territories) Measure as varied December 2004.

Tasmanian Environmental Management and Pollution Control (WasteManagement) Regulations 2000.

Tasmanian Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

4.5.3 Potential EffectsWaste material can cause environmental nuisance or harm if it is not contained,managed and disposed of appropriately.

4.5.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe waste silica and overburden will be temporarily stored onsite until reused in onsitedevelopment and the progressive mine rehabilitation. There will be no controlledwastes generated by then operation.

The following mitigation measures will be utilised to minimise the risk from solid wastegeneration, handling and disposal.

Stockpiled topsoil will be managed to encourage water infiltration, microbialactivity and prevent erosion in the period between stockpiling and use in siterehabilitation.

Stockpiled overburden and felled timber will be used for project surface waterbunding until required for rehabilitation.

Solid refuse will be stored on the project area by contractors in a lidded garbagebin and regularly taken to a waste transfer station for disposal.

Any soil contaminated by hydrocarbons during construction will be managed andremoved and taken to an appropriate disposal or treatment facility by anauthorised transporter. This is already a commitment under Commitment 5 inSection 4.2.5.


4.5.5 Assessment of EffectsOnly minor amounts of domestic waste will be produced, and this will be regularlytaken offsite for appropriate disposal by the mine operators.

The septic tank system will be designed and installed to the plumbing code andemptied as required to prevent any unacceptable discharge to the environment.

Commitment 11: Stockpiled topsoil will be managed to encourage water infiltration,microbial activity and prevent erosion in the period between stockpiling and use insite rehabilitation.

Commitment12: Stockpiled overburden will be used for project surface water bundinguntil required for rehabilitation.

Commitment 13: General domestic waste will be stored on site in a covered bin andregularly taken to a waste transfer station for disposal.

4.6 Dangerous GoodsDiesel fuel will be stored to supply the screening station and other mobile machinery.The bunded screening station storage will have a capacity of approximately 1,000 L andwill be operated in accordance with regulatory requirements

Mobile tankers with a capacity of approximately 1,000 L each will also be used to storeand transport fuel. The tankers will be parked line in a secure area for refuelling.

Refuelling and minor maintenance (e.g. lubrication) of equipment will be undertakenon site. Major repairs will only occur off-site.

4.6.1 Existing ConditionsNo historic storage and use of dangerous goods on the project area are known.

4.6.2 Performance RequirementsEnvironmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 – Environmentalnuisance or harm provisions.

Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Waste Management)Regulations 2000.

Dangerous Substances (Safe Handling) Act 2005 – storage of fuels.

Quarry Code of Practice 1999.

4.6.3 Potential EffectsFuel storage can be an explosion risk.

Fuels and oils can cause environmental nuisance or harm if they are spilled andcontaminate either land or water.


4.6.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe fuel storage and transport requirements of the Dangerous Substances (SafeHandling) Act 2005 will be met. As a minimum the onsite storage tank for thescreening station will be bunded with a capacity of 110% of the tank volume.

The tanker will carry fuel cleanup equipment in case fuel spills occur duringrefuelling.

Refuelling and lubrication will be undertaken within the excavation area, andaway from any freestanding water or drainage lines.

Oil spill absorption materials will be used immediately for cleanup if there is aspill.

4.6.5 Assessment of EffectsThe mitigation measures will significantly reduce the risk for a spill of fuel or oiloccurring. Should a spill occur then measures will be in place to clean up immediatelyusing dedicated equipment.

Any remaining contaminated sand will be excavated and taken offsite for appropriatelyauthorised disposal. The residual effects will therefore be negligible.

Commitment 14: Fuel storage and transport will comply with the requirements ofDangerous Substances (Safe Handling) Act 2005.

4.7 Biodiversity and Nature Conservation ValuesThe new extractive pit will be developed and operated over an area of 20 ha asoutlined in Figure 1 and Figure 5 in Section 2 and in Appendix A.

ECOtas undertook a botanical and fauna habitat in March 2010. An aerial eagle’s nestsurvey was also undertaken in April 2010 by Forestry Tasmania. The findings of thereport are summarised below. The report is contained in Appendix G.

4.7.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas. Vegetation growth isreasonably thick and diverse over the project area.

The study area supports the following TASVEG mapping units, namely:

Extra-urban miscellaneous (FUM);

Acacia melanoxylon swamp forest (NAF);

Nothofagus-Atherosperma rainforest (RMT);

E. nitida forest over rainforest (WNR); and

E. obliqua forest over rainforest (WOR).

These mapping units are not classified as threatened under Schedule 3A of theTasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002.

No flora species, listed on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and BiodiversityConservation Act 1999 or the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, wererecorded from the study area.


One fauna species, the Tasmanian devil, listed as threatened (endangered) on theTasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the CommonwealthEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, was noted (scats)from within the study area.

There is potential habitat for several threatened species including the wedge-tailedeagle, spotted tailed quoll, masked owl, grey goshawk, Tasmanian devil and keeledsnail. A targeted search for nests of the wedge-tailed eagle has been undertaken andno nests were detected.

