east arm quarry, hillwood environmental effects … nominees pty ltd , quarry expansion... · a...

Page | 1

Van Diemen CONSULTING PO BOX 1 NEW TOWN TAS 7008

EAST ARM QUARRY, HILLWOOD

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT

East Arm Quarry, Hillwood – Environmental Effects Report

2

CONTENTS

PART A – PROPONENT INFORMATION ................................................................. 5

PART B – PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................... 6

PART C – POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ............................................... 11

FLORA AND FAUNA ................................................................................................... 11

RIVERS, CREEKS, WETLANDS AND ESTUARIES .................................................................. 11

SIGNIFICANT AREAS ................................................................................................... 15

COASTAL ZONE ......................................................................................................... 15

MARINE AREAS ........................................................................................................ 16

AIR EMISSIONS ......................................................................................................... 16

LIQUID EFFLUENT ...................................................................................................... 17

SOLID WASTES ......................................................................................................... 17

NOISE EMISSIONS ..................................................................................................... 17

TRANSPORT IMPACTS ................................................................................................ 21

OTHER OFF‐SITE IMPACTS .......................................................................................... 23

DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AND CHEMICALS ................................................................... 24

SITE CONTAMINATION ............................................................................................... 24

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ........................................................................ 24

CULTURAL HERITAGE ................................................................................................. 24

SITES OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST .................................................................................. 25

REHABILITATION ....................................................................................................... 25

PART D – MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS ......................................................... 26

PART E – COMMUNITY CONSULTATION ............................................................. 29

FIGURES

Figure 1 ‐ Mining Lease relative to towns

Figure 2 ‐ Land Titles and Mining Lease

Figure 3 ‐ Planning Scheme zoning and Mining Lease

Figure 4 ‐ Mining Lease and road network

Figure 5a ‐ Natural drainage and catchments around and through the Mining Lease

Figure 5b ‐ Geology and Land Capability

Figure 6a ‐ Existing Quarry Layout

Figure 6b ‐ Proposed Quarry Layout

Figure 6c ‐ Quarry Access

Figure 6d ‐ Quarry Extraction Plan

Figure 6e ‐ Catchment of proposed eastern pond (southern side of creek)

Figure 6f ‐ Catchment of proposed western pond (northern side of creek)

Figure 7 ‐ Natural Values Atlas data for threatened species

Figure 8 ‐ Vegetation in the Mining Lease

Figure 9 ‐ Weeds in Mining Lease


3

Figure 10 ‐ Nearest Permanent Residence and buffers

Figure 11 ‐ Existing Noise Sources

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 EER Guidelines issued by EPA

Appendix 2 Flora and Fauna Assessment (Livingston 2011)

Appendix 3 Weed Management Plan (Draft)

Appendix 4 East Arm Quarry Emergency Management Plan

Appendix 5 Blast Plan and Report for blast on 13 June 2013

Appendix 6 East Arm Quarry Quality Management Plan (Draft)


4

Abbreviation / Word Definition

DIER Dept. of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources

DPIPWE Dept. of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

EPA Environment Protection Authority (Tas)

GTC George Town Council

ML Mining Lease

MRT Mineral Resources Tasmania


5

PART A – PROPONENT INFORMATION

Landowner and Proponent Details

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd is the proponent of the expanded operation at the East Arm Quarry near Hillwood.

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd is a livestock farm running seed‐stock cattle and sheep for meat production in the Tamar Valley. The quarry is located on land which has been in the Archer family for over 100 years and is currently being operated and managed by fifth generation family members.

Contact details:

Mr Gerald Archer

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd

t/a Archer Landfall

ACN: 009 547 657

ABN: 89 074 019 876

“Landfall”

Private Bag 22

Launceston

Tasmania 7250

Phone: 03 63263917

Fax: 03 63265237

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.landfall.com.au

Quarry Management and Operation Proponent

The quarry is operated by Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd which is a small earthmoving business established in January 2010. Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd is owned by Mr Will Archer who is a Landfall Nominee Pty Ltd family member.

As well as contract excavation work (including dam construction and irrigation infrastructure projects) carried out on properties predominantly in Tasmania’s north, Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd sources rock product from East Arm Quarry and manages all East Arm Quarry operations. The product is sold to small and medium sized contractors in the local area for various purposes such as road base and shielding rock.

Contact details:

Mr Will Archer

Quarry Details

Address 2 Archers Road, Hillwood

PID 3127744

Land Titles Volume 152700 Folio 1, Volume 152699 Folio 1

Mining Lease 1914P/M issued 9 August 2011 (9 hectares)

Current Status Level 1 Activity Hard Rock Quarry ‐ approved 4 March 2011 (DA2010/104)

Limit of 4,999 cubic metres per annum


6

Environmental Effects Assessment

This EER has been developed in accordance with the requirements outlined in the project specific guideline issued by the Environment Protection Authority (Appendix 1) and advice from the George Town Council.

PART B – PROJECT DESCRIPTION

1. Description of project

The quarry is currently operating as a Level 1 Activity under Planning Permit DA 2010/104 issued by the George Town Council on 4 March 2011.

The project being assessed is to process a maximum of 50,000 cubic metres of rock (dolerite) per annum.

Operation Times

The quarry will limit its operations to between the following hours:

0700 to 1900 hrs – Monday to Friday

0800 to 1600 hrs – Saturday

The quarry will not operate on Sunday or Public Holidays recognised statewide.

Rock Extraction

Blasting occurs at the quarry and is limited to between 1000 and 1600 hours Monday to Friday. Blasting does not occur on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays unless written approval of the Council and relevant road authority is obtained.

Specialist drilling and blasting companies are engaged to conduct the drilling and blasting program. Traffic is stopped on the East Tamar Highway during the blast which is organised by a contracted traffic control company.

One blast per 12 to 18 months occurs under the current operational limits while 2‐4 per annum are likely to occur under the expanded operation. At least one blast in each three year period will have measurements taken for air blast over pressure and ground vibration. The results will be summarised in a brief report that will be provided to the quarry manager.

Rock Crushing

The rock once blasted is crushed into the various sizes of gravel required by purchasers for the following uses:

Pavement Materials, Sub base 1 and 2, Base A and B.

Subgrade

Pipe bedding materials

Subsoil drains

Sealing and asphalt aggregates

Concrete aggregates

Stockpiling

Gravel, rock and crushed rock products are stockpiled near the entrance to the quarry.

Material Production Limits

The current operation is limited to 4,999 cubic metres of material produced per annum.

The new operation will process a maximum of 50,000 cubic metres of rock (dolerite) per annum.

There are two main streams of orders for rock‐gravel product: campaign based and small operators. The expanded operation will provide rock‐gravel product for both campaign based


7

activities, such as major road upgrades or reconstruction in the region and smaller quantities on a more frequent basis for low volume users, such as minor road repair and residential driveways and hardstands.

2. Project area

Location

The quarry (and Mining Lease) is located north of Hillwood in the East Tamar region of the north‐east (Figure 1).

The quarry is located on private freehold land owned by a Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd family member, Mr Gerald Archer. The Land Titles on which the quarry is situated are Volume 152700 Folio 1 and Volume 152699 Folio 1 (Figure 2) within Property Identification Number 3127744.

Planning Scheme

The land upon which the quarry (and Mining Lease) is located is zoned Agriculture under the George Town Planning Scheme 1991 (the Scheme; Figure 3).

The Scheme provides the following purpose for this Zone:

To identify areas for general agriculture including grazing, forestry, viticulture and cropping.

To ensure a range of land types are included to provide for the establishment of a broad range of agricultural pursuits.

To maintain/improve an environmental quality which reflects the necessary impacts of agricultural activities.

A quarry is defined as an Extractive Industry ((a) the extraction from any land or sand, earth, soil clay, turf, gravel, rock, stone, minerals or similar substance; or (b) the treatment or processing or manufacture of articles or products from any of the foregoing on the land from which the same was extracted or on adjacent land) in the Scheme which is a discretionary use for this Zone.

The quarry expansion is already operational as a Level 1 Activity authorised by a Planning Permit (DA2010/104) issued by the George Town Council.

Site Access and Road Network

The quarry and Mining Lease is accessed from what is now an almost unused section of East Arm Road (Figure 4). This section of East Arm Road became fragmented from its southern section by the construction of the East Tamar Highway to the west.

The full length of East Arm Road is owned and maintained by the George Town Council while the East Tamar Highway is owned and maintained by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.

The quarry has quick and efficient (short distance to travel) access to the East Tamar Highway which was recently redeveloped to support a greater number of truck movements through the George Town – Launceston transport route. The Batman Highway is also accessed from the clover‐leaf on the East Tamar Highway which provides direct access to the West Tamar.

Emergency Response Plan

In the event of an emergency, such as bushfire or injury to workers, the plan outlined in Appendix 4 will be applied. Staff and workers at the quarry are briefed on the requirements of the plan.

Watercourses

A tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek drains east–west across the Mining Lease (Figure 5a). Drainage in the Mining Lease is otherwise surface flows and sub‐surface flows without any other natural drainage lines.

470000 480000 490000 500000 510000 520000 530000 54000054

10

000

542

000

054

30

000

544

000

054

50

000

DATUM: GDA94GRID: MGA Zone 55

TASMAP: BEACONSFIELDCLIENT: LANDFALL NOMINEES Pty Ltd

DATE: 20th July 2013Base data by TASMAP. © Sta te of Tasmania

Base image TASMAP. © State of Tasmania

³0 5,000 10,0002,500Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 1: Mining Lease Location

Mining Lease 1914P/M

Planning SchemesGEORGE

TOWN

LAUNCESTON

HILLWOOD


8

Drainage features and associated culverts have been established in and around the Mining Lease as part of historical road construction (eg East Arm Road, East Tamar Highway; Figure 6a).

A large dam exists in the south‐eastern corner of the Mining Lease, but is fed by waters flowing from above the quarry operation.

The site is not prone to flood.

Vegetation and Threatened Species

The quarry and Mining Lease supports regenerating cleared land, pasture and native forest as mapped by Livingston (2011; Appendix 2) who found that ‘None of the vegetation communities present are listed as threatened and therefore have no constraints on clearing’.

A rare herb species was recorded on the Mining Lease (yellow sheathing star) by Livingston (2011). The current management of this species is to maintain an exclusion buffer around them (see part C Flora and Fauna).

Geology and Land Capability

The site is dominated by Jurassic dolerite with a small area of Triassic mudstone – sandstone occurring in the southern corner of the Mining Lease (Figure 5b).

Land Capability recorded by DPIPWE is 2 (Figure 5b) however the steep terrain, shallow skeletal soils and rockiness of the soil at the quarry would make a Land Classification of 4 to 5 more appropriate.

Land and quarry history

The quarry was originally opened in the 1970s when it was used by APPM for rock and gravel extraction to build the woodchip facility at Long Reach.

It was re‐opened in 2011 for rock extraction by Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd (operated by Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd).

Surrounding Land Use

The surrounding land use is plantation forestry, agriculture (to the west) and native forest used for sheep grazing and timber harvesting.

The nearest permanent residence is located 440 m to the south of the Mining Lease boundary and the next nearest permanent residence is more than 1 km away to the east (Figure 10). The quarry operator is in regular communication about the quarry activities with the nearest resident and the potential impacts that it may cause to their property.

A patch of native vegetation shields the quarry from view along the East Tamar Highway and East Arm Road.

3. Site layout and plans

Current Layout

The current layout is relatively simple due to the small volumes of rock/gravel extracted and few trucks that access the site. Access is via the East Tamar Highway and East Arm Road (Figure 6a).

Drainage from the quarry face flows into a small settling pond on the northern side of the creek. This pond is lined with jute mesh and cleaned of accumulated sediment as required.

Topsoil that is stripped during the opening of a new ‘block’ is stockpiled in a small cleared area to the north‐east of the current quarry face.

Trucks entering the quarry to load with gravel/rock currently access the southern or northern sides of the creek, depending where the gravel product has been crushed and stored. For safety reasons it is important to limit the number of vehicles and machines operating near the active quarry face.


9

Quarrying Plan

Quarrying will progress to the north, north‐east and east of the current quarry face (Figure 6d).

Blocks will be identified for blasting and drilled by a contractor with the blast itself conducted by another contractor who is qualified and authorised to use explosives.

Based on the expanded volume and size of the Mining Lease the quarry could supply gravel products for at least 19 years. The Quarry Extraction Plan (Figure 6d) shows the blocks that are likely to be accessed each year for the next 19 years.

Proposed Layout

The proposed layout will improve environmental outcomes at the site and also make access and vehicular movement in the quarry more efficient.

Access will still be via the East Tamar Highway and East Arm Road (Figure 6b). The main entrance to the section of East Arm Road that provides access into the quarry will be reconstructed to widen it such that two trucks can pass which will allow concurrent entry and exit from the road. Traffic movements to and from the quarry are shown in Figure 6c.

The access track across the creek will be widened with the addition of another large culvert (Figure 6b). This will allow two vehicles/machines to pass across the track making the site operation more efficient.

Most gravel and rock stockpiles will be consolidated to an area on the southern side of the creekline (Figure 6b). The stockpile storage area will be sloped such that all drainage from the stockpile area will flow south and east into a drainage system that feeds into a small settling pond to capture sediment prior to its flow into the creekline.

Existing stockpiles next to the creek (cf. Figure 6a to 6b) will be moved south of their current location to enable the revegetation of the existing stockpile disturbed area adjacent to the creek. Increasing the distance of stockpiles from the creekline will substantially enhance the vegetation buffer (and sediment filtration services it offers) between the quarry access road/stockpiles and the creekline. Revegetation will be via direct planting of local species or the broadcasting of seed to supplement natural seed fall.

Creek bank shape and form will remain undisturbed by the quarry expansion (except for the installation of the new culvert across the creekline) and a minimum distance of 5 m will be maintained between the creek edge and quarry stockpiles/infrastructure. The creek itself is not in a highly natural state (ie it is not a sensitive receiving environment) and its catchment above the quarry supports large tracts of plantation and native forest. During periods of high flow the creek above the quarry is already discoloured due to the presence of suspended clays and fine sediment.

One new settling pond will be constructed on the southern side of the creek to capture and treat water from the hard areas of the quarry south of the creek, while the existing settling pond on the northern side of the creek will be enlarged. The quarry void itself will form the basis of water control measures and sediment control on the northern side of the creek until such time that the pond can be enlarged. The sediment control measures proposed along the creekline will minimise the amount of fine clay – sediment that escapes from the area occupied by the activity.

Topsoil will continue to be stockpiled at its current storage location until the area is quarried. At that time the stockpiled topsoil will be moved to an area that has been quarried (at the west of the Mining Lease) for use in progressive rehabilitation works.

A gate and entrance to the private property from East Arm Road will be established with a 15 m setback to allow trucks to be off East Arm Road if the gate is closed. Rocks and fencing will be used to delineate this entrance and to provide security to the quarry.

