proposed ardglen quarry extension preliminary assessment

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Proposed Ardglen Quarry Extension Preliminary Assessment

Daracon Quarries

October 2006

0038419 Final

www.erm.com

This report was prepared in accordance with the scope of services set out in the contract between Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd ABN 12 002 773 248 (ERM) and the Client. To the best of our knowledge, the proposal presented herein accurately reflects the Client’s intentions when the report was printed. However, the application of conditions of approval or impacts of unanticipated future events could modify the outcomes described in this document. In preparing the report, ERM used data, surveys, analyses, designs, plans and other information provided by the individuals and organisations referenced herein. While checks were undertaken to ensure that such materials were the correct and current versions of the materials provided, except as otherwise stated, ERM did not independently verify the accuracy or completeness of these information sources

Approved by: Carolyn Maginnity

Position: Project Manager

Signed:

Date: 27 June, 2006

Approved by: Mike Shelly

Position: Partner

Signed:

Date: 27 June, 2006 Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd Quality System

Proposed Ardglen Quarry Extension Preliminary Assessment

Daracon Quarries

October 2006

0038419 Final

www.erm.com

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE 1 1.2 BACKGROUND 1

2 PROJECT OUTLINE

2.1 THE SITE AND LOCALITY 2 2.2 OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED OPERATIONS 3 2.3 CAPITAL COST 4

3 STATUTORY CONTEXT

3.1 INTRODUCTION 5 3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT 1979 AND

REGULATION 2000 5 3.3 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICIES 6 3.3.1 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY (MAJOR PROJECTS)

2005 6 3.3.2 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY NO. 11 – TRAFFIC

GENERATING DEVELOPMENTS 6 3.3.3 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY NO. 33 –

HAZARDOUS AND OFFENSIVE DEVELOPMENT 7 3.4 MURRURUNDI LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 1993 7 3.5 PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OPERATIONS ACT 1997 8 3.6 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY

CONSERVATION ACT 1999 9

4 CONSULTATION

4.1 CONSULTATION 11

5 KEY ISSUES

5.1 INTRODUCTION 12 5.2 NOISE AND VIBRATION 12 5.3 AIR QUALITY 13 5.4 FLORA AND FAUNA 13 5.5 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT 14 5.6 SITE REHABILITATION 15 5.7 CULTURAL HERITAGE 15 5.8 VISUAL AMENITY 16

6 CONCLUSION

ANNEXURES ANNEX A OWNER'S CONSENT

LIST OF FIGURES

Follows Page No.

FIGURE 2.1 LOCALITY PLAN 2

FIGURE 2.2 EXISTING QUARRY AND PROPOSED EXTENSION AREA 2

FIGURE 2.3 AERIAL VIEW OF SITE 2

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA 0038419PA/FINAL/27 OCTOBER 2006

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1 INTRODUCTION

The chapter describes the site and project and provides relevant background information.

1.1 PURPOSE

Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd (ERM), on behalf of Buttai Gravel Pty Limited, trading as Daracon Quarries (Daracon), recently sought advice from the Department of Planning as to whether the proposed extension of Daracon’s quarry at Ardglen would be a project to which Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) applies. The Department of Planning confirmed via letter dated 20 January 2006 that, in the Minister for Planning’s opinion, the proposal is classified as a Major Project to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies. In this letter the Department of Planning also advised that a detailed description of the project should be provided with the application for project approval.

This Preliminary Assessment report has been prepared for the following purposes:

• to describe the site, the project and its compliance with relevant statutory planning considerations, to outline the consultation process and to identify the key issues to be addressed in the environmental assessment process; and

• to request the Director General’s Environmental Assessment Requirements for a Project Application for the proposed quarry extension under Section 75F of the EP&A Act.

1.2 BACKGROUND

NSW Railways has been operating a hard rock quarry at Ardglen, adjacent to the Main Northern Railway, for over 100 years. Daracon recently purchased the quarry and wish to continue the production of high quality hard rock products which are generally used in railway and civil construction. Existing reserves of hard rock are diminishing and therefore Daracon proposes to extend the extraction area to the west, to enable up to 500 000 tonnes of material to continue to be extracted per year for up to 30 years. This will ensure the continuing availability of high quality aggregates for rail and civil construction in the Upper Hunter and New England region.