Species listed as “protected wildlife” on the schedules of the Wildlife Regulations 1999were not detected and no products of such species (e.g. nests, den sites, etc.) wererecorded such that additional permits under these regulations will not be required.


No evidence of plant disease was noted and the plant communities recorded are “lowrisk” to Phytophthora cinnamomi (root rot fungus). Some managementrecommendations are made in regard to minimising the risk of the introduction andspread of myrtle wilt to surrounding areas of rainforest.

4.7.2 Performance RequirementsThreatened Species Protection Act 1995

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Forest Practices Act 1985

Forest Practices Code 2000

Forest Practices Plan

Crown Lands Act 1976

Weed Management Act 1999.

4.7.3 Potential EffectsThe development of the new mining activity will result in the clearance of thevegetation communities and the loss of 20 ha of habitat until the site is rehabilitated.

However, the impact is not considered to be significant as the habitat types arecommon and extensive in the bioregion, with no known specialist or rare animal nichespresent.

There will be no impact on flora of national or state significance as no species listed byeither the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act1999 or the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 occur onsite.

The vegetation adjacent to the project area may be susceptible to increased myrtlewilt infection following disturbance. However, the uninfected areas will not bethreatened as myrtle wilt infection rates fall dramatically away from the disturbance.

There is potential for the site to contain habitat for several threatened speciesincluding the wedge-tailed eagle, spotted tailed quoll, masked owl, grey goshawk,Tasmanian devil and keeled snail.

The ecological assessment concluded that the clearance of the area vegetation habitatwould present minimal risk to these species.


The clearance may result in the loss of commercial timber. Forestry Tasmania will beconsulted and an agreement reached with Forestry Tasmania prior to clearance.

4.7.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresA 30 m buffer zone on the minor tributary of Hawkes Creek (western boundary of worksarea) will be implemented. While the minor tributary itself has been identified as lowpotential habitat for the giant freshwater crayfish, downstream areas are likely tosupport better quality habitat. Onsite activities should be conducted to minimiseimpacts to the quality of water in the Hawkes Creek drainage system.

Works will be conducted so as to minimise the risk of introducing exotic plants(especially declared weeds) and plant disease to the area. The management actionssuggested in the Quarry Code of Practice will be implemented.

To minimise the risk of spreading myrtle wilt, vegetation removal from the site will beconducted to minimise damage to adjacent forest supporting myrtle. In particular, thepractice of felling trees away from retained patches of myrtle and minimising damageto the root system and boles of retained standing myrtles will be implemented.

A Forest Practices Plan (FPP) is not required under the Forest Practices Regulations2007. The approval of the project by the Circular Head Council and the Board of theEPA in the form of a permit to undertake the activity on the Mining Lease 27M/2009will take the place of an FPP.

Prior to the removal of vegetation, approval will be requested from Forestry Tasmaniato clear the area and an agreement reached between the operator and ForestryTasmania as to the value of the cleared timber. This will reduce the risk of thepotential loss of unidentified commercial timbers.

4.7.5 Assessment of EffectsThe biodiversity and nature conservation values of the area to be disturbed have beensurveyed and assessed. The risk of destroying valued vegetation and any valuedhabitat are negligible.

The project risk to the surrounding vegetation and habitat has also been identified andmitigation measured identified to reduce any risks to that surrounding environment.

Commitment 15: A 30 m buffer zone will be implemented around the minor tributaryof Hawkes Creek on the western boundary of the proposed works area.

Commitment 16: The management practices outlined in the Quarry Code of Practice tominimise the introduction of exotic plants (especially declared weeds) and plantdisease will be implemented.

Commitment 17: All trees will be felled such that the felled trees fall away from theretained trees into existing cleared areas and are removed from the site.

4.8 Marine and CoastalThe proposed extractive development will not impact on any marine or coastal areas.


4.9 Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depleting SubstancesCarbon dioxide will be generated by the project as a result of:

Diesel powered mobile equipment operations.

Diesel powered generator operations.

Screening station operations.

Onsite and offsite heavy duty and light vehicle transport activities.

The onsite screening and management of the silica flour minimises the offsite transportrequirements and therefore the carbon dioxide emissions. No other greenhouse gaseswill be emitted. No ozone depleting substances will be used.

4.9.1 Existing ConditionsThe mine site is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas. Vegetation growth isreasonably thick and diverse over the project area.

There are currently no activities on the proposed mining area that produce greenhousegas emissions.

4.9.2 Performance RequirementsNational Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.

4.9.3 Potential EffectsThe development of the new extractive activity will result in the clearance of timber.The timber will be used during the mine life for windrowing for dust suppression andbunding support for surface water settling and future site rehabilitation. The timberwill decay very slowly and in an aerobic environment release carbon dioxide.

The rehabilitation plan is expected to be implemented long before the felled timberdecomposes and therefore no major change in the onsite carbon inventory is expectedover time beyond that which would have naturally occurred.

The mining power generator, vehicles and equipment and transport vehicles will emitcarbon dioxide. The diesel usage for the onsite activities is approximately2,200 L/week (pers com Norm Taylor TAM).

The offsite transport of the resource to the Wynyard processing plant will result incarbon dioxide emissions from the trucks. The diesel usage can be calculated from thefollowing information.