498000 49900054

39

000

544

000

0




Base image BING. © Microsoft

³0 250 500125Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 2: Land Titles and Mining Lease


Cadastral Parcels

152700/1

152699/1

498000 49900054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 250 500125Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 3: Planning Scheme Zoning and Mining Lease


Cadastral Parcels

152700/1

All areas are zoned as Agriculturalin Georgtown Planning Scheme

497000 498000 499000 50000054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 500 1,000250Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 4: Mining Lease and Road Network

` "Truck Entering" Signs - To be erected


497000 498000 499000 500000 501000 502000 50300054

37

000

543

800

054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 500 1,000250Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 5a: Natural drainage and catchments around and

through the Mining Lease

Northern catchment into dam

Southern catchment into dam

Catchment of present quarry area


498000

497000 498000 49900054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 250 500125Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 5b: Geology and Land Capability around the Mining Lease

Geological Polygons 25KGeological Polygons 25K

Land Capability1

1+2

2

2+1

2+3

3

3+2

3+4

4

4+3

4+5

5

5+4

5+6

6

6+5

6+7

7

7+6


497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 498300 498400 49850054

39

100

543

920

054

39

300

543

940

054

39

500

Base data by TASMAP. © Sta te of TasmaniaBase image © BingMap

³0 50 10025Meters

Creek

Existing Dam Face

Culverts

Roads

Present Quarry Face (July 2013)

Present Quarry Area - North of Creek

Existing Dam

Mining Lease

Topsoil StockpileArea

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6a: Existing Quarry Layout



DATE: 20th July 2013

StockpileArea

497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 498300 498400 498500 49860054

39

100

543

920

054

39

300

543

940

054

39

500


³0 60 12030Meters

Existing Dam Face

Culverts

Open Drains

Roads

Final Quarry Extent


Creek

Water Store at Quarry Base (Moving)

Sediment Dams

Proposed Stockpile Area to south of Creek

Area to be Rehabilitated

Existing Dam

Quarry Lease

Soil StockpileArea untilQuarried

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6b: Proposed Quarry Layout




497900 498000

543

930

0

Proposed MainStockpiles

Slope direction instockpile and storage area

Increase width ofroad across creek

DivertedNaturalDrain

497700 497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 49830054

39

000

543

910

054

39

200

543

930

054

39

400


³0 50 10025Meters

Roads


Mining Lease

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6c: Quarry Access




TO BEAUTYPOINT

TO HILLWOOD ANDLAUNCESTON

FROMGEORGE

TOWN

FROMBEAUTYPOINT

TRAFFIC TO QUARRY

TRAFFIC FROM QUARRY

TO GEORGETOWN

FROM HILLWOODAND LAUNCESTON

497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 49830054

39

300

543

940

054

39

500


³0 50 10025Meters


Final Quarry Extent

Approximate Quarry Blocks (per Year)

Mining Lease

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6d: Quarry Extraction Plan




1

2

3

45

6

7

8

910

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

497600 497700 497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 498300 498400 49850054

38

800

543

890

054

39

000

543

910

054

39

200

543

930

0


³0 75 15037.5Meters

Culverts

Roads


Creek


Sediment Dam

Existing Dam

Approximate Catchment (following development)

Quarry Lease

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6e: Catchment of proposed eastern dam (7.1ha)




Diverted Catchment(6.12ha)

Catchment of Sediment Dam(0.98ha)

497600 497700 497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 498300 498400 49850054

39

200

543

930

054

39

400

543

950

054

39

600

543

970

0


³0 75 15037.5Meters

Culverts

Roads

Final Quarry Extent


Creek

Water Store at Quarry Base (Moving)

Sediment Dam


Existing Dam

Approximate Catchment (following development)

Quarry Lease

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 6f: Catchment of proposed western dam (5.5ha)





10

4. Rationale and Alternatives

The quarry has been in existence since the 1970s although it has not been in continuous operation since this time.

It is well laid out for its size, and its layout will be further improved during the expansion of the operation. The dolerite bedrock is of high quality and the material derived from it is suitable for use by DIER in road construction (ie it meets DIER specifications).

The location of the quarry makes it central to many towns and regional centres in the Tamar Valley and to areas of potential industrial/commercial development, such as Bell Bay. The nearby East Tamar Highway provides ready access to the George Town – Launceston transport route which then provides further access to areas further afield such as Weymouth, Bridport, Relbia and Breadalbane.

The quarry’s location is also well away from towns and large residential areas which are common along the east Tamar (eg Dilston, Windermere, Hillwood, Rowella, Long Reach, Mt Direction) which minimises the possibility of causing a major environmental nuisance to a number of people.


11

PART C – POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

FLORA AND FAUNA

Livingston (2011, Appendix 2) mapped the vegetation in the Mining Lease and found that ‘None of the vegetation communities present are listed as threatened and therefore have no constraints on clearing’.

A threatened flora species survey by Livingston (2011) identified a rare species Hypoxis vaginata (sheathing yellow star; Figure 7) in the Mining Lease but outside the current quarry workings; identification to subspecies level was not conducted by Livingston. Both subspecies in Tasmania (ssp. vaginata and ssp. brevistigmata) are listed under their species epithet as rare on the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tas).

The fauna habitat of the Mining Lease is described by Livingston (2011) as ‘General fauna habitat suitability of the site is low due to regrowth trees with few hollows, low numbers of logs on the ground and previous disturbance levels. The dam in the southeast corner of the site has high potential for Green and Gold frogs’. The dam mentioned by Livingston (2011) will be a source of small quantities of water for the quarry to enable dampening of the road, access tracks and gravel loads but otherwise it will be unaffected by the operation.

There will be no clearing of native vegetation to construct or maintain site infrastructure such as settling ponds, new stockpile area or access tracks to the main laydown area. The quarry will progressively remove native vegetation as it works north‐eastwards to extract more material. The vegetation will be re‐established post‐quarrying through site rehabilitation works using stored topsoil.

A Weed Management Plan (Appendix 3) has been developed for the quarry which will be implemented as part of the expanded operation as a response to the occurrence of weeds within the Mining Lease (Figure 9); blackberry, Spanish heath, variegated thistle and briar rose.

Commitments

Commitment Completion Date

A Weed Management Plan will be implemented across the Mining Lease to control and monitor weed incursions.

Ongoing

If the area occupied by Hypoxis vaginata is to be disturbed then a permit will be sought from DPIPWE. A minimum 20m radius buffer will otherwise be established around the locations of each plant.

Already compliant; reserves around plant locations in place

RIVERS, CREEKS, WETLANDS AND ESTUARIES

Current drainage of the quarry

The quarry (Mining Lease) occurs within two sub‐catchments of Fourteen Mile Creek (Figure 5a). The tributary will remain unaffected by the operation; there will be no impoundments built on it or alterations made to its course.

The tributary supports native vegetation and areas of native undergrowth (without overstorey) and some small sections of bare soil/rock. Through the quarry itself the creekline is crossed by an access track (with a large culvert in place; Figure 6a).

The existing access track over the creekline will be widened using another large culvert (see location in Figures 6a and 6b) to enable machinery to pass on the track when accessing the quarry on the northern side and stockpile areas on the southern side (Figure 6b). The installation of the second culvert will not

497000 498000 499000 50000054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 500 1,000250Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 7: Natural Values Atlas data for threatened species

` NVA Threatened Fauna

` NVA Threatened Flora


PAPA

Hypoxis vaginata(See Livingston, S. (2011) - Not in NVA)





East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 8: Vegetation in the Mining Lease

(See Livingston. S. (2011) - Figure 3)

497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 49830054

39

300

543

940

054

39

500


³0 50 10025Meters


Mining Lease

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 9: Weeds in the Mining Lease




Weeds` Blackberry

` Bria Rose

` Spanish Heath

` Variegated Thistle


12

require the clearing or removal of native vegetation and will be done during periods of low creek flow to minimise the risk of sedimentation downstream.

The dam to the south‐east of the Mining Lease will remain unaffected by water flows out of the quarry because its catchment is above the quarry (Figure 5a) and no water from the active quarry area (either now or into the future through the expanded operation) will drain into the dam.

Sediment control and settling ponds

Sediment dams have been sized in accordance with the NSW Dept. of Environment & Climate Change publication “Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and Construction Vol 2E – Mines & Quarries”. Rainfall information has been sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Sediment removed from both ponds during cleaning events will be used in rehabilitation works at the quarry.

Design Considerations

For disturbed catchments comprising type C soils the approach is to provide a settling basin which achieves a residence time based on the 3‐month ARI flow, due to the quick settling of coarse particles.

Basic configuration:

- A settling depth of 600 mm and a surface area of 4,100 square metres per cubic metre discharge

per second and 3:1 length : width ratio.

- Spillways shall be designed for the peak ARI 100 year event.

- Peak attenuation of flows may be achieved by a detention volume to limit the peak outflow to the

pre‐developed ARI 100 year range of events.

- Outflow via slotted riser pipe wrapped in geotextile fabric.

Pond on northern side of the creek

The quarry face and surrounds drain via a small channel which flows into an existing settling pond that captures sediment before the water flows into the creekline (Figure 6f). This channel and surface flows over the quarry floor will be directed to the void at the base of the quarry and then to this settling pond.

The existing quarry contains a void capable of retaining approx. 1,200m3 of runoff. It is proposed that once development results in the disturbed area encroaching upon the existing basin/void, a second basin of a volume of 480 m3 be constructed to complement the existing storage, providing the total target volume required by separating peak volume detention requirements from sediment control.

The settling pond will be able to treat runoff from the fully developed catchment within the quarry (Figure 6f). It is expected that sediment generated from exposed surfaces can be classified as from Type C soils given the nature of the quarry (hard rock dolerite), and removal of any skeletal overlying soils.

Sediment control:

3‐month ARI: 116 litres/sec

Basin area: 476 m2

Settling vol: 286 m3

Total vol: 571 m3

Spillway design:

10min ARI 100: 1,330 litres/sec

Width x depth: 3m x 0.4m

Rock d50: 150 mm

Storm Attenuation

Pre‐dev peak: 400 litres/sec


13

Basin vol: 286 m3

Required vol: 1,150 m3

24hr 99th –ile: 32.4 mm

Runoff vol @ C=0.9: 1,600 m3

Pond on southern side of the creek

The catchment of the proposed southern settling pond will be limited by creating a cut off drain (Figures 6b and e). Without the cut off drain the catchment would otherwise include a large area of plantation and roadway (East Arm Road).

A settling pond with a total storage volume of 520 m3 (includes a settling zone of 120m3) will be sufficient to meet the water management requirements for the disturbed area. The remaining upstream undisturbed pervious catchment of 5.2 ha shall be diverted around the proposed sediment basin (Figure 6e).

The settling pond will treat runoff from the storage and stockpile catchment within the quarry (Figure 6b and 6e). It is expected that sediment generated from exposed surfaces can be classified as from Type C soils given the nature of the quarry, and removal of any skeletal overlying soils.

Sediment control:

3‐month ARI: 48 litres/sec

Basin area: 200 m2

Settling vol: 120 m3

Total vol: 240 m3

Spillway design:

10min ARI 100: 690 litres/sec

Width x depth: 3m x 0.3m

Rock d50: 100mm

Storm Attenuation

Pre‐dev peak: 140 litres/sec

Basin vol: 286 m3

Required vol: 400 m3

24hr 99th –ile: 32.4 mm

Runoff vol @ C=0.9: 555 m3

Improved vegetation cover along creek

The existing native vegetation along the creekline will be retained to enhance the sediment filtration services it provides to runoff before it enters the creek. Creek bank shape and form will remain undisturbed by the quarry expansion (except for the installation of the new culvert across the creekline) and a minimum distance of 5 m will be maintained between the creek edge and quarry stockpiles/infrastructure.

The stockpiles on the southern side of the creekline (Figure 6b) will be moved south (see Figure 6c) to enable revegetation of the area adjacent to the creek. Increasing the distance of stockpiles from the creekline will substantially enhance the vegetation buffer (and sediment filtration services it offers) between the quarry access road/stockpiles and the creekline. Revegetation will be via direct planting of local species or the broadcasting of seed to supplement natural seed fall.


14

Water is captured in the void at the base of the quarry (holds about 1,200 m3). Drainage from the void and surrounds is via a small channel which flows into a settling pond to capture sediment before the water flows into the tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek.

This channel and surface flows over the quarry floor will all be directed to this settling pond which will capture and treat water in the northern section of the quarry operation. The pond will be enlarged to 400 m3 volume as the quarry expands eastwards.

The small settling pond which captures sediment before the water flows into the tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek. The pond is lined with jute mesh and is cleaned as required to maintain its functionality.

The pond will be enlarged to a volume of 480 m3

once development results in the disturbed area encroaching upon the existing basin/void.

The location of a new settling pond (520 m3) to capture sediment before the water flows into the tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek.

Surface flows across the southern section of the quarry operation will be directed into this pond. The pond will be lined with jute mesh and cleaned as required to maintain its functionality.

No native vegetation will be cleared or otherwise removed by the construction of the small pond.

Sediment removed from the pond will be used in rehabilitation works at the quarry.


15

The current stockpile location (Figure 6b) will be moved south (see Figure 6c) to enable revegetation of the area adjacent to the tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek.

This will substantially enhance the vegetation buffer (and sediment filtration services it offers) between the quarry access road and stockpiles and the creekline.

Commitments


One new settling pond will be constructed to capture and ‘treat’ water on the southern side of the creek while the existing pond on the northern side will be increased in volume (Figures 6b, e and f). Sediment removed from the ponds to maintain their functionality will be used in rehabilitation works at the quarry.

Within 4 months of project approval

Creek bank shape and form will remain undisturbed by the quarry expansion (except for the installation of the new culvert across the creekline) and a minimum distance of 5 m will be maintained between the creek edge and quarry stockpiles/infrastructure.

Ongoing

A second culvert will be installed across the creekline in the quarry during periods of low water flow. Netting will be used downstream to capture any sediment that is released during the installation process.

When weather and creek flow conditions are suitable

SIGNIFICANT AREAS

The quarry is not located adjacent to or near any significant areas such as reserves, protected sites or heritage buildings.

There will be no impact to significant areas from the quarry expansion.

COASTAL ZONE

No part of the quarry or area affected by the activity lies within 300 metres of the coast.

There will be no impact to the coastal zone from the quarry expansion.


16

MARINE AREAS

Drainage through the quarry is by a tributary of Fourteen Mile Creek (Figure 5a) which drains into the Tamar River (1.2 kms downstream where the tributary meets the main channel of Fourteen Mile Creek). The project is not likely to impact on the marine environment because water management measures will be established at the quarry to prevent sediment entering the waterway.

There will be no impact to the marine environment from the quarry expansion.

AIR EMISSIONS

The access road (East Arm Road) and tracks within the quarry are gravel based. Potential sources of dust within the quarry operation are from:

The blasting and crushing of rock;

The removal of vegetative cover and stripping of topsoil;

The movement of rock and gravel within the quarry by machinery;

Road (gravel) use in and next to the quarry; and

Stockpiled gravel and fines.

In dry weather water from the nearby dam will be used to dampen the road surface, area near the stockpiles and loads in trucks (unless they are covered by tarpaulins).

External sources of dust include:

The use of East Arm Road (unsealed section) by traffic;

Wind‐blown material from unsealed roadside verges and uncovered dust‐prone loads being carted on the East Tamar Highway and other roads; and

Surrounding land use such as ploughing, spraying and agricultural – farm forestry activities.

The extensive area of native forest vegetation around the quarry, especially to its south and west, will provide a means to capture dust and fugitive emissions of airborne material from the quarry. The trees also provide a ‘shelter belt’ to the quarry further reducing the effects of strong winds that may otherwise generate and disperse dust from the operation. There is no evidence to suggest that dust escapes from the site based on an examination of the standing vegetation at 50 m away from the quarry operation (ie the trees and native vegetative cover at 50 m from the site is not affected by dust cover).

Commitments


Trucks leaving the quarry will have their loads covered or dampened to avoid spillage or fugitive air emissions.

Within 1 month of project approval

Water from the nearby dam will be used during dry windy weather to dampen the access track and laydown areas in the quarry to minimise dust creation and emission.


Mobile equipment will be fitted with backing alarms conforming to the appropriate standards.



17

LIQUID EFFLUENT

There is no toilet or other amenities provided on site. During periods of high use (eg. during a campaign for major road upgrade in the region) a ‘portaloo’ will be provided on‐site and removed after. The contents of the portaloo will be disposed of at an approved sewage processing facility.

Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and staff trained in how to use them in the event of a spillage.

Commitments


A portaloo will be provided on‐site during periods of high volume extraction. Its contents will be disposed of at an approved sewage processing facility.

Ongoing as required

Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and staff trained in how to use them in the event of a spillage.


SOLID WASTES

The activity will not produce any rock‐based solid wastes as all of the materials extracted and crushed will be sold for various end uses. The servicing of machinery may generate solid waste (eg. oil filters, worn tyres) however machinery is removed from the quarry and serviced at a nearby farm workshop owned and operated by the quarry operator rather than on‐site in the quarry. Waste generated by the servicing of machinery is disposed of in accordance with best practice principles.

Waste generated by workers from general refuse (eg lunch wrappers) at the quarry will be removed each day. No waste bins will be provided on‐site for general refuse. Commitments


No servicing of machinery will occur in the quarry. Already compliant

No waste bins will be provided on‐site for general refuse, all general waste will be removed from the quarry at the end of each working day.

Already compliant

NOISE EMISSIONS

This has been identified as one of the main environmental impacts from the quarry operation and the increase in quarry capacity will increase the frequency of operations at the quarry (but activities will still be limited to current operation times). The quarry has been operating for 2 years and no complaints have been received by the current operator.

The main source of noise other than the quarry activities is the East Tamar Highway, which forms a distinct linear source of noise which in effect diminishes noise for the quarry to the west (Figure 11).

Noise sources in the landscape surrounding the land where the activity will occur have been identified as follows:

the school bus that uses East Arm Road to collect and drop‐off school children;


18

vehicles using the East Arm Road and the nearby East Tamar Highway (including the cloverleaf);

truck movements along East Arm Road and the nearby East Tamar Highway (including the cloverleaf);

the use of agricultural machinery (eg crop harvesting, ploughing, spreading, fencing) in nearby pastures;

occasional timber harvesting and firewood gathering (mainly chainsaw use) activities in the surrounding plantation and native forest estates (mainly to the north, east and south‐east of the site); and

vocalisations made by the bird‐life in the surrounding native forest and plantation.

