our ref: kam:slb0 - gympie council · supply the general market and also the concrete batching...

Our ref 495/00963 Enquiries Mr Adam Whittaker

Program Delivery & Operations Wide Bay/Burnett Region / Gympie Office 50 River Road PO Box 183 Gympie Queensland 4570

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Telephone +61 7 5482 0333 Facsimile +61 7 5482 0465 Website www.tmr.qld.gov.au Email [email protected]

ABN 39 407 690 291

12 September 2016 Mr Jim Lawler Groundwork Plus PO Box 1779 Milton BC QLD 4064 [email protected] Dear Mr Lawler Thank you for your correspondence of 26 August 2016, on behalf of Corbet’s Group (Corbet’s). The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has been working with Corbet’s to design a property access to Lot 520 SP263809, at the revised location requested by Corbet’s, that is safe and suitable to their business needs. Based on discussions held on Monday 29 August 2016 and proposed additional traffic volumes contained in your letter dated 26 August 2016, TMR will not seek a pavement contribution or require a traffic and pavement assessment. Should Corbet’s alter their development proposal, resulting in greater traffic volumes than those provided in the above referenced letter, TMR will be required to review their position with regards to a pavement contribution and a traffic and pavement assessment. I trust this information is of assistance. Yours sincerely

for Adam Williams Acting District Director Wide Bay / Burnett District | Bundaberg Office

mailto:[email protected]

Wide Bay BurnettLevel 1, 7 Takalvan Street Bundaberg

PO Box 979 BundabergQueensland 4670 Australia

Telephone +61 7 4331 5614Website www.dilgp.qld.gov.au

ABN 29 230 178 530

Our reference: SPL-0916-033525Your reference: 1948_DA1

24 October 2016

Corbet Quarries Pty LtdC/- Groundwork PlusPO Box 1779MILTON QLD [email protected]

Attention: Mr Jim Lawler

Dear Mr Lawler

Pre-lodgement meeting record—proposed development1944 Bruce Highway, Traveston QLD 4570; Lot 520 on SP263809

This pre-lodgement record provides a summary of the matters discussed at the pre-lodgement meeting in addition to providing further advice prepared subsequent to the meeting. This record provides initial advice regarding the likely major issues relevant to the development proposal to assist in the timely processing of a development application. While this pre-lodgement advice is provided in good faith, if the proposal is changed to that which was discussed with the department during the pre-lodgement meeting, this advice is not binding.

Reference information

Departmental role: Concurrence agency

Jurisdiction: Schedule 7, Table 2, Item 1—Environmentally relevant activity

Schedule 7, Table 3, Item 1—State-controlled road

Schedule 7, Table 3, Item 2—Development impacting state transport infrastructure

Pre-lodgement meeting date:

6 October 2016

Meeting attendees:

Name Position Organisation

Mr Andrew Corbet Applicant Corbet Quarries Pty Ltd

Ms Megan Benham Town Planning Consultant Groundwork Plus

Mr Jim Lawler Town Planning Consultant Groundwork Plus

http://www.dilgp.qld.gov.au

SPL-0916-033525

Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Page . 2

Name Position Organisation

Mr Geoff Power Senior Environmental Officer Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Ms Lisa Fritz Team Leader Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Mr Adam Fryer Senior Town Planner Department of Transport and Main Roads

Mr Adam Whittaker Senior Engineer (Civil) Department of Transport and Main Roads

Mr Graham Hervey Principal Advisor (Corridor and Land Management)


Mr Ian Leyton Advisor (Corridor Management)


Mr Darren Cooper A/Manager – Planning Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Ms Danica Clark Senior Planning Officer Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Site details

Street address: 1944 Bruce Highway, Traveston QLD 4570

Real property description: Lot 520 on SP263809

Site area: 67.49 hectares

Local government area: Gympie Regional Council

Local government zone: Rural Zone

Relevant site history: Existing approval on site – Development permit for material change of use (Transport Depot, High Impact Industry, Bulk Landscape Supplies and Caretaker Accommodation).

