EIS 1791
Environmental impact statement: proposed Wallerawang
Qu:ry pi PRiMARY 1S1RIES
/J66863 ~- C) (/0 sil, I
SITE G 04 L P 'fV Li14U TEl)
I I
I I I PROPOSED WALLERAWANG QUARRY
Pacri'llt ENVIRONMENTAL Report 01/206.1 November 2001 Sitegoal Pty Ltd
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
PROPOSED WALLERAWANG QUARRY
Prepared for: Prepared by:
Sitegoal Pty Ltd Pacrim Environmental Pty Ltd 191 Main Street 2/120 Darby Street LITHGOW NSW 2790 NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
Telephone: (02) 6352 3377 Telephone: (02) 4926 5166 Facsimile: (02) 6352 3661 Facsimile: (02) 4926 5125 Email: [email protected]
Report 01/206.1 November 2001 vJ I
Submission of I environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared under the Environmental Planning and I Assessment Act 1994
I EIS prepared by name K. Wayne Perry
I qualifications BSc BArch F.AusIMM, M.EIA, CPEnv
address Unit 2, 120 Darby Street I NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
in respect of I development application Proposed Wallerawang Quarry I applicant name Sitegoal Pty Limited applicant address 191 Main Street Lithgow NSW 2790
I land to be developed Off Great Western Highway, Wallerawang
lot n°. DP/MPS. vol/fol etc Lot 6, DP 872230 and Part SF 707 I proposed development
environmental impact I statement an environmental impact statement (EIS) is attached.
certificate 1 I certify that I have prepared the contents of this Statement and to the best of my knowledge it is in accordance with Clauses 72 and 73 of the Environmental I Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000; it contains all available information that is relevant to the environmental assessment of the development to which the I statement relates; and it is true in all material particulars and does not, by its I presentation or omission of information, materially mislead. signature I name K. Wayne Perry date /3 I't12001 I I TABLE OF CONTENTS I Page N°
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS ...... vii I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... ix i.INTRODUCTION...... 1
I 1.1 Background ...... 1 1 1.2 Location and Land Details...... 1 1.3 Company Profile ...... 2 I 1.4 Approvals Required...... 2 1.5 Project Objective and Basis of Impact Assessment ...... 3 1 1.6 Key Environmental Issues ...... 3
2. REGIONAL CONTEXT ...... 5
2.1 Regional Geology ...... 5 1 2.2 FutureDemand ...... 5 2.3 Markets ...... 5 1 2.4 Adjacent Resources ...... 6 3. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ...... 7 I 3.1 Reserves and Rationale for Development ...... 7 3.2 Quany Planning ...... 7
1 3.3 Mining Equipment ...... 10 1 3.4 Drill and Blast Design...... 11 3.5 Crushing and Stockpiling...... 12 3.5.1 Crushing ...... 12 I 3.5.2 Stockpiling ...... 13
3.6 Site Development ...... 14
1 3.7 Hours of Operation, Duration and Workforce ...... 14 1 3.8 Transport ...... 14 3.9 Energy Usage ...... 15 1 3.10 Community and Statutoiy Consultation ...... 15
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrirn Environmental
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3.11 Cleaner Production .17
4. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ...... 18
4.1 Water Management and Erosion Control ...... 18 4.1.1 Objectives...... 18 4.1.2 Water Usage ...... 18 4.1.3 Existing Water Resources ...... 19 4.1.4 Water Management Strategy...... 19
4.2 Air Quality Management ...... 21
4.3 Noise, Blast and Vibration Management ...... 21 4.3.1 Objectives...... 21 4.3.2 Noise Management Program...... 22
4.4 Hydrocarbons, Chemicals and Waste Management ...... 22
4.5 Site Rehabilitation ...... 24 4.5.1 Objectives ...... 24 4.5.2 Vegetation Management ...... 24 4.5.3 Topsoil Management ...... 24 4.5.4 Materials Available for Rehabilitation and Posi Extractive Land Use...... 24 4.5.5 Surface Shaping and Revegetation...... 25
4.6 Bush Fire Management ...... 26
4.7 Transport ...... 27
5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT...... 28
5.1 Physiography ...... 28 5.1.1 Existing Environment ...... 28 5.1.2 Impact Assessment ...... 28
5.2 Soils ...... 29 5.2.1 Existing Environment ...... 29 5.2.2 Impact Assessment...... 30
5.3 Land Capability ...... 30 5.3.1 Existing Environment ...... 30 5.3.2 Impact Assessment ...... 31
5.4 Archaeology ...... 31 5.4.1 Existing Environment ...... 31 5.4.2 Impact Assessment ...... 32
5.5 Flora and Fauna ...... 32 5.5.1 Existing Flora ...... 32 5.5.2 Existing Fauna ...... 33 5.5.3 Impact Assessment ...... 34
Environmental Impact Statement - W1erawang Quzite Quy Pacrim Enviroental I
5.6 Hydrology and Water Quality ...... 34 5.6.1 Existing Environment ...... 35 I 5.6.2 Impact Assessment ...... 35 5.7 Climate and Air Quality ...... 37 I 5.7.1 Existing Climate ...... 37 5.7.2 Existing Dust Levels ...... 38 5.7.3 Quartzite Dust and Human Health...... 39 1 5.7.4 Impact Assessment...... 39 5.8 Operational and Traffic Noise ...... 41 1 5.8.1 Noise Terminology ...... 42 5.8.2 Existing Environment...... 42 5.8.3 Operational and Road Traffic Noise Goals ...... 42 1 5.8.4 Impact Assessment...... 44 5.9 Vibration and Blasting...... 46 I 5.9.1 Vibration and Blast Terminology...... 46 5.9.2 Existing Environment...... 47 5.9.3 Vibration and Blasting Assessment Goals...... 47 I 5.9.4 Impact Assessment ...... 47 5.10 Visual Environment ...... 48 1 5.10.1 Existing Environment ...... 48 5.10.2 Impact Assessment ...... 49 I 5.11 Recreation ...... 50 5.11.1 Existing Environment ...... 50 I 5.11.2 Impact Assessment ...... 51 5.12 Land Use, Tenure and Services ...... 51 5.12.1 Existing Environment ...... 51 1 5.12.2 Impact Assessment ...... 52 5.13 Planning and Zoning ...... 53 I 5.13.1 Existing Environment ...... 53 5.13.2 Impact Assessment ...... 54 I 5.14 Transport ...... 55 5.14.1 Existing Environment ...... 55 1 5.14.2 Impact Assessment ...... 56 5.15 Socio-Economics ...... 58 5.15.1 Existing Environment ...... 58 I 5.15.2 Impact Assessment ...... 58 5.16 Hazard Analysis ...... 58 I 5.17 Ecologically Sustainable Development ...... 60 1 5.18 Cumulative Impacts ...... 61
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I
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6 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND ALTERNATIVES .63 6.1 Project Justification ...... 63
6.2 Consideration of Alternatives ...... 64 6.2.1 Not Proceeding...... 64 6.2.2 Alternative Quarry Areas...... 64 6.2.3 Alternative Quarrying Methods...... 64 6.2.4 Alternative Access Modes and Routes ...... 64 6.2.5 Alternative Waste and Water Management Practices...... 65 6.2.6 Final Landform Options...... 65 6.2.7 Alternative Product Transport Option...... 65 REFERENCES ...... 67
APPENDICES Appendix 1 Correspondence with Government Authorities and Results from Community Consultation Appendix 2 Transportation Study Appendix 3 Water Management Appendix 4 Statement of Effect on Threatened Flora and Fauna Appendix 5 Site Stability Analysis Appendix 6 Soil Survey Appendix 7 Archaeological Assessment Appendix 8 Air Quality Assessment Appendix 9 Acoustical Assessment Appendix 10 Study Team
After Page N° FIGURES
Figure1.1 Location...... 2 Figure 1.2 Site Context Plan...... 2
Figure 2.1 Resource Evaluation...... 6
Figure 3.1 Borehole Logs Holes 001 and 002 ...... 8 Figure 3.2 Borehole Logs Holes 004 and 005 ...... 8 Figure 3.3 Geological Cross Section...... 8 Figure 3.4 Quarry Development - Stage 1 Trench...... 10 Figure 3.5 Quarry Development - Stage 1 Floor...... 10 Figure 3.6 Quarry Development - Stage 2 Trench...... 10 Figure 3.7 Quarry Development - Stage 2 Floor...... 10 Figure 3.8 Quarry Development - Stage 3 Floor...... 10 Figure 3.9 Cross Sections...... 10 Figure 3.10 Surface Facilities ...... 12
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrirn Environmental OA I
Figure 4.1 Proposed Irrigation Network .20
I Figure 4.2 Site Drainage Layout -Stage 1...... 20
Figure 4.3 Site Drainage Layout -Stage 2 and 3...... 20 Figure 4.4 Rehabilitation Plan...... 26 I Figure 4.5 Final Landform...... 26 ill ! F I Figure 5.1 Soil Classification and Topsoil Stripping Plan...... 30 Figure 5.2 Land Capability and Slope Class Plan...... 30 Figure 5.3 Wind Roses Mt Piper Power Station...... 38
Figure 5.4 Scenario 1 -Predicted Maximum 24 hour Average Ground Level PM10 Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 40 Figure 5.5 Scenario 1 Predicted Maximum 24 hour Average Ground Level FA PM10 Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 40 Figure 5.6 Scenario 1 Predicted Annual Average Ground Level TSP I Concentrations (uglm3) ...... 40 Figure 5.7 Scenario 1 -Predicted Annual Average Deposition Rates (g/m2/month)4o
Figure 5.8 Scenario 3 -Predicted Maximum 24 hour Average Ground Level PM10 I Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 40
Figure 5.9 Scenario 3 -Predicted Annual Average Ground Level PM10 Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 40
1 Figure 5.10 Scenario 3 -Predicted Annual Average Ground Level TSP Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 40
Figure 5.11 Scenario 3 -Predicted Annual Average Deposition Rates (g/m2/month)40 I Figure 5.12 Scenario 3 Predicted Annual Average Ground Level PM7 Silica Concentrations (ug/m3) ...... 42 n Figure 5.13 Predicted Noise Levels for Initial Trench, Stage 1 (Years 1-2)...... 46 Figure 5.14 Predicted Noise Levels at Completion of Stage 1 (Years 1-2)...... 46 Figure 5.15 Predicted Noise Levels for Initial Trench, Stage 2 (Years 3-4 )...... 46 Figure 5.16 Predicted Noise Levels at Completion of Stage 2 (Years 4-15)...... 46 Figure 5.17 Land Use and Zoning...... 48 Figure 5.18 Adjacent Land Subdivisions and Residences ...... 52 I Figure 5.19 Estimated Hourly Truck Movements Associated with the Proposed I Quarry Development (500,000tpa)...... 57 PLATES
Plate 1 Aerial Photograph (1998) and Monitoring Locations...... 2 Plate 2 Existing View from the Rocky Waterhole...... 50 Li Plate 3 View to Quarry from the Rocky Waterhole...... 50 Plate 4 Existing View from the Coxs River Bridge...... 50 ~1 Plate 5 View to Quarry from the Coxs River Bridge...... 50 Plate 6 Existing View from the Wallerawang Primary School...... 50 Plate 7 View to Quarry from the Wallerawang Primary School...... 50 F1 Plate 8 Existing View from the Great Western Highway...... 50
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental vi
Plate 9 View to Quarry from the Great Western Highway...... 50 Plate 10 View to Rehabilitated Quarry from the Great Western Highway...... 50
TABLES
Table 1.1 Key Environmental Issues...... 4 Table 3.1 Quarry Planning Constraints and Management Safeguards...... 8 Table 3.2 Proposed Equipment ...... 11 Table 4.1 Preliminary Rehabilitation Schedule...... 26 Table 5.1 Distribution of Slope Classes ...... 28 Table 5.2 Soil Volumes ...... 30 Table 5.3 Summary of Upstream Water Quality...... 35 Table 5.4 Source of Meteorological Data...... 37 Table 5.5 Climatic Summary...... 38 Table 5.6 Summary of Dust Deposition Data Collected at Wallerawang...... 38 Table 5.7 Air Quality Standards/Goals for Particulate Matter Concentrations ...... 40 Table 5.8 Ambient Noise Measurements at Three Monitoring Locations...... 42 Table 5.9 Daytime Operational Noise Goals (dB(A))...... 44 Table 5.10 Assessment Goals for Blasting ...... 47 Table 5.11 Reference Points for Visual Impact Assessment...... 49 Table 5.12 Nearest Residents ...... 52 Table 5.13 Existing Traffic Volumes...... 55 Table 5.14 Predicted Truck Traffic Volumes...... 57 Table 5.15 Hazard Analysis for Proposed Quarry Activities...... 59
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental VII I GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
I o Degrees Degrees Celsius I % Percent .Ls/cm Microsiemens per centimetre. A measure of conductivity Micron (1x106 metres) I pg Microgram igIm3 Microgram per cubic metre I AADT Annualised Average Daily Traffic ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics Li AF[1) Australian Height Datum ANFO Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil explosive I ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council AS Australian Standards AWTS Aerated Wastewater Treatment System I BOM Bureau of Meteorology cm Centimetres 1 CO2 Carbon Dioxide c13 Decibels - a measure of noise I dB(A) Decibels (A weighted scale) dB(Lin) Noise as pressure fluctuations in air measured in decibels I DLWC Department of Land and Water Conservation (NSW) DMR Department of Mineral Resources (NSW) DUAP Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (NSW) I EC Electrical Conductivity (salinity) ElS Environmental Impact Statement I EL Exploration Licence ENM Environmental Noise Computer Model I EPA Environment Protection Authority (NSW) EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1994 I ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development g/m2/month Grams per square metre per month ha Hectares I hr Hour km Kilometres I kmlh Kilometres per hour kV kilovolt I L Litre LAeq Average noise energy during monitoring period
[1 Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental vili I LAOO Average noise energy 90% monitoring period I L10 Noise level exceeded 10% of the monitoring period
L90 Noise level exceeded 90% of the monitoring period lid Litres per day litres/m2lhr litres per square metre per hour M Million ML Million litres (megalitre) mg/L milligrams per litre I m metres mIs metres per second I m2 Square metres m3 Cubic metres mm millimetres mmls millimetres per second MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet I Mt Million tonnes (megatonne) Mtpa Million tonnes per annum (year) I N North NFR Non Filterable Residue NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW) PFM Planning Focus Meeting pH Units of acidity/alkalinity PM7 Particulate matter less than 7 microns diameter I PM10 Particulate matter less than 10 microns diameter POEO Act Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 1 PPV Peak Particle Velocity Pty Ltd Proprietary Limited REP Regional Environmental Plan RTA Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) S South SCA Sydney Catchment Authority (NSW) SCS Soil Conservation Service (NSW) I SE South East SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy I SiO2 Silica SOE Statement of Effects t tonne tpa Tonnes per annum (year) TSP Total Suspended Particulates WBM Consultants, WBM Oceanics Australia Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quany Pacrim Environmental I lx I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I I BACKGROUND It is proposed to develop a hardrock quarry at a location approximately 2.5km southeast of I Wallerawang. The quarry site is located south of the Great Western Highway and to the west of the Coxs River. The quarry will be developed by Sitegoal Pty. Ltd., a Lithgow-based I Company, who have held an exploration licence (EL4473) over the site since 1993.