The noise sources in the quarry operation are drilling, blasting, machinery associated with the quarry operations and truck movements on and off site.

The major noise sources from the activity have been identified as follows:

drilling blast holes;

vehicles driving into and out of the site/land;

use of the crusher and screen;

stripping vegetative cover and topsoil; and

on‐site use of ancillary equipment, excavators, loader and truck movements.

Blasting

An assessment of noise, ground vibration and air blast overpressure emissions from the most recent blast at the quarry on June 13, 2013 was conducted by Maxam. Two sites were used to capture data: near the East Tamar Highway and the nearest permanent residence (see Appendix 5).

The following was recorded from that blast at the nearest residence with no readings detected at the East Tamar Highway location:

Ground vibration and air blast overpressure measurements were within recommended maximum limits under ANZEC guidelines.

The air blast overpressure measured at the nearest residence was мнΦр dB, below the recommended limit in the ANZEC guidelines.

The Quarry Code of Practice states blasting shall be carried out such that, when measured at the curtilage of the nearest residence (or other sensitive use) in other occupation or ownership, air blast and ground vibration comply with the following ANZEC guidelines:

95% of blasts air blast over pressure shall not exceed 115 dB (Lin Peak);

air blast over pressure shall not exceed 120 dB (Lin Peak);

95% of blasts ground vibration shall not exceed 5 mm/sec peak particle velocity and

ground vibration must not exceed 10mm/sec peak particle velocity.

The results of the June 13 blast are below the thresholds of the ANZEC guidelines and the Quarry Code of Practice: air blast over pressure of 102.5 dB and ground vibration of 1.36 mm/s.

The blast did not yield any measurable data at the East Tamar Highway location.


19

Blast Management Planning and Report

The blast on June 13, 2013 is typical of the size and scale of what future blasts will be so the results from the assessment suggests that future blasts will also be compliant with the ANZEC guidelines and Quarry Code of Practice.

To ensure compliance with acceptable thresholds and to facilitate continuous improvement of blast activities the same blast parameters assessed on June 13, 2013 will be measured for all blasts at the quarry. The same locations will also be used to ensure comparability of results across blasts.

Blasts will be managed by a suitably qualified and competent explosives company/expert and drill rig contractor. Contractors will be required to plan the blast including the spatial characterisation of the face, designing drill hole locations and size of the rock resource to be blasted. A suitably qualified traffic controller will be used to plan and implement the traffic control measures for the East Tamar Highway.

The contracted explosives company/expert who conducts the blast will be required to plan and provide a report to the quarry operator based on the content of the Blast Report in Appendix 5. Only qualified explosive contractors who can collect the required data and produce the required report will be used for blasts at the quarry.

Copies of each Blast Report will be made available to the Environment Protection Authority upon request.

Machinery

Machinery and vehicles used regularly at the quarry includes ‐

Volvo Front end loader (max. 70 dB);

Portafill 3000ST screen (max. 84 dB at 5 m radius);

Trucks for cartage; and

Vehicles for workers/visitors at the site.

Machinery used at the site for specific purposes includes ‐

A crusher is used at the site to produce gravel products from blasted rock. The crusher could process about 800 tonnes of rock per day. Each ‘crushing day’ is likely to be an 8 hour day rather than the full 12 hour operating day permissible under the Quarry Code of Practice). Crushing is likely to occur on about half of the work days within each month with production levels varying on each of those days subject to demand for the product.

A drill rig is used to drill the holes for the placement of explosive. The drill rig will be used infrequently as blasts will likely occur twice per annum. Average drilling times to complete all of the holes for each blast is 10 work days subject to weather and rock conditions. The rig is likely to operate for 7 to 8 hours of each day that drilling occurs. Blasts normally occur within 72 hours of completing the drill holes.

An excavator is used to remove vegetation cover and strip topsoil for storage. It takes 2 to 3 days to open a new area once or twice each year. Topsoil is stripped, placed into a truck and transported to the storage area ready for reuse in rehabilitation works. Excavator use is likely to be limited to 8 hours on each of the days that vegetation and topsoil stripping occurs.

Attenuation distances

Attenuation distances have been recommended in the Quarry Code of Practice (QCP), as follows:

“It is suggested that planning authorities and operators seek to maintain the following separation distances, measured from the planned maximum extent of the quarry operations to any sensitive use:

Where regular blasting takes place, 1,000 m.

Where material is crushed only, 750 m.

496000 497000 498000 499000 50000054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 500 1,000250Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 10: Nearest Permanent Residence and Buffers

Attenuation Buffer (1km)

Attenuation Buffer (500m)


Distance to NearestResidence - 440m

Second NearestResidence - approx 1120m

496000 497000 498000 499000 50000054

39

000

544

000

0





³0 500 1,000250Meters

East Arm Quarry ExpansionFigure 11: Existing Noise Sources

Existing Noise Sources


20

Where vibrating screens alone are utilised, 500 m and

Where no blasting, crushing or screening occurs, 300 m.”

The nearest permanent residence is located 440 m south of the Mining Lease boundary with the second nearest being over 1.2 kms to the east (Figure 11).

The noise sources at the nearest residence is mainly the East Tamar Highway and to a lesser degree, vehicles travelling along East Arm Road. The almost constant flow of vehicles on the highway during daylight hours can be heard from the residence as a continuous low level background noise. Large trucks and noisy cars (eg broken muffler) produce a more defined and identifiable sound above the ‘hum’ of the background level but even these are not ‘loud’. The forest along the western side of the property assists in shielding the residence from the loudness of the highway, but it can still be heard.

The drill rig and crusher when operating can be heard from the nearest residence especially when there is prevailing northerly wind. The noise is not loud, rather it is simply discernable from the background level. The use of the drill rig is limited to twice per year, minimising the period over which the noise will be heard from the nearest residence. The crusher is not of sufficient noise to be an imposing component of the ‘noise’ in the area during its operation.

Trucks entering and leaving the quarry, and while they are loading, cannot be specifically identified at the nearest residence as the noise generated by the activity seems to blend in with the background noise generated by the traffic on the East Tamar Highway.

The proponent acknowledges that the nearest residence is 440 m from the boundary of the land and that this is within the attenuation distances listed in the Quarry Code of Practice. Nevertheless, the below aspects of the site and the expanded quarry operation are likely to result in noise emissions that are acceptable to the local conditions in light of the existing noise sources and intrusions:

Native vegetation – the standing native vegetation around the perimeter of the Mining Lease provides an acoustic barrier to help reduce noise emissions. The nearest residence is also surrounded by native mature forest which further reduces noise intensity with increasing distance from the quarry.

Surrounding land use – the nearby East Tamar Highway is a major source of local noise (Figure 11). Other land uses such as farming activities can also generate high levels of noise as most machinery is diesel operated and operates within a low frequency range which is often why tractors and diesel machinery can be heard for large distances over pasture land. Regular noise generators at the quarry such as trucks, screen, front end loader and excavator are of insufficient noise to over‐power for any extended period of time the major influence of the highway generated background noise.

Patterns of equipment use and noise location – machinery and truck use at the site and blasting will be restricted to operating hours as outlined in the Quarry Code of Practice. Moderate to high noise generators will be limited in their use at the site, including the drill rig.

Noise reduction management measures – machinery will be fitted with appropriate reversing alarms.

Commitments


A Complaints Register will be established and maintained by the quarry operator to record and address any complaints made about noise emissions from the quarry.

Register established within 1 month of project approval

Noise, ground vibration and air blast overpressure Already compliant


21

measurements will be captured for at least one blast in every three year period and reported to the quarry operator by the blast contractor. Copies will be made available to the Environment Protection Authority upon request.

Mobile equipment will be fitted with backing alarms conforming to the appropriate standards.


The occupiers of the nearest permanent residence and the George Town Council will be advised (in writing by email, fax or letter) of an impending blast no less than 48 hours prior to the blast occurring.

Upon the approval of the project

Blasting will be carried out in accordance with blasting best practice environmental management principles.

Already compliant

Suitably qualified and competent explosives contractors will plan the blast and report on the outcomes of the blast using the contents/format of the Blast Report in Appendix 5 as a guide. Only qualified contractors who can produce a comparable report to that in Appendix 5 will be used in the quarry. Copies of each report will be made available to the Environment Protection Authority upon request.

Already compliant

The East Tamar Highway will be closed during blast events with the necessary approvals sought from DIER (compliant with a DIER approved Traffic Management Plan).

Already compliant

Telephone sirens or claxons will not be used or installed on site

Already compliant

TRANSPORT IMPACTS

The below table outlines the representative supplies for campaign based and low volume regimes and the period over which that supply occurs. These can be used to approximate the number of truck movements per supply and per day for the activity.

Type of Supply Size of Supply Period of Supply and Truck Movements

Campaign 8,000 tonnes using 33t trucks 10 days , 800 t/day = 25 trucks

50 truck movements / day

Low volume 200 tonnes using 10 yarder (12 tonnes)

2 days , 100 t/day = 9 trucks

18 truck movements / day

A Traffic Impact Assessment was not requested by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) or the George Town Council for this development.

The section of East Arm Road from its current edge of seal to a distance of 15 m towards the quarry will be reconstructed and sealed to a pavement width of 8 m (compliant with George Town Council specifications and approval processes) to minimise the ‘drag’ of gravel onto the sealed section of East Arm Road.


22

Truck movements will avoid entering and leaving the quarry during school bus collection and drop‐off times.

Access from East Arm Road is onto the cloverleaf that forms part of the East Tamar Highway. This highway was recently reconstructed by DIER to improve transport links between George Town and Launceston. For safety, two permanent road signs (compliant with DIER specifications and approval processes) will be erected at key locations on the East Tamar Highway to advise road users of trucks entering from East Arm Road.

A No Through Road sign (compliant with George Town Council specifications and approval processes) will be erected at the entrance to East Arm Road section of the quarry access road.

The existing gate will be removed and road entrance reconstructed to facilitate the concurrent entry and exit of trucks.

The existing drainage lines and culverts will remain in their current locations (see Figures 6a and 6b).

The bitumen seal will be extended from its current edge to 15 m towards the quarry (northwards).

View looking west from the entrance of East Arm Road used to access the quarry. The intersection seen is the access onto the cloverleaf of the East Tamar Highway.

The drainage line from the existing gate down to the highway will be retained as part of the reconstruction of the entrance.

View looking south‐east from the entrance of East Arm Road used to access the quarry. East Arm Road has an unsealed surface in the background of the image. At the left of image is the vehicle turning bay and bus stop.


23


A Complaints Register will be established and maintained by the quarry operator to record and address any complaints made about traffic movements from the quarry


Approval will be sought from DIER to remove the existing gate on East Arm Road


The section of East Arm Road from its current edge of seal to a distance of 15 m towards the quarry will be reconstructed and sealed to a pavement width of 8 m (compliant with George Town Council specifications and approval processes)


Two permanent road signs (compliant with DIER specifications and approval processes) will be erected at key locations on the East Tamar Highway to advise road users of trucks entering


A No Through Road sign (compliant with George Town Council specifications and approval processes) will be erected at the entrance to East Arm Road section of the quarry access road


The access point to the Quarry from East Arm Road will be setback 15 m into the private freehold land to ensure trucks can be off East Arm Road when opening and closing the quarry access gate


Truck movements will avoid entering and leaving the quarry in the period 20 minutes either side of the school bus collection and drop‐off time, as advised by the school bus operator.

Already compliant

OTHER OFF‐SITE IMPACTS

There are unlikely to be any off‐site impacts from the increased levels of production at the quarry. However, a Complaints Register will be developed and maintained to record and address any complaints received about the about the activities in or directly related to the operation of the quarry.

Commitments


A Complaints Register will be established and maintained by the quarry operator to record and address any complaints made about the activities in or directly related to the operation of the quarry.



24

DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AND CHEMICALS

Fuel and oil are used in the quarry to operate and maintain functional machinery. There is no permanent store in the quarry for fuels, oils, lubricants or any other dangerous good. Fuel and oil containers are not stored on‐site overnight because they are removed at the end of each working day with the site workers. This practice will be followed under the expanded operation. When in the quarry fuel and oil containers will be stored at least 10 m from any watercourse, settling pond or pond. They will be bunded (moveable bunds) to a capacity at least 1.5 times the volume of the container. Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and workers trained in how to use them in the event of a spillage.

No chemicals are stored within the quarry. The only chemicals that would be used in the quarry are those for blasting and weed spraying. Blasts are managed and conducted by a suitably experienced and registered explosives contractor who have expertise and equipment to handle explosives. Weed spraying chemicals will be handled, used and disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions and relevant regulations. Weed spraying will comply with the requirements of the Weed Management Plan developed for the quarry (Appendix 3).

Commitments


Fuel and oil containers will be stored at least 10 m from any watercourse, settling pond or pond and be bunded (moveable bunds) to a capacity at least 1.5 times the volume of the container.

Already compliant

Fuel and oil containers will not be stored on‐site overnight, they will be removed at the end of each working day with the site workers.

Already compliant

Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and workers trained in how to use them in the event of a spillage.


SITE CONTAMINATION

The quarry has not been used for the storage or disposal of contaminated wastes including rock and soil.

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Any use of machinery and vehicles will cause greenhouse gas emissions. Machinery owned and operated by Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd is modern and well maintained which ensures maximum fuel/oil efficiency.

The location of the quarry will assist with minimising cart distances from further afield, including those at Relbia and Mowbray, reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation of gravel products.

Water use will be negligible and will be provided through the use of the on‐site dam (water used for road and load dampening).

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The quarry and Mining Lease is not on listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register or Tasmanian Historic Places Inventory (maintained by Heritage Tasmania). The EPA have advised that an Aboriginal Heritage survey is not required for this project.


25

SITES OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST

The quarry is not located adjacent to or near any sites of high public interest such as reserves, protected sites, tourist walks or heritage buildings.

There will be no impact to sites of high public interest from the quarry expansion.

REHABILITATION

In the event of closure of the premises at any stage the issue of decommissioning in an environmentally and socially appropriate manner needs to be carefully considered.

The issues that will need consideration are:

rehabilitation of exposed areas left after quarry operations by levelling and replanting with appropriate native vegetation mixes for this area; and

removal of all fuel and oils, wastes and materials from the site.

Stabilising the landform and revegetating to ensure public safety and a return to as near as possible native vegetation are key in the decommissioning process and planning. The quarry will be progressively rehabilitated as areas are quarried and the quarry face moves north‐eastwards. Stripped and stockpiled topsoil will be used in the Revegetation process to create areas of soil for plants to establish and grow.

Progressive rehabilitation includes the stabilisation of the landform prior to revegetation and serves to ensure landform stability and revegetation on an ongoing basis.

Rehabilitation will entail the following:

1. Equipment hygiene practices.

2. Bench formation to stabilise landform (maximum 5 metres high faces and minimum 3 metre bench platforms).

3. Shape the quarry area to blend with the surrounding landscape as much as possible including filling pits and levelling piles.

4. Rip any hard surfaces to allow moisture and vegetation roots to penetrate.

5. Leave naturally regenerated native vegetation undisturbed where possible.

6. Spread substrate mix over prepared benches to a minimum depth of 100mm.

7. Use natural seed fall supplemented by local native vegetation in ‘tea‐tree’ slash method.

8. Monitor revegetation for at least three years.


26

PART D – MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS

East Arm Quarry has had a Quality Management Plan developed for it to establish and maintain a system of environmental and quality management at the quarry.

Best practice quarry management is important to the quarry operator, Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd, to minimise the risk of environmental nuisance/harm to the local community whilst providing a reliable source of high quality gravel/rock product to clients. The draft QMP is contained in Appendix 6.

The commitments made in this EER and permit conditions imposed by the Environment Protection Authority and/or George Town Council will be integrated into the draft QMP and then finalised such that it can be implemented at the quarry.

Staff operating the quarry and truck drivers accessing the quarry will be trained in the requirements of the QMP.

Number Commitment Completion Date

1 A Weed Management Plan will be implemented across the Mining Lease to control and monitor weed incursions.

Ongoing

2

If the area occupied by Hypoxis vaginata is to be disturbed then a permit will be sought from DPIPWE. A minimum 20m radius buffer will otherwise be established around the locations of each plant.