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2 PROJECT OUTLINE

This chapter provides a description of the site and locality and a brief outline of the project.

2.1 THE SITE AND LOCALITY

Ardglen Quarry is adjacent to the village of Ardglen, which is a small rural community approximately 4.5 kilometres north west of Murrurundi, 50 kilometres north west of Scone and 60 kilometres south west of Tamworth. There are approximately 11 residences in Ardglen.

A local road (Quarry Road) connects Ardglen Quarry with State Highway No. 9 (New England Highway). The quarry also has a connection to the Main Northern Railway, via a railway siding to the east of the quarry.

Ardglen Quarry is located in the Liverpool Ranges, which are part of the Great Dividing Range on the western boundary of the Hunter Valley. The proposed extension area has an elevation ranging from 660 to 744 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD). The existing quarry and proposed extension area are visible from Nowlands Gap lookout and from the New England Highway as it descends from the Gap.

The location of the site is shown in Figure 2.1.

The site comprises Lot 1 DP 1001734 and Lots 187 and 218 DP 751028, Quarry Road, Ardglen. The existing quarry and proposed extension area are shown in Figure 2.2. An aerial view of the site is provided in Figure 2.3.

The existing quarry is on Lot 1 DP 1001734 and consists of a pit and ancillary processing works, weighbridge, railway siding, office facilities and car parking area, all of which are located within the northern portion of the lot. Quarrying on this part of the site has been carried out since at least 1903 and continues to be carried out under continuing use rights. On 20 May 1994, Murrurundi Shire Council approved an extension of the extraction area to the south, into what was formerly Portion 57 (Reference: DA1/1994/158). The land on which the existing quarry is situated and Portion 57 were subsequently consolidated into the one allotment (i.e. Lot 1 DP 1001734) in September 1999.

Lot 1 DP 1001734 is approximately 32 hectares in area and is owned by Daracon. The proposed extension area to the west of the existing quarry incorporates Lots 187 and 218 DP 751028. These lots have a combined area of approximately 34 hectares and are owned by Hunter Industrial Rental Equipment Pty Limited ATF S Mingay Family Trust. A letter of consent to lodge the Project Application is reproduced in Annex A.

Surrounding properties are predominantly rural in nature. Ardglen village is located to the east of the site and the closest residences are some 200 metres to

0 500m

Source: 1:25,000 Topographic Series Temi Sheet

Figure 2.1 Locality Plan

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Jobs/2005/0038419 Fg 2. Existing Quarry and Proposed Extension Area.cdr 2006 SP Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd28 09/Revised Preliminary Assessment - 2

Figure 2.2 Existing Quarry and Proposed ExtensionArea0 100m

Source: Neil Charters Pty Ltd 10014/5 14-11-05

Daracon Engineering - Ardglen Quarry, NSWApproximate Only

Boundary of ProposedExtension Area

Limit of Extraction

Boundary ofExisting Quarry

Project Application Area

Site Boundary

Legend

Jobs/2005/0038419 Fg 2. Aerial View.cdr 0 2006 SP Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd/Revised Preliminary Assessment - 3 03 8

Figure 2.3 Aerial View of Site0 100m

Source: Neil Charters Pty Ltd 10183/ - -03 16 11 5

Daracon Engineering - Ardglen Quarry, NSWApproximate Only


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the south-east and 300 metres to the north-east respectively. To the north, south and west are large rural properties, generally used for cattle grazing.

2.2 OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED OPERATIONS

The project will involve:

• extension of the existing quarry into the adjoining properties, Lots 187 and 218 DP 751028 to the west, utilising the same quarrying practices that are currently employed, including the staged removal of vegetation, topsoil and overburden, blasting, progressive quarrying and site rehabilitation;

• the continued use of existing mobile plant and equipment to transport raw material from the extension area to the existing processing plant, where it will be crushed, screened and stockpiled ready for transport off-site; and

• the continued transport off-site of approximately 250 000 tonnes of product per annum by rail and approximately 250 000 tonnes per annum by road.