Proposed development details

Development type: Development Permit

Development description: Material Change of Use for Concrete Batching Plant and Extractive and Screening Activities:

Environmentally relevant activity 16 (2) (b) – Extracting, other than by dredging, in a year, the following quantity of material-more than 100,000t but not more than 1,000,000t; and

Environmentally relevant activity 16 (3) (b) – Screening, in a year, the following quantity of material-more than 100,000t but not more than 1,000,000t

SPL-0916-033525


Supporting information

Plan / Report title Author Reference no. Version and date

Conceptual Quarry Site Layout Plan

Groundwork Plus Pty Ltd

Dwg No. 1948.DRG.013

2 September 2016

Conceptual Concrete Batching Plant Location

Groundwork Plus Pty Ltd


2 September 2016

Site Location Plan Groundwork Plus Pty Ltd


6 May 2016

Site & Surrounds Groundwork Plus Pty Ltd


16 August 2016

Request for pre-lodgement meeting

Jim Lawler - Groundwork Plus Pty Ltd

1948_DA1_305_003 13 September 2016

Meeting minutes

Item Advice

Proposed development

1. The applicant proposes a development permit for material change of use - extractive industry (ERA 16 (2) (b) and ERA 16 (3) (b)) and high impact industry (concrete batching plant).

It is proposed that the rate of extraction will be up to a maximum of 200,000 tonnes per annum and will involve approximately 20 vehicles per day. The outputted gravel will supply the general market and also the concrete batching plant also proposed on site.

The concrete batching plant will have an annual production rate of up to 40,000m³ and will involve approximately 21 vehicles per day.

The subject lot is mapped as being within 25 metres of a state-controlled road and containing a low risk waterway. The subject lot has a frontage to the state-controlled road (Bruce Highway and Mary River Link Road), and does not have access to a lower order road.

Based on the description of the proposed development referral is required for the following matters:

Environmentally relevant activity (Schedule 7, Table 2, Item 1)

State-controlled road (Schedule 7, Table 3, Item 1)

Development impacting on State transport infrastructure (Schedule 7, Table 3, Item 2)

It was noted that an existing approval exists over the site for a development permit for material change of use for transport depot, high impact industry, bulk landscape supplies, caretakers’ accommodation and associated environmentally relevant activities. The applicant does not propose any changes to the existing development approval.

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Item Advice

State referrals

2. The application will need to include the following IDAS forms:

IDAS Forms 1, 5 and 8 and the attachment to form 8

IDAS Forms can be accessed from http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources-ilgp/forms-templates-checklists/spa-idas-forms.html

The application material will need to address the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) – in particular Modules 4, 17, 18 and 19 – ensuring all mandatory supporting information is supplied.

The SDAP can be accessed from: http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/development-applications/sdap.html

State-controlled road / Development impacting on state transport infrastructure

3. The subject site is within 25 metres of the state-controlled road (Bruce Highway) and will also be referrable for meeting a threshold set out under Schedule 9 (Extractive industry using machinery having an annual throughput of product of 10,000t) of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009.

The applicant confirmed that the proposed development will utilise the existing access arrangements provided as part of the existing development approval. The department advised that it is generally supportive of the proposed developments access strategy, and acknowledged that recent upgrade works to the Bruce Highway has provided a new upgraded access to the site which is suitable for the proposed use.

4. To support the application, it was recommended that the applicant include the new access arrangements and water storage in the submitted stormwater management plan and to demonstrate there will be a non worsening impact on the state-controlled road.

5. Based on the additional traffic generation rates of approximately 41 vehicles per day for the new use, the department advised that it will not seek a pavement contribution or require a traffic and pavement assessment. If these rates are to increase, the department may require further supporting information and/or contribution.

The applicant was advised that a capped tonnage will likely be conditioned as part of any concurrence agency response.

6. The department recommended that as part of the blast management plan that it be demonstrated that no adverse impacts from the proposed blasting will result on the state-controlled road.

Environmentally relevant activity

7. Environmentally relevant activity (ERA) 16 (2) (b)—Extraction is a concurrence ERA and will also be taken to be an application for an environmental authority, with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection being a technical agency. The non-concurrence ERA 16 (3) (b)—Screening will also be assessed during this process.