Already compliant; reserves around plant locations in place

3

One new settling pond will be constructed to capture and ‘treat’ water on the southern side of the creek while the existing pond on the northern side will be increased in volume (Figures 6b, e and f). Sediment removed from the ponds to maintain their functionality will be used in rehabilitation works at the quarry.


4

Creek bank shape and form will remain undisturbed by the quarry expansion (except for the installation of the new culvert across the creekline) and a minimum distance of 5 m will be maintained between the creek edge and quarry stockpiles/infrastructure.

Ongoing

5

A second culvert will be installed across the creekline in the quarry during periods of low water flow. Netting will be used downstream to capture any sediment that is released during the installation process.

When weather and creek flow conditions

are suitable

6 Trucks leaving the quarry will have their loads covered or dampened to avoid spillage or fugitive air emissions.


7 Water from the nearby dam will be used during dry windy weather to dampen the access track and laydown areas in the quarry to minimise dust creation and emission.


8 Mobile equipment will be fitted with backing alarms conforming to the appropriate standards.


9 A portaloo will be provided on‐site during periods of high volume extraction. Its contents will be disposed of at an approved sewage processing facility.

Ongoing as required

10 Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and staff trained in Within 2 months of


27

how to use them in the event of a spillage. project approval

11 No servicing of machinery will occur in the quarry. Already compliant

12 No waste bins will be provided on‐site for general refuse, all general waste will be removed from the quarry at the end of each working day.

Already compliant

13

A Complaints Register will be established and maintained by the quarry operator to record and address complaints made about activities in or emissions from the quarry (eg noise, traffic dust emissions).


14

Noise, ground vibration and air blast overpressure measurements will be captured for at least one blast in every three year period and reported to the quarry operator by the blast contractor. Copies will be made available to the Environment Protection Authority upon request.

Already compliant

15 Mobile equipment will be fitted with backing alarms conforming to the appropriate standards.


16

The occupiers of the nearest permanent residence and the George Town Council will be advised (in writing by email, fax or letter) of an impending blast no less than 48 hours prior to the blast occurring.

Upon the approval of the project

17 Blasting will be carried out in accordance with blasting best practice environmental management principles.

Already compliant

18

Suitably qualified and competent explosives contractors will plan the blast and report on the outcomes of the blast using the contents/format of the Blast Report in Appendix 5 as a guide. Only qualified contractors who can produce a comparable report to that in Appendix 5 will be used in the quarry. Copies of each report will be made available to the Environment Protection Authority upon request.

Already compliant

19 The East Tamar Highway will be closed during blast events with the necessary approvals sought from DIER (compliant with a DIER approved Traffic Management Plan).

Already compliant

20 Telephone sirens or claxons will not be used or installed on site

Already compliant

21 Approval will be sought from DIER to remove the existing gate on East Arm Road


22

The section of East Arm Road from its current edge of seal to a distance of 15 m towards the quarry will be reconstructed and sealed to a pavement width of 8 m (compliant with George Town Council specifications and approval processes)


23

Two permanent road signs (compliant with DIER specifications and approval processes) will be erected at key locations on the East Tamar Highway to advise road users of trucks entering


24 A No Through Road sign (compliant with George Town Council Within 6 months of


28

specifications and approval processes) will be erected at the entrance to East Arm Road section of the quarry access road

project approval

25

The access point to the Quarry from East Arm Road will be setback 15 m into the private freehold land to ensure trucks can be off East Arm Road when opening and closing the quarry access gate


26 Truck movements will avoid entering and leaving the quarry in the period 20 minutes either side of the school bus collection and drop‐off time, as advised by the school bus operator.

Already compliant

27

Fuel and oil containers will be stored at least 10 m from any watercourse, settling pond or pond and be bunded (moveable bunds) to a capacity at least 1.5 times the volume of the container.

Already compliant

28 Fuel and oil containers will not be stored on‐site overnight, they will be removed at the end of each working day with the site workers.

Already compliant

29 Two spill kits will be stored at the quarry and workers trained in how to use them in the event of a spillage.



29

PART E – COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

The Environmental Effects Report is subject to a public consultation period as required by the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 (Tas).

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd has sought advice and direction from the Environment Protection Authority, George Town Council and Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources on various matters relating to traffic, noise and water management of the proposed expanded quarry activity.

The nearest permanent resident has also be consulted in the process of preparing the EER.

A representative of Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd is prepared to meet with persons/community groups whom have concerns about the potential impact(s) the proposed quarry expansion may have on the local community.

Appendix 1 EER Guidelines issued by EPA

Environmental Effects

Report Guidelines for Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd – Hillwood

Quarry – George Town Council

Instructions Purpose of Environmental Effects Report Guidelines These guidelines are to assist in preparing an Environmental Effects Report. An EER provides information about the environmental effects of smaller proposed activities that require assessment by the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (the EPA Board) under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. Note that these guidelines are appropriate for smaller proposed activities only. For larger activities (and smaller activities that are likely to generate significant public interest or complex environmental issues) the EPA Board will provide detailed guidelines for preparing a Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan (DPEMP). Preparing an Environmental Effects Report The Environmental Effects Report should be prepared using these guidelines. It should contain five parts as follows: Part A – information on the proponent Part B – information on the project and project area Part C – information on potential environmental effects Part D – description of management commitments Part E – information about any public consultation undertaken Any other relevant information may be attached to the EER to support the application. The Environmental Effects Report and attachments must be typed, A4 sized and preferably submitted both electronically (in PDF format) and in hard copy. Submission The Environmental Effects Report may be mailed, faxed or emailed to: Director, Environment Protection Authority GPO Box 1550 Hobart TAS 7001

Fax: 03 6233 3800 Email: [email protected] Commonwealth legislation

In addition to State Government requirements, the Commonwealth Government may also have a role in the environmental assessment and approval of the proposed activity. Commonwealth approval is required for an action which is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance or on Commonwealth land.

Information on the Commonwealth environmental legislation can be obtained on the internet at www.environment.gov.au/epbc/ or by calling 1800 803 772.

Contacts For more information contact: Environment Protection Authority and the EPA Division Telephone: (03) 6233 6518 Email: [email protected] Web: www.epa.tas.gov.au For information about preparing an EER, and the assessment and approvals process for level 2 activities and ‘called-in’ activities and for general advice about air, water and noise pollution and land contamination. Policy and Conservation Assessments Branch Telephone: 03 6216 4251 Email: [email protected] For information about natural values including flora, fauna, and geoconservation values Heritage Tasmania Telephone: 03 6233 2037 Web: www.heritage.tas.gov.au For historic cultural heritage information Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania Telephone: 03 6233 6613 For Aboriginal heritage information http://www.aboriginalheritage.tas.gov.au/ Parks and Wildlife Service Telephone: 1300 135 513 Web: www.parks.tas.gov.au and www.thelist.tas.gov.au For parks and reserves information

Content of EER Part A – Proponent information Name of proponent Address of proponent Contact telephone ACN (where relevant) Part B – Project description 1. Description of project General description of the proposed activity, including method of

operation and the main items of equipment Timeframe in which the activity is proposed to occur. Operating hours. Specify production rates and describe any seasonal variations. 2. Project area General description of the project site, including topography,

vegetation, wetlands, watercourses, buildings. Current and historical (where known) use of the site. Land tenure of the site (is the proponent the owner?). Description of surrounding land use, including location of nearest

residences and other sensitive uses (such as schools, hospitals, etc). Description of soils and underlying rock types. 3. Map and site plan General location map (eg. 1:25,000 scale) Site plan showing boundary of project site, position of existing and

proposed buildings/structures, native vegetation, watercourses (rivers, creeks, lakes). The location of significant earthworks and/or vegetation to be cleared should be shown on a map

The land on which the activity will take place must be defined Mine plan showing proposed mine stages. 4. Rationale and Alternatives Describe the rationale for the project. Explain the benefits and

disadvantages of alternative options that have been considered. Part C – Potential environmental effects 1. Flora and fauna Will native vegetation or potential habitat for native fauna be cleared

or disturbed as part of the proposal? If yes, complete this section, if no, go to the next section.

Provide details of the nature of vegetation or habitat to be cleared and the area of vegetation to be cleared (in hectares).

Include details of any flora or fauna surveys undertaken on the site. Surveys should comply with the requirements of the document Guidelines for Natural Values Assessments.

Detail how the location of the observed Hypoxia vaginata is to be managed.

The report identifies the farm dam as potentially providing habitat for green and gold frog (Utoria raniformis). If the proposal is likely to have an impact on the dam or alter its use then a survey for the green and gold frog and recommendations for mitigation of any impacts, are required.

A weed survey and weed management and plant hygiene plan is required to control weeds on site and prevent the spread of weeds or plant pathogens to or from the site.

2. Rivers, creeks, wetlands and estuaries Will stormwater from the site drain to a river, creek, wetland or

estuary? If yes, provide details about potential impacts and how they will be managed, such as sediment settling ponds.

Will the proposal result in the filling or excavating of a river, creek, wetland or estuary. If yes, provide details.

Will the proposal result in the impoundment of a river, creek, wetland or estuary? If yes, provide details.

Will the proposal occur within 200 metres of a river, creek, wetland or estuary? If yes, provide details.

Will the proposal result in the clearing of vegetation within 200 metres of a river, creek, wetland or estuary? If yes, provide details.

Consideration should be given to management of stormwater using water sensitive design principles, further information can be found on the web pages of the Derwent Estuary Program.

3. Significant areas Is the proposal located within or adjacent to an existing reserved area

(eg National Park, State Reserve, Regional Reserve, Nature Reserve, Forest Reserve or Conservation Area)? If yes, provide details.

4. Coastal zone Will any part of the proposal lie within 300 metres of the coast? If yes,

provide details. 5. Marine areas Is the activity likely to impact on sensitive marine areas, conservation

areas, or areas used extensively for recreation or commercial fishing activities? If yes, provide details about potential impacts.

6. Air emissions Will the activity result in emission of pollutants to air (includes dust,

odours and emissions from chimneys)? If yes, provide details about potential impacts and how they will be managed.

7. Liquid effluent Will the activity result in discharge of liquids (including to sewer)? If

yes, provide details of the nature of the discharge (estimated volume

and characteristics) and the nature of the receiving environment (eg downstream waterways). Provide details of any proposed effluent treatment and water monitoring activities. Where available, water quality data describing the downstream environment should be presented.

NOTE: stormwater should be addressed under Section 2, this Section relates to liquid wastes and polluted waters produced while carrying out the activity. 8. Solid wastes Will the activity produce or result in solid wastes? If yes, provide

details of the nature of the waste types and proposed methods for reuse/recycling/disposal of such wastes. Can generation of the wastes be avoided in the first place?

9. Noise emissions Carry out a desktop analysis of the potential for ongoing operations to

cause a noise nuisance, identifying the potential sources of noise, the sources of background noise, distances to nearby sensitive receptors and the estimated noise emission levels.

Blast noise and ground vibration modelling is required. 10. Transport impacts Will the activity result in or require substantial transport of goods or

materials to or from the site, which may affect the amenity of the surrounding area? If yes, provide details such as vehicle types, no. of vehicle movements and route(s).

Plans for road signage and widening of the access to the site should be developed in accordance with any requirements specified by the Traffic Engineering Branch, Transport Infrastructure Services Division, DIER, and by Council.

11. Other off-site impacts Does the activity have the potential to generate any other off-site

impacts that may affect the amenity of residences or other sensitive uses (such as schools and hospitals)? If yes, provide details. The location of all nearby residences or other sensitive uses should be clearly shown on a map.

12. Hazardous substances and chemicals Will the activity involve the use and/or storage of hazardous

substances or other fuels/oils/chemicals that have the potential to cause environmental harm if released? If yes, provide details of the nature and quantity of the materials, their storage location/methods and measures to prevent their release. Response measures in the event of accidental spillage should also be described.

13. Site Contamination Has the site on which the activity is to be located been used in the past

for activities which may have caused soil or groundwater

contamination? If yes, provide details. Include details of any assessments of soil or groundwater contamination on the site.

14. Sustainability and climate change A sustainable approach seeks to minimise energy and water

consumption while also minimising the generation of wastes. Will the proposal cause or increase emissions of greenhouse gases?

Describe how the proposal will implement best practice environmental management in energy consumption and in transport of materials to and from the proposal to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.

This section should consider the evolving national response to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions1, the Tasmanian Framework for Action on Climate Change 2008 (available at www.climatechange.tas.gov.au) and Tasmania’s Action Plan to Reduce Emissions 2011.

Describe the potential impacts of climate change upon the proposal. For example it may be appropriate to plan in advance for more intense storm events, more severe fire weather, long term sea level rise, etc.

15. Cultural heritage Is the proposal on or near a place listed on the Tasmanian Heritage

Register or Tasmanian Historic Places Inventory (maintained by Heritage Tasmania)? If yes, provide details.2

Please note, Aboriginal heritage sites, regardless of site type, condition, size or land tenure are protected in Tasmania under the Aboriginal Relics Act 1975.3

Please note that precise locations of Aboriginal sites may be confidential and should not be included in the report.

The methodology for identifying potential effects on historic heritage which is not already identified on heritage lists or schedules is outlined in Heritage Tasmania’s “Pre-Development Assessment Guidelines”, which are available from www.heritage.tas.gov.au/guidelines.html on the internet.

16. Sites of high public interest Is the activity located within or adjacent to a site of high public interest

(such as a recreation area or natural scenic feature)? If yes, provide details.

17. Rehabilitation Where the activity involves disturbance of native vegetation or has a

finite life (particularly mining and quarrying activities), future rehabilitation measures should be described in detail.

1 Information about the national approach to greenhouse gas emissions is available at: www.climatechange.gov.au on the internet. 2 An assessment of Aboriginal heritage by an appropriately qualified person is commonly required prior to approval. Different types of Aboriginal heritage assessment may be required depending on the nature of the site. Before engaging a consultant, contact Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania. 3 The standards and guidelines packages that apply to Aboriginal Heritage Officers and Consulting Archaeologists are available at http://www.aboriginal heritage.tas.gov.au on the internet.

Part D – Management commitments Specific, unambiguous written commitments for avoiding, minimising

and managing the potential environmental impacts of the proposal (as identified in Part C) should be documented in Part D (see example below).

Commitments No. Commitment Completion date By Whom 1 Construct a permanent fence

around the threatened vegetation community identified in Appendix A of the report.

Within 3 months of approval and prior to removal of any vegetation.

Project proponent

2 Erect a noise attenuation barrier as described in Part C paragraph 9.2 of the EER.

At least 30 days prior to commencement of crushing operations

Project proponent

Part E – Public consultation Has public consultation taken place (such as with other government

agencies, community groups or neighbours)? Is it intended that consultation will take place? If yes, provide details.

Appendix 2 Flora and Fauna Assessment (Livingston 2011)

Livingston Natural Resource Services Phone 0363951239 12 Powers Road Fax 0363951022 Underwood, 7268 Mobile 0438951021 ABN: 80 507 851 975

Email [email protected]

Flora and Fauna Report Proposed Quarry development, East Arm Road Prepared for Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd By Scott Livingston, Livingston Natural Resource Services March 2011

2

Background The site is proposed for development as a quarry to supply construction materials (stone). A small quarry, currently unused exists on the site with the balance of the 9 ha mining lease a mixture of native forest, plantation and previously cleared land. Mining Lease: 1914 P/M Lease Holder: Landfall Nominees Proprietary Limited

Figure 1: Location Map Quarry Footprint The proposed quarry footprint, extends north east from the existing quarry area as shown in Figure 2.

3

Figure 2: Quarry footprint Site Survey A survey of flora and fauna habitat potential was conducted on the site on 8th November 2010, sampling all habitats including some adjacent areas. Flora- Threatened Species Table 1: Natural Values Atlas list 3 species within 500 m of the site

Species Name Common Names State schedule

National schedule

Hypoxis vaginata var brevistigmata

yellow sheathing star

Rare (pr) -

4

Hypoxis vaginata var vaginata

yellow sheathing star

Rare (pr) -

Veronica plebeian trailing speedwell Rare - Site surveys located two specimens of Hypoxis vaginata, along the boundary of previous clearings on the north western section of the site, and shown in Figure 2. Identification was not taken to subspecies level, both varieties are listed on State Schedules as rare. Most herbarium collections of this species have occurred in September and October and the plant is difficult to locate when not in flower, more of this species may have been located with earlier surveys. No specimens of Veronica plebeian were identified during searches of the site. Records of Hypoxis vaginata in the locality are mainly within the roadside corridor of the East Tamar Highway, reflecting areas searched rather than actual distributions. Suitable habitat for the species also occurs in the eucalypt forest between the site and East Tamar Highway although none were found during this site survey.