12 loads per day by 220 km per round trip by 5 days per week is equivalent to 13,200km/week. The heavy truck diesel usage is 0.546 L diesel per km4 = 7,200 L/week. Thetotal project carbon dioxide emission is 9,400 L/week or 37.6 kL of diesel/month.

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System Calculator indicates that thecarbon dioxide emissions from 37.6 kL/month will be approximately 1.22 kt CO2-e peryear and 17.42 TJ energy consumption.

These levels are below the annual threshold of 25 kt CO2-e and annual threshold of 100TJ. At these levels it is determined that application for registration to report underthe National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007 is not recommended.

4 AGO, 2006 Factors and Methods Workbook 2006 Department of Climate Change (Formerly AustralianGreenhouse Office) Canberra


There will be no carbon dioxide emissions from the burn off of waste vegetation asthere will be no burning off.

4.9.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe onsite screening of the resource avoids unnecessary carbon dioxide emissions thatwould result from offsite transport and treatment at another facility.

Excavation areas around the mining development will be actively regenerated, therebyquickly establishing a nominal carbon sink.

The proposed mine site rehabilitation plan involves the progressive revegetation ofmine areas which will also partly offset the project carbon emissions.

The mining contractor and transport contractor will be required to use modernmachinery and vehicles which are well maintained so as to minimise the generation ofgreenhouse gases.

The power generator will only be used as required for lighting and appliance usage.The generator will be turned off when no power is required. This will also save glazingof the diesel motor cylinders and reduce wear and maintenance.

The timber clearance will be minimised as far as possible. The rehabilitation plan willaim to re-establish vegetation in accordance with Forestry Tasmania requirements.

4.9.5 Assessment of EffectsThe proposed development will keep carbon dioxide emissions to a minimum.

The carbon sink effects will be maximised by ongoing site rehabilitation andgreenhouse gas generation minimisation.

Regardless of the avoidance and mitigation measures there will be a net increase incarbon dioxide emission due to the project fuel usage.

No further reduction of greenhouse emissions is deemed possible for the project.

4.9.6 Estimate of Greenhouse Gas EmissionsThe carbon dioxide emissions have been calculated under the NGER to beapproximately 1.22 kt CO2-e per year.

This level of emissions will not require reporting under the NGER.

4.9.7 Implementing Greenhouse Best PracticeThe dry screening of the silica flour is deemed the most appropriate as wet screeningwill require the use of water which will need to be pumped from the source andrecirculated through the wet screens.

4.9.8 Ozone Depleting SubstancesThe proposed mining and screening activities will not involve the generation or use ofany ozone depleting substances.


4.10 Heritage

4.10.1 GeneralThe potential effects of the project on Aboriginal heritage and non-Aboriginal heritagesites and areas are assessed below.

In general, in the project area there are no:

a) Declared World Heritage Area properties and values.

b) Places listed on the National Heritage List and values.

c) Places listed or interim listed on the Register of the National Estate and values.

d) Places listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register including consideration ofcultural landscapes.

e) Places on the Tasmanian Historic Places Inventory.

f) Places on the Tasmanian Aboriginal Site Index including consideration of culturallandscapes.

g) Local government planning scheme heritage schedules.

h) Places of heritage significance.

Existing ConditionsThe mine area is in mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas. Vegetation growth isreasonably thick and diverse over the project area.

Chatlee Road and Chatlee Road spur 3 and Chatlee Road spur 4 traverse the area. Noenvironmentally relevant activities appear to have been undertaken in the projectarea.

Cultural Heritage Management Australia (CHMA) undertook an Aboriginal culturalheritage assessment of the proposed mining area in April 2010. The report is containedin Appendix H.

The findings of the field survey and assessment are that no Aboriginal heritage sites orareas of potential archaeological sensitivity were identified. The Aboriginal culturalheritage assessment report and findings have been finalised in consultation with theappropriate Aboriginal organisations.

The report states with a high level of confidence that the negative results of the fieldsurvey assessment are an accurate reflection of the very limited extent of Aboriginalheritage values within this area.

In addition, soils throughout the study area are skeletal in most areas (on the hillsummits and side slopes) and very shallow on the basal hill slopes, which means that itis generally unlikely that there are any undetected sub-surface artifact deposits withinthe study area.


4.10.2 Aboriginal Cultural HeritageAll registered and unregistered Tasmanian Aboriginal sites are protected by the StateAboriginal Relics Act 1975 and the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderHeritage Protection Act 1984.

Performance RequirementsAboriginal Relics Act 1975.

Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage ProtectionAct 1984.

Potential EffectsThe project area will be cleared in stages over approximately 7 years. The clearancehas the potential to inadvertently destroy or damaged any Aboriginal heritage that mayexist in the project area.

Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe mining area has been assessed as being of low archaeological sensitivity and noimpacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage values are anticipated.

The Aboriginal Relics Act 1975 will be adhered to, in particular Section 14 (1), whichstates in part:

‘Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall, otherwise than inaccordance with the terms of a permit granted by the Minister on therecommendation of the Director’.