[I] THE PROJECT
F1 The quarry will comprise a total disturbed area of approximately 1 lha and produce quartzite and rock aggregate material for use in the Wallerawang, Lithgow, Blue Mountains and I Sydney regions. The quarry will produce approximately 3.5Mt of product material over the I initial approval period of 20 years, with an estimated value of $77M. The quarry site will be developed in three stages and quarry material will be won using a I combination of drilling, blasting and rock breaking operations. Quarry product will be crushed and stockpiled on-site using either a mobile crushing plant or a fixed crushing plant, I dependent upon contractor and product requirements. Overburden material will be stockpiled I on-site for either sale or use in the rehabilitation of the quarry. I It is envisaged that production will vary between 125,000tpa and 500,000tpa depending on market demand. The proposed Wallerawang Industrial Park adjacent to the existing power I station, would provide an estimated product requirement of 500,000tpa for at least two years. At this maximum production rate, an estimated 80 loads or 160 heavy vehicle movements will I be generated by the project each day. At the lower production rate, vehicle movements are expected to be approximately 40 per day or 20 loads per day. Safe access and egress to the I site will be facilitated by the construction of a new intersection approximately SOOm west of Barton Ave. I The quarry will generally operate between the hours of 7.00am and 500pm Monday to Friday I unless market demand necessitates additional production on a Saturday. To satisfy Sydney I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental pi market requirements, there will be a need to dispatch trucks in the early hours of the morning. Saturday operations will include plant maintenance and loading of quarry product. It is anticipated that two to four permanent staff will be employed on site, supplemented by contract truck, dozer and excavator drivers.
PREPARATION OF THE EIS
This document has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Regulation. It takes into account comments from the public consultation process and the requirements of relevant statutory authorities.
Approval is sought for a production level of up to 500,000tpa. The proposal is deemed to be a State Significant Development, exceeding the 200,000tpa extraction rate listed in the Schedule to the EP&A Act Declaration, dated 3 August 1999.
A Planning Focus Meeting was held with relevant authorities and consultation with the community has been on-going via information brochures, face to face contact and an on site community briefing. Issues raised by the community and Statutory Authorities have been addressed in the EIS.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Archaeology. Site investigations located an aboriginal archaeological site within the area proposed for topsoil storage. Modification of the project layout resulted in the relocation of this proposed stockpile site. Protection of the site will occur through fencing the area to exclude access and by notifying employees of the significance of the site through an induction program. A management plan will be prepared.
Flora and Fauna. The quarry site is predominantly sub-alpine Eucalypt woodland. Canopy cover is generally continuous across the site, while understorey development is limited. No species of threatened flora were identified or are known to occur on or near the quarry site.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental xl I One species of threatened fauna (Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat) was identified as occurring I on the site. Two other threatened species (Koala and Bathurst Copper butterfly) are recorded in the NPWS database as occurring within a 10km radius of the site. Consideration of the site I under SEPP 44 (Core Koala habitat) determined that although sufficient koala feed tree species existed on the site, there was no evidence of koala habitation in the area proposed for I quarry development. I It was concluded that due to the abundance of similar habitat both locally and regionally, the quarry development will not affect local populations of threatened species that potentially use I the site. Upon completion of quarry activities, the site will be returned to a floristic structure commensurate with the surrounding area. I Surface and Ground Water. I The natural hydrology of the site will be altered during quarry development. Water from undisturbed areas will be diverted around the site and discharged to the Coxs River. Water I from disturbed areas will be captured, transported and stored in a series of water management structures constructed on the site. A 7.7ML water management dam will provide the major I storage facility on the site. Water re-use and efficiency will be maximised by using water stored in the water management dam for the majority of on-site water requirements, I predominantly for dust suppression purposes. An irrigation component is included in the water management design to ensure adequate storage is available on site for the majority of I storm events.
I The quarry development will operate as a zero discharge site under the majority of climatic conditions. During extreme rainfall events it may be necessary to discharge water from I disturbed areas of the site. On these occasions, dilution with runoff from the surrounding I catchment areas will minimise surface water impacts. Due to the fractured nature of the rock and the inability to intersect the groundwater table I during drilling operations at the site, groundwater impacts are considered unlikely to occur as I a result of the project. I I Enviromriental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental xii
Air Quality. Modelling of likely dust emissions resulting from the quarry was undertaken for a range of production levels. Results indicate that nuisance and health related dust impacts would be negligible at all production levels and under all wind conditions.
Operational safeguards will include watering of haul roads and machinery manoeuvring areas, keeping stockpiles in a dampened state, a wheel wash facility, sealing of the access road from the wheel wash to the Great Western Highway and the covering of all loads.
In the event that excessive dust generation occurs during adverse wind conditions, activities will be modified or ceased during the period. However, the retention of extensive tree cover around the entire site should minimise this occurrence by sheltering the site from unfavourable winds.
Noise. Modelling of predicted noise levels for potential receptors in the vicinity of the quarry site indicates that under calm atmospheric conditions, all noise assessment goals will be complied with. During adverse conditions (winds and a temperature inversion) noise assessment goals may be exceeded at some receptor locations.
Operational safeguards have been incorporated to reduce the risk of noise impacts upon the receiving environment. These include restricting or ceasing quarry activity during adverse weather conditions, retaining a 6-8m highwall at the northern end of the quarry to act as a noise buffer and retaining extensive tree cover around the entire quarry site.
Periodic noise monitoring will be undertaken throughout the life of the project to ensure that noise criteria are being complied with. Wind speed and weather conditions will be monitored at a permanent exposed location to allow operational modifications to be considered.
Blasting and Vibration. Modelling indicates that the prescribed allowable level of blast noise will not be exceeded at any time during quarry operations. Due to the potential for flyrock, it may be necessary to close the Great Western Highway for short periods during blasting operations. Blasting is
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I expected to occur once every two weeks at the maximum production level reducing to once I every two months at the lower production levels. I The quarry site is located adjacent to an existing electricity supply pylon, and therefore blasting will be designed to ensure that vibration levels do not exceed 25millimetres per I second, as required by Transgrid. Vibration monitoring will be undertaken at the base of the pylon. 1 Two operational measures have been included to reduce blast vibration and over-pressure [1 impacts. A small diameter (89mm) drill hole will be used in conjunction with the 'Nonelt initiation system. This system allows for individual in-hole delays and prevents the effects of I a single large blast.
I Visual. Quarry operations will not be visible from the majority of public viewing locations identified. I View modification at these sites will occur as subtle changes to the current ridgeline profile. Trees occurring in the foreground are likely to obscure the majority of views to quarry I activities.
I Views of the eastern quarry highwall are likely from the elevated western approaches of the Great Western Highway. However, views from this location will predominantly occur from I eastbound road traffic, travelling at the nominal speed of 110km/h. Rehabilitation east of the Stage 2 trench will commence in Year 3 of the quarry program and will soften this outlook I considerably.
I Site Rehabilitation. Stabilisation works will commence concurrently with development of the quarry. Quarry I benches will be revegetated as soon as practicable using a range of endemic trees and shrubs. Upon completion of quarry activities, the void space, access road and surface facilities areas I will be ripped, and seeded/planted with a range of endemic tree, plant and grass species.
I The final void will comprise a gently sloping floor (4%) surrounded by steeper side slopes I (approximately 50 degrees), not inconsistent with existing slopes in the area.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental xlv
Land Use. Land uses in the vicinity of the quarry site comprise a mixture of forestry, rural and residential areas. Nineteen dwellings have been identified as occurring within a 2km radius of the quarry site.
The operation of the quarry will not impact upon the potential land use adjacent to the site. The area is considered too steep for forestry operations and no agricultural activity occurs in the immediate vicinity. Although not visible, quarry operations will be noticeable to nearby residents through increased truck movements on the Great Western Highway and audible blasting operations occurring at intervals between once per two weeks to once per two months, depending upon production levels.
Planning and Services. The quarry site is located upon land zoned Rural General 1(a) and Rural Forestry 1 (1) under the Greater Lithgow Council City LEP (1994). SEPP 44 (Core Koala Habitat) and SEPP 58 (Protecting Sydney's Water Supply) also apply to the quarry development.
Extractive industry is permitted development under the existing land zoning, providing development consent is obtained. The requirements of SEPP 44 and SEPP 58 have been considered and addressed in the development of the EIS document.
Connections for power and telephone services are required at the site. Potable water will be purchased off-site as necessary. Wastewater services will be supplied via the installation of a packaged Aerated Wastewater Treatment System to service the office and amenities. Treated effluent will be irrigated onto a managed vegetated area of the site.
Road Transport. The quarry development will result in an increase in heavy vehicle movements on both the Great Western Highway and Mudgee Road. The extent of the increase will be dependant upon production levels but will be in the order of 7% to 28% for the Great Western Highway and 18% to 73% for Mudgee Road. The extent of increased traffic on Mudgee Road would be dependent upon the level of activity at the proposed Wallerawang Industrial Park. All traffic to the proposed Wallerawang Industrial Park would travel via Mudgee Road and not via Wallerawang.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental xv I I A new seagull intersection, designed to RTA standards, will be constructed approximately 500m west of the Barton Ave intersection. The new intersection will provide safe access and I egress to and from the quarry site. The new intersection has been designed to minimise traffic disruption on the Great Western Highway by providing a separate acceleration lane for heavy I vehicles entering the highway. During fog conditions, no heavy vehicles will be allowed to leave the quarry site until visibility has returned to an acceptable level. 1 Economic Outputs. I The output value of the quarry is estimated at $3.85M per year at an average production rate of 175,000tpa or $77M over the 20 year approval period. There will be approximately four I employees on-site with additional employment resulting from the use of subcontract hauliers and machinery hire. Additional benefits will occur within the Lithgow area from the I expenditure for goods and services as well as the payment of wages and taxes.
Cumulative Impacts. The quarry is sufficiently removed from similar and existing industries so that cumulative I impacts of dust and noise will be avoided. The quarry development will result in an increase in heavy vehicle traffic on major roads in the area, however, modelling predicts that the level I of service and safety on these roads will not be significantly impacted.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives are considered for all facets of quarry design and operation. Analysis of feasible alternatives supports the conclusion that the proposed quarry, as described in the EIS, I represents the optimum outcome with respect to design, methodology and management.
1 Quarry Area. The siting of the quarry is constrained by several physical attributes, including the geological extent of the quartzite resource, the topographical limitations of the surrounding area, the proximity of the Coxs River, the Great Western Highway and power transmission I infrastructure. H
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I xvi
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Alternative Extraction Methods Due to the hardness of the quartzite resource, alternative quarrying methods are considered impractical. The quarrying method proposed in the EIS utilises best practice drilling and blasting technology to minimise the level of vibration, overpressure and the generation of fly rock. I
Vehicular Access I Several access/egress options for the quarry site were considered and modelled. The proposed access is considered superior in that it requires less construction between the quarry I and the Great Western Highway and affords a high level of safety for all users. The RTA concurs with the outcome.
Final Landform Options I Alternative outcomes for the post-quarrying landform were considered. The retention of the eastern highwall is considered the most appropriate alternative as it helps limit noise and dust I emissions during the operational phase. The alternative of filling the quarry to its original landform with imported fill is not recommended due to cost constraints and as it may unduly I expose the Coxs River to the potential for leachate transfer.
I Product Transport Options
The use of rail transport was identified as an alternative product transport option. The existing I Wallerawang coal loader, currently used for the loading of timber, would allow the cost- effective transport of bulk product to the Sydney market. However, significant limitations are I identified with this alternative. Rail transport would require the availability of a bulk receiver within the Sydney market area who could store and distribute the product to variable markets. I Truck transport provides the versatility to service a wide range of small markets at diverse geographical locations and along with the proximity of the proposed quarry development to the Great Western Highway makes road transport of product to the local and Sydney markets, the preferred option.
Not Proceeding The alternative of not proceeding with the proposed quarry development would result in the loss of an estimated 3.5Mt of high quality quartzite (aggregate) from the Western
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I xvii Sydney/Lithgow construction industry over the 20 year life of the quarry. In this case, I alternative resources in the regions surrounding Sydney would need to be developed. The potential benefits occurring to the local community from the sale of the product would be lost. I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I
______I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 1 I 1. INTRODUCTION I 1.1 BACKGROUND
I Sitegoal Pty Ltd, a Lithgow-based Company, has undertaken exploration activities within Exploration Licence EL4473, located to the south east of Wallerawang, since it was granted title I in 1993.
1 The area of interest has a history of extractive industry. The former Hoskins Quarry is located adjacent to the proposed quarry development and last operated in 1927, although the proponents I collected a small sample from this quarry for testing purposes in 1994. Also, a surface gravel quarry was in operation to the east and across the Coxs River from the proposed quarry development until recent years, when it was rehabilitated and incorporated into the Rocky I Waterhole.
I A resource of quartzite and overburden material in excess of 4.4Mt has been proven at the site and Sitegoal intends to develop a hardrock quarry with a life expectancy exceeding 20 years. It I will be developed over three stages, resulting in a total disturbed area of approximately 1 iha. Production will vary between approximately 125,000tpa/150,000tpa to a maximum of I 500,000tpa, dependent upon market demand. Extraction will involve drilling and blasting, and a crusher will be located either in-pit or at the surface facilities site. A sealed access road and a new intersection with the Great Western Highway (located approximately 500m west of Barton r Avenue) will be constructed.
I 1.2 LOCATION AND LAND DETAILS
I The proposed quarry development is located adjacent to the Great Western Highway near Wallerawang, NSW. It is approximately 8km north west of Lithgow and 2.5km south east of Wallerawang, as shown in Figure 1.1 and Plate 1. The context of the site is shown in Li Figure 1.2.
I The proposed quarry development is located within EL4473 (shown in Figure 2.1), a Group 2 Mineral Exploration Licence, that has been held by Sitegoal since June 1994 and has I an area of approximately 281ha. EL 4473 is comprised of predominantly Crown Land, occupied by the Lidsdale State Forest, with privately owned land included in the north eastern U corner of the licence area. The proposed quarry development site includes a combination of Crown Land (Lidsdale State Forest) and private land (Lot 6, Goh and Hickman for which an I option to purchase agreement is available) as illustrated in Figure 1.2. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental The proposed quarry site is zoned Rural (General) 1(a) to the east and Rural (Forestry) 1(f) to the west. Extractive industries are permissible under these zonings subject to development approval. A land use and zoning map of the project area is provided in Figure 5.17.
Since registration of EL4473 in 1993, a number of parcels of land have been subdivided in close proximity to the proposed quarry. Adjacent subdivisions within proximity of the proposed quarry are shown in Figure 5.18.
1.3 COMPANY PROFILE
The proponent for this project is the Lithgow-based exploration Company, Sitegoal Pty Limited. The Company was formed in 1994 to undertake mineral exploration and operations within NSW and currently holds a number of other metalliferous exploration leases in the State.