5

Table 2: Fauna –Habitat potential Species list based on mapped potential habitat – Natural Values Atlas

Species Name Common Names State schedule

National schedule Habitat Description Habitat availability

Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk endangered

Wet eucalypt forest with blackwood/myrtle understorey, blackwood swamp, E. brookeriana wet forest, melaleuca and leptospermum forest. No suitable habitat

Aquila audax wedge-tailed eagle endangered Endangered

Large tracts (more than 10 ha) of eucalypt or mixed forest

low likelihood of nesting due to exposure to prevailing winds and proximity to highway

Haliaeetus leucogaster

white-bellied sea-eagle vulnerable

Forest with significant old-growth eucalypt component within 5 km of the coast (nearest coast including shores, bays, inlets and peninsulas), rivers, lakes or complex of farm dams

low likelihood of nesting due to exposure to prevailing winds, proximity to highway and lack of trees around dam.

Lathamus discolor swift parrot endangered Endangered Range potential map (Forest Practices Authority)

At the eastern edge of potential breeding range, but with low likelihood. No nesting habitat but may forage on eucalypts during migration.

Litoria raniformis green and golden frog vulnerable Vulnerable

Permanent and temporary water bodies (streams, ponds, dams) with vegetation in or around them habitat exists in dam

Perameles gunnii eastern barred bandicoot Vulnerable

Grassy woodlands, native grasslands, mosaics of pasture and ground cover, including shrubby weeds good habitat potential

Pseudomys novaehollandiae

new holland mouse endangered Vulnerable Dry coastal heathland and open heathy forest no suitable habitat

Sarcophilus harrisii Tasmanian devil endangered Endangered

Potential habitat includes dry to damp forest, woodlands and grassy woodlands, coastal scrub, and riparian areas.

good habitat potential for foraging, low potential for denning sites.

Tyto novaehollandiae

masked owl (tasmanian) endangered Vulnerable

Lowland dry sclerophyll forest with old growth components

very limited potential, no large hollows suitable for nesting

6

General fauna habitat suitability of the site is low due to regrowth trees with few hollows, low numbers of logs on the ground and previous disturbance levels. The dam in the southeast corner of the site has high potential for Green and Gold frogs. Frogs calls were common during the survey of the area, no Green and Gold Frogs were heard. Small pools exist in the creek line below the dam and at the base of the old quarry that may provide some potential habitat however these are likely to dry over most summers reducing there potential. Vegetation Communities The site is a mixture of native forest, Tasveg code Eucalyptus amygdalina on dolerite, previously cleared land and eucalypt plantation. None of the vegetation communities present are listed as threatened and therefore have no constraints on clearing. The boundaries between native forest and cleared land are indistinct with much of the previously cleared land regenerating to native species. Table 3: Vegetation community areas of the lease

Vegetation Type VegCode Area (ha)

Cleared land FAG 2.8 FRG 0.4 Native forest DAD 4.7 Plantation FPL 0.6 Dam OAQ 0.3 Quarry FRG 0.2 TOTAL 9.0

7

Figure 3: Vegetation communities Watercourses The watercourse within the site has a catchment of 404 ha, under Forest Practices Code it has a classification of Class 2. Conservation of Freshwater ecosystem Values (CFEV) give the section within the site ratings of medium for Priority for protection and maintenance (ICV) and High for Priority for improvement (ICV).

8

Weeds The site overall has a low weed incidence with Blackberry, (Rubus fruticosus agg), scotch thistles (Cirsium vulgare) and Cumbungi (Bullrush) (Typha latifolia), occur in small patches. A variety of pasture grass species also occur within native forest areas of the site.

Figure 4: weed locations Blackberry, (Rubus fruticosus agg) occurs mainly along the creek line, with occasional plants around the dam. Blackberry is a declared weed in Tasmania, and a weed of national significance. Scotch thistles (Cirsium vulgare) occurs in recently disturbed open areas, mainly around the dam spillway and occasionally in other open pasture area,

9

Cumbungi (Bullrush) (Typha latifolia) occurs in standing water on the floor of the old quarry, in the dam and occasionally along the creek line. Summary Values of the proposed Quarry footprint The proposed quarry footprint for years one and two occur on heavily disturbed areas of Eucalyptus amygdalina on dolerite (DAD) and regenerating cleared land. This is regrowth forest from past clearing and has low habitat value due to the absence of hollows and logs. Extensions to the north east will occur on regenerating cleared land and cleared land. Threatened flora occur at around 60 m northwest of the proposed quarry extension, any quarry development in this direction should be avoided. Weeds within the footprint area are limited to cumbungi on the existing quarry floor; drainage associated with new works will remove the standing water and eradicate the weed from the area. The location and design of the settling pond will need to take into account the watercourse below the quarry site to limit the potential for sediment input. Values of Lease Area Threatened flora species (two individuals Hypoxis vaginata) were located within the proposed lease area. But at a distance of at least 60m from proposed quarry footprint and proposed future extentions are further away from the known sites and most likely potential habitat. If clearing/quarrying of this area is to be undertaken approvals will be required from DPIPWE. Areas adjacent to the site, in particular the native forest between the lease boundary and East Tamar Highway provide potential habitat for this species outside the impacted area. Threatened fauna habitat occurs on the site for eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) and Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), however the impact of clearing within the wider habitat of the locality is unlikely to be significant. Habitat for green and golden frog (Litoria raniformis) that occurs around the margins of the constructed farm dam may be impacted by any alterations to the dam water levels. Input of sediments from adjacent operations may also impact the habitat values of the dam, however its placement on the lease boundary and outside the drainage of proposed operation mean this is unlikely to occur. No significant natural values are impacted by the proposed footprint of the quarry extension. Weed management across the lease area should be undertaken as part of normal operations. Scott Livingston 3rd March 2011

Appendix 3 Weed Management Plan (Draft)

East Arm Quarry – Weed Management Plan

Page | 1

Van Diemen CONSULTING PO BOX 1 NEW TOWN TAS 7008

EAST ARM QUARRY, HILLWOOD

WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN


CONTENTS

OBJECTIVES OF PLAN ................................................................................... 1

EAST ARM QUARRY ..................................................................................... 2

LOCATION ........................................................................................................ 2

GEOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 2

LAND USE ........................................................................................................ 2

WEEDS IN THE REGION ....................................................................................... 2

WEEDS IN THE QUARRY ...................................................................................... 2

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................. 5

WEED MANAGEMENT AREA ................................................................................. 5

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 5

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd ....................................................................... 5

Site Manager ........................................................................................... 5

Staff and Contractors ............................................................................... 5

HEAVY MACHINERY WASHDOWN ......................................................................... 6

Site selection ........................................................................................... 6

Washdown prescriptions ......................................................................... 6

SPRAYING PROGRAM ......................................................................................... 7

MONITORING AND REVIEW ........................................................................ 8

BACKGROUND .................................................................................................. 8

ON‐GROUND MONITORING ................................................................................. 8

REVIEW OF PLAN ............................................................................................... 8

APPENDICES .............................................................................................. 10

APPENDIX 1. INFORMATION FOR THE DECLARED WEEDS IN THE EAST ARM QUARRY . 11

APPENDIX 2. INFORMATION FOR THE NON‐DECLARED WEEDS IN THE EAST ARM QUARRY 14

APPENDIX 3. RIVERCARE ‘GUIDELINES FOR SAFE AND EFFECTIVE HERBICIDE USE NEAR WATER’ 16


Page 1

OBJECTIVES OF PLAN

The objectives of the Weed Management Plan (the Plan) are to:

Provide a mechanism to record and map the occurrence of (i) Declared Weeds and (ii) significant non‐Declared Weeds within the East Arm Quarry;

Identify, document and implement management measures at East Arm Quarry to –

o minimise the risk of spreading propagules of (i) Declared Weeds and (ii) significant non‐Declared weeds within the quarry and to locations outside the quarry;

o control and/or eradicate (i) Declared Weeds and (ii) significant non‐Declared weeds within the quarry where practicable; and to

o ensure that rehabilitation works are not compromised by the occurrence or growth of (i) Declared Weeds and (ii) significant non‐Declared weeds.

Establish a process to monitor the results of on‐ground actions and a mechanism to review these actions as required; and

Establish a process of review for the Plan, including its objectives and implementation.


Page 2

EAST ARM QUARRY

LOCATION

Figure 1 illustrates the location of the East Arm Quarry on the East Tamar north of Hillwood.

The quarry and associated infrastructure occupies a relatively small area in the quarry, with gradual expansion and progressive rehabilitation of the ‘active’ open cut area as quarrying progresses.

GEOLOGY

The quarry is comprised of Jurassic dolerite bedrock with a skeletal sub‐soil and topsoil layer.

LAND USE

The Hillwood ‐ Rowella region is used for agricultural enterprises, mainly sheep/cattle grazing and orchards, small residential developments and to a lesser degree forestry (plantation and native forest silviculture). The region supports substantial areas of native forest cover mainly due to the low agricultural potential of the steep rocky terrain.

WEEDS IN THE REGION

The East Tamar region harbours numerous Declared Weed and significant non‐Declared Weed species. The soils and climate are favourable for the growth and proliferation of many weed species from warm to cool temperate regions of the world, such as gorse, blackberry, capeweed, briar rose, ragwort, broom species and thistles.

WEEDS IN THE QUARRY

The quarry contains four weed species of concern that are covered by the actions outlined in this Plan. The weeds shown on Figure 2 include two Declared Weeds (Blackberry and Spanish heath; Appendix 1) and two non‐Declared weeds (variegated thistle and briar rose; Appendix 2).

The main do’s and don’ts for managing the Declared Weeds present in the Quarry are provided in Table 1 as well as the management objectives of the statutory weed management plan for each species within the George Town Municipality.

470000 480000 490000 500000 510000 520000 530000 54000054

10

000

542

000

054

30

000

544

000

054

50

000




Base image TASMAP. © State of Tasmania

³0 5,000 10,0002,500Meters

East Arm Quarry Weed PlanFigure 1: Mining Lease Location


Planning SchemesGEORGE

TOWN

LAUNCESTON

HILLWOOD

497800 497900 498000 498100 498200 49830054

39

300

543

940

054

39

500


³0 50 10025Meters


Quarry Lease

East Arm Quarry Weed PlanFigure 2: Weeds in the Mining Lease




Weeds` Blackberry

` Bria Rose

` Spanish Heath

` Variegated Thistle

East Arm Quarry –Weed Management Plan

Page 3

Table 1 – Declared Weeds recorded within the East Arm Quarry

Information compiled from the webpage of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au)

Common name

Scientific name

Do’s Don’ts Weed Management Plan requirements for Local Council

Region

Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus agg.

Plan your control program, this will save time and money in the long‐run;

Consider the impact of your control methods on off‐target species, especially if herbicides are used;

Ensure machinery and equipment is washed down between sites or prior to contractors leaving site;

Get in early ‐ For new infestations, eradicate before the plants reach the flowering stage: once plants begin seeding, control becomes more difficult and expensive;

Carefully time your use of herbicide for best results;

Coordinate your control program with neighbouring landholders where your weed problem crosses property boundaries;

Revisit and regularly inspect the site and ensure follow‐up is undertaken; and

Use a combination of different control methods.

Don’t introduce blackberry to blackberry‐free areas (e.g. by failing to wash down machinery and equipment between sites);

Don’t start your control program without first planning your approach;

Don’t allow blackberry to flower and set seed before treatment;

Don’t rely on one attempt at removal – follow‐up is essential;

Don’t rely on just one control method;

Never burn blackberry without follow up treatment of regrowth; and

Do not burn blackberry in native vegetation.

Widespread infestations.

Containment within municipal boundaries, protection of specified areas within municipal boundaries, prevention of spread to Zone A municipalities. This applies to all Zone B municipalities.

Spanish heath

Erica lusitanica

Dispose of removed material carefully to avoid regeneration: burn if possible, otherwise pile where the plants won’t stem layer;

Don’t slash flowering plants – this will spread the seed; Widespread infestations.

East Arm Quarry –Weed Management Plan

Page 4

Follow‐up your initial control attempt: follow‐up is essential to eradicate Spanish heath.

Don’t rely on slashing to eradicate Spanish heath – slashing can worsen an infestation;

Don’t rely on burning to eradicate Spanish heath – burning will worsen an infestation; and

Don’t rely on one attempt at control: follow‐up is essential to eradicate Spanish heath.

Containment within municipal boundaries, protection of specified areas within municipal boundaries, prevention of spread to Zone A municipalities. This applies to all Zone B municipalities.


Page 5

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

WEED MANAGEMENT AREA

The most actively used areas of the Quarry should be given the highest priority for weed control works and for the removal/eradication of weeds, both Declared and non‐Declared Weeds, as it is the area within which most truck and vehicle movements occur.

The most active areas of us includes the:

access road and tracks to the gravel pickup site;

area around the crusher; and the

laydown area and carpark.

Most of the Mining Lease is currently not used or accessed for the purposes of extracting gravel/rock or associated quarrying activities. There is no obligation to manage or eradicate weeds within those areas that are not used, accessed or otherwise disturbed by the gravel extraction process within the Mining Lease. As areas become utilised for the purpose of extracting coal, including the development of tracks and roads, drainage channels, settlement ponds and the stripping and stockpiling of topsoil, they will be included within the actively managed area.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd

The operator of the quarry is responsible for:

That the Site Manager is briefed on the requirements of the Plan and its importance to the overall success of operating the quarry;

That this Plan is complied with through regular assessments of the Quarry and liaison with the SM;

Ensuring that any variations to this Plan are developed and provided to the Environment Protection Authority prior to their implementation; and

Providing the Environment Protection Authority with an implementation report every 12 months through the Annual Report process.

Site Manager

The Site Manager (SM) for the Quarry is responsible for:

That this Plan is complied with, appropriately implemented and reviewed from time to time as required;

Reporting to Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd or their representative on the implementation of this Plan including any breaches and how they were recorded and addressed; and

Coordinating the training of staff and contractors in weed hygiene measures, with emphasis on those relevant to their appointed tasks.

Staff and Contractors

All staff and contractors that work within the Quarry are responsible for:

Applying weed hygiene measures for which they have received training;


Page 6

Reporting to the SM any breaches of this Plan as soon as practical, providing written details of the breach, and any measures that were immediately taken to reduce the likelihood of any environmental harm; and

Reporting new occurrences of Declared Weeds to the SM within a reasonable timeframe of detection.

HEAVY MACHINERY WASHDOWN

Site selection

With the high number of plants and species diversity of weeds in the Quarry it is important that these do not become transported to other sites through the movement of heavy machinery. The highest risk of transporting propagules is from heavy machinery, such as excavators, as these have the ability to carry large clods of dirt and mud in which seed propagules can be spread.

Transport trucks pose little risk to the transportation of weed propagules if they remain on the hard surface of the roads and the coal loading area and that these areas are well managed to exclude weeds.

The exact location of the washdown site should be decided by the contractor, or their supervisor, on the following criteria:

1) Stormwater settlement ponds or areas designed for the capture of runoff from roads should be preferentially used for washdown if they are practical to access;

2) If stormwater settlement ponds are not readily accessed, ensure washdown is conducted as close as possible to the source of the material being removed;

3) Ensure run‐off does not directly enter a watercourse or waterbody, a 30m buffer from any waterway or waterbody is desirable;

4) Select a mud‐free location (e.g. well grassed, gravel) which is gently sloped to drain effluent away from the washdown area;

5) Allow adequate space to safely move tracked vehicles and allow safe vehicle access around the heavy machinery;

6) Pay particular attention to potential hazards near or at the washdown site (e.g. overhead powerlines, powerpoles, fences);

If there will be large quantities of effluent or there is a risk of extensive run‐off, the washdown area should be bunded and a sump constructed to safely dispose of the effluent. Take particular care where the effluent is likely to be contaminated with oil or fuel.

Washdown prescriptions

For each of the washdown sites the following prescriptions will be applied:

Note: Do NOT apply water to equipment that may be damaged by water.

1) Locate washdown site as close as possible to the source of the materials being removed, and prepare the surface or construct bunding as required.

2) Safely park the vehicle free of any hazards (e.g. electrical), ensure the engine is off and the vehicle is immobilised.

3) Look over the vehicle, inside and out, for where dirt, plant material including seeds are lodged. Pay attention to the underside of the vehicle, radiators, spare tyres, foot wells and bumper bars.

4) Remove any guards, covers or plates if required, being careful of any parts that may cause injury.


Page 7

5) Knock off large clods of mud, use a crow bar if required and sweep out the cabin.