Destroy, damage, deface, conceal, or otherwise interfere with a relic’.

In the event that any Aboriginal artefacts are discovered during the land clearance, allwork will stop immediately in that area and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council andthe Manager of the Aboriginal Heritage Section at the Department of PrimaryIndustries, Parks, Water and Environment will be contacted to assess the situation.

The CHMA assessment report 2010 outlines extra details on the procedure for anUnanticipated Discovery Plan. The plan covers unanticipated discovery of culturalheritage items and discovery of skeletal material.

Assessment of EffectsThere are no site specific archaeological requirements or impediments to the proposeddevelopment activity.

The following commitments will ensure that the risks of damaging or destroyingAboriginal heritage are minimised.

Commitment 18: In the event that any Aboriginal artefacts are discovered during theproject area clearance and operations, all work will stop immediately in that area andthe Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council and the Manager of the Aboriginal HeritageSection at the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment willbe contacted to assess the situation.

Commitment 19: In the event that any Aboriginal cultural heritage items or skeletalmaterials are discovered, the procedure outlined in the Unanticipated Discovery Planin Section 10 of the CHMA, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment, Hawkes CreekMine 2010 will be followed.


4.10.3 Historic HeritageAll places listed under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 are subject to therequirements of the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995.

An old tramway/track which is an extension of the existing Chatlee Road Spur 3 runssouth into bush land. The track has a dilapidated crossing of the small tributary ofHawkes Creek on the western side of the mining area that may be of historic value.

Performance RequirementsHistoric Cultural Heritage Act 1995.

Potential EffectsThe project area will be cleared progressively over the mine life. The projectclearance has the potential to inadvertently destroy or damaged any unidentifiedhistoric heritage.

Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresThe track and dilapidated crossing were checked against the Heritage Tasmanialistings. There was no listing.

Forestry Tasmania was consulted and the track and crossing was checked against theForestry Tasmania conserve system register. There was no listing.

The area has been logged in the past. No mention of the crossing or track has beenraised in previous forest practices plans (FPP) submitted to the Forest PracticesAuthority (FPA) for ratification.The FPP process is normally used to identify and address any heritage issues prior tothe commencement of forestry operations.

The FPA personnel advised that if the track and crossing are not listed in the ForestryTasmania conserve system register then it is highly unlikely to have any significantheritage values.

Assessment of EffectsThere are no site specific historic heritage values identified and no avoidance ormitigation measures are required.

4.11 Land Use and DevelopmentThe mine site is situated in State Forest managed by Forestry Tasmania. The areaconsists of mature, mixed forest that has been selectively logged in the past.


4.11.1 Existing ConditionsThe proposed extractive pit will be located on State Forest managed by ForestryTasmania. Vegetation growth is reasonably thick and diverse over the project area.Forestry operations are currently underway in nearby areas.

It is expected that Forestry Tasmania will require the reinstatement of vegetation onthe mining lease at mine closure.

There will be no impacts on the following activities.

Tourism or recreational, including camping, picnic, walking, horse riding andheritage trails.

Residential and industrial.

Agricultural and protection of agricultural land policy requirements.

Local and regional tourism.

Other commercial.

4.11.2 Performance RequirementsCircular Head S.46 Planning Scheme No.1 1995.

Forestry Tasmania requirements.

4.11.3 Potential EffectsThe project could conflict with Forestry Tasmania current and future land use andrequirements.

4.11.4 Avoidance and Mitigation MeasuresTasmanian Advanced Minerals will enter into an agreement with Forestry Tasmania andthe forestry contractor for the common use of the onsite roads, should forestry activitycontinue around and onto the proposed mining areas in future.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals operations will be designed so as not to jeopardise thefuture Forestry Tasmania use of the site and roads or jeopardise future ForestryTasmania access to the surrounding timber resources.

A survey will be undertaken by Forestry Tasmania to identify if any commercial timberexists within the mining footprint. An agreement will be entered into betweenForestry Tasmania and Tasmanian Advanced Minerals prior to clearance of vegetation.

The DPEMP and closure strategy will be developed in consultation with ForestryTasmania as a key stakeholder and land manager.

4.11.5 Assessment of EffectsThe proposal will have no detrimental effects on potential land use in the area. Nofurther mitigation measures are necessary.

4.12 Visual EffectsThe proposed extractive pit will not have any neighboring or regional visual effects.There are no local or regional vantage points that will be impacted by the pit.


4.13 Socio-Economic IssuesThe project is expected to provide economic and social benefits at the local, regionaland State levels.

The value added product is exported to overseas markets and contributes to thecountry’s exports and economics.

The project will secure the jobs of the existing company wide workforce ofapproximately 45 people for at least the next 10 years.

There are 36 Tasmanian Advanced Minerals fulltime employees and approximately9 transport contract workers. The company currently has an annual turnover ofapproximately $17M.

The extractive pit development will add security to the current overall employmentlevels and is expected to result in a staffing increase of about 2 fulltime equivalentpositions at the mining activity jobs and at least 2 fulltime equivalent transport driverjobs over the next 5 to 10 years.

The development will secure the existing external contractor flow on jobs that servicethe contractor company requirements through to the export of the valued addedproduct.