The Company Directors are J. McAuley, R. McAuley, D. Murray and M. OToole who report directly to Sitegoal' s shareholders, the majority of whom are Lithgdw-based.
1.4 APPROVALS REQUIRED
The proposed quarry development represents Designated Development and therefore necessitates the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1994 (EP&A Act) to accompany the Development Application.
As approval is sought for a production level of up to 500,000tpa, the proposal is deemed to be a State Significant Development, exceeding the 200,000tpa extraction rate listed in the Schedule to the EP&A Act Declaration, dated 3 August 1999.
Integrated Approvals will be required from: EPA, concerning approvals under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act), for licensing of the crusher and for the discharge of water under extreme weather conditions; and
RTA, concerning access onto the Great Western Highway and to temporarily close the Highway during blasting operations.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental
I
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0 250m I Figure 1.2. 1: 5000 Contour Intervals at 2m. SITE CONTEXT PLAN. I i 1.5 PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND BASIS OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The objective of this EIS is to support the Development Application under the EP&A Act, 1994 for the quarrying of hard rock over a 20 year period, and the progressive rehabilitation of the I site. I Formal market agreements have not been established to date and while a production rate of 125,000tpa/150,000tpa is envisaged, impacts have been assessed for the upper production limit of 500,000tpa. The latter represents the level for which approval is sought. This level of production would be sustainable in the supply of construction materials for developments in the Wallerawang Industrial Park.
It is envisaged that the quarry would most likely be operated under contract, therefore a range of I equipment and crusher options have been assessed for impact and included in the project description.
I 1.6 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES I Key environmental issues relating to the project were identified from a number of sources including: I • feedback from Statutory Authorities following the Planning Focus Meeting held on 12 October 1999; the Director-General's specification (DUAP) for the EIS; discussions with the community, the Coxs River Catchment Management Committee; I • Lithgow Council's Environment Advisory Committee; and professional assessment by the study team.
Further issues that were raised at the community briefing held on the 6 October, 2001, are summarised in Table A1.1 of Appendix 1. A copy of the DUAP specification is included I in Appendix 1. Key issues are summarised in Table 1.1. I I I LI
Li Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Table 1.1 - Key Environmental Issues Issue Reference in EIS Consideration of relevant SEPP's and REPs SEPP 33 - Section 5.16, Page 58 SEPP 44 - Section 5.5.3, Page 34 SEPP _58_-_ Section _5.6.1,_ Page _35 Water management, particularly regarding potential Section 4.1, Page 19 effects on the Coxs River Dust generation and the potential for silicosis Section 4.2, Page 21 Section 5.7.4, Page 39 Appropriate removal strategy for excess site vegetation Section 4.5.2, Page 24 Noise generation Section 4.3.2, Page 22 Section _5.8.4,_ Page _44 Blasting - overpressure and vibration Section 4.3.2, Page 22 Section 5.9.4, Page 47 Visual Impacts of the proposal Section 5.10, Page 48 Appropriate Fire Mitigation planning Section 4.6, Page 26 Site Rehabilitation and Final Landform Section 4.5, Page 24 Road transport - Access/Egress visibility Section 4.7, Page 27 Section _5.14.2,_ Page _56 Assessment of potential threats to Flora and Fauna Section 5.5, Page 32 Archaeological concerns Section 5.4, Page 31
This document addresses the major environmental issues and provides a detailed description of how the environmental objectives will be achieved. Best practice management procedures will be adopted for the quarry operation, including the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan and the establishment of an Environmental Management System. An on-going environmental monitoring program will be maintained throughout the life of the quany.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental
5
I 2. REGIONAL CONTEXT
2.1 REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The strata exposed within the vicinity of the proposed quarry are comprised of metamorphosed I and silicified sandstones, siltstones and mudstones belonging to the Late Devonian Lambie Group. These rock units are located on the eastern limb of the Rydal Syncline. Bedding within these units strikes at between 1500 and 180° (SSE to S) and dips between 35° and 60°. I The quartzite resource identified for quarrying occurs as a lens dipping steeply at between 350 I and 60° (averaging 50°) towards the west. Figure 2.1 shows the extent of potential resources identified from geological mapping, sampling and drilling within EL4473.
2.2 FUTURE DEMAND
I A recent report issued by the Geological Survey of New South Wales (Pienmunne, 2000) presents the latest forecast for supply and demand of coarse aggregate within the Sydney I planning region. The report found that, at present, a shortfall between consumption and production from local sources of about 2.5 Mtpa exists. The shortfall is currently being made I up by importing material from sources outside the region, mainly from the Shellharbour/Kiama area. However, the report predicts that by 2010 the region will face a greatly increased shortfall as major suppliers in the planning region cease operation. Therefore, new development in the areas surrounding the Sydney planning region has the potential to supply a large proportion of the predicted shortfall after 2010. I 2.3 MARKETS State-wide there are only four quarries that supply silica rich material from either quartzite, quartz gravel or reef quartz deposits. These quarries are located at Marrangaroo (Metromix Pty I Ltd), Bolivia (Tenterfield Silica Pty Ltd), Glenella at Cowra (Glenella Aggregates Pty Ltd) and I MulyaVat Cowra (T.J. Byrant Pty Potential markets for the product, include developments within the proposed industrial park I located adjacent to the Wallerawang Power Station. The market for fill, road base and aggregate for concrete during construction of developments will provide an estimated product I requirement of 500,000tpa for at least two years.
It is intended to quarry both quartzite material and rock aggregate. The silica material located to date has an average silica concentration of approximately 92% and a maximum of 97%. For the
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I production of silicon, a feed source containing a silica content of 99.9% is required. The quarry product is likely to be thermally unstable at temperatures in excess of 1,000°C, at which silicon is smelted, and is therefore considered unsuitable for this use.
Lower purity silica markets such as flux in the steel industry, or those requiring a high strength aggregate such as concrete production, railway ballast and road base aggregate will be targeted. If higher-grade silica material were located in future exploration then markets for silicon metal, ferrosilicon and silicomanganese would also be targeted. Geographically, the marketing of product will focus on the Lithgow, Blue Mountains and Western Sydney regions, and to a lesser extend the Central West region.
Other metamorphosed sedimentary rock material occurring as overburden to the quartzite material and elsewhere on the site will be marketed for a variety of rock aggregate uses, as well as for fill. The proposed industrial park development adjacent to the Wallerawang Power Station will require large quantities of suitable fill and because of its proximity to the quarry site, may represent one of the major markets.
2.4 ADJACENT RESOURCES
The Marrangaroo Quartzite Quarry, operated by Metromix, is located on Oakey Forest Road, Marangaroo approximately 3km SE of the proposed development. The Quarry produces high quality quartzite (Si07 96.6-98.1%). Of the current production of about 110, 000tpa, approximately 15% is used by BHP in steel making, and the remainder is used as coarse aggregate, mainly in the Greater Lithgow and the Blue Mountains areas. The company has development consent for secured reserves of 6Mt, which can be processed at a maximum rate of 174,000tpa. At present extraction rates, the quarry has a life expectancy of about 30 years.
The Hartley Quarry is a recently developed hard rock quarry extracting rhyolite (a volcanic rock). It is located on a ridgeline off the Jenolan Caves Road, near Hartley and approximately 15km south east of the proposed development. The Quarry has inferred reserves of 200Mt of which 20Mt is within the development consent, which was granted to AUS1O Rhyolite in 1994. The planned extraction rate is about 300,000tpa increasing to 550,000tpa after about 5 years.
In May 2000, the proposed Rydal Quarry, located approximately 7km south west of the proposed development, was rejected in the Land and Environment Court following a hearing of third party appeals. The quarry proposal was refused as the Court found that many environmental issues were inadequately addressed in the Development Application. If approved, this quarry was to extract quartzite for construction purposes.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I
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5' -5- I IN I F'.. I I I I I FL 4473 Fault line I SlWD001 Completed drill holes SHOALHAVEN GROUP DE'' "' MEGALONG CONGLOMERATE I lithic sandstone, conglomerate BATHURET BATHOLITH CARBONIFEROUS '.' / UNNAMED GRANITE N .. pink, medium to coarse, K-Feldspar + I\ ' 1 biotite + quartz granite I LAMBIE GROUP LATE DEVONIAN GIBBONS CREEK SANDSTONE Figure 2.1. I thickly to thinly bedded quartz sandst one, quartzite, siltstone, mudstone RESOURCE I approximate extent of area previously tl0000 EVALUATION. identified as quarlzite Source: Etheridqe Henley Williams - Geoloalcal Mao 18.8.97. I
':1 I 3. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
I 3.1 RESERVES AND RATIONALE FOR DEVELOPMENT
I Geological evaluation of the quartzite deposits within EL4473 was carried out by Anzeco Pty Ltd in 1993, Etheridge Henley Williams in 1996/97 and Red Hill Geoscience in July, 1999. A I number of targets were identified and the location of these is shown in Figure 2.1. The most recent exploration concentrated on the proposed quarry site, with three bores drilled in the I western side of the proposed quarry site at an angle of 50° to intersect the quartzite body. This evaluation has led to an estimated quartzite reserve of approximately 3.5Mt. The quarry plan, I as described in Section 3.2, includes a total reserve (quartzite and overburden) until the end of Stage 3 of 4.4Mt. Based upon a 20 year approval period, approximately 3.9Mt of quartzite I and overburden material would be extracted. I Typical geological profiles are shown in Figures 3.1 and 3.2. An extrapolated cross section of the resource is illustrated in Figure 3.3.
I The product is valued at a premium on soft rock quarry product and is in a location close to a major transport arterial. Therefore, this development is likely to contribute significantly to the I supply of coarse aggregate both locally, and in the greater Sydney Planning Region (as discussed in Section 2.2). I 3.2 QUARRY PLANNING I Quarry planning, including equipment selection, and drill and blast investigation was I undertaken by Colmine Consulting's Principal Mining Engineer. Constraints influencing quarry design and the associated management safeguards are listed in I Table 3.1. [1 I I I
Environmental Impact Statement - Waflerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental ci]
Table 3.1 - Quarry Planning Constraints and Management Safeguards Constraints Safeguards Proximity to the Coxs River and the need to The initial trench construction will leave a 3m to 6m high prevent loose rock entering the River. rim along the southern and eastern sides, closest to the Coxs River. This will prevent loose rock during the early stages of development entering the Coxs River. All quarry development will be down dip at a 500 angle, sloping away from the Coxs River. Blasts will be designed to prevent shattering along the outside bund. Avoiding the generation of flyrock from Flyrock generation will be minimised by the blast design, blasting, in consideration of the quarry's involving selection of a small drill size diameter and proximity to the Great Western Highway minimising the amount of explosives per hole. The and the high voltage power lines. Highway will be closed for a short period of time during blasting if blasting is within 500m of the Highway. The need to minimise noise generation due A highw all will be maintained at all times at the northern to residences being in proximity to the end of the quarry to reduce noise levels received north of the quarry (approximately 650m) and future Great Western Highway while equipment is working in the residences being potentially closer (up to northern part of the quarry. Access into the quarry is to be 500m). along the northwestern side, and not facing Wallerawang. Minimising vibration from blasting because A minimum setback of 50m from the pylon will be of the closeness of the high voltage maintained. Blasting will commence in the northern section powerline pylon to the quarry (50m). of the quarry initially, furthest from the pylon to enable feedback from early blasts to be incorporated in the blast design as the quarry ptogresses towards the pylon. Vibration levels at the lower base will not exceed 25mmIs.
The quarry has been planned to be excavated parallel to the dip of the plunging strata (about 500) along the eastern face and excavated perpendicular to the strata dip on the western face. At all times the quarry will be surrounded by retained existing vegetation.
The proposed quarry will be developed within a knoll, located to the east of the former Hoskin's Quarry, as shown in Figure 1.2. The proposed area to be quarried is approximately 8ha to 9ha and will be developed in three stages. The knoll has a reserve of approximately lMt of quartzite and overburden, which will be extracted during Stage 1 of the development. Stage 2 contains a further 2Mt of quartzite and overburden, and extraction during Stage 3 will result in the extraction of a further 750,000 tonnes, coinciding with the 20 year time frame of the approval.
Approximately 40,000m' of overburden material will be excavated during Stage 1, and a further 100,000m3 during Stage 2. Stage 3 works will not require the removal of additional overburden. Overburden material will be stockpiled in a designated area of the surface facilities area for either sale or for later use in the rehabilitation of the quarry.
Depending upon markets, it is envisaged that quarrying may be undertaken at an initial rate of 500,000tpa dependent on the level of construction activity at the Wallerawang Industrial Park
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 5m
urn
30m
Borehole Log SIWDOO1
68m
Borehole Log SIWDOO2
Note: Both holes drilled at 500 to the horizontal. o I 25m Figure 3.1 Location of boreholes shown on Figure 2.1. BOREHOLE LOGS 1:380 001 & 002.
Source: C. Spandler, Etheridge Heoly Williams. I I I Quart zite Pebble Conglomerate I 1 6.45m Orange to grey white quartzite I
Grey sugary quartzite
I 32 2Dm Grey to dark grey sugary quartzite Grey-white sugary I quartzite Greyish to grey sugary quartzite
Fre-meta. quartzite I ½234 43.76m Coarse pegmatite
46.2 Sm Grey-white to pale Pale yellow grey pink sugary quartzite I to creamy grey sugary quartzite I Grey sugary quartzite
Grey-white sugary quartzite
Grey quartzite - Dark grey quartzite quartzite N Light grey co Dice-grey quartzite . to grey 61 76w sugary quartzite 62.53m
70.1 3m Ught grey to brown grey homfelsed Dark grey to sandstone greyish black hornteisic siltstone and sandstone 70.9 Ow Major shear zone through wealdy hnrrrsfelsed 80.89w sandst one! siltstone Grayish cream 76.50m coarse granite 11 83.65m
Borehole Log Grey to dark grey :_._ SIWDOO4 Hornfelsed ------3 sandstone
Note: Both holes drilled at 89.80m 500 to the horizontal. Figure 3.2 I Location of boreholes Borehole Log shown on Figure 2.1. SIWDOO5 BOREHOLE LOGS 004 & 005. So urce: C. Spandler, Etheridge Henly Williams. I ------ U
Extent of Quarry •
Quarry Trench
980
970 ij: - 970 3 I CO 0)960 - CO g I 960 CO /' 4 Cn 950 - I I 0 / 950 7 0) 940 1/ T. 1 CD 940 / 930 930 Borehole SIWD005 / / / at 50 degrees to the horizontal. /
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/ 0 - ME Siltstone Sandstone Section A-A Undifferentiated Quartz/to C) Conglomerate Horn fe/sod sandstone 0) with interbecided si/tstone '\ Shear Zone 0 50m
Location of Section shown on Figure 2.1. 1:1000Verticalexaggeration V:H 5:1 I and thereafter it may reduce to a lower rate of approximately 125,000tpa/150,000tpa. The I quarry production rate within this range will be determined by market forces.