6) Brush off dried plant material like weed seeds and chaff in radiators and other small spaces where this material lodges.

7) Clean down with a high pressure hose (using potable drinking water) and stiff brush/crowbar.

8) Start with the underside of the vehicle, wheel arches, wheels (including spare). Next do the sides, radiator, tray, bumper bars etc and finally upper body.

9) Clean associated implements, e.g. buckets.

10) Check there is no loose soil or plant material that could be readily dislodged or removed.

11) Wash effluent away from the machinery; do not drive through wash effluent.

Contractors should keep a log book of where and when they wash down machinery, and of where they then took the machinery. These data are useful in ensuring that checks are made of the washdown locations in the event that any undesirable plants become established in these locations.

SPRAYING PROGRAM

A targeted Weed Spraying Program should be developed in consultation with a weed spraying contractor whom would implement the program on‐site. The program should be reviewed each year, when the Annual Report is completed, and updated as new information about the occurrence of weeds within the Quarry become available.

The Rivercare ‘Guideline for Safe and Effective Herbicide Use near Water’ (Appendix 3) should be applied for any spraying activity in the Quarry.

The Weed Spraying Program will be reviewed and modified as and when needed, or no later than every 12 months from the commencement of this Plan.


Page 8

MONITORING AND REVIEW

BACKGROUND

The Plan is intended to be flexible and allow change to the focus of management actions, especially the weed spraying program, as the occurrence, extent and severity of weed infestations change across the site.

The focus of the weed spraying program may be reviewed and modified from time to time as new data become available for the site, especially following field surveys to identify, record and map new and current weed occurrences in the Quarry.

ON‐GROUND MONITORING

The early detection of any new weeds that may enter the Quarry is important to ensure that any control or eradication program has the highest likelihood of success.

A survey to identify any new weed species (especially Declared Weeds) within the Quarry should be conducted at least once every 12 months until quarry closure completion. This approach should enable early detection of weed species before they reach an extent where control and eradication is very costly and/or difficult to achieve.

The following monitoring regime will be applied during the life of the quarry operation:

1) Annual assessments by a suitably qualified person will be made at an appropriate time of the year to ‐

a. identify, record and map any new weed species not previously recorded in the Quarry (with a focus on the weeds listed in Table 2);

b. assess and map the extent of known weed infestations, particularly those of Declared Weeds, to determine if they are becoming larger and/or more significant; and

c. review/assess the weed control works that have been conducted in the previous 12 month period and to provide advice, where necessary, on the management of weeds in the Quarry.

2) Areas where weed control/eradication works have occurred (eg spraying) will be assessed no more 12 months after the treatment occurred to determine if the measures implemented were successful. Where measures have proved unsuccessful, repetition and/or modification of the weed control technique(s) will be employed.

REVIEW OF PLAN

The objectives, responsibilities and management actions within this Plan will need to adapt to new information about the site as it becomes available. The Plan will be reviewed each year in conjunction with the Annual Report for the operation or as required (eg. when a significant infestation of a new Declared Weed on the site is detected).

Reviewed versions of the Plan will be provided to the Environment Protection Authority.


Page 9

Table 2. Declared and Non‐declared weeds of concern that may enter the East Arm Quarry

Weed Name

Declared Weed

Significance if it was detected in the Quarry

Serrated tussock

Nassella trichotoma Yes Very High

Montpelier broom

Genista monspessulana Yes Very High

gorse

Ulex europaeus Yes Very High

Californian thistle

Cirsium arvense Yes Very High

Horehound

Marrubium vulgare Yes High

Boneseed

Chrysanthemoides monilifera Yes High

Paterson’s curse

Echium plantagineum Yes High

Viper’s bugloss

Echium vulgare Yes High

Slender thistle

Carduus pycnocephalus Yes High

ragwort

Senecio jacobea Yes High

White spanish broom

Cytisus multiflorus Yes Moderate

Onopordum thistles

Onopordum species Yes Moderate

Saffron thistle

Carthamus lanatus Yes Moderate

Nodding thistle

Carduus nutans Yes Moderate


Page 10

APPENDICES

1. Information on Declared Weeds present in the East Arm Quarry

2. Information on Non‐Declared Weeds present in the East Arm Quarry

3. Rivercare ‘Guidelines for Safe and Effective Herbicide Use near Water’


APPENDIX 1. INFORMATION FOR THE DECLARED WEEDS IN THE EAST ARM QUARRY

Two plant species listed as Declared Weeds on the Weed Management Act 1999 have been identified within the Quarry (Figure 2 and Table 1):

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus); and

Spanish heath (Erica lusitanica).

Information is provided below for each of these species.

BLACKBERRY

Description

Blackberries are spiny, perennial (long‐lived) shrubs with trailing stems which can produce dense thickets. The canes may be erect, arching or trailing and they can reach 6 m in length. Blackberries occur in all settled areas of Tasmania and prefer open situations and occur as a weed in disturbed bush, along stream‐sides, roadsides, tracks and fence lines, and in degraded pasture and neglected areas.

Severe infestations of blackberry on farmland can effect agricultural production and reduce access to water and land. Blackberry is also an important weed of disturbed and degraded native vegetation, particularly along stream‐sides. Blackberries can also pose a significant fire hazard and provide a haven for vermin.

Blackberry fruits are eaten by many birds and animals which then spread the seed. The seeds survive in the droppings and can be transported large distances from the parent bush. Blackberry seed is also spread by water in creeks and rivers. The canes of blackberries are also able to send out roots at the tip where they touch the ground, allowing uncontrolled patches of blackberries to cover large areas. Blackberries will also grow from root suckers and root fragments.

Control methods

There are a number of DPIPWE suggested mechanisms to control and eradicate this weed species.

Physical removal

Physical removal by repeated slashing may limit the spread of blackberries but it is not an effective method of control when used alone. Blackberry will regenerate from root suckers, and whole canes growing along the ground will often be missed by the slasher blades.

Burning

Large infestations of blackberry can be removed by burning. However, follow‐up treatment of regrowth by herbicide, grazing or cultivation is essential. Blackberry thickets pose a fire risk and care should be taken in burning blackberry near native or other valuable vegetation, fences and buildings.

Grazing

Goats readily eat blackberries and are capable of destroying large infestations. Sheep and pigs are also useful to some extent in the control of blackberries because they eat seedlings and young tip growth.

Biological control


Biological control will not eradicate blackberry, but may be used in conjunction with other control methods. Biological control agents for blackberry that have been released in Tasmania include the Blackberry leaf rust fungus.

Chemical control

A number of herbicides are registered for use on blackberry in Tasmania (see www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au for more information). Herbicide spraying of blackberries works best when carried out in the period from petal fall to leaf fall, usually from December to May. For all herbicides, complete coverage of all canes and leaves is essential, including those growing from suckers away from the main bush. Regrowth after slashing, burning, or grazing should be at least 50 cm high before herbicide application.

SPANISH HEATH

Description

Spanish heath is a woody evergreen perennial (long‐lived) shrub growing to a height of 1.5 to 2 metres and occasionally reaching 3.5 metres. Spanish heath stems are woody and brittle, and the leaves are tiny (3 to 7 mm long), pointed, and clustered densely on the stem. The leaves have a longitudinal groove on the lower surface. Spanish heath flowers appear from late autumn to early spring. The white or pinkish flowers are 4 to 5 mm long and occur in loose groups towards the end of the stems. Each flower can produce hundreds of tiny, dust‐like seeds which are released when flowering finishes and the flowers have browned off. The roots are fibrous, and the plant readily breaks off near the base, often regrowing quickly from the broken stump.

Control methods


Physical removal

Seedlings or small plants can be hand‐pulled or dug out, taking care to remove as much of the root system as possible. The material should be disposed of safely, either by burning where appropriate, or piling plants where they cannot layer. If plants are in flower, care should be taken to prevent accidental seed dispersal during disposal. Large plants can have very extensive root


systems, and digging out or mechanical removal may result in soil erosion. Alternative control options should be considered.

Slashing can reduce the amount of seed produced if undertaken prior to flowering, but will not kill plants. Slashing can result in more root development and low growth, making later control more difficult. Slashing during or soon after flowering will spread seeds and should not be undertaken.

Weed Matting

Weed matting can kill Spanish heath and can achieve a 100% kill after 45 weeks.

Chemical control

A number of herbicides are registered for use on blackberry in Tasmania (see www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au for more information).


APPENDIX 2. INFORMATION FOR THE NON‐DECLARED WEEDS IN THE EAST ARM QUARRY

There are a number of ‘weed species’ in Tasmania that are not listed as Declared Weeds on the Weed Management Act 1999 (Tas). These weeds generally invade agricultural or bushland areas and displace ‘desired’ species.

VARIEGATED THITSLE

Description

Variegated thistle is a large biennial plant (living for two years) forming rosettes of a metre or more in diameter and a flowering stem up to 2 metres in height. Rosette leaves are lobed and with spiny margins, and the upper surface is a bright, shining green with distinct white variegations. The flower heads are large and showy, bright purple in colour, and surrounded by long, stiff, spiny bracts.

Most seed germination takes place in early autumn but can also occur in spring and summer in irrigated areas. Variegated thistle normally over‐winters as a rosette but in spring‐sown crops it can establish as a seedling then flower and produce seed within the life of the crop.

Control methods


Physical removal

Individual plants and small patches can be removed using hand‐hoeing. Ensure that the growing point and the top 20 to 40 mm of the taproot are removed.

Cultivation

Variegated thistle does not readily invade healthy and vigorous pasture, and seedlings establish mainly when pasture opens up due to over‐grazing or insect damage. Aim to maintain a vigorous pasture. Heavily infested areas may need to be re‐sown with perennial pasture grasses.

Chemical control

A number of herbicides are registered for use on variegated thistle in Tasmania (see www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au for more information). To avoid poisoning, stock should be removed from infested areas before any herbicide application and kept off the area until the thistles are completely dead. This may take 2‐3 weeks after spraying.

SWEET BRIAR (BRIAR ROSE)

Description

Sweet briar is a member of the rose family. It forms a deciduous shrub 1 ‐ 3 m high with stems carrying prickles and bristles. Suckering occurs freely from the crown, and bushes often exceed 1 m in diameter at the base. The leaves have five to seven oval leaflets, each with serrated edges. The light pink flowers have a pleasant fragrance, while the fruit (called hips) are bright red when ripe and often have bristles. The closely related dog rose (Rosa canina) is also found occasionally in Tasmania. It differs from sweet briar in having a larger flower which is white rather than pink. Sweet briar spreads mainly by the dispersal of seed. Birds eat the hips, and seeds germinate from the droppings. Seeds can also spread via water along creeks and waterways. Sweet briar may also regenerate from root and crown fragments left after mechanical disturbance of an infestation.


Control methods


Physical removal

Dozer blades or chains are effective methods for removing sweet briar. Remove as much as possible of the root system to avoid re‐growth from root pieces remaining in the soil.

Grazing

Sweet briar will not usually establish in well managed and grazed pasture. The seedlings are delicate and heavy grazing with sheep will usually control the weed. Goats will eat practically the whole of the bush and if present in sufficient numbers can eliminate entire infestations.

Cultivation

Deep ploughing will remove sweet briar, while establishing a well managed, vigorous pasture helps prevent the re‐establishment of the weed. Repeated cultivation will control seedlings and small re‐growth.

Chemical control

A number of herbicides are registered for use on sweet briar in Tasmania. Regardless of which herbicide is used, treated bushes should be left undisturbed for at least six months after the application. Treated bushes should be checked for regrowth in the two years following application, as regrowth may not appear for up to two years after treatment. Regrowth should be treated with herbicide only after regrowth is at least 300 mm high.


APPENDIX 3. RIVERCARE ‘GUIDELINES FOR SAFE AND EFFECTIVE HERBICIDE USE NEAR WATER’

Guidelines for Herbicide Use Near Water

Herbicides can accumulate in and impact on waterways and wetlands

IntroductionRiparian land (land adjacent to a waterway) and aquaticareas in Tasmania’s agricultural regions are oftendominated by introduced plant species such as willows,sweet reed grass, cumbungi, gorse, hawthorn andblackberries. These weeds replace native riparian speciesand often impact upon the way that a stream behaves -leading to problems such as stream bank and bed erosionor channel blockage. In addition to these ‘high profile’riparian weeds, other weed species include various shrubs(eg. Spanish heath, broom and briar rose) and grasses (eg.Yorkshire fog, phalaris and cocksfoot). Figure 1 illustratesa riparian site with a significant presence of weed species.

Weeds are good indicators of land and watermanagement problems. They dominate where there isincreased sunlight resulting from loss of riparian vegetationand when high levels of nutrients and sediment areentering the waterway. There is little point in sprayingcumbungi in a dam each year whilst stock and manurecontinue to enter the dam. In such situations, herbicidetreatment is a short-term treatment requiring repeatedapplications until the causal influences are addressed.

It is very important to think long-term when managingriparian and aquatic areas – perhaps 5-10 years or more.Gradual and consistent weed control and re-establishmentof local native plant species are integral components forsustainable management of riparian areas. Local nativeplants assist in: reducing the presence of weed species(shading and competition); the long-term stability ofbanks; shading of the waterway; and provision of habitat.

Wherever feasible, weed control should be carried oututilising non-herbicide methods. These include: biologicalcontrol (eg gorse mite); slashing; mulching; hand removal;and controlled grazing. Often, a combination of herbicideand non-herbicide based methods is most appropriate.Whichever method or combination is used, it is importantto consider the potential impacts on the environment andlimit these as much as possible. Figure 2 presents anexample of specific situations to be considered whenplanning herbicide usage.

Guideline Prepared by:

Author: Michael Noble Editor: Janice Miller

Guideline for Safe &Effective Herbicide Use

Near Water

Figure 1.Gorse and crack willow amongstnative vegetation on the South Esk River.(Photo courtesy of Reece Luxton,Tamar Valley Weed Strategy)

Rivercare Guideline #1

DPIWE/2002 2 Guidelines for Herbicide Use Near Water

DEFINITIONSFor the purposes of this guideline, the following definitions apply:

Riparian Any land that adjoins, directly influences, or is influenced by a body of water. 1

Aquatic Areas of actively flowing channel and wetlands.2

Commonly inundated sites Riparian channels, banks, floodways, dry billabongs and backwaters, commonly flooded floodplains.2

Flooded at least once a year.

Occasionally or rarely inundated sites Riparian areas/floodplains where only occasional floods are experienced.2 For example flooded lessthan once a year.

Toxicity The inherent poisonous quality/qualities of a substance, measured by what size dose is likely to causeharm (acute toxicity is measured by the amount of active ingredient - mg/kg live body weight - is requiredto kill 50% of a test group of animals - this is called LD50).3

Figure 2: Appropriate and effective herbicide usage near water requires consideration of specific situations

CONSIDER YOUR WEED ISSUE

Consider some key questions about your riparianarea before continuing:

Do weed species play an important role on yourriparian land?

There are circumstances where weeds play an importantrole stabilising or protecting the stream bank, shading thestream, and providing important habitat in the form ofcover or nesting sites. For example, removing blackberryfrom a riparian zone may expose the stream bank toerosion. In these situations it is important to undertakeweed removal in stages and ensure that revegetationoccurs immediately after weed removal.

What is the extent of your weed issue?

What is your long-term goal in managing the weed(s) andis it worthwhile and realistic? In some circumstances - withblackberry for example - the money, time and/orenvironmental impact required to bring the weed undercontrol may not be justified.

Have you programmed long-term maintenance intoyour schedule?

Treatment of weeds is generally futile if ongoingmaintenance is not undertaken. Will you have thetime/money required in future years to maintain the workyou are initiating?

Occasionally/rarelyinundated site(higher point)

(wetland)

Aquatic (wetland)

Aquatic

Aquatic

Commonly inundatedsite



SAFE AND EFFECTIVE HERBICIDEHANDLING

Information in this Guideline does not in any wayreplace or supersede the information on theherbicide product labeller permit (includingapplication rates) or other regulatory requirements.All use must be in accordance with the herbicideproduct label or a relevant permit. Specific productsare named in this document for herbicide impactexample purposes only. Toxicity informationsupplied below refers to “acute toxicity”. In manyinstances (for example with triclopyr) “chronictoxicity” is largely untested.

Information in this Guideline does not in any wayreplace or supersede herbicide use training. Incertain situations, it is a LEGAL REQUIREMENTthat persons applying herbicides have undertaken theChemCert Australia (Tas) Certificate course throughTasmanian Rural Industries Training Board.