The proposed new extractive pit will facilitate any potential future expansion inoperations with the resultant labour and expenditure flow on benefits.

The development of the new pit is expected to cost approximately $250,000. Thedevelopment will result in the employment of local equipment and transportcontractor and provide further social and economic benefits for the local community.

There will be minimal community infrastructure effects on cultural, recreational,health and sporting apart from consolidating those already present.

There will be little change to the community demographics.

The proposal should have no effect on land value in the area or recreational use in thesurrounding region. There are no economic or social downsides to the project.

4.14 Health and Safety Issues

4.14.1 Public SafetyThe public’s safety will be managed by appropriate warning signage, a boom type gateat the mine entrance and some fencing as needed.

There will be a company identification sign at the main entrance/exit. This area isalso likely to be the emergency meeting point.

Safety and danger signs will be mounted at the main entrance, in accordance with MRTand WST requirements. No other major signs are proposed at this time.

The boom gate will be locked after hours to prevent unauthorised vehicular access.

A traffic impact assessment has been undertaken and the findings indicate that therewill be no major increase in traffic risk above that which already exists.

Trucks using Forestry Tasmania roads will be instructed to drive to the conditions witha restriction of 50 km/h on Chatlee Road and 70 km/h on Lerunna/Leensons roads.


Truck loads will be covered to minimise potential offsite dust impacts to the public.

4.14.2 OHSEmployee safety will be managed in accordance with the Tasmanian Workplace Healthand Safety Act 1995 and associated regulations and any Workplace Standards Tasmaniarequirements. The legislation and regulations apply to both the company andemployees alike.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals has a safety management system for its overall companyoperations in Tasmania. The same management prescriptions will apply to the HawkesCreek operation as for the other Tasmanian operations.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals will employ appropriately qualified and skilledmachinery operators. It is proposed to have up to 5 operators employed at the minesite. They will have mining experience and their generic mining industry safetyqualifications will be maintained.

Employees will wear highly visible clothing and safety equipment such as hard hats,safety boots, safety glasses, sunglasses and dust respirators, if and when required.

The site specific OHS issues will be managed using the following operating practices:

Only experienced and qualified operators will be used on the mining equipment.

Where possible pit extensions, inclines and roads will be constructed at <6 degreesor <12 percent. If steeper, run off areas and road side bunding will be installed.

A site speed of <25 km/h will be adopted.

Where possible all sand faces will be worked back and forth along the length ofthe face in a relatively straight line.

Where possible the excavator will dig straight into the working faces.

No cavities or caves will be made into any of the working faces.

It is proposed to restrict the working faces or benche heights to approximately 4 –5 m.

The vertical working faces will be knocked down to the angle of natural repose atthe end of each working day.

In situations where the mine plan results in working face heights and verticalangles outside the normal, the mine manager will determine the maximum heightand angle of the working face based on the material being mined, the method ofmining and the equipment used.

If a maximum working face height determination cannot be made by the minemanager, the maximum height of a working face will be restricted to the verticalreach of the excavating equipment or a lesser height depending on circumstances.

No height restrictions are envisaged for sand faces that continuously free flow orrill to the angle of natural repose.

A fence or other barrier will be erected at the top of any dangerous workingface(s).

Monthly risk audits/assessments of the silica flour pits will be conducted to ensureall possible hazards are controlled.

TAM has historically engaged Injury Prevention & Management (IPM) to conductpersonal respirable dust monitoring as part of its OH&S Management Plan.


The respirable dust monitoring was conducted in accordance with AS 2985 (2004)Workplace Atmospheres: Method for Sampling and Gravimetric Determination of:

Respirable Dust:The respirable dust analysis was performed by gravimetric method in the InjuryPrevention Services laboratory. Silica on the collected respirable dust were analysed byAmdel Laboratory, South Australia for -quartz by AMDEL mineral laboratories by X-raydiffraction, using the method of Altree-Williams (1977) and NHMRC (1984).

Regulation 19(1b) of the Tasmanian Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 1998,requires an Accountable Person to ensure that exposure of any person to an identifiedhazard at a workplace does not exceed the relevant exposure standard.

Exposure standards are set by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC)and represent airborne concentrations that, according to current knowledge, shouldneither impair the health of nor cause undue discomfort to nearly all workers.

Exposure standards apply to long term exposure to a substance over an eight hour dayfor a five day working week, over an entire working life. The current recommendedrespirable silica ( -quartz) 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) National ExposureStandard is 0.1 mg/m3 (ASCC).

In the absence of an Australian Exposure Standard, the current recommended 8 hourexposure guideline for respirable dust (particles, insoluble or poorly soluble, NotOtherwise Specified) is below 3 mg/m3 (American Conference of GovernmentalIndustrial Hygienists, ACGIH).

Exposure standards for airborne contaminants are most often expressed as a timeweighted average (TWA) concentration of that substance over an eight hour workingday, for a five day working week.

During periods of continuous daily exposure to airborne contaminants, these TWAexposures permit excursions above the exposure standard provided they arecompensated for by equivalent excursions below the standard during the working day.