Stage 1 I Extraction will commence in the area of the existing quartzite outcrop. An initial trench will be developed approximately 350m long, 50m wide and up to 1 8m deep, oriented SSE along the I strike of the quartzite and as shown in Figure 3.4. I An access road will be constructed perpendicular to the trench, oriented WSW, to minimise noise emissions towards Wallerawang. Development of the trench and access will be undertaken using drilling and blasting techniques and is expected to take approximately 12 to 14 I months, depending upon the extraction rate. Approximately 500,000t of material will be I removed from the trench resulting in a disturbed area of approximately 3ha. The remainder of Stage 1 works will involve widening of the trench, using driffing and I blasting, east to the edge of the outcrop and west to the roof of the underlying strata, as shown in Figure 3.5. This will leave an almost flat floor, dipping approxiMately 4% to the north, and I is expected to result in a quarry life of approximately two years for Stage 1. A further 500,000t of quartzite and overburden will be quarried during this period.
The quarry perimeter will be established within a 50m setback from the power transmission line pylon located at the south western corner of the quarry. Blasting during Stage 1 will leave 3m I high rims around the perimeter of the quarry and these will be retained until removed as part of the second bench. These rims will provide an effective means of retaining run-off water within U the cut and preventing loose material rolling down external slopes.
Walls of between 6m and 8m will be left at the southern and northern extremities of the cut, as shown in Section 2 of Figure 3.9. The highwall at the northern end will result in the reduction of noise emissions to Wallerawang when machinery is working in the northern part of the quarry. Highwalls will be retained at the northern and southern ends for the duration of i quarrying. Stage 2 I Stage 2 will consist of a similar approach to that undertaken during Stage 1. A trench will be developed to a depth of lOm below the Stage 1 floor along a SSE orientation, as shown in Figure 3.6 and Section 1 of Figure 3.9. The trench will commence at the 940m contour in the north and extend to the 950m contour in the south, with an estimated total of 700,000t of I material removed from the trench area.
______I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I 10
The trench will then be widened progressively towards the western boundary, as shown in Figure 3.7 and Section 1 of Figure 3.9, winning a further 1 .3Mt of quartzite and overburden. At an extraction rate of 125,000tpa/150,000tpa, it is expected that Stage 2 would take approximately 13 years to complete.
As with Stage 1, all work will be undertaken within the quarry using the highwalls to reduce noise emissions to residential areas. Quarrying in this manner will also allow overburden removal to be undertaken on an 'as sold" basis.
As for Stage 1, the 50m setback from the power transmission line pylon and the highwalls along the northern, eastern and southern quarry faces will be retained.
Stage 3 Stage 3 of the operation will involve lowering the Stage 2 floor by a further lOm in depth, as shown in Figure 3.8 and Section 1 of Figure 3.9. There will be no further disturbance of land beyond that cleared for Stage 2 and all drilling and extraction will be contained within the quarry.
There are reserves of approximately 1 .4Mt of quartzite within Stage 3. At the end of the 20 year approval period and at the nominal extraction rate of 125,000/150,000tpa, approximately 500,000t of quartzite material would remain within the Stage 3 area.
3.3 MINING EQUIPMENT
As production is likely to fluctuate between 125,000tpa and 500,000tpa, and the quarry is likely to be operated by a contractor, a range of equipment has been selected with impact assessment being undertaken for the maximum production level and on those items with the highest noise outputs. The range of proposed mobile equipment for excavation and processing is shown in Table 3.2.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I I
529 6800
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1:5000 QUARRY DEVELOPMENT STAGE 2 TRENCH. Section shown on Fig. 3.9 / /
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0 250m Figure 3.7.
I QUARRY DEVELOPMENT 1:5000 STAGE 2 FLOOR. 62968.00
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I ------HighwalI Muckpile I Trench 1 floor
I Product Stockpile Maximum height 18m . Wall retained at northern end for noise reduction. IBR500JG in-pit Crusher Front End Loader 988B
900.Om ------
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Figure 3.9.
Location of Sections shown on Figures 3.4 & 3.6. CROSS SECTIONS. 11
Table 3.2: Proposed Equipment
Type Typical Specification Loading Device: (1 only) Front end loader Eg Caterpiller 966 or Traxcavator Eg Caterpiller 973 or Excavator with backhoe Eg Komatsu PC650 or Excavator with shovel Eg Hitachi EX 1100 Trucks 3 x Highway trucks Eight wheeler, 20T payload or 2 x off highway trucks Eg Euclid R35 or Cat 769 Support Equipment 1 x Grader (one day/week) Eg Cat 14G 1 x Bulldozer (one day/week) Eg Cat D8N 1 x water cart Eg 5,000L capacity 1 x service truck (as required, or combined with water cart) Eg 2,000L capacity I 1 x Excavator fitted with a rock breaker (one day/week) i
3.4 DRILL AND BLAST DESIGN I
As result of the hardness of the quartzite material it will be necessary to drill and blast all material during the life of the quarry. A small drill hole diameter (89mm) has been selected in order to reduce the level of overpressure and vibration resulting from blasting. An 'Ingersoll I Rand LM600 top hammer drill or similar sized machine would be used. The drill hole pattern area for the average bench height of lOm and a powder factor of 0.85 is 5.1m2. I At a production level of 500,000tpa, approximately 180 days of drilling would be required, representing 75% of the total working time. In this case the Contractor would either drill in I campaigns or drill continuously but based upon shorter working days. At a production level of 125,000tpaJ150,000tpa, approximately 45 days of drilling would be required, representing I 20% of the total working time. Drilling in this situation would be undertaken in campaigns.
ANFO explosives will be used initially but, dependent upon jointing and the extent of secondary breakage, high-energy, high-density, slurry-type explosives will also be trialed. I This may lead to a reduction in drilling requirements by approximately 20%. At a production level of 500,000tpa, blasting will be necessary about once every two weeks, while at a
I production level of 125,000tpa/150,000tpa, blasting would occur at a frequency of approximately once every two months. Each blast would produce about 19,000t of fractured material. I
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I 12
Following the initial blasts, an assessment will be undertaken to determine whether it is feasible to double the blast size, thereby halving the frequency of blasting. Bulk ANFO explosive will be delivered to site for each blast. Detonators and initiating systems may be stored on-site in which case they would be housed in storage magazines that comply with safety regulations under the Dangerous Goods Act 1975
The 'Nonel initiation system with individual in-hole delays will be used. The delays allow each hole to be initiated individually thereby limiting the levels of overpressure and vibration. Breakage of oversize material will be conducted by an excavator fitted with a rock breaker rather than by secondary blasting. It is anticipated that the rock breaker may be used on average one day per week.
Stemming material will be graded, 6 to 10mm in size and will be imported initially until on-site material is available. Close attention will be paid to ensure that the correct type and depth of stemming material is used in order to minimise overpressure.
Blasts will be delayed during adverse weather conditions and during winter, when temperature inversions are more frequent. If necessary, blasts will be detonated during afternoons. When blasting is required within 500m of the Great Western Highway, it will be necessary to close the Highway for short periods of time for safety reasons, in accordance with DMR requirements. The quarry will be set back a minimum of 50m from the power pylon located nearest to the quarry at the south eastern corner. Blasts will be designed to ensure that vibration levels do not exceed 25mm/s at the base of the quarry, as required by Transgrid, the Asset Managers.
3.5 CRUSHING AND STOCKPILING
3.5.1 Crushing The choice of whether a mobile crusher, located in-pit, or a fixed crusher located within the surface facilities area, as shown in Figure 3.10, will be dependent upon the Contractor and market requirements. The selection of the appropriate option will be determined by the nominal final product size required by the market. To ensure that an options are available to the Contractor, several alternatives have been considered. Both crushing scenarios have been modelled for noise impacts.
In-Pit Crushing Option A mobile, track-mounted crusher, eg, a Komatsu BR350 or BRSOO can accept a feed size of 1050x750mm and produce a -70mm final product. If the reduction of final product to a top size of 20mm or grading requirements were necessary it would necessitate the use of a secondary
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I ealed access.'.--- road 4 I Extent of resource / / Wheelwash I 1/
I 1'
,>v Machinery parking &mairitenance Office & area. I I
I Ct stock inc area. I vegetation;'': I be retained. Li
I Crushing & screening.
I - - I I 1 I I
I 0 5Dm Figure 3.10. 1:1000 I SURFACE FACILITIES. I 13 i crusher. This crusher would accept the nominal 70mm feed size produced by the primary in-pit 1 crusher and allow for the production of final product in the range of 20mm to 50mm. Fixed Surface Facility Crusher Option I If market requirements demand a consistently smaller final product size (-20mm) it may be necessary to install a larger, fixed crusher at the surface facilities site. This crushing plant can I produce a range of final product (70mm to 5mm) with minimal limits on the size of feed material. I Both mobile and fixed crushers are fitted with dust control sprays with water being supplied from on-board water tanks. It is envisaged that it will be necessary to add an inert, 1 biodegradable surfactant (eg "Shell Teepol" household detergent) to the water to ensure effective control of quartzite dust.
' 3.5.2 Stockpiling Depending upon the crusher option required, stockpiles will be located either within the quarry (for the mobile crusher option) or at the surface facilities. In either case, it is likely that I overburden would be stored at the surface facilities.
If the mobile crusher option is selected, stockpiles may be located either within the quarry or at the surface facilities site. The stockpiling program will be dependent upon both final product tsand the availability of stockpile surface area within the quarry. In some cases, it is likelyrequiremen that the loading of haulage trucks will occur directly from the mobile crusher.
I For the fixed crusher option, there would be two stockpiles, one containing raw quarried quartzite as feed for the crushing plant and the other containing crushed and sized product I material. It is proposed that both stockpiles at the surface facilities for the fixed crusher option would contain approximately 10,000 tonnes of material. This amount can be accommodated within a stockpile approximately 40m long, 35m wide and 4m high, trapezoidal in cross- I section. The proposed stockpile locations are shown on Figure 3.10. In addition to the production stockpiles, reject quarried material will also be stockpiled. Rejects, including unsold I overburden material and fine rejects from the screening process will be stockpiled for later use in rehabilitation works. I Stockpiles will be maintained in a damp condition during dry and windy weather using a I cannon fitted to the water tanker to minimise dust emissions. As silica dust is difficult to wet, an inert, biodegradable surfactant will be added to the water cart and used in all dust [ii suppression activities. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 14
3.6 SITE DEVELOPMENT
Initial development will focus on the construction of the of the access road, the intersection with the Great Western Highway, the surface facilities and the interim haul road that will provide access to the initial trench. Management safeguards concerning vegetation and topsoil management are described in Section 4.5.
3.7 HOURS OF OPERATION, DURATION AND WORKFORCE
It is proposed to operate the quarry between the hours of 7.00am and 5.00pm, generally Monday to Friday, however weekend work may be necessary to meet short-term peak demands. Saturday operations may include maintenance and product loading. Haulage operations will depend on market demand, and it will be necessary to dispatch trucks in the early hours of the morning to satisfy the requirements of the Sydney con strnction market.
The duration of quarrying will be for the initial approval period of 20 years. However, further reserves, additional to those identified during exploration to date, ar likely to be determined as the quarry is developed. These reserves may provide the basis for a future Development Application to extend the life of the quarry.
The number of employees working at the site will vary between two and four, depending upon production levels. There will be additional subcontractors employed including truck drivers, a dozer/grader driver and an operator for the excavator with hammer.
3.8 TRANSPORT
BJ Bradley and Associates undertook a detailed transport study at the site; a copy of the discipline report is included as Appendix 2.
Transport of product material will be undertaken by subcontractors using a variety of vehicles including single trucks, truck and dog combinations and articulated vehicles with a maximum capacity of 25t. In order to respond to market requirements, the demand for gravel at a project site at the start of the working day, it will be necessary to transport a proportion of the product outside of quarry operating hours. It is envisaged that a proportion of trucks will leave the site in the early hours of the morning. The noise impacts of these truck movements have also been considered.
Trucks will be loaded from the product stockpiles by a loader and travel via an on-site haulage road to the weighbridge and wheel wash. The access road will be sealed from the wheel wash
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I 15 i to the intersection with the Highway. All trucks loaded with extractive materials, which are likely to generate wind blown dust, will be covered. I
Site access and egress will be via a new sealed quarry road, approximately 350m in length, I from the proposed surface facilities area to its intersection with the Great Western Highway. A new seagull junction based upon RTA design requirements will be constructed at the I intersection. The new junction will be located approximately 500m west of the Barton Avenue intersection and will require the construction of: I • a deceleration lane to provide for eastbound vehicles to turn right into the quarry; an acceleration lane located along the existing depressed median to enable laden eastbound I trucks to accelerate prior to entering the fast lane on the Great Western Highway; and a deceleration lane to provide for westbound vehicles to slow and enter the quarry. The layout of the proposed intersection is shown in Figure 3.11.
At a production rate of 500,000tpa, an average of approximately 80 truck loads (25t capacity) will leave the site per day, resulting in 160 heavy vehicle movements per day. This may occur over the first two years while supplying the needs of construction at the Wallerawang Industrial Park. Once demand from these projects eases, vehicle movements may decrease to about 20 loads or 40 heavy vehicle movements per day, although this will depend upon market demand.
3.9 ENERGY USAGE I The quarry will be a net user of energy, using diesel fuel for all mobile equipment and processing plant. Electric power will be supplied to the site for amenities and office facilities. 1 This will require an extension from the existing service line located along the Great Western Highway. I
Equipment will be selected to ensure maximum energy efficiency and in order to minimise I greenhouse gas emissions. This will apply particularly to pumps, conveyors, electric motors, lighting units, and mobile equipment. I 3.10 COMMUNITY AND STATUTORY CONSULTATION
I This proposal is considered a State Significant Development, and as such the DUAP guidelines require that a Planning Focus Meeting be held. This meeting was undertaken on 12 October I 1999 and was attended by representatives of all vested Government Departments and Statutory Agencies. The outcomes of the meeting were taken into account during the development of this I EIS.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I 16
To date, the following consultation initiatives have been undertaken on behalf of the proponent: September 1999 Created database of nearby landowners potentially affected by the proposed quarry development. The database list was supplied by Lithgow Council and is used to record details of all communications with landowners and as a mailing list for information sharing.
12 October 1999 Planning Focus Meeting (PFM) held on site.
12 November 1999 As a result of PFM, received guidance documentation from DUAP regarding specific issues to be addressed during the ETS process. Document also included submissions from EPA and Council of the City of Lithgow.
17 December 1999 Consultation held with the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council. During a subsequent site visit an aboriginal campsite was identified in a location initially chosen for placement of the topsoil stockpile. A series of recommendations were put forward to ensure that the archaeological site would not be impacted.
August 2000 Disseminated first Community Information Sheet regarding the proposal to all residents recorded In the database, including Wallerawang Primary School.
30 August 2000 Presentation of proposal outline to Coxs River Catchrnent Management Committee.
1 September 2000 Conducted house visits to nearby residents recorded in the database to describe the proposal and discuss concerns. Contact information was provided for all residents not available on the day. Subsequently, responses or comments have been received from most nearby landowners.