ALWAYS CONSIDER OUR WATERWAYS!It is important to be aware that significant accumulation ofherbicides in waterways results from off-stream activities.Some herbicides readily bind with soil particles, whichmay then be mobilised by water. Whether washed down apaddock or down a street gutter, herbicide-laden run-offwill eventually drain into a waterway. A recent study of aUS waterway found it contained a concoction of 18pesticides – the environmental health consequences of somany pesticides mixing are largely unknown.4 Whenapplying herbicides please consider potential impacts onlocal waterways. Utilise appropriate herbicides andminimise herbicide use!

APPROPRIATE HERBICIDES ANDAPPLICATION TECHNIQUES

Prior to using herbicides in a riparian area, ensure you haveconsidered all non-chemical options (for example Figure 3illustrates a non-chemical alternative – solarisation – beingtrialed for use on rice grass). If there is no alternative thenensure that appropriate herbicide and applicationtechniques are selected for the site. Refer below and toTable 1. (Note: ai = active ingredient in the herbicide.)Many herbicides and surfactants (a product included in oradded to herbicide to improve leaf penetration) are toxicto aquatic and riparian plants and animals. These shouldnever be used in the immediate vicinity of a waterway orwetland. For example, pre-emergent herbicides such asatrazine are toxic to aquatic plants and animals includingfish and invertebrates.5

Figure 3: Solarisation being used to treat rice grass (Spartina anglica) in theRubicon Estuary (Photo courtesy of Julia Butler-Ross ).

Atrazine is soluble in water and moves easily in soil. It anda related herbicide Simazine are residual in soil andresidues are found in surface and ground waters.6 Pre-emergent herbicides are not suitable for riparian use.

Some herbicides can be used - to greater or lesser degrees- in the vicinity of waterways. Examples are given below.Herbicides that can be used near water are applied using avariety of techniques including foliar spraying and varioustarget specific methods. Herbicide being applied directlyto trunks or stems must be directed to the sapwood tomaximise effectiveness. Figure 4 illustrates sapwood andother basic zones within a tree. Figures 5-7 illustrate someapplication methods.

Figure 4: Herbicide being applied directly to trunks or stems must be directed tothe sapwood to maximise effectiveness.

Roundup Biactive, Weedmaster Duo andWeedmaster 360 (ai = glyphosate) are non-selectiveherbicides and currently the only ones registered inTasmania for use in aquatic areas (for example, wherecumbungi is growing within the waterway and herbicide isjudged to be the most suitable control technique). Otherglyphosate-based products contain surfactants that can beharmful to aquatic organisms. These products should notbe used in aquatic areas. Glyphosate is considered slightlytoxic to birds, fish, invertebrates and mammals. 7



You must read and follow the herbicide containerlabel regarding use of Roundup Biactive,Weedmaster Duo and Weedmaster 360.

Sapwood

Figure 5: Cut and paint herbicide application technique. Formaximum effectiveness, herbicide must be applied to thesapwood within 10 seconds of the cut being made.

Figure 6: Frilling method of herbicide application. For maximumeffectiveness, herbicide must be applied to the sapwood within 10seconds of the cut being made.

Figure 7: Drill and poison herbicide application technique. Formaximum effectiveness, herbicide must be applied to thesapwood within 10 seconds of the hole being made.

Garlon 600 (ai = triclopyr) is a commonly used selectiveherbicide. Triclopyr is considered slightly toxic to birdsand low in toxicity to fish and invertebrates. It ismoderately toxic to mammals.8 Triclopyr breaks downfairly readily in soil and water. This herbicide should notbe used in aquatic areas. It can be used on woodyweeds in commonly inundated areas wheninundation within 6 months is of low likelihood –prior to summer for example.

Grazon (ai = picloram and triclopyr) and Tordon (ai= picloram) are commonly used selective herbicides.Picloram is moderately to slightly toxic to fish and slightlytoxic to invertebrates. It is almost non-toxic to birds andof low toxicity to mammals.9 It is moderately to highlypersistent in the soil. Persistence in the soil may inhibit re-vegetation of sprayed areas, sometimes up to twelvemonths. Picloram-based herbicides should not beused in aquatic areas or areas subject to annualinundation.9 Picloram is residual and readilydissolved in/mobilised by water. It will contaminatesurface and ground water.

Brush-Off (ai = metsulfuron-methyl) is a commonlyused selective herbicide. It has very low toxicity to birds,mammals, aquatic organisms and bees.10 Metsulfuron-methyl has been known to persist in certain soils andimpact on re-cropping.11 This herbicide should not beused in aquatic areas. It can be used in commonlyinundated areas when inundation within 6 months isof low likelihood – prior to summer for example.

MCPA (ai = methyl-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) is acommonly used herbicide. MCPA is moderately toxic tobirds; slightly toxic to mammals and freshwater fish;practically non-toxic to freshwater invertebrates orestuarine and marine organisms; and non-toxic to bees.MCPA is rapidly broken down by soil and water basedmicro-organisms. It takes longer if micro-organismpresence is low.12&13 MCPA should not be used inaquatic areas or (due to its toxicity to birds) in areassubject to annual inundation (waterfowl habitat).

Figures 4-7 sourced from:

u National Trust of Australia (NSW). (1999). The National Trust BushRegenerator's Handbook.

u Glazik, R. (nd). Fact Sheet for Herbicide Control Techniques inBushland Areas. Bushcare Tasmania.

u Muyt, A. (2001). Bush Invaders of South-East Australia. R.G andF.J. Richardson, Victoria.



Table 1. Weed Control in Aquatic and Riparian Areas

Uses described in this table are either covered by the respective product label or Off-label Permit No. 2652 issued by theNational Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.

Area Weed PermittedHerbicide

RecommendedHerbicide Control

Technique*

Non-chemicalAlternatives

Aquatic Sites

(Channel or wetland areas withsurface water)

For example, where cumbungi isgrowing within the waterway andherbicide use is judged to be themost suitable control technique.

Blackberry

(Rubus fruticosus)

Roundup Biactive orWeedmaster 360

(Garlon 600 oncommonly inundatedsites- not aquatic sites)

Don't add surfactants!

Frill or axe stems and paint withundiluted herbicide.

Cut and paint large stems.

On commonly inundated sites,foliar spray with Triclopyr e.g.Garlon 600 if inundation within6 months is of low likelihood –prior to summer for example.

Hand removal (smallinfestations).

Controlled grazing (goats orsheep only) can be effective.

Bio-control (a rust with limitedimpact).

and

Crack Willow

(Salix fragilis)



Cut and paint.

Drill or stem injection.

Frill or axe stems and paint.

Foliar spray (only spray to aheight of 2m).

Large trees can be killed by ahot fire around trunk base.

Commonly InundatedSites

(Other channels, floodways, drybillabongs and backwaters,commonly flooded floodplains.Flooded at least once a year.)

Cumbungi

(Typha spp)



Foliar spray. Hand removal (small plants).

Excavation (withroots/rhizomes).

Cultivation (exposeroots/rhizomes to frosts).

Cut into soil surface regularly (tocut rhizomes).

Drowning by cutting stems andleaves below water surface.

Glyceria (syn. Poa aquatica orreed sweet grass).

(Glyceria maxima)

NB Take extreme caution notto spread Glyceria seedthrough soil transport (e.g. onmachinery)



Foliar spray (combine withdense local native species re-vegetation for long-term resultsthrough stream shading).

Wiper.

Clearance or drainage of growtharea (combine with dense re-vegetation of local native speciesfor long-term results throughstream shading).

Gorse

(Ulex europaeus)


(Garlon 600 oncommonly inundatedsites- not aquatic sites)


Cut and paint with RoundupBiactive or Weedmaster 360

On commonly inundated sites, ifcut and paint is not practical,foliar spray with Triclopyr e.g.Garlon 600 if inundation within6 months is of low likelihood –prior to summer.

Mulching combined with follow-up grazing and re-vegetation onmulched sites.

Bio-control (e.g gorse mite)where other techniques are notsuitable.

Hawthorn

(Crataegus monogyna)



Cut and paint.

Drill or stem injection.

Axe or frill and paint.

Foliar spray (only spray to aheight of 2m).

Hand removal.

Controlled grazing can assist inlimiting regrowth and thicketdensity.

Sycamore

(Acer pseudoplatanus)



Stem injection.

Cut and paint.

Frill and poison.

Hand removal.



Area Weed PermittedHerbicide

RecommendedHerbicide Control

Technique*

Non-chemicalAlternatives

Occasionally or RarelyInundated Sites

(Riverbanks/flood-plains where onlyoccasional floods are experienced.For example less than once a year.)

Blackberry

(Rubus fruticosus)

Brush-Off

Garlon 600

(Grazon DS or TordonTimber ControlHerbicide or TordonDouble StrengthHerbicide)**

Foliar spray. Hand removal (smallinfestations).

Controlled grazing by goats canbe effective.

Bulldoze and deep cultivate (insuitable circumstances).

Bio-control (a rust with limitedimpact).

English Broom (Cytisusscoparius)

Montpellier Broom (Genistamonspessulana)


Brush- Off

Garlon 600

Grazon DS**

Cut and paint.

Foliar spray, preferably Garlon600.

Hand removal.

Mechanical removal (e.g. rip orbulldoze).

Gorse

(Ulex europaeus)


Garlon 600

(Grazon DS or TordonTimber ControlHerbicide or TordonDouble StrengthHerbicide)**

Cut and paint.

Foliar spray, preferably Garlon600.

Mulching/bulldozing/slashing combined with follow-upgrazing and revegetate onmulched sites.

Bio-control (e.g gorse mite)where other techniques are notsuitable.

Hawthorn

(Crataegus monogyna)


Garlon 600

Grazon DS **

Cut and paint, stem injection.

Foliar spray (only if under 2m inheight).

Mulching/bulldozing/slashing combined with follow-upgrazing and revegetate onmulched sites.

Ragwort

(Senecio jacobaea)

Thistles

(eg Cirsium arvense)

MCPA

Brush-Off

Foliar spray

(combine with dense re-vegetation of local native speciesfor long-term results throughshading).

Hand removal.

Controlled grazing (sheep).

Ploughing.

(Combine with dense re-vegetation of local native plantsfor long-term results throughshading.)

Sycamore

(Acer pseudoplatanus)


Stem injection, cut and paint(plus foliar spray for youngplants).

Hand removal.

Bulldoze and revegetate.

Plough-in small plants.

* This section is not intended to provide a comprehensive approach to managing these species and assumes non-herbicide alternatives have already beenconsidered/attempted.

** Extensive use of picloram products is not recommended as it leaves residue in soils for considerable periods. Residue may contaminate waterways and affectrevegetation efforts.



References

1 Land & Water Resources Research & Development Corporation (1996) Guidelines for the Management of Riparian LandsFact Sheet 1: Managing Riparian Lands. LWRRDC, Canberra.

2 Controlling gorse and hawthorn in riparian zones (nd) Daniel Sprod (Ecosynthesis).

3 Tasmanian Rural Industry Training Board (2000). National Farm Chemical User Training Program User Workbook.Tasmanian Rural Industry Training Board, Tas.

4 Munn M.D. and Gilliom R.J. (2001). Pesticide Toxicity Index for Freshwater Aquatic Organisms. US Geological Survey,California.

5 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1995) Atrazine Pesticide Fact Sheet. http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pesticide/atrazine.html. World Wide Web.

6 Texas Agricultural Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System (1997). Pesticide Properties That Affect WaterQuality. http://entowww.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/b-6050.html. World Wide Web.

7 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1995) Glyphosate Pesticide Fact Sheet. http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pesticide/glyphos.html World Wide Web.

8 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1995) Triclopyr Pesticide Fact Sheet. http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pesticide/triclopy.html World Wide Web.

9 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1995) Picloram Pesticide Fact Sheet. http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pesticide/picloram.html World Wide Web.

10 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (1995) Metulfuron methyl Pesticide Fact Sheet.http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pesticide/metulf.html World Wide Web.

11 Noy, D.M. and Holloway, K.L. (2001). Metsulfuron-methyl residues and potential recropping damage in Victorian croppingsoils. The Regional Institute Ltd, WWW.

12 Oregon State University (1996). EXTONET MCPA Pesticide Information Profile. http://ace.orst.edu/cgi-bin/mfs/01/pips/MCPA.htm

13 Louisiana State University AgCenter (2002). Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Control Guide.http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/Subjects/guides/weedguide/01weeds.htm. World Wide Web.

Appendix 4 East Arm Quarry Emergency Management Plan

East Arm Road, Level 1 Quarry Emergency Management Plan

Listed below is the Emergency Management Plan that will be implemented and carried out for the running operations at the East Arm Quarry. Fire preparedness plan,

1. Portable fire fighting unit will be located at the quarry site at all times when work is been carried out. The unit will be maintained and tested at regular intervals to ensure it is in excellent working order in the unlikely event of a fire.

2. Approximately an 8 mega litre Water supply dam adjacent to the 9 hectare mining lease on the eastern side can be used to draw water from in the event of a fire.

3. The quarry pit working area and where necessary surrounding area will be cleared of ground based vegetation, weeds and other flammable materials to reduce fuel loads in the event of fire.

4. Rehabilitated areas on external boundaries will act as a firebreak as they will be covered with bare topsoil free of vegetation.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of fire or other emergency occurring on site the following procedures will be implemented.

1. On site supervisor will notify relevant emergency services authority via „000‟. 2. Onsite supervisor will account for all personnel and instigate further safety measures as

required.

3. In the event of fire – onsite supervisor will initiate fire suppression activities utilising onsite fire fighting equipment if safe to do so.

4. Should evacuation of the site be necessary- onsite supervisor shall ensure site is

evacuated to the emergency meeting point and all personnel are accounted for.

5. All employees, contractors and personal working on the quarry site to be inducted and have a copy of this site safety plan explained and supplied to them.

6. Please refer to attached map for Emergency Meeting Point and water supply dam

locations.

Landfall Nominees Pty Ltd t/a Archer Landfall ABN: 89 074 019 876 “Landfall” Private Bag 22 Launceston Tasmania 7250 Phone: 03 63263917 Fax: 03 63265237 Email: [email protected] www.landfall.com.au

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.landfall.com.au/

Appendix 5 Maxam Blast Report (13 June 2013)

WILL DIG,DILSTON

WILL DIG,DILSTON

PRODUCTION

SHOT #1

13 June 2013

BLAST REPORTTASMANIA

WILL DIG,DILSTON PRODUCTION SHOT #1BASALT

Burden (m) 2.4 m

Spacing (m) 2.7 m

Subdrill (m) 0.5 m Date Fired 13/06/2013

Diameter (mm) 89 mm Time Fired 12:59:00 PM

Avg Hole Length 10.7 m No of Holes 63

Total Metres (m) 674.1 m Hole Angle (deg) 5 deg

Volume(m^3) 4368 Stem Ht (m) 2.7 m

Blasted Tonnes 12667 t Stem Material 10MM

MIC (kg) 90 Rock Density (g/cc) 2.9 g/cc

EXPLOSIVESRIOFLEX 10000 4480 kg Rioflex Loading Density 1.05 g/cc

Rioflex Inhole Density 1.18 g/cc

P. Factor (kg/m3) 1.03 kg/m3

Total Explosives 4480.0 kg

ACCESSORIES

Boosters QUANTITY Surface Connectors QUANTITY

RIOBOOSTER 400 NB 78 RIONEL SCE 6m 17ms 17

RIONEL SCE 4m 25ms 1

RIONEL SCE 4m 67ms 51

Downlines QUANTITY

RIONEL MS 12 m 450ms 63

RIONEL MS 4 m 500ms 9

Lead In Lines QUANTITY

RIONEL LLE 500m 1

Other

Environmental

Location Ground Vibration Air Overpressure Distance

Neighbour/East arm road 1.36 mm/s 102.5 dBL 720m

Neighbour/highway DID NOT REGISTER DID NOT REGISTER 950M

BLAST REPORT

Shotfirer: Dave Morrison 91403Technical Services Aaron Hilder

Approved By Damon Bosenberg

Shot fired using the DILSTON firing procedure, traffic management control was in place to close the main highway during the blasting procedure.

Cool conditions, 6 - 12 degrees, strong winds at times NE.

Shot produced good fragmentation and forward displacement, some large rocks was noted as falling out onto the muckpile at the back of the shot on the western side of the blast.

LOADING COMMENTS

FIRING COMMENTS

WEATHER

POST BLAST AND OTHER COMMENTS

Holes #1 and #8 required extra stemming (see load log) due to insuffient burden to prevent venting out of the face, 3 holes were noted as being short on design all other holes were loaded to stemming height.