During summer months mine workers can work for up to 12hr/day. The TWA exposurestandards for an 8 hour day and a 12 hr day are given below.

Material TWA 8 hour day (mg/m3) TWA 12 hour day (mg/m3)Silica (a–quartz) 0.1 0.05Respirable dust 3.0 1.5

On September 3 2008 IPM conducted monitoring at Corinna mine and results, expressedas TWA mg/m3, were as follows.

Position Respirable dust Silica (a-quartz)Loader operator <0.1 <0.01Mine truck driver 0.3 <0.01Excavator operator <0.1 <0.01Foreman 0.3 <0.01


On September 4 2008 IPM conducted monitoring at Blackwater mine and results,expressed as TWA mg/m3, were as follows.

Position Respirable dust Silica (a-quartz)Loader operator <0.1 <0.01Mine truck driver 0.2 <0.01Excavator operator(stripping) <0.1 <0.01

Excavator operator(mining) 0.2 <0.01

On January 19th 2010 IPM conducted monitoring at Blackwater mine and results,expressed as TWA mg/m3, were as follows.

Position Respirable dust Silica (a-quartz)Loader operator <0.1 <0.01Mine truck driver <0.1 <0.01Excavator operator(mining) <0.1 <0.01

Under the conditions monitored, Corinna and Blackwater results for respirable dust andcrystalline silica (a-quartz) were below the levels of the ACGIH respirable dustExposure Guideline and National Exposure Standard respectively.

The results are expected to be applicable to the proposed Hawkes Creek operationsunder similar conditions as the deposit has similar properties to the Corinna andBlackwater deposits.

Commitment 20: The responsible person for the Hawkes Creek operations willundertake monthly safety audits/assessments of the silica flour pits to ensure allpossible hazards are identified and controlled. The audit findings will be documentedand submitted to the General Manager.

4.15 Hazard Analysis and Risk AssessmentThe risk of a major incident is very low due to the nature of the operation. Fuelstorage will be minimal and no chemicals will be used onsite.

The risk of flood damage is also very low. Fire impact is a possibility but this isdiscussed in Section 4.16 below.

The only potential onsite hazard is a vehicle accident. The speed limit and flat designof the mine plan will minimise the risk of a vehicle accident.

The only offsite hazard identified is a vehicle accident. The speed limit and the use ofreputable, skilled contractors will minimise the risk of a vehicle accident.

4.16 Fire RisksThe potential fire risks associated with this proposal is considered to be very low forthe following reasons:

There is a very low likelihood of fire being generated within the cleared mining,storage and screening areas. All combustible material will be progressivelycleared from these areas prior to mining and product screening and storage.

Wildfires originating outside the proposed mining area are unlikely to significantimpact on the site infrastructure because of the cleared nature of the operatingareas.


The location of the resource and method of extraction will result in cleared areasonsite for the life of the project. The cleared areas and onsite water tanks shouldprovide a relatively safe area for personnel trapped onsite during a wildfire.

General weather conditions in the area are not conducive to wild fires.

The resource has a good water holding capacity which can moderate onsite fireconditions.

The mining area is surrounded by mature, mixed forest managed by ForestryTasmania and is subject to the scrutiny of their fire watch service during firedanger periods.

The availability of water and earthmoving equipment on site, and the volunteerfire brigades at Edith Creek, Irishtown and Smithton, who are approximately 26,35 and 45 km to the north respectively if required, will enable a rapid andeffective response in the event of fire.

The potential fire risks to life and property will be managed in accordance with theaccepted Forestry Tasmania requirements (land manager and prime fire authority).The requirements of the local fire brigade and the State Fire Service will beimplemented if applicable.

Operations at the site will be consistent with the Forest Industry Fire ManagementCommittee - Procedure: Fire Prevention at Forest Operations – Revised October 2009.The procedure is contained in Appendix I.

4.17 Infrastructure and Off-Site Ancillary FacilitiesThe new extractive pit will not result in any potential off-site infrastructure orfacilities effects apart from the use of existing Forestry Tasmania roads whichTasmanian Advanced Minerals will enter into an agreement over.

4.18 Environmental Management SystemsOperation of the new extractive pit will be part of the existing Tasmanian AdvancedMinerals environmental management systems.

Tasmanian Advanced Minerals currently operate other Mining Leases and a processingplant, which are regulated by Mineral Resources Tasmania and the EnvironmentProtection Authority.

4.19 Cumulative and Interactive EffectsThe proposal does not appear to have any significant cumulative or interactive effects.


4.20 Traffic ImpactThe project area is located in multi use State Forest and Forestry Tasmania roadsservice the area. The area is currently being logged by forest contractors and ongoingforestry activities are likely well into the future.

A traffic impact assessment was undertaken by pitt&sherry in September 2010. Thereport is contained in Appendix B.

The results of the assessment can be summarised as follows:

The Safe Intersection Sight Distances for the proposed access at Hawkes Creekmust be in accordance with Council’s Planning Scheme (CHC, 1995). This equatesto a Safe Intersection Sight Distance of 90 meters with a two second reaction timefor a rural setting and a design speed of 50km/h.