The department noted that concrete batching plants is no longer listed as an environmentally relevant activity under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008.

http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources-ilgp/forms-templates-checklists/spa-idas-forms.html

http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources-ilgp/forms-templates-checklists/spa-idas-forms.html

http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/development-applications/sdap.html

SPL-0916-033525


Item Advice

8. Operation of an environmentally relevant activity has potential impacts on a range of environmental values. Information needs to be provided with any applicationto demonstrate:

What environmental values may be affected by the proposed activities, What risks the activity may pose to these environmental values, What management actions will be proposed to avoid and/or minimise these

risks.

These should include, but not be limited to, the environmental values of air, noise, land, water, wetlands and groundwater.

The applicant will need to consider all the relevant environmental factors that may be affected by the ERA(s) on the proposed development site and where necessary, you will need to incorporate measures to adequately manage, or prevent, any direct or indirect environmental impacts.

A stormwater management plan is recommended to be submitted with the application and should give consideration to the Mary River, including mitigation of adverse impacts on species and essential habitat. It is desirable that the application demonstrates that the Mary River water quality objectives are met.

Any application should include a response to Module 4 of the State Development Assessment Provisions, demonstrating compliance with each applicable performance outcome.

9. It was acknowledged that an existing environmental authority held by Corbet Property Pty Ltd for environmentally relevant activities 33 (Crushing), 47 (Timber Milling) and 53 (Composting) operates on the subject site, with the applicant clarifying that the proposed development is intended to be a separate operation.

The department recommended that the application material demonstrates that the proposed and existing operations are not interrelated, as defined under the under section 119 (single environmental authority required for ERA projects) and section 113 (single integrated operations) Environmental Protection Act 1994.

It is considered that the above summary is an accurate record of the matters discussed at the pre-lodgement meeting.

The following information is provided as further advice prepared subsequent to the meeting.

Further advice

Item Further advice

Referral agency fees

1. 1. Referral to the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) has fees associated with each applicable referral trigger.

The following is a guide to the applicable fees; these are subject to change dependent on the time of lodgement and any changes to the nature and scale of the development:

SPL-0916-033525


Item Further advice Trigger reference 7.2.1—Environmentally relevant activity - $3024.00

Trigger reference 7.3.1—State-controlled road - $3024.00

Trigger reference 7.3.2—Development impacting on state transport infrastructure - $3024.00

Total application fee of: $9072.00

For current fees at time of lodgement refer to schedule 7A of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009 for development assessment fees. The regulation can be accessed from: https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Acts_SLs/Acts_SL_S.htm

Mary River Water Quality Objectives

2. 2. The Mary River environmental values and water quality objectives can be downloaded from: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/water/policy/pdf/documents/mary-river-ev-2010.pdf

Single integrated operations under section 113 the Environmental Protection Act 1994

3. 3. Single integrated operations are defined as:

Environmentally relevant activities are carried out as a single integrated operation if—

(a) the activities are carried out under the day-to-day management of a single responsible individual, for example, a site or operations manager; and

(b) the activities are operationally interrelated; and(c) the activities are, or will be, carried out at 1 or more places; and(d) the places where the activities are carried out are separated by distances

short enough to make feasible the integrated day-to-day management of the activities.

Local interests

4. 4. The following matters of are of public interest in relation to the proposed activity:

endangered species impacts on neighbours and the public protection of Conservation Significant Area under Rural Zone

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection recommended including considerations for these matters in any subsequent development application.

If you require any further information, please contact Danica Clark, Senior Planning Officer, on (07) 4331 5614 or email [email protected] who will be pleased to assist.

Yours sincerely

Darren CooperA/Manager - Planning

https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Acts_SLs/Acts_SL_S.htm

http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/water/policy/pdf/documents/mary-river-ev-2010.pdf

General environmental duty

Code of practice for the

concrete batching industry

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Concrete batching code of practice 2

Table of contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Objective of the code .................................................................................................................... 3 3. Scope of the code ......................................................................................................................... 3 4. Commencement date .................................................................................................................... 3 5. Authorisation and amendment of the code .................................................................................... 3 6. Acknowledgement......................................................................................................................... 4 7. About concrete batching ............................................................................................................... 4 8. Using the code of practice ............................................................................................................. 4 Performance outcome 1: ...................................................................................................................... 7 Performance outcome 2.1: ................................................................................................................... 9 Performance outcome 2.2: ................................................................................................................. 11 Performance outcome 2.3: ................................................................................................................. 11 Performance outcome 3: .................................................................................................................... 12 Performance outcome 4: .................................................................................................................... 13 Appendix 1: General obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ................................. 14