11 October 2000 Presentation of proposal outline to Environmental Advisory Committee - Council of the City of Lithgow.
20 September 2001 Disseminated second Community Information Sheet, that also contained details of the proposed community briefing.
6 October 2001 Community briefing held Saturday morning, 10.30am to l.00pm. Approximately 40 to 50 persons were in attendance. Details of the questions and responses are provided in Table A1.1, of Appendix 1. Continued consultation with Government Departments and Statutory Authorities (as per Section 1.4) is also being conducted by way of correspondence. A copy of all correspondence is provided in Appendix 1.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental ------
W Di
w 8i
GREAT WESTERJ HIGHWAY
OLL Approximate start <0 Lu of left-turn lane Ft-fF-TUEN DECATION LANE SEAGULL ACC9ER.ATlON LANE into Barton Avenue 4 305000
st bound INSTALL D°.INAGE AND HEADWALLS CETE As FEQUFr=D / Carriageway MEDIAN TOLIrHG0w ...... Ii. Exisngandscaped/grassedme
Westbound Carriageway STANDARD RTA TOBATHURDT Existing Cit Batter RJEAL TAPER
Existing Fill Batter NOTES: 150005 ADJUST BATTER AND 1. deceleration lane in accordance LEFT-TURN DECELERATlON GUAFORAIL AS !QUIRED with Table 4.8.3 of RTA Road Design LANE Guide, adjusted for grade. QUARRY ACCESS ROAD DESIGH Fight-turn deceleration lane in accordance with Table 4.8.3 of RTA Road Design r ii TO BE DEIERMINED FOLLOWING Guide adjusted for grade. - - DETAILED SURVEY Fight-turn acceleration lane in c-Us accordance with Table 4.8.5 of RTA Road Design Guide adjusted for grade. Median to be provided to restrict early entry from seagull acceleration lane. C-) Design subject to detailed survey. C-) m C') in — — — 17 I I 3.11 CLEANER PRODUCTION The proposal will generate wastes typical of quarry operations, including used oil and grease, I used packaging, cleared vegetation, construction debris, sewage, overburden and fines. The quarry will operate in accordance with the principles of the POEO (Waste) Regulation, 1996, I including ESD (refer to Section 5.17) and waste minirnisation. Some of the measures that may be adopted by the quarry include: I purchasing and contract guidelines that include environmental and waste considerations; I recyclable materials will be separated from the mixed waste stream where practicable; used oils and grease will be collected separately for recycling off-site;
I residual wastes will be collected separately and disposed of to the nearest Council landfill;
sewage will be treated through an aerated wastewater treatment system and irrigated over a I suitable area;
cleared vegetation will be used where appropriate for timber, or where possible respread I over the site to aid revegetation; and 1 surplus overburden and fines will be reused in the rehabilitation of the site. Runoff water generated on the site by rainfall, dust suppression and production will be collected I downslope via a catch drain and retention dam. Water in the retention dam will be settled and then used on site for rehabilitation, dust suppression and production purposes. Water will not I be discharged from the site in the majority of circumstances. I
I I I I
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
4.1 WATER MANAGEMENT AND EROSION CONTROL
4.1. 1 Objectives The principal objective of water management wifi be the maintenance of existing water quality within Coxs River. This will be achieved by ensuring that there are no discharges from the site in the majority of circumstances, and that unavoidable site discharges are treated sufficiently in compliance with EPA requirements. All run on stormwater (which is expected to be minimal) will be diverted around the site to avoid contamination and sediment entrainment.
4.1.2 Water Usage Consultants WBM Oceanics conducted a Water Management Study, a copy of which is provided in Appendix 3. The results of this study are summarised in this section. The water management study incorporated the use of historical rainfall data (108 years) to determine a site water balance. A non-linear runoff routing model (RAFTS-XP) was also used to model the amount of runoff from the quarry and consequently determine a storage size for the Water Management Dam. The site water balance for dry, wet and average years is covered in detail in Appendix 3.
Water usage for dust suppression will be required for the: crusher, which will be fitted with a fine mist sprayer; haul and access roads; quarry stockpiles; and mining faces and manoeuvring areas on the quarry floor.
Make-up water will be required to replace water lost through percolation, evaporation and water contained in quarry product. This make-up water will be obtained predominantly from stormwater runoff from the disturbed catchment.
Approximately 50,000L/d of water will be required for dust suppression activities during average climatic conditions. During dry years, the on-site water supply will not be able to meet demand for approximately 30% of this time. It is proposed to either use biodegradable wetting agents to reduce the water demand or to bring onto the site additional water to meet demand for water usage, during dry periods.
An irrigation component is included in the site water balance to enable the Water Management Dam to maintain a 4m freeboard. Irrigation of excess water would be conducted over a 20ha
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 19 I catchment, with a series of catch drains constructed around this area to contain any runoff. I Figure 4.1 shows the proposed irrigation network. During periods of constant high rainfall, extending over a 48hr period, the opportunity for I on-site irrigation and the demand for dust suppression will be reduced. Under these circumstances the 4m freeboard will be difficult to maintain in the Water Management Dam and I discharge from the site may be required. Inspection will be undertaken before water is discharged in order to determine whether the water quality is within the discharge limits. In I extreme cases, the use of flocculants may be necessaly.
4. 1 .3 Existing Water Resources I The annual average rainfall and evaporation rates for the area are 870mm and 1320mm respectively1. Typical annual runoff rates for small catchments in this location are 10-30% of I annual rainfall. Due to the high proportion of steep slopes and outcropping rock within the catchment, a figure of 30% has been assumed. Runoff resulting from rainfall excess will be I collected and stored in the on-site Water Management Dam. The total catchment of the quarry and associated infrastructure (Stages 2 and 3) is approximately 1 lhä. I 4.1.4 Water Management Strategy Stage 1 I Site drainage characteristics and the proposed on-site Water Management Dam are shown in Figure 4.2. A runoff routing model was used to determine a volume requirement of 7.7ML for I the on-site Water Management Dam. This size will ensure that no discharge of dirty water occurs under normal rainfall conditions. The dimensions of the Water Management Dam (55m P long x 20m wide x 7m high) indicate that with a 4m freeboard, the site can contain up to a 1 in 20 year, 12 hour event or a 1 in 50 year, 6 hour event during Stage 1. The Water Management I Dam will be located on the western side of the quarry development and involve the redevelopment of the former Hoskins quarry. A sectional view of the proposed Water I Management Dam is provided in Appendix 3. Initial disturbance will occur during the establishment of the plant processing sites, site I amenities, carparking, product stockpile, topsoil stockpiles, site roads and from initial quarrying operations. Potentially contaminated runoff from the initial disturbance areas I (6.75ha) will drain into the Water Management Dam via grassed, trapezoidal channel structures. Coarse sediment traps will be installed along each of these channels to capture sand and gravel I sized particles prior to discharge into the Water Management Dam. The coarse sediment traps have an approximate capacity of 4m' and may be concrete lined for maintenance purposes. I (Bureau of Meteorology, Lithgow, 1889 - 1996 and NSW Department of Agriculture, Bathurst)
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I Over steeper sections of the channel, rock rip-rap or fabric will be installed to dissipate high flow velocities and prevent the occurrence of channel scouring.
Cleanwater diversion drains, consisting of grassed and stabilised earthen bund design, will be established as shown in Figure 4.2, to divert uncontaminated runoff to the north and south of the site during Stage 1. The clean water that is diverted away from the disturbed areas can be discharged directly into the Coxs River.
Stages 2 and 3 The total area of disturbance for Stages 2 and 3 of the quarry is 9.7ha. Providing a 4m freeboard, the Water Management Dam can contain up to a 1 in 20 year, 3 hour event or a 1 in 50 year, 2 hour event generated by these areas. Larger events and longer duration events will result in a discharge from the site via the spiliway.
For Stages 2 and 3, the basic layout of the water management system remains the same as Stage 1, however, clean water is diverted only to the south of the quarry. Figure 4.3 shows the water management structures in place during Stages 2 and 3. The cOarse sediment traps and the contaminated runoff channels will remain in the same place.
Surface water collected from the access roads outside the catchrnent of the Water Management Dam will be collected in roadside drains and settled in small sediment traps.
Maintenance of water management structures will include regular removal of material from the coarse sediment traps and weekly inspection of all water management structures. Further inspections will be undertaken following heavy rainfall. Any repairs will be undertaken as soon as practicable. Materials removed from the coarse sediment traps will be placed within the stockpile area.
The Water Management Dam will be kept in a drawn-down state to allow maximum storm capacity. The outlet of the Water Management Dam, will be the only dirty water discharge point for the quarry site.
To maximise on-site water efficiency, water from the Management Dam will be used for all landscaping, vehicle washing and dust suppression activities. To maintain adequate freeboard within the Water Management Dam, excess water will be used to irrigate areas of woodlot vegetation around the proposed quarry site. The area to be irrigated will be approximately 20ha. Any runoff from the irrigation areas will be collected via a catch drain, as shown in Figure 4.1, to ensure that irrigation runoff does not directly enter the Coxs River. Irrigation water collected within the catch drains will be directed toward a catch dam. Water stored in the
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental
------
Stage 1 Quarry Bench LEGEND: ----0 Earthen Bund —0' Drainage Channel ...... + F1OWATtØ Bunded Quarry Bench Coarse Sediment Trap
Refer to Detail A on Fgurn 3 for channel .dimenelons -..
Coarse Sediment Trap (refer to Detail C on Fig. 4) ur on aira rUnoff Refer to Detail B on Figure 3 (refer Detail on Agure 3) for channel dimensk)ne
Water Management Dem
Site Layout.- :SQoi NJ — — — — — — — — — LEGEND p EarthenBund ---- Stage 2 Quarry Bench . Drainage Channel .p- Flow Arrow Bunded Quarry Bench - Coarse Sediment Trap
Refer .to1)otaiift. on Figure 3 for channel dirriensions.
Sethrnent Trap (refertotetaii'ConFIg.4)
Refer to DetaH B on Figure 3: WI 11W irieu .runon for cannel dimension (rfor Dtai1 on Figure 3)
Water M4 eier O•Ow'erf$ow
SItoL.ya
21 ti catch dam will be monitored regularly and if water quality is sufficient it will be discharged directly to the Coxs River. If the water quality in the catch dam is unacceptable, the water will I be pumped to the Water Management Dam for further settlement.
I To ensure that the water management strategies described here are working effectively, to protect the Coxs River, a water quality monitoring program will be developed and included in I the Water Management Plan for the development. Regular monitoring will be undertaken at sites to be determined within the surrounding catchment and on the Coxs River upstream and I downstream of the proposed quarry development. I 4.2 AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT A water truck will operate on-site to ensure roads and machinery manoeuvring areas are I maintained in a dampened state. Water will be sprayed at a rate to minimise the generation of dust. Dust suppression systems will be installed and maintained for both the drilling I operations, and the product crushing and screening systems.
I All trucks hauling product will have their load covered by tarpaulins if the material is expected to result in fugitive dust emission. All vehicles will pass through a wheel wash facility alongside the access road to remove loose dust and grit prior to reaching the Highway. The L access road will be sealed along its length, from the wheel wash to the Highway intersection.
Stockpiles will be managed to ensure fugitive dust emissions are minimised. Product stockpiles will be maintained in a dampened state by the operation of a spray irrigation system and/or water cannon on a water truck. Topsoil stockpiles will be seeded with a variety of fast growing grasses. I 4.3 NOISE, BLAST AND VIBRATION MANAGEMENT
4.3.1 Objectives The objective of noise, blast and vibration management at the quarry will be the adherence to guideline levels as outlined in the following NSW EPA documents: Industrial Noise Policy (2000); Environmental Criteria for Road Traffic Noise (1999); and Environmental Noise Control Manual (1994).
Ensuring that noise management activities are incorporated into quarry planning and excavation will achieve these goals. Highwalls will be maintained at both the northern and eastern
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 22
boundaries of the quarry to reduce noise emissions. Hours of quarry operation will be limited to daylight hours in the majority of circumstances. Under adverse weather conditions quarry operations may be suspended or altered to meet guidelines, while blast and hammer drill operations will only be conducted at times when environmental conditions are acceptable for noise minimisation.
4.3.2 Noise Management Program The quarry will be excavated from within a trench oriented NNW to SSE and closed at either end. Access to the trench will be located midway along the western quarry boundary, helping minimise noise emission towards the NNW residential area. This residential area NNW of the proposed quarry is currently zoned 1(c) Small Rural Holdings and 2(v) Village Zoning and may be later developed for more intense residential use. An eastern highwall will be maintained throughout the development in order to limit sound promulgation towards residences to the NE.
Quarrying activities will generally be restricted to the hours of 7am - 5pm Monday to Friday. At times, weekend operations may be required to meet short-term market demand for product. Market demand will also require the earlier dispatch of trucks, as described in Section 3.7.
Noise emissions from heavy machinery (dozer, loader) will be measured prior to operation on- site to ensure that they satisfy the required noise levels used in the assessment criteria. If necessary, operating modifications will be undertaken.
Air-blast overpressure and ground vibration impacts will be minimised through the use of a small diameter drifi hole (89mm) for the placement of the charge. A Nonel initiation system using in-hole delays will be used to allow for individual hole initiation. Avoiding secondary blasting of source rock will reduce secondary noise activity.
A noise monitoring program will be implemented and undertaken during the initial development phase and thereafter annually at the quarry and nearby residences to ensure that all noise control measures are installed and maintained, and that the environmental noise criteria continue to be satisfied.
4.4 HYDROCARBONS, CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
Hydrocarbons including diesel fuel, oil and grease will be used in plant and equipment at the quarry. Appropriate measures will be undertaken to ensure the safe and effective storage, handling and use of these materials.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 1 23 I Maintenance and refuelling of plant and equipment will be undertaken within a separate bunded area away from drainage lines and unprotected slopes. I
Hydrocarbon spill clean-up kits will be available at the crushing and stockpiling area and the I quarry operations area for use in response to an emergency spill. All personnel will be trained in the correct procedures for use of the kits during hydrocarbon spills and emergency pollution I events. Contractors with fueffing and servicing trucks will be required to cany a hydrocarbon clean-up kit while on-site. i Fuel and oil will be stored in tanks or drums within a bunded area of the maintenance area. Waste hydrocarbons will be also stored within this area. Hydrocarbon-contaminated soil will I be disposed of to a suitably licensed facility or at an on-site bioremediation area.
Office amenities and facilities will be developed concurrent to the establishment of the quarry. During construction works, portable serviced toilets will be provided. The permanent amenities I block will include a package Aerated Wastewater Treatment System or similar, with effluent being irrigated within a bunded landscape area. Drainage from the gravel parking area and I unsealed section of the access road will be routed to the Water Management Dam.
Waste and recyclable materials will be managed in accordance with best management practice I
and the provisions of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation,ID 1996. Separate disposal bins will be provided for recyclable materials and putrescible waste. I Recyclable materials will include materials collected through the local Council's recycling system where practicable. Putrescible garbage wastes will be placed in bins for disposal at the I nearest Solid Waste landfill site. Other details of waste management are described in Section 3.11.