The proposed extension area is illustrated in Figure 2.2.

Vegetation from an area equivalent to approximately 12 months quarrying will be cleared at the one time and the layer of topsoil and overburden from this area will be removed. The topsoil and overburden will be hauled to emplacement areas. A cutting will be driven from the existing quarry face into the extension area. Once the cutting has been established the floor, benches and faces, will be developed.

Drilling and blasting will produce broken stone. Blasts will generally be scheduled for between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm Mondays to Fridays. As is the current practice at the quarry, the surrounding residents in the immediate vicinity of the quarry will be notified by telephone of the forthcoming blast.

Raw material stockpiles will be located at the quarry face. Existing mobile plant and equipment will be used to transport raw material from the extension area to the existing processing plant. This will involve the broken stone being loaded by an excavator into haul trucks for transport to the crushing and screening plant at the existing quarry. Broken stone too large to be fed directly into the crusher will be split at the quarry face by a rock pick mounted on an excavator. No processing will be carried out within the extension area and there will be no increase in the amount of aggregate processed at the quarry each year.

Product stockpiles will continue to be located at the existing quarry adjacent to the crushing plant. As the amount of material processed at the quarry will not increase, the existing traffic levels for product transport will remain the


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same. The current off site transport mix is 50 percent (250 000 tonnes) by rail and 50 percent (250 000 tonnes) by road. The rail infrastructure (which includes a rail siding that connects to the Main Northern Railway) has been maintained and utilisation maximised to reduce impacts on the road network. It is the only quarry in the region using rail transport. The road transport is predominantly via truck and dogs and semi-trailers to minimise traffic movements.

The existing quarry operating hours will not change as a result of the proposed development. Existing hours of operation are generally limited to 6.30am to 5.30pm Mondays to Saturdays.

The quarry currently employs eight people on site and indirectly employs between 20 and 30 people, mainly in the transport and repair and maintenance industries. One additional person will be employed as a direct result of the proposed extension. Securing a further 30 years supply of hard rock reserves will provide surety of employment for the quarry’s existing employees and the many subcontractors indirectly employed.

Existing site environmental management processes and procedures will continue to be employed and where appropriate, enhanced, as part of the proposed development.

2.3 CAPITAL COST

The capital cost of the proposed quarry extension is estimated to be in the order of $30,000 for minor site management works.


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3 STATUTORY CONTEXT

This chapter assesses the project’s compliance with relevant statutory planning provisions which affect the site.

3.1 INTRODUCTION

There are a number of statutory planning provisions which affect the development proposal, including:

• the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979;

• the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000;

• State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005;

• State Environmental Planning Policy No. 11 – Traffic Generating Developments;

• State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development;

• Murrurundi Local Environmental Plan 1993;

• Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997; and

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The proposal’s compliance with these relevant planning provisions is addressed in the following sections.

3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT 1979 AND REGULATION 2000

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 provide a framework for environmental planning in New South Wales.

Part 3A of the EP&A Act, which took effect on 1 August 2005, provides a streamlined assessment and approvals process for major infrastructure and other projects for which the Minister for Planning is the approval authority.

The provisions of Part 3A apply to major projects where the Minister has made a declaration relating to the specific development or a class of developments to which that project belongs. The Minister may declare a development to be a major project in a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) or in an order published by the Minister in the Government Gazette.


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The proposal is defined as a major project in SEPP (Major Projects) 2005. A project approval under section 75J of the EP&A Act is being sought for the proposed quarry extension.

3.3 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICIES

3.3.1 State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005

State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 (SEPP (Major Projects)) identifies development to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies. The Policy establishes the Minister for Planning as the consent authority for any development classified as a ‘major project’.

Clause 6(1) of SEPP (Major Projects) identifies Part 3A projects as development that, in the opinion of the Minister for Planning, is development of a kind described in either Schedule 1, 2 or 3 of the policy.