General environmental duty ........................................................................................................... 14 Duty to notify .................................................................................................................................. 14 Relevant offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ................................................... 15 Relevant offences under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 ......................................... 15

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1. Introduction This environmental code of practice has been prepared to provide guidance to operators to help them comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 by meeting their general environmental duty. The code also outlines the environmental best management practices of leaders in the industry. Under Section 319 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, all persons in Queensland must fulfil their ‘general environmental duty’. This is defined as follows: ‘A person must not carry out an activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm’. See Appendix 1. This document describes the concrete batching industry, its potential impacts on the environment, and how those impacts can be mitigated against in the interests of achieving environmental compatibility and complying with the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Although this environmental code of practice is a voluntarily adopted standard for the concrete batching industry in Queensland, complying with this code provides the operator with a defence against a charge of unlawfully causing environmental harm and several other charges to the extent the code is relevant. If you do not comply with this code you may still rely upon the defence of complying with your general environmental duty, but will have to show how you met your general environmental duty another way. 2. Objective of the code The environmental code of practice aims to

describe environmental issues and challenges confronting the concrete batching industry in Queensland

assist operators to better consider the environment with which they interact guide concrete batching planning to ensure site, design and operations meet requirements of

decision-making authorities provide advice to decision-making authorities to enable them to make consistent decisions in

respect to concrete batching plants suggest practical measures to minimise environmental and social impacts allow industry to establish a benchmark environmental performance demonstrate to the community the environmental compatibility of the concrete batching

industry 3. Scope of the code This environmental code of practice addresses environmental aspects of concrete batching operations. It does not cover environmental issues to do with siting or construction, and does not cover aspects covered by other legislation such as occupational health and safety. The code does not restate any requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, nor does it override or replace federal, state or local government legislation, regulation, plans or policies. This code shall apply to all new concrete plants constructed in Queensland following the approval of the code, and shall apply to existing plants where appropriate. Where conflict between the code and existing approval conditions arise, the code will be overridden by the approval conditions. 4. Commencement date This environmental code of practice commenced on 8 August 2014 and has effect for seven years. To continue to have effect the code of practice must be reviewed and approved by the Minister by 7 August 2021. Industry members are encouraged to provide feedback and to report new initiatives to their associations, so the codes can evolve through each review. 5. Authorisation and amendment of the code Under section 318E(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Minister may, by gazette notice, make codes of practice stating ways of achieving compliance with the general environmental duty for

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an activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm. Once the code has been gazetted it may also be amended by gazette notice. 6. Acknowledgement The department acknowledges the work of the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia and the Local Government Association of Queensland in the preparation of this code of practice. 7. About concrete batching Concrete batching consists of producing concrete or concrete products by mixing cement with sand, rock, aggregate or other similar materials. In a concrete batching plant, the raw materials are mixed using a front end loader or overhead bin concrete batching techniques. For front end loader plants, a front end loader is used to transport coarse and fine aggregates from a ground level storage bin to an aggregate weigh hopper. The aggregate is then added to an agitator. Cement and fly ash are weighed in a separate hopper and transferred to the agitator. Water is added to the agitator. The concrete is mixed, ready for final slumping, inspection and transportation to the customer/building site. For overhead bin batching plants, coarse and fine aggregates are stored in separate bins. Aggregates are transferred from the bins to a compartmentalised overhead storage hopper by conveyor belts. A weigh hopper is situated directly beneath the overhead storage hopper, where aggregate is weighed and transferred to the agitator. Cement and fly ash are stored in separate overhead silos. They are weighed in a separate hopper and dropped into the agitator. Water is added, along with any required admixtures and the concrete is mixed, ready for final slumping, inspection and transportation to the customer/building site. Wet mix plants are those plants where concrete is pre-mixed in the plant before the mixture is loaded into the agitator truck, rather than raw materials being loaded dry, along with water, into the agitator bowl. These plants may be associated with either front end loader or overhead bin plants. There are two potentially conflicting aspects to concrete batching that all batching plant operators must remain cognisant of. On the one hand it is a business imperative that batching plants are located as close to the market as possible - that is, close to residential and commercial areas where the concrete, a time perishable product, is used. As concrete is a heavy product, the closer to the market the plant is the less diesel used and the more sustainable the manufacture and delivery of the material becomes. On the other hand there are emissions naturally associated with concrete batching that may result in impacts on the surrounding community and natural environment if not correctly managed. These emissions include:

Dust – cement, fly ash and lime must all be stored dry to prolong shelf life; and aggregates and sand transported damp to reduce fuel transport usage. Storage and use of fine particulates includes the risk of airborne emission.