A surfactant will be required as an additive to dust suppression water for all areas that may emit
silica dust, including roads, quarry faces, stockpiles, drilling and crushing/screening.ZD Silica dust is difficult to wet, and the surfactant helps to break the surface tension, allowing water to coat the dust particles and reducing the potential impact of fugitive airborne dust on the health of site employees and the amenity of nearby residents.
An inert, biodegradable surfactant (eg "Shell Teepol" household detergent) will be used to avoid impacting nearby land and water resources. The surfactant will be stored, handled and used in accordance with its Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 24
4.5 SITE REHABILITATION
4.5.1 Objectives The primary objectives of the rehabilitation program are to:
minimise erosion; maximise the retention of the seed bank during and following quarrying; and re-establish progressively a Eucalypt woodland similar to that which currently exists.
4.5.2 Vegetation Management Prior to disturbance of the quarry site, the extent of required clearing will be defmed and suitable trees will be identified and marked, prior to harvesting for use as timber, firewood or fence posts. Trees and shrubs not suitable for other uses will be stockpiled for use in rehabilitation.
Prior to the disturbance of the site, seed material from endemic species will be harvested and stored on site for later use in rehabilitation. Ongoing collection of seed from adjacent vegetation will be undertaken regularly to ensure a suitable supply is available for progressive rehabilitation of the site.
4.5.3 Topsoil Management Topsoil within the proposed quarry area cannot be stripped by conventional means as it is generally quite thin and in some areas the surface is predominantly rock outcrop. Topsoil may be removed via the use of a combination of dozer and water spray prior to drilling each new area. Runoff from this operation will collect in a catch drain located downslope of the outcrop, with sediment being removed in a series of silt traps.
Soil within the Surface Facilities area has a deeper profile than the quarry area, consisting of and "B" Horizons (refer to Section 5.2.1). The "A" Horizon soil is similar to that overlying the quarry area and this soil will be stripped and placed on the topsoil stockpile. The Horizon consists of a clay sub-soil that will be stripped and used in erosion control structures and as lining material for drainage channels and sediment dams. Erosion control practices will be implemented to ensure that the stockpiles remain stable.
4.5.4 Materials Available for Rehabilitation and Post Extractive Land Use Processing of quarried material for low specification uses will result in a relatively small proportion of fme material being unsuitable for inclusion in the product output. This fine reject material will be stockpiled, along with recovered topsoil and overburden material that has not been sold, for later use in the rehabilitation of the site.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 25
Fine rejects and overburden material will be used as backfill in the void and to decrease the slope of the bench and highwalls. ProgTessive rehabilitation will occur as areas become available.
The final void will have a floor sloping gently at 4% towards the NNW. The western-most side of the void will rise 1 Om to the 950 contour, while the eastern highwall will vary in height, up to approximately 23m. Both walls will remain at a slope of around 500, not inconsistent with existing slopes in the area. The floor and walls of the void will be in a fractured state as a result of blasting and natural weathering and will be conducive to the establishment of endemic tree, shrub and groundcover species. This will be undertaken through a combination of direct seeding and natural regeneration. Site topsoil will be respread over the floor and slopes of the void.
4.5.5 Surface Shaping and Revegetation Stabilisation works will commence concurrently with the constniction of surface facilities including the amenities, parking, processing areas, access and haul roads. Water, erosion and sediment control structures, and revegetation of disturbed areas will assist in providing stability to disturbed portions of the site. Control structures will be seeded with a mixture of suitable grasses.
Benches on the walls of the quarry will be revegetated as soon as practicable using a combination of grass seed and tube stock (trees and shrubs). Species occurring on or near to the quarry site will be selected and will include canopy, understorey and groundcover species, with the aim of restoring the site to the pre-development floristic structure. Species used will be selected from the Flora Species List provided in the "Statement of Effect on Threatened Flora and Fauna", included as Appendix 4.
Due to the nature of the quarry extraction, it will not be possible to commence revegetation until after completion of Stage 1. At this stage, disturbance of the natural slope east of the quarry will cease, allowing rehabilitation works to begin. Revegetation of disturbed areas around the access and haul roads, the process and amenities areas can commence following the completion of construction work in those areas. Table 4.1 and Figure 4.4 provide a preliminary indication of the rehabilitation schedule and plan.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 26
Table 4.1: Preliminary Rehabilitation Schedule
Approx. Area Period Location 1 (ha) Surface facilities, amenities, processing area, roads and Year 1 1.2 drainage_structures Year 3 Natural surface east of Stage 2 trench 0.1 Year 15 Stage 2 floor west of Stage 3 trench 0.3 Stage 3 quarry floor, surface facilities area, roadways, End of operation 9.4 plant and stockpile areas I
At the completion of quarrying, rehabilitation of the quarry floor will comprise ripping of the rock where not already fractured, selective spreading of topsoil from the site topsoil stockpile, incorporation of fertiiser as necessary and planting/seeding with a mixture of endemic species. Respreading of topsoil and planting/seeding with endemic species will be used to rehabilitate the crushing plant and stockpile areas.
Consultation will be undertaken, where necessary, with DLWC to determine the most suitable soil ameliorative measures and native species to be used in the rehabilitation of the site. Monitoring of initial rehabilitation work will be conducted to establish the success of each treatment and to gauge whether modification is necessary. Maintenance, including repair of eroded areas, reseeding, re-topsoiling and weed control will be undertaken as necessary throughout the rehabilitation period. A preliminary plan of the final landform is provided in Figure 4.5.
At the completion of the project, all structures, machinery and equipment will be removed from the quarry site. The access road will be ripped and seeded unless alternative arrangements are made for other uses of the site.
4.6 BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT
The proposed quarry site is located within an area of open Eucalyptus woodland that does not appear to have been subject to fire for a considerable time.
Fire fighting equipment, including CO2 extinguishers, will be available at the Site Office and all staff will be trained in their effective use. CO., extinguishers will also be available within the crushing and quarry operations areas for electrical and oil fires. The site water truck will be equipped with a high-pressure pump and hoses to provide appropriate fire fighting resources in the event of an outbreak within surrounding bushland. Reduced fuel zones and/or firebreaks will be maintained around the quarry operational areas as necessary.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I I 1 I I I
I benched along all I I I I I 1 I High Voltage Power Transmission Line from pylon I I / I I - 0 250m Figure 4.4. I I I A I I I REHABLHTATON PLAN. - • 1:5000 ------
Existing vegetation retained around perimeter of quarry Existing vegetation retained Fractured quarry floor & sides around perimeter of quarry revegetated with indigenous tree & shrub species
Toe of quarry walls backfilled with rubble. Stage 3 floor.
Typical Section 1-1 Z ( (Not to scale) r CD I— . Ln
a m 0 I , 1 27 4.7 TRANSPORT
I It is proposed that the quarry access road will intersect with the Great Western Highway approximately 500m west of Barton Avenue. It is proposed to install a seagull junction adjacent I to the quarry on the Great Western Highway (as described in Section 3.8) to allow for safe and efficient access and egress from the quarry.
The proposed intersection with the Great Western Highway has been designed in accordance I with RTA requirements and allows for safe access and egress to the quarry site from both directions. It is anticipated that the new junction would cause low overall delay on the Great Western Highway and would operate at a high level of service. To ensure that a high level of I road safety is maintained, during fog conditions, no heavy vehicles will be allowed to leave the quarry site until visibility has returned to an acceptable level. I I I I I I I I I I I [Ti I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 28
5. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT & IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1 PHYSIOGRAPHY
5.1.1 Existing Environment The site is located on undulating land of moderate to high slope class with steeper slopes being located adjacent to the Coxs River. The elevation range of the quarry site is between 940m to 980m AHD, while the surface facilities, crushing and stockpile areas are located at a lower elevation between 930m to 940m AHD. The quarry site is located on an indistinctive hill of oblong shape, orientated approximately north to south. The surface slope of the proposed quarry is predominantly within the range of 10-25% (6-14°) as indicated in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1: Distribution of Slope Classes.
Slope Range Area Percentage Degrees % (ha) 6-14 10-25 5.6-6.0 (-4.9ha quarry + 71 0.7ha stockpile) 14-18 25-33 0.9 (quarry only) 9 18-27 33-50 1.5 (quarry only) 20 TOTAL 8.0-9.0
5.1.2 Impact Assessment The proposal will result in a change in the topography of the hill containing the quartzite deposit. As a result of excavation, the hill will be lowered from a maximum height of 978m AHD to between 960-970m AHD on the western perimeter of the excavation edge and to between 940-950m on the eastern perimeter.
The proposed final landform will result in an elongate and relatively flat area dipping 4%
towards the north. This represents the floor of the Stage11 3 excavation. The western edge will bench up approximately lOm to another flat area (Stage 2 floor). The eastern edge will be bounded by a highwall of approximately 23m in height. The gradient of the highwall and western bench will remain at around 50°, not dissimilar to other slopes in the area.
A Site Stability Analysis was undertaken by GE Holt & Associates Pty Ltd and is presented in Appendix 5. The analysis found that the impact of quarrying on the stability of the surrounding area would be negligible due to the nature of the rock structure and the way in which quarrying operations will be conducted. It was concluded that during quarry operations, blasting vibrations will not affect the integrity of the rock barrier between the quarry and the
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental
FM
I Coxs River for more than a few metres from the low wall. After cessation of operations, there will be no long-term stability consequences for the hill. I
5.2 SOILS I 5.2.1 Existing Environment I A soil survey to assess the suitability and availability of soil for reuse in rehabilitation and the construction of sediment basins was undertaken in July 1999. This survey was carried out in Charman and Murphy (1992). I accordance with guidelines set out in
Eight soil profiles were exposed and classified in accordance with Northcote, (1979). Two I different soil types were identified; a yellow Uniform (Lithosol) soil of primary profile form, Umi .21 and an orange Duplex (Podzolic) soil, Dr3 .11. The distribution of soil types and the I location of profile sites are shown on Figure 5.1.
I Appendix 6 contains detailed descriptions of the soil profiles examined. The results of laboratory analysis for the Lithosol and the B horizon of the Podzolic soil are also provided. 1 The uniform soil (siliceous fine sand) was found to occur on the hill and side slopes, covering the total extent of the proposed quarry. Soil depth, ranged from 60cm at the eastern boundary I of the quarry to 5cm on the hillcrest, with 10cm being the average soil thickness. The soil contained a large percentage of gravel and fragmented rock that displayed various degrees of 1 weathering. Rock outcrops were common.
I The second soil type (podzolic soil) occurs on the lower slopes below the hill. The soil has a distinct boundary between a fine siliceous, sandy A horizon and a heavy red clay B horizon. A I significant amount of rock was observed in the A horizon, which had a depth of approximately 20cm. The B horizon had a depth generally exceeding 40cm. This soil type is typical of the I proposed crushing and stockpiling site. No evidence of active soil erosion was found, however, the erodibility of the topsoil samples I examined can be considered high due to the high proportion of fine sand and the lack of ped I structure. Site observations of recent disturbance by exploration drilling conducted two years prior to the I soil survey indicated that successful rehabilitation of exploration drilling access roads has occurred, without any significant erosion being evident. However, the quarry soils are poorly developed, have low moisture retention and are low in fertility. The low fertility of the topsoil I is evident from the lack of understorey vegetation and sparse shrub layer. [] Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 5.2.2 Impact Assessment The soil structure of the site will be altered as a result of quarrying. The proposed soil stripping plan is shown in Figure 5.1 and the estimated quantities of soil available are listed in Table 5.2.
Table 5.2: Soil Volumes
Stripping Depth (cm) Area (ha) Volume (rn3) 10 7.3-8.3 7,300-8,300' 20 0.7 1,400 TOTAL 8.0-9.0 8,700-9,700
1 Topsoil stripping is not possible in the quarry area due to the large proportion of surface rocks. Topsoil will be removed using a high pressure hose and recovered using an initial screening process and a series of secondary silt traps.
An estimated 8,700 to 9,700m' of topsoil may be recovered from the site. On completion of operations, this volume may allow up to 10cm of topsoil to be re-spread over high priority sections of the final landform during rehabilitation. Combined with other remedial measures, which may include composted mulch and fertiliser application, the available soil bed should be adequate for the re-establishment of native vegetation cover in the area.
5.3 LAND CAPABILITY
5.3.1 Existing Environment The NSW Soil Conservation Service (SCS) 'Rural Land Capability Mapping" publication was used to classify the site (Emery). Land capability classifications for the proposed quarry site are shown in Figure 5.2. From the figure it can be seen that the proposed quarry site comprises a mixture of Class VI (66%) and Class VII (34%) land, whilst the stockpile and crushing site is located on Class VI land exclusively.
The implications of the Land Capability classifications are: Class VI land - Generally comprised of least productive grazing land. Not suitable for cultivation. Class VII land - Land best protected by green timber.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Great
6296500m N
Ntosoistripfhg \ witiin Quarry. Tos6U - sepbraed rom loØs s urtacerod -s----- opratios. in rce/ni
LEGEND
- - Extent of Resource.
Soil Profile Location.
Topsoil Stripping Depth.
------. Soil Classification Boundary. SIWDOO1 Drill hole location. \ \\ Y~~ 0 125m Figure 5.1. 1:2500 SOIL CLASSIFICATION & 7~7 Contour Intervals at 2m. TOPSOIL STRIPPING PLAN
Base Map Source: CMA-WaUerawang U1097-8 opeca
Great Wstern Highway
CLASS VI
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CLAS VII
' 25-33%
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. - -7-
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CLASS VI
\\CLASS \VII \. \ Slope Range Boundary. 253% % CLASS VII Land Capability Class. N N >50% Slope Range. \ \ \
Land Capability
Css Boundary. \ \ Y~~ 0 125m Figure 5.2. 1:2500 LAND CAPABILITY & 7r Contour Intervals at 2m. SLOPE CLASS PLAN. Base Map Source: CMA-Wafleraaang U1097-8 31 I 5.3.2 Impact Assessment Quarrying of the proposed site will alter the current land capability, from Class VI and I Class VII land to Class M (Mining and quarrying) land during the life of the quarry operation.
I The potential for erosion to occur within the area proposed for quarry activity is considered minimal as the majority of the land surface within this area consists of rock debris and outcrop. Li In the event that some soil movement does occur on the site, the water and soil management structures installed in accordance with Section 4.1 will prevent downstream impacts. 1 The post quarry landform at the site will comprise mostly Class VII land, consisting of exposed rock surfaces, thin topsoil profiles and some moderately steep slopes. This classification is Li compatible with that of the surrounding landscape and it is envisaged that following fmal [1 rehabilitation, the quarry site will return to a natural forested state. The potential for post development erosion losses from the site will be minimised by the basin- I like shape of the final landform, which will contain sediment within the rehabilitated area. Rehabilitation will also result in lower slopes and shorter slope lengths than presently exist, I reducing the risk of water erosion. I 5.4 ARCHAEOLOGY 5.4.1 Existing Environment I In February 2000, Consultant Archaeologist, Rex Silcox and a representative of the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council, Richard Peters, conducted an archaeological assessment of the I proposed quarry development site and surrounding areas. The Archaeological discipline report for the proposal is attached as Appendix 7, A response letter from the representative of the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council is also provided. I
The proposed quarry is situated within a region known to contain aboriginal archaeological I sites. A search of the NPWS Site Register found a total of 230 sites occurring within an approximate 20km radius of the proposed quarry site.