Site distances for Roger River Road / Leensons Road junction comply with therequirements outlined in Austroads Standards. Tree branches obstruct sightdistance on the southern direction from Stennings Road / Bass Highway junction.

There was only 1 crash that occurred in the vicinity of the mine. The crashoccurred in Salmon River Road and resulted in property damage.

The increased traffic generated by the development impact to the surroundingroad network is minimal. Therefore the traffic operations of the surrounding roadnetwork will continue to operate at an acceptable level of service.

Five parking spaces should be provided for employees at the extractive pit.Dimensions for car spaces and associated turning areas must comply with theAustralian Standard for off-street parking AS2890.1.

The separation of heavy and light vehicles is expected to improve the road safetyby eliminating the likelihood of crashes occurring between these vehicles.

The product transport route to Smithton is highlighted by the thick navy blue lineshown in Figure 11 below.


Figure 11 - Transport Route


5. Monitoring and Review5.1 Monitoring

Monitoring and maintenance will be undertaken 6 monthly in the following areas:

Hawkes Creek will be inspected and assessed for any potential impacts and changein appearance during project establishment.

Hawkes Creek will be inspected and assessed for any potential impacts and changein appearance during operations.

The mining area rainfall runoff bunding and dissipation control structures will beinspected and assessed to ensure that they are meeting performance expectations.

The progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas following mining will be inspectedand assessed to ensure that they are meeting performance expectations.

Surface water analysis of Hawkes Creek will be undertaken on an episodic basisfollowing any major onsite spill or environmentally reportable incident orunscheduled aqueous discharge.

The results of the monitoring will be filed as a hard copy or electronically for thelife of the pit for future reference as required.

The information will be used in the environmental management plan reviews.

The proposed monitoring regime is summarised in Table 4 below.

ParametersRunoff anddrainage

structures

Progressiverehabilitation

areas

Hawkes Creek@ monitoring

siteFrequency

Observation & visualassessment duringestablishment

Y NA Y Weekly

Observation & visualassessment duringoperations

Y Y Y 6 monthly

Suspended solids Y episodic

Total petroleumhydrocarbons Y episodic

Oil & grease Y episodic

Monitoring resultfiling Y Y Y 6 monthly

Table 4 - Monitoring regime

Y = to be undertaken. NA = not applicable.

Commitment 21: The monitoring regime summarised in Table 4 will be implemented.


5.2 ReviewA review of the environmental management plan will be undertaken 5 years from thedate of issue of the Circular Head Council land use planning permit.

The review will report as a minimum on the following.

Monitoring results

Actions undertaken

Performance trends

Forecast expected operations and environmental management for the following5 years.

Commitment 22: A review of the DPEMP in accordance with and to the satisfaction ofthe Director Environment Protection Authority will be undertaken and submitted tothe Director Environment Protection Authority for approval 5 years from the date ofthe issue of a permit by the Circular Head Council.

6. Decommissioning and RehabilitationSite decommissioning and rehabilitation will be undertaken in accordance with the EPADivision’s Quarry Code of Practice.

The rehabilitation plan will involve the following key steps.

Consultation with Forestry Tasmania and the EPA Division as to the final landform, use and vegetation.

Clean up of site.

Erosion prevention.

Revegetation.

Weed control.

Monitoring and maintenance for 3 years.

Completion and regulatory sign off.

Commitment 23: Rehabilitation will be undertaken in specific areas as soon aspracticable after it is determined that extractive and exploration activities haveceased in that area. Revegetation may include seeding where and when this isdeemed necessary.

Commitment 24: Unless otherwise specified, the progressive site rehabilitation will bein accordance with the suggested measures outlined in the Tasmanian Quarry Code ofPractice, June 1999.


7. CommitmentsNo. Commitment When Responsible

PersonReportSection

Air Emissions

1 Vegetation clearance will not be undertakenduring hot, dry and windy periods.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.1

2

Dust impacts will be minimised by roadtanker watering as required and by thesuspension of site activities in extremeweather conditions.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.1

3

Traffic speeds on the mining lease will belimited to <25 km/h and speeds will belimited to <50 km/h on Chatlee Road and<70 km/h on the other Forestry Tasmaniaroads through to Roger River Road.

During minelife

Relevantcontractor 4.1

Liquid Waste

4

Site clearing will be restricted to acceptableweather conditions. No clearance orestablishment works will be undertakenduring high rainfall events.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.2

5

During project establishment, temporarysurface water runoff settlement basins andsilt fencing will be used as required and thewater will be directed to natural vegetatedgently sloping ground.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.2

6

The surface water drainage from all storageareas will be controlled and managed inaccordance with the Quarry Code ofPractice.Final runoff will be directed to the existingnaturally vegetated drainage lines.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.2

7

Diesel for the screening station will bestored onsite in a dedicated tank with acapacity of approximately 1,000 L. The1,000 L tank will bunded and located in asecure area. The volume of fuels stored inmobile tankers will be restricted toapproximately 1,000 L each. The tankerswill carry fuel cleanup equipment.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.2