Noise – raw material delivery, handling, loading and mixing of concrete results in generation of noise.

Water – cement, fly ash and lime are naturally alkaline products, which will generate alkaline water during batching.

The challenge for concrete batching plant operators is to manage the environmental and community risk whilst remaining close to the market. Remaining cognisant of potential impacts and using this code will assist the operator in operating sustainably. 8. Using the code of practice There are a number of environmental risks associated with concrete batching. These include:

release of dust and/or particulates into the air

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release of high pH and contaminated water and sediments noise from handling, mixing and transport operations waste management

The codes of practice

give practical guidance on how environmental best management practices can be achieved in the concreting industry sector

should be followed unless there is an alternative course of action that achieves the same or a better environmental objective.

Environmental objectives are objectives or goals that the Queensland Government considers are necessary for concrete batching operators to achieve in order to meet the ‘general environmental duty’ described under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Performance outcomes are the end result that the operator needs to achieve to meet the environmental objectives. There are four performance outcomes in this code of practice. You may decide to use one or more of the suggested control measures to achieve the performance outcome or you may choose to use your own control measure. However, if you do not use the suggested control measures, you will not be able to rely on complying with the code as a defence if you cause unlawful environmental harm. You may still rely upon the defence of complying with your general environmental duty, but will have to show how you met your general environmental duty another way. Note: Some performance outcomes provide the option for an environmentally harmful activity to be prevented or minimised. Prevention is the more desirable outcome. If the operator selects to minimise the harmful activity it must be demonstrated that consideration has been made to the following:

sensitivity of the receiving environment nature of the harm existing technical knowledge for the activity feasibility to relocate activity financial implications of using different control measures

Suggested control measures are examples of ways of achieving the performance outcome and are considered minimum requirements for complying with this code of practice. In some cases, a number of compliance control measures may be listed for one process. In these cases, you are advised to aim for the control measure or combination of control measures that is most likely to achieve the performance outcome for that process. Alternatively, you may be able to meet a performance outcome in a manner that is not listed in this code of practice (effectively choosing your own control measure). If you choose to use your own control measure, you will not be able to rely on complying with the code as a defence if you cause unlawful environmental harm. You may still rely upon the defence of complying with your general environmental duty, but will have to show how you met your general environmental duty another way. Best practice measures are control measures considered to be in addition to the minimum requirements and are what industry leaders are achieving. Best practice incorporates concepts such

The environmental objectives relevant to the concrete batching industry are as follows:

The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of air

The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of waters

The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of land

The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of the acoustic environment

Any wastes generated, transported, or received as part of carrying out the activity are managed in a way that protects environmental values.

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By developing and following an environmental management plan or system your

business can demonstrate that all reasonable care is being taken to avoid causing

environmental harm. Your business will be able to use this reasonable care, or due

diligence, as a defence for compliance purposes.

as cleaner production, waste minimisation, recycling and reuse. Use of best practice control measures may help to improve industry standards and progress towards best practice in the industry. You do not have to meet the best practice measures to comply with the general environmental duty. Best practice measures are marked with a in the text. In order that sustainable outcomes are achieved for both the concrete batching industry and the environment, the industry will endeavour to follow the principle of BATNEEC – Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Cost.