Schedule 1 of the policy includes development for the purposes of extractive industry that:

‘(a) extracts more than 200,000 tonnes of extractive materials per year, or

(b) extracts from a total resource (the subject of the development application) of more than 5 million tonnes, or

(c) extracts from an environmentally sensitive area of State significance.’

The proposed extension of Ardglen Quarry will enable up to 500 000 tonnes of material to continue to be extracted per year. Consequently, as confirmed by the Department of Planning (letter dated 20 January 2006), the proposal is classified as a major project and the application for project approval will be assessed under Part 3A of the EP&A Act.

3.3.2 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 11 – Traffic Generating Developments

State Environmental Planning Policy No. 11 – Traffic Generating Developments (SEPP 11) aims to ensure that the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is made aware of applications for developments likely to generate significant traffic impacts, and to provide the RTA with an opportunity to make representations in respect of such developments.

Traffic generating developments are identified in Schedules 1 and 2 of SEPP 11. Extractive industries are listed in Schedule 1 the policy. The proposal is therefore classified as a traffic generating development. Therefore the application will be required to be referred to the RTA. A traffic impact assessment will be prepared as part of the environmental assessment.


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3.3.3 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development

State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33 – Hazardous and Offensive Development (SEPP 33) provides definitions for ‘hazardous industry’, ‘hazardous storage establishments’, ‘offensive industry’ and ‘offensive storage establishments’. The definitions enable decisions to approve or refuse a development to be based on the merit of a proposal. The consent authority must consider the specifics of the proposal, the location and intensity of the proposed activity to determine whether the proposed development may be classified as ‘potentially hazardous’ or ‘potentially offensive’ as defined in the Policy.

SEPP 33 may apply to the proposal and will be considered during the assessment process.

3.4 MURRURUNDI LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 1993

The Murrurundi Local Environmental Plan 1993 (LEP 1993) is the principal local environmental planning instrument applying to the site. The site is zoned 1(a) Rural under LEP 1993. The objectives of this zone, as set out in clause 9(3) of LEP 1993, are as follows:

(a) ‘to encourage the productive and efficient use of land for agricultural purposes,

(b) to control subdivision of land having regard to the efficient use of land for the purposes of agriculture,

(c) to ensure that the type and intensity of development is appropriate, having regard to the characteristics of the land, the rural environment and the cost of providing services and amenities, and

(d) to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and scenic resources of the Shire.’

The proposal is consistent with these objectives.

Extractive industries, such as this proposal, are permissible in the 1(a) Rural zone with development consent.

Clause 10(1) of LEP 1993 specifies that the Council, in determining any application for consent to carry out development on land zoned 1(a) Rural must also have regard to the following:

(a) ‘the suitability and capability of the land on which the development is to be carried out, as indicated on maps prepared by the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and the Director-General of the Department of Conservation and Land Management and copies of which are deposited in an office of the Council,

(b) the present and potential use of the land for the purposes of agriculture,


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(c) whether the development is of a type compatible with the maintenance and enhancement, as far as practicable, of the existing rural and scenic character of the Shire of Murrurundi,

(d) whether the development will unreasonably prejudice the future recovery of known or prospective areas of valuable deposits of mineral, coal, petroleum, sand, gravel or other extractive materials,

(e) whether the development will create significant additional traffic or a condition of ribbon development on any road, having regard to the capacity, standard and safety of the road,

(f) the cost of providing, extending and maintaining public amenities and services by the Council or a public authority.’

The proposed extension area comprises two rural lots, which are currently used for cattle grazing. This land is classified as Class 4 under the Agricultural Land Classification System developed by NSW Agriculture. Class 4 land is described as land suitable for grazing but not cultivation, where overall production is low due to major environmental constraints. The site classification after quarrying is likely to change from Class 4 to Class 5. Class 5 land is identified as land not suitable for agriculture or land only suitable for light grazing, where agricultural production is low due to major environmental constraints.

Under the Land Capability Classification System the proposed extension area is Class V1 land, which is land restricted by a wide range of physical limitations and suited to grazing only. This land capability is likely to change to Class VIII after completion of quarrying. Class VIII is land unsuitable for agricultural or pastoral uses.