One aboriginal archaeological site, an open campsite, was found during the site survey. The I campsite consists of a variably sparse scatter of artefacts on the northern side of the former Hoskins Quarry (refer to Figure 1.2 and to Appendix 7). Artefacts were found scattered over a shallow eroded exposure within an area of 1 20m2 on the edge of the former quarry and extending a further SOm to the north.
I ______Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 32
The site is considered to be potentially significant due to its location on an extensive area of gently sloping ground considered to have been suitable for long-term occupation.
5.4.2 Impact Assessment The location of the aboriginal archaeological site identified in the archaeological Site Survey, immediately north of the former Hoskins Quarry, was initially nominated as a topsoil stockpile location. This activity would result in the destruction of the potentially significant site.
Following discussion with the Consultant Archaeologist and the Land Council representative, it was decided that the topsoil stockpile would be located further to the north to avoid impacting the archaeological site.
To protect the aboriginal site and surrounds from disturbance during the life of the quarry operation, the area south of the haulage road to the Water Management Dam will be fenced to exclude access. Employees and contractors will also be made aware of the archaeological significance of the 'open campsite' through an induction program. The site will also be checked periodically as part of an audit program.
The Site Survey concluded that the remainder of the proposed quarry area is considered unlikely to have been suitable for long-term occupation due to its steep slopes and rocky nature, and has little potential as a location for an archaeological deposit. If, however, any material considered to be potentially of aboriginal origin is uncovered during clearing, landscaping or excavation associated with the quarry development, work will cease in that area and the NPWS will be contacted in order to assess the significance of any find.
Given the management strategies detailed above, it is considered that the quarry development will have no significant impact on archaeological sites in the area.
5.5 FLORA AND FAUNA
Wildthing Environmental Consultants conducted flora, fauna and habitat assessments at the proposed quarry development site in early December 1999. The Statement of Effects is included as Appendix 4.
5 .5.1 Existing Flora The proposed quarry site forms part of a large homogenous tract of predominantly sub-alpine Eucalypt woodland.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I 1 33 The canopy of the woodland is generally continuous across the site. Dominant species include I Ribbon Gum, Snow Gum, Mountain Gum and Black Sally. The trees were noted to be of varied age class, with many containing hollows and other signs of senescence. Individual Radiata Pine trees are also scattered over the site. I
The understorey is sparse to non-existent, consisting of younger specimens of the above tree I species. The shrub layer is also sparse, containing Broom Heaths, Wattles, Finger Hakea, Narrow Leaved Geebung and Cherry Ballart.
The herb layer is well developed and diverse. Native grasses are common, including Snow I Grass, Three-awn Eargrass, Wallaby Grass, Forest Hedgehog Grass and Kangaroo Grass.
A full list of flora identified on the site is included within Appendix 4.
The entire assemblage is in relatively intact condition with only minor evidence of past tree I removal noted. Evidence suggests it has been a considerable time since the last fire event of any significance occurred on the site.
Referencing the relevant schedules in the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, it was I found that no species of threatened flora occur within a 10km radius of the proposed quarry site. No plants identified during the flora survey are considered threatened, and it is unlikely that any threatened plants occur on the site. I
5.5.2 Existing Fauna I Habitat recorded at the site was consistent with sub-alpine woodland, favouring habitat for a wide range of insect, bird, mammal and reptile species. A search of the NPWS Flora and I Fauna Database identified potential suitable habitat for 15 species of threatened fauna within the general vicinity of the proposed quarry site.
During fieldwork the presence of only one species of threatened fauna was confirmed. The Yellow-beffied Sheathtail-bat was identified using echo-location techniques. Although not I sighted during the survey, two other threatened species are also recorded in the NPWS Database as occurring within a 10km radius of the site (Koala and the Bathurst Copper I Butterfly).
I A full list of fauna species observed or expected to use the area around the proposed quarry development is provided in Appendix 4. Subsequent to the flora and fauna study, advice was I provided by residents at the on-site community briefing that the Spot-tailed Quoll is known to occur on-site and the Platypus within the Coxs River. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 34
5.5.3 Impact Assessment The Yellow beffied Sheathtail-bat is known to roost predominantly in tree hollows and prefers to hunt above the canopy of wooded areas such as those occurring throughout the region. The Fauna Consultant concluded that while many suitable roosting trees and hunting areas were available at the proposed quarry site, it is unlikely that disturbance will result in adverse impacts to the local population.
To facilitate the relocation of affected animals, potential habitat will be identified prior to clearing for quarry work. While it will not be possible to save trees within the development area, those on the periphery of the works will be protected and a suitably qualified consultant will be present during the removal of habitat trees to recover and relocate any fauna that is discovered.
Consideration of the site under SEPP 44 "Koala Habitat Protection" found that the site was considered "Potential Koala Habitat" due to the extent of Ribbon Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis); a Koala feed tree species. However, field investigations found no evidence (scats, scratches etc) of use of this site by Koalas and hence concluded that the site does not constitute "Core Koala Habitat".
Due to the abundance of similar habitat both locally and on a regional scale it is considered that the proposal will not significantly affect local populations of any threatened species that potentially use the site.
Also, the highly fractured state of the quarry floor and slopes will be conducive to the establishment of vegetation, and good rehabilitation management will see the site return to a floristic and faunal diversity commensurate with the surrounding area.
5.6 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
Consultants, WBM Oceanics Australia, prepared a Water Management Study for the proposed quarry development site. A copy of their report, "Conceptual Water Budget and Management Plan" - November 2000, is provided as Appendix 3.
The proposed quarry will be a 'zero discharge' site, except for extreme storm events or extreme periods of rainfall, when dilution of any discharge by wider catchment runoff will occur.
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 35 I 5.6.1 Existing Environment The project area is situated within a 265ha drainage basin located to the south of Lake Wallace I and the Great Western Highway. The proposed 1 iha quarry site is located on a hilltop 200m west of the Coxs River. Due to its elevated position, water discharge from the site currently I enters the Coxs River either directly or after travelling a short distance down two unnamed watercourses. The Coxs River is a feed source for Warragarnba Dam, therefore the I requirements of SEPP 58 'Protecting Sydney's Water Supply" are applicable. I Sydney Water, DLWC and Delta Electricity have conducted water quality monitoring of the Coxs River. The nearest sample location to the proposed quarry site is monitored by Delta Electricity and is located approximately 250m downstream from the Lake Wallace dam wall and I approximately 1.8km upstream of the quarry. A summary of baseline water quality data for the L period April 1999 to September 2000 at this monitoring point is provided in Table 5.3. Table 5.3: Summary of Upstream Water Quality (4/99 - 9/00) k Parameter No. of Average Median Maximum Acceptable Samples Value Value Value Criteria* pH 79 7.79 7.76 8.4 6.5 - 8.5 I EC(j.iS/cm) 79 816 626 1590 1500 Sulfate (mg/L) 79 305 205 1542 250
I Non-filterable Residue 79 5.03 4 29.2 30 (NFR) (mg/L) * NSW EPA Clean Water Regulation 1972; Australian Water Quality Uuiclelines tor Fresh and Manne 1 Waters, ANZECC 2000. Groundwater was not encountered during exploration drilling. Drilling was undertaken to an I equivalent elevation of approximately 910m AHD, compared with the proposed lowest point of the quarry of 940m AHD. The water level in the Coxs River below the quarry is at I approximately 855m AHD. I 5.6.2 Impact Assessment The hydrology of the natural catchment of the proposed quarry site will be modified by the diversion of water flows in and around the quarry. Water runoff from undisturbed areas will be I diverted around the site by way of diversion channels directly into Coxs River. However, this will be minimal as the quarry will occupy the majority of the hill. During Stage 1 development, I uncontaminated runoff will be diverted to the north and south of the quarry. During Stages 2 and 3 of quarry development, uncontaminated runoff will be diverted to the south of the quarry. I Figures 4.2 and 4.3 illustrate the water management structures proposed to be incorporated for all three stages. I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 36
Runoff generated from disturbed areas of the site will be captured and diverted through trapezoidal-shaped channel structures to the Water Management Dam. Each section of channel will contain a coarse sediment trap, to settle sand and gravel size particles, prior to discharge into the Water Management Dam.
The Water Management Dam will have a storage capacity of 7.7ML and has been designed with 4m of freeboard. Modelling data provided by WBM Oceanics indicate that the storage design will allow the capture and treatment of a 1 in 20 year, 12 hour event and 1 in 50 year, 6 hour event during Stage 1 of quarry development. During Stages 2 and 3, a 1 in 20 year, 3 hour event and 1 in 50 year, 2 hour event will be contained. In extreme cases, such as a large, long duration storm event, water discharge from the site may be required. In this event, discharge from the site will only occur when all opportunities for water reuse are exhausted and the Water Management Dam is nearing capacity. Inspection and sampling as necessary, will be undertaken to confirm that the water quality will be within the agreed discharge limits before discharge occurs.
Water from the Management Dam will be used for all landscaping, vehicle washing and dust suppression activities. To maintain adequate freeboard within the Water Management Dam, excess water will be used to irrigate areas of woodlot vegetation around the proposed quarry site. It is anticipated that during dry years it may be necessary to import additional water onto the site to meet daily requirements. In this case, approximately five 1 0,000L water trucks would be required to meet the daily on-site water demand.
The project is unlikely to have an impact on groundwater quality at the site. Analysis conducted by the Consultant indicates that sediment-laden water seeping into rock fractures within the quarry would eventually be filtered out naturally by the soil and rock structure before entering the Coxs River. If groundwater is encountered during operations, DLWC will be notified and appropriate action will be undertaken to manage groundwater across the site. However, based upon drilling results this possibility is considered unlikely.
No chemicals will be used during processing of quarry product. However, a biodegradable surfactant (wetting agent) may be used, in conjunction with water from the Water Management Dam, for site dust suppression.
Given the water management strategies proposed for the quarry operation, detailed in this Section, it is considered unlikely that the quarry development will have any significant impact on water quality in the Coxs River.
Environmenta' Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I 37 1 5.7 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY 5.7.1Existing Climate The climate of the WallerawanglLithgow area is classified as temperate maritime, with warm summers and mild to cool winters. Monthly average temperatures vary from a maximum 25°C in January and February to a minimum 1°C in July and August. I Meteorological data used during the Air Quality Assessment (Holmes Air Science - refer to Appendix 8) was obtained from a number of sources as no one site held all the data required. I Relevant data providers and collection locations are provided in Table 5.4. Table 5.4: Source of Meteorological Data I Element Source Source Location Source Length of from Quarry Elevation Records (yrs) Rainfall Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Lithgow 107 I 10km SE 950m (Lithgow Composite) (1889-1996) 063 224 I Temperature BOM Lithgow (Lithgow 107 (Mean daily max, Composite) 063 224 10km SE 950m (1889.4996) mm) Relative BOM Lithgow (Lithgow I 107 Humidity Composite) 063 224 10km SE 950m (1889-1996)
I Pan Evaporation Bathurst Agricultural 900m - 50km W ResearOh Station approximately Wind Speed and Mt Piper Weather 900m 1 7km N I Direction Station Delta Electricity approximately (1997)
I The data set provided in Table 5.5 indicate that marginally higher rainfalls are expected during the summer months when compared to the rest of the year. Expected evaporation is five times I higher in summer than in winter and exceeds rainfall for eight months of the year. Relative humidity is moderately high in late autumn and early winter. Discussions with RTA staff indicate that fogs are frequent in the vicinity of the proposed quarry development during the I winter period.
I Using 1997 Mt. Piper data, wind speed throughout the year is expected to be less than 27kmlhr and is predominantly from a south westerly direction. Expected summer wind direction is far I less predictable. Seasonal and annual wind roses for Mt. Piper Power Station (1997), 7km north of the proposed quarry site, are provided as Figure 5.3. I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Table 5.5: Climatic Summary
F. M A I M I J I J t A I S 0 J N I D YR TEMPERATURE (°C)
Mean daily max 25.4 24.6 22.4 18. 14.2 11.0 10.3 11.9 15.3 18.7 21.5 24.4 18.2 3 Mean daily min 11.7 11.9 9.9 6.6 3.8 1.7 0.6 1.3 3.2 5.9 7.9 1 10.3 6.2 RAINFALL (mm) Average 1 94.4 1 83.0 85.9 1 65. 1 65.4 1 69.7 1 68.8 1 63.7 1 59.4 1 65.9 1 69.0 1 78.3 1 868.6 2 RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%) ____ Average9am 63 69 71 75 80 81 77 72 63 59 58 59 69 Average3pm 50 55 55 53 61 65 58 52 49 49 47 45 54 EVAPORATION (mm) Average 205.7 1 163.1 1 139.0 J 85.6 49.3 1 32.7 1 35.4 1 54.3 1 78.3 1 119.2 156.3 203.4 1322.3
5.7.2 Existing Dust Levels Airborne dust comes from a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources including wind erosion of land surfaces, vehicle and industrial exhausts and emissions, abraded vehicle tyres, agricultural operations and airborne organic material such as pollen. The principal dust sources in the vicinity of the proposed quarry development are most likely unsealed road surfaces and vehicle-related particles (abraded tyres, brake linings etc.). Dust deposition data was collected on behalf of the Wallerawang Power Station at four monitoring stations around Wallerawang over the period January 1998 to August 1999. Pkzte 1 shows the location of the four monitoring stations in relation to the proposed quarry site. The results from the dust deposition monitoring stations are presented in Table 5.6.
Table 5.6: Summary of Dust Deposition Data Collected at Wallerawang Measurements in g/m2/month
D2 D3 D4 Location Dl North east of North of Wallerawang Wallerawang East of proposed quarry proposed quarry Average 1998 1.2 1.0 2.6 1.8 Average 1999a 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.0 179b, Highest Result 3.2 3.9 3.5 2.8 Lowest Result 0.1 0.0 1 0.2 1 0.4 a - The average for 1999 was from January to August (8 months) Represents an anomalous result.