Develop a plan to protect your environment, reduce your business risks and gain a competitive advantage

An environmental management plan or system identifies environmental risks caused by the operation and puts activities in place to manage these risks. The performance outcomes and examples for meeting environmental objectives listed in this document will form a solid basis for creating your management plan or system. By reducing your environmental impact and adopting eco-efficient practices, you will be able to:

minimise your environmental risk measure, plan and implement control measures to reduce energy, water, waste and materials enhance product quality and productivity improve financial performance reduce your business’ carbon footprint

A management plan or system should achieve the following outcomes:

all potential environmental risks from the activity are identified and control measures are in place to prevent or minimise the potential for environmental harm

contingency measures are in place to avoid environmental harm in the event of unforeseen circumstances or natural disasters (e.g. flood)

staff are trained and aware of their requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 reviews of environmental performance are undertaken periodically records of monitoring, incidents and complaints are kept.

Provide staff training Encourage environmental awareness and responsibility amongst staff by providing appropriate staff training. It is your staff who will ensure that your operation remains compliant by recognising and minimising environmental hazards.

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Concrete batching processes Dust from cement, sand and aggregates is generated by many activities, such as:

loading and transport of materials

storage of materials

batching processes.

Performance outcome 1: Dust and particulate emissions from all activities associated with the concrete batching process must be controlled in order to prevent or minimise nuisance at surrounding premises.

Dust from activities can enter neighbouring properties causing nuisance and lead to complaints. This may lead to an investigation by authorities regarding

compliance of the activities being carried out.

Suggested control measures

Ensure that incoming and outgoing truckloads of sand, aggregate and concrete wash out are covered during transport if there is a possibility dust may be emitted.

Ensure that trucks leaving the premises are clean, focusing on draw bar and tail gate, to prevent material causing dust nuisance and being tracked onto external roads.

Regularly water sand and aggregate stockpiles to keep down dust emissions.

Enclose stockpiles on three sides and keep storage levels at least 0.5 metres below the tops of the walls and at least 0.5 metres inside the open ends of the enclosures; or use other measures such as screening or roofing to minimise dust emissions.

Ensure that cement and fly ash silos are fitted with overfill protection and dust filtration systems, and properly maintain the systems and filters.

Use a burst bag detector system that has ducting to 1 m of ground level adjacent to the silo-filling pipe.

All elevated hoppers, conveyors and dusty transfer points shall be sheltered from the wind.

Prevent and clean up any spillages or dust accumulation on driveways or sealed roads.

Regularly water or otherwise maintain unsealed roads to minimise dust emissions to prevent nuisance from traffic movements. Care should be taken to prevent material being tracked onto roadways.

Roof and enclose truck loading bays. Use water sprays or filtered dust extraction systems

around gob hoppers and across open sides of enclosures.

Ensure any emission control equipment is regularly maintained.

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Install drive over in ground storage bins where practicable.

Use Reverse Pulse filters rather than the ‘green bag’ type filters.

Seal all internal roadways.

Roof incline conveyors and enclose on at least one side.

Consider screening at the boundary of the premises and / or around high dust generating activities. Screening may include shade cloth and / or vegetation.

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Water

Performance outcome 2.1: Storm and process water must be appropriately managed to prevent or minimise the release of contaminants offsite and including to ground water.

Definitions: pH neutral: Water that falls in the range 6.5 to 8.5, specifically defined by the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 Schedule 9. Contaminated water: In the concrete batching industry, refers to water that has contacted alkaline materials used in batching, or originated from alkaline areas, and become alkaline (pH greater than 8.5). Examples of alkaline areas include cement and fly ash storage and loading, agitator truck loading, slumping and washing points, recycled water pits, slurry agitator pits, ‘first-flush’ collection pits and concrete waste drying and storage. Dirty water: In the concrete batching industry, refers to water that has contacted particulate materials such as sand and dirt and become laden with suspended solids. Dirty water originates from aggregate storage areas not affected by cementitious materials and sediment settling basins. Typically, but dependent upon approval conditions, water with greater than 50 mg/l suspended solids would be referred to as dirty. Clean Water: Water that originates from areas not impacted by alkaline or dirty materials.

Pollutants for concrete batching operations can impact on the land and waterways by: o increasing soil and water pH affecting aquatic life o increasing the turbidity or cloudiness of waterways o destroying the functionality of wetlands o providing a medium for weeds to establish.

In addition, contamination of soil and groundwater by petroleum and other chemicals can result in increased site clean-up liabilities for business. Storm water is a valuable resource that can be captured and used in the process, which saves the use of mains water and reduces the risk of off site harm.