8

Any hydrocarbon contaminated soil will beremoved immediately and taken to anappropriate authorised disposal facility byan authorised transport contractor. TheDirector, Environment Protection Authority,will be notified immediately.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.2

9

A septic tank system will be designed andconstructed to the plumbing code andpumped out as required by an approvedcontractor for disposal at an approvedfacility.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.2


No. Commitment When ResponsiblePerson

ReportSection

Noise

10The product transport hours will berestricted to between 0700 hours and 1900hours.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.4

Solid and Controlled Waste Management

11

Stockpiled topsoil will be managed toencourage water infiltration, microbialactivity and prevent erosion in the periodbetween stockpiling and use in siterehabilitation.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.5

12Stockpiled overburden and felled timber willbe used for project surface water bundinguntil required for rehabilitation.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.5

13General domestic waste will be stored onsite in a covered bin and regularly taken to awaste transfer station for disposal.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.5

Dangerous Goods

14Fuel storage and transport will comply withthe requirements of Dangerous Substances(Safe Handling) Act 2005.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.6

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Values

15

A 30 m buffer zone will be maintainedaround the minor tributary of Hawkes Creekon the western boundary of the proposedworks area.

During minelife

Minemanager 4.7

16

The management practices outlined in theQuarry Code of Practice to minimise theintroduction of exotic plants (especiallydeclared weeds) and plant disease will beimplemented.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.7

17

All trees will be felled such that the felledtrees fall away from the retained trees intoexisting cleared areas and are removed fromthe site.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.7

Heritage

18

In the event that any unknown Aboriginalartefacts are discovered during the projectarea clearance and operations, all work willstop immediately in that area and theTasmanian Aboriginal Land Council and theManager of the Aboriginal Heritage Sectionat the Department of Primary Industries,Parks, Water and Environment will becontacted to assess the situation.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.10


No. Commitment When ResponsiblePerson

ReportSection

19

In the event that any unknown Aboriginalcultural heritage items or skeletal materialsare discovered, the procedure outlined inthe Unanticipated Discovery Plan in Section10 of the CHMA, Aboriginal Cultural HeritageAssessment, Hawkes Creek Mine 2010 will befollowed.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.10

Health and Safety Issues

20

The responsible person for the Hawkes Creekoperations will undertake monthly safetyaudits/assessments of the silica flour pits toensure all possible hazards are identifiedand controlled. The audit findings will bedocumented and submitted to theTasmanian Advanced Minerals – ManagingDirector.

During minelife

Minemanager and

relevantcontractor

4.14

Monitoring

21 The monitoring regime summarised inTable 4 will be implemented.

During minelife

Minemanager 5.1

Review

22

A review of the DPEMP in accordance withand to the satisfaction of the DirectorEnvironment Protection Authority will beundertaken and submitted to the DirectorEnvironment Protection Authority forapproval every 5 years from the date of theissue of a permit by the Circular HeadCouncil.

During minelife

Minemanager 5.2

Decommissioning and Rehabilitation

23

Rehabilitation will be undertaken in specificareas as soon as practicable after it isdetermined that extractive and explorationactivities have ceased in that area.

Revegetation may include seeding where andwhen this is deemed necessary.

During minelife

Minemanager 6

24

Unless otherwise specified, the progressivesite rehabilitation will be in accordance withthe suggested measures outlined in theTasmanian Quarry Code of Practice, June1999.

During minelife

Minemanager 6


8. Conclusion8.1 Positive Environmental Effects

Will not result in any major environmental impacts.

Will not impact on current and future forestry activities.

Will not impact on neighbouring properties or activities.

Will not require water usage or result in any aqueous discharge.

Will not generate any process solid waste that requires offsite disposal.

Will result in rehabilitation of the mining area to a standard acceptable toForestry Tasmania.

Will result in a presence and an increase in security in the area, fire observationand communication assistance, storm damage repairs and maintenance of localroad infrastructure.

Will result in a better understanding and appreciation of the local geo-conservation values in the area.

8.2 Negative Environmental EffectsTemporary clearing of vegetation.

Slight change in the local elevated landform.

Intermittent local noise and dust emissions.

Increase in local and regional traffic movements.

Possible change in existing animal runs.

8.3 SummaryThe Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan (DPEMP) has beendeveloped in accordance with the EPA Division’s generic DPEMP guidelines and thesite specific guidelines from the Board of the Tasmanian Environment ProtectionAuthority issued on June 2010, entitled Development Proposal and EnvironmentalManagement Plan Project Specific Guidelines for Tasmanian Advanced Minerals,Proposed Development – Hawkes Creek Silica Flour Pit, Chatlee Road (SR001 –Salmon River Block, State Forest) south of Smithton, Tasmania.

The Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan has identified andassessed the potential impacts associated with the proposed project.

The specific commitments contained in the Development Proposal andEnvironmental Management Plan demonstrate that appropriate operational andmanagement measures will be in place to minimise any potential impacts andminimise any risks to the environment and human health.

The Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan demonstratesthat the proposal will be compliant with Tasmanian Policies, legislation andRegulations.

The community will benefit from the socioeconomic advantages associated withthe project.

hawkes creek silica flour extraction pit development ... · tam currently operates two other...

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