Boretracking was conducted all holes were drilled to design, holes were dipped and recorded all holes were drilled to design, driller comunicated that a clay seam at 5m to 6m was noted through the shot.

BLAST REPORTDESIGN COMMENTS

BORETRACK AND DRILLING COMMENTS

This shot is a production shot with a pattern size of 2.4 x 2.7m , 12 face holes has been designed nominal design burden is 2.7m, 9 TOEHOLES @ 2M ON A 2.5 X 2.5 PATTERN WAS ADDED TO THIS SHOT.

WILL DIG,DILSTON PRODUCTION SHOT #1 BASALTDate Fired 13/06/2013 Time Fired 12:59:00 PM

BLAST REPORT PHOTOS

WILL DIG,DILSTON PRODUCTION SHOT #1

All blastholes to be drilled at 5° on a Staggered pattern unless shown otherwise directed DRAWING NOT TO SCALE PAGE 2 MAXAM AUSTRALIA TASMANIA

Plan Date: 27/05/2013 Design Front Burden: 2.7m Explosive Name: RIOFLEX 7000

Version 1 Minium Load Burden: 2.5m Explosive Delivery: Pump

Cartnote: 0 Burden: 2.4m No. of Holes: 63

Designed By: Aaron Hilder Spacing: 2.7m Stemming: 2.7m

Contact No: #N/A Subdrill: 0.5m Inert Deck Length: 0.0m

Approved By: Karl Bauer (Design) User Defined Easting Hole Diameter: 89 mm Drill Metres: 674 m

Point 1 50 Hole Angle: 5 deg Rock Volume: m³ 4368

Point 2 59 Rock Tonnage: 12667 t

BASALT AVG Hole Length: 10.7m Explosive: 3721 kg

1.05 g/cm³ Rock Density: 2.90 g/cm³ Design PF: 0.85kg/m³

5059

Northing

Rock Type:

Design Cup Density:

DESIGN PARAMETERS

Comments:

Drill logs completed prior to loading,Bortracking conducted before loading.

HOLES #1- #13 TO BE DRILLED FIRST FOR BORTRACKING

DRILLER TO DRILL TO DESIGN DEPTH OR STOP WHERE THE CLAY BED RUNS ALONG FLOOR OF THE SHOT













Northing

Design Cup Density:

Rock Type:

5059

DESIGN PARAMETERS

Comments:



All blastholes to be drilled at 5° on a Staggered pattern unless shown otherwise directed DRAWING NOT TO SCALE PAGE 4MAXAM AUSTRALIA TASMANIA











DESIGN PARAMETERS

Northing5059

Comments:


Rock Type:

Design Cup Density:













Comments:

50

Design Cup Density:

59

Northing


DESIGN PARAMETERS

Rock Type:













DESIGN PARAMETERS


Design Cup Density:

Comments:

Rock Type:

Northing5059


All blastholes to be drilled at 5° on a Staggered pattern unless shown otherwise directed DRAWING NOT TO SCALE PAGE 7MAXAM AUSTRALIA TASMANIA











DESIGN PARAMETERS

Comments:

Rock Type:

Design Cup Density:

Northing


5059













DESIGN PARAMETERS

Comments:

Rock Type:

Design Cup Density:

5059


Northing

Maxam Location: Neighbour/East arm road Time: 12:59:42 Date: 13 Jun 2013

BLAST RESULTS

Peak Vector Sum Velocity : 1.36 mm/s Peak Overpressure : 102.5 dBL Monitoring conducted by: ................AARON HILDER ...…………………………………………………………..…. Checked by: ..................…DAMON BOSENBERG ………………………………………………………..…………………... TM Serial Number : 3155 Last Calibration: 09 Jan 2013 EL:4.0 Templates\ANZECC Minimal.rtt Maxam\Neighbour\Neighbour - 2013-06-13 13.59.42 - 1.twf

RADIAL

Ve

lo

city

[m

m/s

]

Time [seconds]

0 0.5 1 1.51.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5 0.72 mm/sPPV

TRANSVERSE

Ve

lo

city

[m

m/s

]

Time [seconds]

0 0.5 1 1.51.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5 1.23 mm/sPPV

VERTICAL

Ve

lo

city

[m

m/s

]

Time [seconds]

0 0.5 1 1.51.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5 0.77 mm/sPPV

MICROPHONE

Pre

ss

ure

[d

BL

]

Time [seconds]

0 0.5 1 1.5

118

115

110

0

110

115

118

Page No : 1

Profile PrintoutWILL DIGBELL BAY

Operator: AARON HILDER Survey Date 06/06/13Unedited Profile for Borehole 1

Profile Location:

Distance from LM: (m) 2.69

Offset from Ref Line: (m) -0.14

Borehole Collar:

Northing (m) 4997.32 (m)

Easting (m) 1029.97 (m)

Elevation (m) 108.46 (m)

Hole Diameter 89 mmHole Length 8.5 mStemming 2.5 mBack Fill: 0.0 mSubdrill 0.5 mHole Angle VariesProfile Cross-Section 20.8 m²Borehole Volume: 55.8 m3Minimum Burden 1.70 m @3.0 mMaximum Burden 2.88 m @7.0 mAve Burden 2.4 mNominal Powder Factor: 0.000 kg/m3

0.000 kg/ton

Depth m True Burden m Offset m

1.0 1.8 0.0

2.0 1.9 0.1

3.0 1.7 0.1

4.0 2.1 0.1

5.0 2.3 0.2

6.0 2.7 0.2

7.0 2.9 0.2

8.0 2.8 0.3

8.9 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:90.5

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.72 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 3.1 0.0

2.0 3.1 0.1

3.0 2.9 0.1

4.0 2.9 0.2

5.0 3.0 0.2

6.0 2.9 0.2

7.0 3.0 0.3

8.0 3.1 0.3

8.5 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:86.8

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.76 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.1 0.0

2.0 2.3 0.1

3.0 2.7 0.1

4.0 3.0 0.2

5.0 2.9 0.2

6.0 2.7 0.3

7.0 2.6 0.3

8.0 3.3 0.4

8.6 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:88.2

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.72 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.9 0.0

2.0 3.0 0.1

3.0 2.9 0.1

4.0 2.9 0.2

5.0 3.0 0.2

6.0 3.1 0.3

7.0 3.0 0.3

8.0 3.7 0.4

8.7 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:88.4

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.53 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.7 0.1

2.0 2.9 0.1

3.0 3.0 0.2

4.0 3.0 0.3

5.0 3.1 0.3

6.0 3.2 0.4

7.0 3.1 0.5

8.0 3.3 0.6

8.7 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:88.1

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.60 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.0 0.0

2.0 2.4 0.1

3.0 2.7 0.1

4.0 3.0 0.1

5.0 2.9 0.2

6.0 2.9 0.2

7.0 2.9 0.3

8.0 3.1 0.3

9.0 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:91.4

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.98 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.6 0.0

2.0 2.7 0.0

3.0 2.8 0.1

4.0 2.9 0.1

5.0 2.8 0.1

6.0 2.7 0.1

7.0 2.6 0.1

8.0 2.6 0.1

9.0 2.9 0.1

9.5 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:96.2

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1029.67 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.5 0.0

2.0 2.5 0.0

3.0 2.5 0.0

4.0 2.4 0.0

5.0 2.5 0.0

6.0 2.7 0.0

7.0 2.8 -0.1

8.0 2.7 -0.1

9.0 2.6 -0.1

9.9 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:100.9

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1028.83 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 3.0 0.0

2.0 3.1 0.1

3.0 3.1 0.1

4.0 3.1 0.1

5.0 3.1 0.2

6.0 3.1 0.3

7.0 3.1 0.4

8.0 3.4 0.5

9.0 3.6 0.6

10.0 Undefined 0.8

10.2 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:103.5

Page No : 1



Profile Location:



Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1028.69 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 2.8 0.0

2.0 2.7 0.0

3.0 2.9 0.1

4.0 2.9 0.1

5.0 2.9 0.2

6.0 3.0 0.3

7.0 3.1 0.4

8.0 3.2 0.5

9.0 3.6 0.6

10.0 4.0 0.7

10.5 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:106.4

Page No : 1



Profile Location:


Offset from Ref Line: (m) 0.42

Borehole Collar:


Easting (m) 1026.85 (m)



0.000 kg/ton


1.0 3.6 0.1

2.0 3.3 0.1

3.0 2.9 0.2

4.0 2.9 0.3

5.0 3.5 0.3

6.0 4.1 0.4

7.0 3.9 0.4

8.0 3.4 0.5

9.0 2.9 0.6

10.0 Undefined 0.0

10.3 Undefined 0.0

0 2m Scale 1:104.6

Appendix 6 East Arm Quarry Quality Management Plan (Draft)

EAST ARM QUARRY QUALITY MANUAL

East Arm Quarry Page 1 of 9 Revision 0 Authorised by

Contents

Section 1 Quality Policy Statement

Section 2 Amendments

Section 3 Distribution Lists

Section 4 Introduction

Section 5 Archer Organisation

Section 6 Quality Management

Section 7 Quarry Operations

Section 8 Plant and Equipment

Section 9 Training

Section 10 Safety

Section 12

Section 13

Section 14

Section 15



Section 1

QUALITY POLICY STATEMENT

Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd is committed to implementing the procedures outlined in this manual

which will ensure that customers of East Arm Quarry can be confident that their purchases are

produced to the requirements of State or Local Government Specifications.

All employees are required to maintain consistent controls to ensure that these requirements are

established, implemented and maintained.

General Manager

East Arm Quarry



Section 2

Amendment Sheet

__________________________________________________________________________________

Titles of Section:

_______________________________ Section: _____________________________________

_______________________________ Page No: _____________________________________

_______________________________ Issue Date: ___________________________________

_______________________________ Authorised by: ________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

On receipt of this amendment sheet and the accompanying new or revised section for your copy of

the Quality Assurance Manual you must:‐

[ 1 ] Remove any superseded entries.

[ 2 ] Insert each new or revised entry in its proper sequence in the Manual.

[ 3 ] Insert this amendment sheet immediately behind the Quality Policy Statement.

REMOVE INSERT

Amendment No. Section. Page. Section. Page .



Section 3

DISTRIBUTION LIST

Controlled copies of this Quality Assurance Manual are issued to the company personnel as detailed

on the distribution list below.

Controlled copies of this manual are also available to both private companies and Government

Departments on request.

When an amendment to this manual is issued it is the responsibility of the recipient to remove and

replace relevant pages as detailed on the Amendment Sheet.

CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION LIST

Copy No. To

1. Quarry Manager

2. Quality Assurance Manager

3. Quarry Foreman

4.

5.

6.

7.

Section 4

INTRODUCTION

Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd operates the East Arm Quarry, employing 2 persons on a part time basis.

The quarry operates as and when required to meet customer requirements.

Quality assurance is applied to East Arm Quarry by effectively maintaining control over all stages of

material production and having systematic testing procedures for the final products.

Employees within Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd operations are encouraged to observe, and be involved

with, all aspects of the quarrying operation, to ensure a consistent output.



SECTION 5

EAST ARM QUARRY SITE ORGANISATION

Key Personnel

Quarry Manager W Archer

Quality Assurance Manager M Maundrill

Quarry Foreman J Gilmour

SECTION 6

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

6 .1 QUARRY MANAGER

The Quarry Manager is responsible for allocating resources to ensure the requirements of a

particular order or contract are being met. He is also responsible for ensuring that employees are

capable, and where required licensed, for the task at hand. He will organise for training to be

undertaken when an employee is lacking in the skills to undertake a task efficiently and safely.

The Quarry Manager is responsible for ensuring that products meet the specification requirements

of the customer. He will arrange for testing of products by an appropriately NATA accredited testing

laboratory. He will also distribute test reports when requested.

The Quality Assurance Manager will ensure traceability of all quarry material production.

6 .2 QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd has appointed Mr Michael Maundrill as our Quality Assurance Manager.

He is responsible for the internal auditing of the East Arm Quarry Quality Assurance Program. He is

also responsible for co‐ordinating and encouraging a quality attitude among all employees.

The Quality Assurance Manager will make necessary amendments to the Quality Manual, maintain

records and assist in employee training programs.



6 .3 QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTING

Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd has engaged the services of ADG Laboratories Pty Ltd, who will be

responsible for Production Quality Control. Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd will have access to the

facilities of ADG Laboratories Pty Ltd, Launceston Materials Testing Laboratory, located at 7 Derby

Street, Mowbray TAS 7248 NATA Accreditation No 15466, for routine testing of the quarry’s

products. Where testing beyond the capabilities of that company is required ADG are authorised to

engage the services of an appropriately accredited external laboratory.

Contact at ADG is Mr M A Maundrill phone (03) 6326 1266 .Fax No (03) 6326 1566.

ADG will maintain control charts as required, for example by DIER Specification Clauses G6 and R40.

Records of all testing will be kept at the premises of ADG Laboratories. The Quarry Manager will

authorise the release of any such testing records to prospective customers.

ADG will sample and test production, liaise with the Quarry Manager about product quality, and

communicate with customers when requested to do so by the Quarry Manager.

As East Arm Quarry operates on an intermittent basis quality assurance testing sufficient to satisfy

the minimum requirements of DIER Specification Clause G6 will be undertaken to enable Willdig

Excavations Pty Ltd to tender for DIER Contracts.

When supplying a contract Willdig Excavations Pty Ltd will maintain a testing regime which satisfies

the requirements of that particular contract.

6.5 PRODUCTS

It is anticipated that East Arm Quarry will be able to supply materials which conform to the following

DIER Specifications:

Specification ________________________use_____

R40 Pavement Materials, Sub base 1 and 2, Base A and B.

R23 Subgrade

R32 Pipe bedding materials

R33 Subsoil drains

R51 & R55 Sealing and asphalt aggregates

B10 Concrete aggregates

ADG Laboratories will conduct tests in accordance with AS 1141 and AS 1289 to confirm that

materials produced at East Arm Quarry comply with relevant specifications.



SECTION 7

QUARRY OPERATIONS

East Arm quarry details such as mining lease No., owner, lease boundaries, restrictions, access, etc.

7.1 Stripping, clearing and grubbing

Will be undertaken by excavator with material stockpiled for subsequent rehabilitation works.

7.2 Removal of overburden

Will be undertaken by excavator with material stockpiled for possible sale or stored for future

rehabilitation works.

7.3 Drilling and blasting

This work will be undertaken by a suitably qualified and experienced contractor on a quote basis.

7.4 Crushing and screening

As for drilling and blasting.

7.5 Control of stockpiles

Archer Quarry employees will have a thorough knowledge of all quarry stockpiles and their location.

The loader driver will be in constant communication with the Quarry Foreman to ensure that all

trucks entering the quarry are being loaded with the correct material.



7.6 Loading and shipping

Loader Drivers will be supplied with a plan of the quarry showing the location of all the saleable

stockpiles. The plan will be kept updated by the Quarry Foreman and any new stockpiles created will

immediately be entered to the quarry plan and labelled.

7.7 Delivery dockets???

The delivery docket will contain information about the product size, classification and quantity.

The delivery docket is the customer’s assurance that the materials being delivered correspond to

information on the delivery docket.

A typical delivery docket from East Arm Quarry (Appendix 2) will contain 3 copies.

White Original Customer copy

Pink copy Willdig Office

Blue copy Loader Driver.

7.9 Non‐conforming product

Should routine testing discover a non‐conformance in a product, or a significant departure from the

product’s usual properties, the location of that particular production run shall be isolated and

further testing undertaken. Should further testing confirm the non‐conformance then the material

shall be removed and placed in a location remote from active storage areas. The cause of the non‐

conformance shall be investigated and, where deficiencies are identified, procedures implemented

to ensure against a recurrence.

SECTION 8

PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The Quarry Manager will ensure that all plant and equipment is in good repair, in a safe operating

condition, and appropriate for the task being undertaken.

Any sub‐contractor engaged in work on Willdig Excavations property or projects will be required to

supply copies of current insurances covering Workers Compensation, Public Liability, Motor Vehicle,

and, where required, Professional Indemnity.



SECTION 9

TRAINING

The Quarry Manager will ensure adequate training is provided for all full and part time employees

with respect to safety, stockpile locations, and material classifications.

SECTION 10

SAFETY

A safety manual is currently being formulated covering all aspects of Willdig Excavations operations.

A copy of the manual will be available to all employees and subcontractors. Aspects to be covered

will include, but not be limited to, Personal Protection Equipment, machinery operation, speed

limits, drug and alcohol policy

east arm quarry, hillwood environmental effects … nominees pty ltd , quarry expansion... · a...

Documents