The proposal will enable the staged rehabilitation of the existing western quarry wall. This is a 42 metre high “cliff face” on the western boundary of Lot 1 DP 1001734. Extension of the extraction area into the adjoining property will enable the elimination of a significant safety hazard, for both persons and stock and in addition, will significantly improve the visual amenity of the area in the long term.

The proposal will only result in four additional traffic movements per day as a result of the employment of one additional person on site. This increase in traffic is not significant.

The proposal will not result in ribbon development on any road or require any public amenities or services to be provided or extended.

3.5 PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OPERATIONS ACT 1997

An environment protection licence (No. 1115) under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (PoEO Act) is held for Ardglen Quarry which


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relates to “Crushing, Grinding or Separating Works” and “Extractive Industries”. This licence will require modification to include the proposed extension area.

Section 75V(1)(e) of the EP&A Act specifies that an environment protection licence under the PoEO Act cannot be refused if it is necessary for the carrying out of an approved project under Part 3A of the EP&A Act and is substantially consistent with the approval.

3.6 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) requires the approval of the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment for actions that may have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance. Matters of national environmental significance under the Act include the following:

• World Heritage Areas;

• national heritage places;

• Ramsar wetlands of international importance;

• threatened species or ecological communities listed in the EPBC Act;

• migratory species listed in the EPBC Act;

• Commonwealth marine environment; and

• nuclear actions.

There are no World Heritage Areas, national heritage places, Ramsar wetlands, Commonwealth marine areas on or near the site. The proposal does not involve a nuclear action.

Two flora species (Dicanthum setosum and Digitaria porrecta) and four fauna species (Xanthomyza phrygia (regent honeyeater), Polytelis swainsonii (superb parrot), Lathamus discolor (swift parrot) and Nyctophilus timoriensis (greater long eared bat)) listed as threatened in the EPBC Act have a moderate to high likelihood of occurring within the site. Five species listed in the migratory provisions of the EPBC Act (Haliaeetus leucogaster (white bellied sea eagle), Hirundapus caudacutus (white throated needletail), Myiagra cyanoleuca (satin flycatcher), Gallinago hardwickii (Latham’s snipe) and Rostratula benghalensis s. lat (painted snipe)) have the potential to transit the locality. None of these threatened or migratory species were recorded during an ecological survey conducted on 9 November 2005. The proposal is not expected to have a significant impact upon the heath and viability of any of these species.


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The white box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum grassy woodland and derived native grassland is listed as critically endangered under the EPBC Act. This community occupies approximately 16.3 hectares of the site. The proposal will require the removal of approximately 12.8 hectares of this endangered ecological community (EEC). Locally, this may have a significant impact on this EEC. On a regional scale, however, provided appropriate mitigation measures are implemented, the impacts are not likely to be significant. The matter will, however, be referred to the Department of Environment and Heritage to determine whether approval from the Minister for the Environment is required.


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4 CONSULTATION

This chapter outlines the consultation process and the consultation undertaken in relation to the project to date.

4.1 CONSULTATION

Consultation undertaken in relation to the proposed development, to date, has included liaison with Nungaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council (NLALC), Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Murrurundi Historical Society, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), Native Title Services, the Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Owners and relevant Aboriginal groups, as part of the cultural heritage assessment prepared by ERM.

In addition, the Department of Planning has consulted with Liverpool Plains Shire Council and the following government agencies:

• Department of Environment and Conservation;

• Department of Natural Resources;

• Department of Primary Industries; and

• Roads and Traffic Authority.

A Planning Focus Meeting was held on-site on 28 June 2006 and was attended by representatives from Council and each of the above agencies. The Department has requested written comments from these authorities on issues that should be addressed in the Environmental Assessment and the Department will take into account any comments received in preparing the Director General’s requirements for the Environmental Assessment.

Once the Environmental Assessment is lodged, the Director General will seek advice from relevant agencies and Council to determine if the Environmental Assessment adequately addresses the matters in the Director General’s requirements and if the information is adequate prior to public exhibition.