Ensure that the first flush of contaminated water from areas such as cement and fly ash storage, concrete loading, agitator bowl washing and slumping, concrete wash out storage and truck washing areas is collected in in-ground pits or tanks. Maintain sufficient freeboard for rain events to ensure that contaminated water is not permitted to leave the site. The required first flush capture capacity is equivalent to 0.02 metres (20 mm) multiplied by the area of the ‘contaminated area’ – that is 0.02 metres x length x breadth) i.e. a first flush capacity able to hold a 20 mm rain event.

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Ensure dirty water from the sand, aggregates and front end loader areas is captured in in-ground pits and tanks.

Reuse captured water for batching of concrete in order to maintain sufficient freeboard for rain events.

If contaminated water must be discharged, ensure that water is pH neutral prior to release.

If dirty water must be discharged, ensure that pits and tanks have adequate capacity for settling out sediment. Alternately other means of treatment such as filtration may be employed to ensure that suspended solids discharge limits are met.

Regularly inspect and clean out in-ground wedge pits to maintain adequate sediment holding capacity.

Design the batching plant so that it is segregated into contaminated (alkaline), dirty (sand and aggregate storage) and clean areas (e.g. building rooves and car parking) to assist with water management. Divert clean stormwater away from contaminated and dirty operational areas.

Reuse water captured water for slumping and dust suppression.

Maximise the capacity for holding harvested rainwater to minimise the use of mains water.

Use the safe alternative of CO2 neutralisation to treat alkaline water prior to discharge.

Develop a site storm water management plan that describes the correct management of all water on the site.

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Storage of chemicals and potential contaminants

Performance outcome 2.2: Storage of fuel, lubricants and other chemicals must be managed to minimise releases of contaminants.


Store all fuels, oils and chemicals in an impervious bunded area or compound capable of holding 110% of the volume of the largest tank or 25% of total maximum drum inventory, whichever is the larger.

Clean up all chemical spills promptly. Keep Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all

hazardous substances used or stored on site. Maintain a fully serviced spill response kit on site.

Store all chemicals in a roofed or enclosed area to avoid stormwater becoming contaminated.

Cleaning equipment and vehicles

Performance outcome 2.3: Cleaning of equipment and vehicles minimises contamination of soil and water.


Ensure that the truck wash area drains into the contaminated water collection and recycling pits.

Store truck wash chemicals in an impervious bunded area or compound capable of holding the volume of at least the largest tank and/or 25% of total maximum drum inventory.

Allocate a designated truck wash area within the contaminated area to avoid contamination of dirty and clean water across the site

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Noise Noise sources at batching plants may include:

truck and front end loader engine noise

reverse warning devices

truck air brakes aggregate

delivery to bunkers and hoppers

swinging, scraping, loading devices

hydraulic pumps conveyor belts compressors air valves filters opening and

closing gates radios alarms amplified

telephones public address

system

Performance outcome 3: Noise nuisance must be prevented or minimised at noise sensitive places.

Noise from concrete batching operations can cause conflict between operators and the community.

Refer to Environmental Protection Act 1994 Part 3B for noise standards


Maintain a system for capturing complaints and addressing them.

Where noise sensitive receptors are nearby ensure that noise emissions from noisy equipment are managed appropriately, including using measures such as acoustic shielding or enclosures, and silencers.

Ensure that reversing alarms are of the squawker type rather than beepers.

Only operate within your approved operating hours. When operating outside of normal operating hours,

consider consulting with your neighbours to avoid complaints.

Limit where practicable the operation of trucks and other heavy machinery to appropriate hours.

Ensure that all equipment and vehicles are adequately maintained.

Locate your plant in an appropriately zoned industrial area and away from sensitive noise receptors.

Use the layout of buildings and natural topography as noise barriers where possible. Cost effective landscaping improvements (e.g. fencing and mounds) can be implemented to reduce noise emissions and therefore the potential for complaints.

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Waste

Performance outcome 4: Waste production and disposal must be minimised and waste must be managed to prevent environmental harm.