The project application and Environmental Assessment report will be placed on public exhibition in accordance with the procedures outlined in Part 3A of the EP&A Act. It should be noted that to date there have been no complaints recorded in relation to existing quarry operations, either at the quarry or with the regulatory authorities.


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5 KEY ISSUES

This chapter identifies the key issues that have emerged from the assessment of the project against applicable environment planning instruments, policies, guidelines and other relevant planning documents, and from comments received from government agencies and the community.

5.1 INTRODUCTION

The project application will require the preparation of an Environmental Assessment report assessing the key potential impacts. The following key issues will be addressed in the environmental assessment process:

• noise and vibration associated with drilling, blasting, extraction and product transport;

• air quality;

• flora and fauna;

• traffic and transport;

• site rehabilitation;

• cultural heritage; and

• visual amenity

These issues are addressed in further detail in the following sections.

5.2 NOISE AND VIBRATION

As the quarry extension has the potential to have noise and vibration impacts on surrounding receptors, a detailed assessment is currently being undertaken to determine these impacts and any mitigation measures required.

The noise assessment is being carried out in accordance with the DEC’s (formerly the EPA) NSW Industrial Noise Policy (INP) 2000. To date this has involved unattended noise monitoring at three nearby residential receivers surrounding the quarry to determine existing ambient noise plus attended noise monitoring at various locations to separate extraneous noise and quarry noise. Noise monitoring of some of the existing mobile and fixed plant and equipment has also been carried out. The project specific noise limits will be derived from the results of this noise monitoring in accordance with INP and the EPA’s Environmental Noise Control Manual.


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An operational scenario for the proposed future quarry plan will be developed and the operational noise level contours calculated with the Environmental Noise Model (ENM) software to determine the acoustic impact of the proposed quarry extension based on a worst case operational scenario. Advice will also be provided in relation to any noise mitigation measures required.

Blasting impacts will be assessed in accordance with the criteria recommended by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council. These criteria are used by the DEC to assess human annoyance and discomfort as well as potential structural damage.

5.3 AIR QUALITY

An air quality assessment is currently being undertaken to determine the impact of the proposed quarry extension on existing air quality. This involves an assessment of particulate emissions from sources such as vegetation clearing, removal of overburden, quarrying and haulage to the existing quarry for processing. The assessment will also assess the air quality impacts of the processing operations undertaken at the existing quarry.

The air quality assessment is being conducted in accordance with DEC guidelines. It involves an analysis of the existing conditions at the site, including site meteorology, local ambient air quality and local terrain to provide a baseline against which the impacts of the proposed extension will be assessed. One high volume air sampler measuring total suspended particulates was installed at a representative location to provide baseline data.

Emission sources will be quantified and off site impacts will be predicted in terms of ground level concentrations. Ground level concentrations will be determined using a DEC approved model for dispersion modelling. Similar to noise, model dust emissions will be modelled based upon a worst case operational scenario. The ground level concentration for each pollutant will be evaluated against the legislated criteria in order to assess compliance. Advice will be provided in relation to any mitigation measures required to alleviate impacts on air quality.

5.4 FLORA AND FAUNA

The impact of the proposed quarry extension on flora and fauna is currently being assessed.

Preliminary findings of the assessment indicate that the majority of the proposed extension area is occupied by cleared grassland (approximately 19.7 hectares), however, there are also isolated stands of trees and scattered areas of white box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum woodland (occupying approximately 16.3 hectares). This woodland community is listed as an


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endangered ecological community (EEC) in Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). In addition, white box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum grassy woodland and derived native grassland is listed as critically endangered under the EPBC Act.

Preliminary assessment of the woodland community suggests that the community has been largely altered from the pre-European state, yet is valuable for rehabilitation, native seed collection and fauna habitat. It is of moderate conservation value, generally of local to regional significance.

A number of State and Commonwealth listed threatened species have the potential to occur on site. A detailed assessment of the potential effects of the proposal on threatened species, populations or ecological communities listed under the TSC Act will be carried out in accordance with the DEC’s draft Guidelines for Threatened Species Assessment. However, preliminary assessment indicates that the proposal is unlikely to have a significant impact on threatened species or populations, provided appropriate mitigation measures are strictly adhered to.

To offset the removal of approximately 12.8 hectares of the EEC white box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum woodland from within the proposed extraction area, a number of measures are proposed to be implemented including:

• establishment of a Habitat Management Area within Lot 187, managed to enhance floristic and fauna habitat values through restriction of access and exclusion of stock and planting or regeneration of indigenous species. At least two seedlings to be planted for every tree removed to account for death of trees through natural attrition and herbivory; and

• existing vegetation in the north-western portion of Lot 218 (outside the proposed extraction area) to be fenced off and natural regeneration supplemented with plantings of indigenous species characteristic of the box-gum woodland community.

5.5 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT

A detailed traffic impact assessment and road safety audit is currently being undertaken. The traffic impact assessment will be completed in accordance with the requirements of the RTA’s Guide to Traffic Generating Developments. A road safety audit of the existing intersection of the quarry access route and the New England Highway will be completed in accordance with the AUSTROADS Road Safety Audit manual.

The assessment will consider potential impacts of the proposed development on the existing road network and safety for road users and if necessary, recommend improvements or alterations to the local road system to accommodate the development or ameliorate existing traffic problems.


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5.6 SITE REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation of the site will be a continual, progressive process so that as extraction in an area has been completed that area will be rehabilitated.

The Environmental Assessment report will include a rehabilitation strategy for the site, including proposed staging, species to be used in revegetation, maintenance program, final landform and final land use.

As discussed in Section 3.4, the proposal will facilitate the staged rehabilitation of the existing western quarry wall, thereby eliminating a significant safety hazard and significantly improving the visual amenity of the area in the long term.

5.7 CULTURAL HERITAGE

The impact of the proposed quarry extension on Aboriginal and non-indigenous cultural heritage is currently being assessed. To date this assessment has involved:

• consultation with the Aboriginal community and other relevant bodies in accordance with the interim DEC guideline for Aboriginal consultation;

• liaison with Murrurundi Historical Society;

• search of the relevant background documents, databases, inventories and registers;

• a review of the archaeological, historical and environmental context of the area; and

• a field survey on 24 January 2006 with members of the Nungaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council to identify and record any Aboriginal sites/objects and historic heritage items that may be present.

No sites containing Aboriginal cultural materials or potential archaeological deposits were identified within the proposed extension area during the field survey and nor are any listed on relevant databases. The two representatives of the Nungaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council who participated in the field survey suggested that the area was unlikely to have been occupied by Aboriginal people.

Twelve old hardwood fence posts (11 of which were lying on the ground) were identified within the proposed extension area. No structures or other items of potential historical heritage significance were recorded during the survey.


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The initial results of the cultural heritage investigations suggest that the proposed quarry extension will not have a significant impact on items of Aboriginal or non-indigenous cultural heritage.

5.8 VISUAL AMENITY

A visual assessment of proposed quarry extension will be carried out and included in the Environmental Assessment. This assessment will include a description of the existing visual amenity, details of significant or recognised scenic landscapes, a description of views towards the quarry extension area from nearby houses and public vantage points (including the New England Highway and Nowlands Gap lookout) and the visual impacts of the proposal. Measures to reduce visual impacts will also be outlined.


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6 CONCLUSION

This chapter draws conclusions regarding the key issues that should be addressed in the environmental assessment process in order to demonstrate that the site is suitable for the proposed development.

In summary, the key issues that will require detailed investigation as part of the environmental assessment process are considered to be:

• noise and vibration associated with extraction, drilling, blasting and product transport;

• air quality;

• flora and fauna;

• traffic and transport;

• site rehabilitation;

• cultural heritage; and

• visual amenity.

On behalf of the proponent we request the Director-General’s Environmental Assessment Requirements for a project application for the proposed quarry extension.

Annex A

Owner's Consent

ERM consulting services worldwide www.erm.com

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Environmental Resources Management Australia

Telephone (02) 4964 2150

Thornton NSW 2322

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proposed ardglen quarry extension preliminary assessment

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