Producing waste has impacts from extracting resources to disposal in landfill. Disposal has significant environmental impacts from transporting

the waste for disposal, to potential leachate, odour and greenhouse gas emission impacts. Waste management practices should follow the legislated waste management hierarchy. These are prioritised below from the most preferred to least preferred options Avoid producing any waste Reduce the generation of waste Reuse as much as possible Recycle as much as possible Disposal of waste


Ensure that regulated wastes (Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 Schedule 7) are disposed of in accordance with waste legislation. Regulated wastes include, but are not limited to: alkaline water, concrete wash out, waste oil, coolant, contaminated diesel fuel and other vehicle fluids.

Ensure that waste tracking forms are retained for regulated wastes.

Segregate wastes and recycle those that may be recycled. Clearly label waste containers to encourage use. Examples of recyclable wastes include metals, paper and cardboard, plastics and concrete wash out.

Only put inert, solid waste into industrial bins and general rubbish.

Minimise the generation of waste through careful planning and execution of concrete production.

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Appendix 1: General obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1994

General environmental duty The Environmental Protection Act 1994 section 319 states that we all have a general environmental duty. This means that we are all responsible for the actions we take that affect the environment. We must not carry out any activity that causes or is likely to cause environmental harm unless we take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm. To decide what meets your general environmental duty, you need to think about these issues:

the nature of the harm or potential harm the sensitivity of the receiving environment the current state of technical knowledge for the activity the likelihood of successful application of the different measures to prevent or minimise

environmental harm that might be taken the financial implications of the different measures as they would relate to the type of activity.

It is not an offence not to comply with the general environmental duty however maintaining your general environmental duty is a defence against the following acts:

an act that causes serious or material environmental harm or an environmental nuisance an act that contravenes a noise standard a deposit of a contaminant, or release of stormwater run-off, mentioned in section 440ZG.

Duty to notify The duty to notify (section 320 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994) requires a person or company to give notice where serious or material environmental harm is caused or threatened to occur. Notice must be given of the event, its nature and the circumstances in which the event happened. Notification can be verbal, written or by public notice depending on who is notifying and being notified. For more information on the duty to notify requirements refer to the guideline ‘The duty to notify of environmental harm’ (EM467)1

.

1 Available at www.qld.gov.au, using the publication number EM467 as a search term.

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Relevant offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 1. Causing serious or material environmental harm (sections 437-439) Material environmental harm is environmental harm that is not trivial or negligible in nature. It may be great in extent or context or it may cause actual or potential loss or damage to property. The difference between material and serious harm relates to the costs of damages or the costs required to either prevent or minimise the harm or to rehabilitate the environment. Serious environmental harm may have irreversible or widespread effects or it may be caused in an area of high conservation significance. Serious or material environmental harm excludes environmental nuisance. 2. Causing environmental nuisance (section 440) Environmental nuisance is unreasonable interference with an environmental value caused by aerosols, fumes, light, noise, odour, particles or smoke. It may also include an unhealthy, offensive or unsightly condition because of contamination. 3. Depositing a prescribed water contaminant in waters (section 440ZG) Prescribed contaminants include a wide variety of contaminants listed in Schedule 9 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008. It is your responsibility to ensure that prescribed contaminants are not left in a place where they may or do enter a waterway, the ocean or a stormwater drain. This includes making sure that stormwater falling on or running across your site does not leave the site contaminated. Where stormwater contamination occurs you must ensure that it is treated to remove contaminants. You should also consider where and how you store material used in your processes onsite to reduce the chance of water contamination. 4. Placing a contaminant where environmental harm or nuisance may be caused (section 443).

Relevant offences under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 1. Littering (section 103) Litter is any domestic or commercial waste and any material a person might reasonably believe is refuse, debris or rubbish. Litter can be almost any material that is disposed of incorrectly. Litter includes cigarette butts and drink bottles dropped on the ground, fast food wrappers thrown out of the car window, poorly secured material from a trailer or grass clippings swept into the gutter. Litter can also be an abandoned vehicle. However, litter does not include any gas, dust, smoke or material emitted or produced during, or because of, the normal operations of a building, manufacturing, mining or primary industry. 2. Illegal dumping of waste (section 104) Illegal dumping is the dumping of large volumes of litter (200L or more) at a place. Ensure that all wastes that are taken offsite are taken to a facility that can lawfully receive them.

our ref: kam:slb0 - gympie council · supply the general market and also the concrete batching...

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