As can be seen from Table 5.6, existing dust levels around the Wallerawang area are low. The NSW EPA goals for the deposition of insoluble solids, state that residential areas begin to experience dust related nuisance impacts when dust deposition levels exceed 4g/m2/month
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I
I Annual and Seasonal Windroses I Mt Piper P:ower Station I I
3; B60 I DISTRIBUTION OF WINDS FPEI4CY OF OCOP?CE IH F€RCENT M3wt Piper - Arnupi 199
I OW O SftALF IN V. I I Ele I
IN SW 1 S.N ZN p OTOXaITIOF OF et SIR nOR OF P0005: FOEIIJ€.CY OF OF9NCE 14 POOCDeT F00000003 OF ECUPOEOJ05 OR I MOunt Piper - OuOuer 1297 Mount Piper - Au0003 0507 NIM INEn POOLE IN .'n. I
I VE EWE I I ZN ZE 30$ 000—_--- • ppE
OISTSO13UTI3 OF WI.tS 005TR189IIEP OF .NThOS FNNEaEHCY OF cxcLpNCS ON 050CEPT FMO00500I OF 0C000N1$ENCE ON PERCENT I Mount P)uWr' - WI:nt!r 1557 Moult Pippr - SOrinq 0557
I Figure 5.3 WIND ROSES I MT PIPER POWER STATION I S f -
(f{c b;
C)2 lop (i
/t4i.t56eL. . . - I 39 i (annual average). Unacceptable levels of dust impact are expected to occur at 1 Og/m2/month. The dust monitoring results in Table 5.6 show that the existing dust levels in the Wallerawang I area are well below the EPA criteria.
5.7.3 Quartzite Dust and Human Health Silica (Si02) exists as crystalline and amorphous forms, which relate to the structural I arrangement of the oxygen and silicon atoms. Only the respirable particles of the crystalline forms are considered when determining the potential for human health effects. These particles I are considered to be less than Sjtm (0.005mm) in diameter. Over exposure to respirable crystalline silica may lead to the development of silicosis. This respiratory disease is I characterised by scarring and hardening of the lung tissue, reducing the abffity of the lungs to extract oxygen from the air.
I There is no defined 'safe limit' for ambient quartz dust concentrations with respect to human health. The NSW EPA suggests that an annual average ambient concentration limit of
1 or 2 Jig/m3 for quartz dust may be calculated as the occupational exposure goal. However, I extensive research in the United States suggests that a plausible upper limit of respirable crystalline silica in quarrying areas is 7% of the PM10 fraction.
5.7.4 Impact Assessment Holmes Air Sciences undertook an Air Quality Assessment at the proposed quarry development I site. A copy of the Final Report is provided as Appendix 8. The study includes an assessment of potential dust impacts from the proposed quarry operation and of the potential for I silica dust exposure.
Dust dispersion modelling was undertaken as part of the Air Quality Assessment. It utilised available wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric stability and mixing height data to estimate dust dispersion potential for three operating scenarios: I Scenario 1: normal production rate (125,000tpa), I Scenario 2: maximum production rate (500,000tpa), and Scenario 3: maximum production rate with a permanent crushing and screening plant (worst case scenario). I
' Modelling results were assessed against the accepted air quality standards/goals outlined in Table 5.7.
______I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I Table 5.7 - Air Quality Standards/Goals for Particulate Matter Concentrations
Parameter Standard I Goal Agency Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSP) 90 ig/m3 (annual mean) NHMRC 50 jig/rn3 (24-hour maximum) Particulate Matter < 10jim (PM10) NSW EPA 30 p.g/m3 (annual mean) 1 - 2 jig/rn3 (occupational 2 (7% PM10) NSW EPA Estimated Respirable SiO exposure) Nuisance Dust Deposition <4 g/m2 /month (annual mean) NSW EPA
Dispersion and deposition modelling results for the proposed quarry development are summarised in Figures 5.4 to 5.7 (Scenario 1) and Figures 5.8 to 5.11 (Scenario 3), and discussed as follows.
Scenario 1 represents the most likely operational and production mode for the proposed quarry development. This scenario assumes a production rate of 125,000tpa and would involve the use of a mobile crushing plant located on the quarry floor. Modelling for this scenario predicted the following dust generation and dispersion values: PM10 (24-hour average) concentrations would not exceed 20jigIm3 in areas of existing or potential residential development; PM10 (annual mean) concentrations would not exceed - 2 jig/rn3 in areas of existing or potential residential development; annual mean TSP concentrations would not exceed 1 jig/rn3 in the vicinity of either existing or future housing developments; and increases in dust deposition rates for the surrounding area would not exceed 0.1 g/m2/month.
Scenario 3 represents the extreme (worst case) for dust emissions in terms of production rate and mode of operation. This scenario assumes the maximum production rate of 500,000tpa and would involve the use of a fixed crushing and screening plant located at a surface facilities site to the west of the proposed quarry development. These results are provided as maximum predicted dust generation and dispersion values for the proposed quarry development:
PM10 (24-hour average) concentrations would not exceed 3Ojig/rn3 in areas of existing or potential residential development; PM10 (annual mean) concentrations would not exceed - 2 jig/rn3 in areas of existing or potential residential development; annual mean TSP concentrations would not exceed 2 jig/rn3 in the vicinity of either existing or future housing developments; and
Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrirn Environmental \A(AL RAWANG
-
\\
1.. ; CM
-- --i- -
X ç 71 )ç X I Ix, III Figure5A SCENARIO 1 PREDICTED MAXIMUM 24 HOUR AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL PM10 CONCENTRA1]ONS (igIm3) If (125,000 tonnes/yr and mobile crushing plant) AL RAWANG J; ;• J ) I ----- '( " r xx ' Figure 5.5 SCENARIO 1 PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (jiglm3) (125,000 tonnes/yr and mobile crushing plant) AL RAWAN G -- IIII! - - ci 1T!' >, - --- - , Fgure5.6 SCENARIO 1 PREDCTED ANNUAL AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL TSP CONCENTRATIONS (ig/m3) (125,000 tonnes/yr and mobile crushing plant) RAWAN G t7 '__ 01 lilil_(ax, iiiisIN N 2L' I X Figure 5.7 , SCENARIO 1 PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE DEPOSITION RATES (g/m2/month) (125,000 tonnes/yr and mobile crushing plant) - J AL RAWAN G 1II;E 100 j U 0 1km I I I I Figure 58 SCENARIO 3 PREDICTED MAXIMUM 24HOUR AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (jig/m3) (500,000 tonnes/yr and fixed crushing plant) t7*/ / I :7)10 N P.C \, .: r' I / Co / All /1 F Ii Figure 59 SCENARO 3- PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL PM10 CONCENTRATIONS (jiglm3) (500,000 tonnes/yr and fixed crushing plant) AL RAWANG ;i ) ,' I' •$8 I q0 / /1 I < / il: Ii--- , Figure 5.10 SCENARIO 3- PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL TSP CONCENTRATIONS (igIm3) (500,000 tonnes/yr and fixed crushing plant) RAWANG qj , C ipI I; 11 / 00 II -. cXXQ 0 1km I I I I I I Figure 511 SCENARIO 3- PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE DEPOSITION RATES (gIm2/month) (500,000 tonnes/yr and fixed crushing plant) I 41 i increases in dust deposition rates for the surrounding area would not exceed I 0.1 g/m2/month. With respect to the potential for silica-related health impacts arising from the quarry operation, I predicted levels of respirable silica were modelled for the worst case scenario and the results shown in Figure 5.12. Modelling results predict that the concentration of respirable silica likely I to be present at the nearest residences would be approximately 0.07 jig/rn3. In reality, this level of emissions would not persist long—term and is still significantly lower than the level of 1 JIg/rn3 to 2jig/rn3 suggested by the NSW EPA. Therefore, the concentration of silica dust I generated by quarry operations is unlikely to result in any adverse impact in the community. The results of the dust dispersion modelling indicate that residences in the area are sufficiently I removed from the proposed quarrying activities so as not to be adversely affected, either in terms of health or amenity, by fugitive dust emissions from the quarry operation. Increases in I both dust concentrations and deposition levels are predicted to be low at all residences, and under all operating conditions. To further ensure that nearby residences and future residential developments are not impacted by potential dust emissions from the proposed quarry development, the following design and management initiatives will be incorporated: I • existing residences are at least 600m away in the NNW and 1.5km away in the NE, far enough to be protected from nuisance dust under most wind conditions; I • existing vegetation will be retained and maintained around the site perimeter, providing additional shelter from strong winds and serving as a filter; • the majority of operations during the life of the proposed quarry will take place from within I the excavated trench, with walls of at least lOm; I • blasting will be infrequent, with expected intervals of between two and three months; and, the control measures described in Section 4.2 will be rigorously implemented. Measures include dust suppression on roads, processing areas, driffing operations and quarry areas, I provision of a wheel wash facility, sealing of the access road from the wheel wash and covering loose loads. I 5.8 OPERATIONAL AND TRAFFIC NOISE Operational and traffic noise emissions from the proposed quarry development will occur due to the use of quarry plant equipment during different stages of quarry development. Environmental Impact Statement - Wal1erawag Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental To assess the potential for noise impacts resulting from the proposed quarry development, Acoustic and Vibration Engineers, Atkins Acoustics, undertook a detailed Noise and Blast Impact Assessment. The results of this assessment are provided as Appendix 9. 5.8.1 Noise Terminology Environmental noise varies with time, requiring statistical descriptors to characterise the acoustic enviromnent. The following descriptors are commonly used to assess noise impacts: LA10, the noise level exceeded for 10 per cent of the time which approximates the average maximum noise levels; LA90, the level exceeded for 90 per cent of the time which is approximately the average of the minimum noise levels. The LA90 is often termed the 'background noise level' and is commonly used to determine noise criteria for assessment purposes; LAeq the average noise energy during a measurement period; and dB(A), the "A" weighted scale used to quantify human perception of noise. 5.8.2 Existing Environment The existing noise environment in the vicinity of the proposed quany development is dominated by road traffic on the Great Western Highway and natural noise generators such as wind, trees and birds. Background noise levels in the area were evaluated at three locations between Monday 14 and Wednesday 23 August, 2000. Monitoring locations were chosen to represent the range of potentially affected receivers and residential sub-divisions within the immediate site vicinity. Plate 1 shows the location of the three environmental noise monitoring stations. Table 5.8 summarises the results of the ambient noise measurement from the three locations. Table 5.8: Ambient Noise Measurements at Three Monitoring Locations Rating Background Level - LAOO (dB(A)) Location Day Evening Night 1 39.3 40.7 34.4 2 38.4 37.5 34.2 3 39.2 39.8 33.7 5.8.3 Operational and Road Traffic Noise Goals Goals relevant to the assessment of noise impacts generated by operations such as those proposed are recommended within the NSW EPA's Industrial Noise Policy (January 2000), Environmental Criteria for Road Traffic Noise (May 1999) and Environment Noise Control Manual (1994). Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental AL RAWANG J &j - '3.00, . '' ' : IIiP4, , °• r' '' / XX Fgure 5.12 SCENARO 3 - PREDICTED ANNUAL AVERAGE GROUND LEVEL PM7 SUCA CONCENTRATIONS (pgIm3) (500,000 tonnes/yr and fixed crushing plant) I 43 I Operational noise objectives are designed to protect the community from excessive intrusive I noise andpreserve amenity for specific land uses. The recommended criteria suggest that the LAeq 15min noise level from new sources should not exceed the existing LA90 rating background I noise levels by more than 5dB(A). For the preservation of amenity, industrial noise levels are to be within the acceptable levels for I the locality and land uses. For school classrooms, the EPA recommends an internal LAeq noise level of 35dB(A), which approximates to an external LA noise level of 45dB(A) for I classrooms with windows open to the normal extent for air ventilation. I Table 5.9 presents a summary of the daytime operational noise goals applicable to each potential receiver location. Operational noise from the quarry will comply with all assessment I goals provided that the levels are limited to 43dB (A). The NSW EPA Traffic Noise objectives apply to developments with the potential to create I additional traffic on existing freeways and arterial roads. The assessment goals for traffic noise impacts recommend that the daytime LAeq15hr and LAeQ9hr traffic noise level should be limited to I 60dB(A) and 55dB(A) respectively. In addition, the existing noise level should not be increased by more than 2dB(A). These goals were applied to receivers adjacent to the Great I Western Highway. Because the quarry access road and the new intersection with the Great Western Highway are I considered a new road development', alternative traffic noise objectives are applicable. In this instance, a daytime traffic noise assessment goal of 55dB(A) LAeqlhr was applied to potential I receivers located near the proposed quarry access to the Great Western Highway. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental rI Table 5.9: Daytime Operational Noise Goals [dB(A)] Objective Daytime LAeq Operational Noise Goal Residential Receivers north-west of Quarry (Forest Ridge Drive) Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 44 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 50 Residential Receivers north-east of Quarry Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 44 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 50 Residential Receivers north of Quarry (Barton Avenue) Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 44 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 50 Residential Sub-divisions north-west of Quarry (off Forest Ridge Drive) Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 44 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 50 Residential Sub-divisions north of Quarry Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 43 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 1 50 Residential Sub-divisions north-east of Quarry (off Barton Avenue) Protection of residential receivers from intrusive noise 44 Preservation of amenity for residential receivers 50 Wallerawang Primary School north of Quarry 451 Achieve internal LAeq noise level of 35 dB(A) duting peak hour T_ Notes 1. With external windows open to normal extent for aae quote ventilation, the difference between the internal and external noise levels is approximately 10 dB(A). 5.8.4 Impact Assessment Noise impact modelling was conducted for the range of acoustically significant plant equipment to be used at the proposed quarry. Modelling of expected noise emissions was undertaken using the NSW EPA-approved, Environmental Noise Computer Model (ENM). The model takes into account, noise attenuation due to an increase in distance, barriers, ground effects, atmospheric absorption and shielding from intervening structures and topography. Modelling was performed as a worst case scenario, with all plant, vehicles and equipment operating simultaneously. Expected noise emissions from quarry operations (Stages 1 and 2) were modelled at the centre and northern end of the quarry, where potential noise impacts are greatest due to the closer proximity with residential areas. Modelling was also undertaken for a Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 45 range of weather scenarios, including calm weather, presence of temperature inversion and windy conditions. Modeffing of Stage 3 quarry operations was not undertaken as noise emission levels are expected to be lower than those for Stages 1 and 2, due to the increased shielding as the quarry progresses deeper. Initial modelling results indicated that operational noise level criteria would be exceeded at some I northern receptors during Stage 1 quarrying operations, under all weather conditions. To facilitate compliance with operational noise assessment goals, a quarry design modification was I prescribed and incorporated. During Stage 1 of quarry development, at the northern end of the quarry, a 6m to 8m highwall will be retained to provide shielding between plant and equipment, and potentially affected receivers. The height of the wall will be increased during additional stages of quarry development, providing substantial noise reductions. I Subsequent modelling results indicate that with the above-mentioned design modification in place, noise levels are expected to comply with all operational noise assessment goals during I calm weather conditions for both Stage 1 development (Figures 5.13 and 5.14) and Stage 2 development (Figures 5.15 and 5.16). As these Stages represent the most exposed period of quarry development, it follows that compliance will also be satisfied for other stages and I equipment locations. Even with the highwall modification in place, exceedances of operational noise assessment goals may occur under adverse weather conditions. Under temperature inversion (3°C/100m) I and windy conditions (3m/s), exceedances of up to 2dB(A) and up to 8dB(A) may occur respectively. i Because of the intermittent requirement for the hydraulic hammer drill (-4 80 days/year at the peak production rate), it will be possible to restrict operational hours during adverse weather conditions without affecting the desired quarry production level. This will significantly reduce the possibility of exceeding noise level criteria. To facilitate compliance with operational noise assessment goals, wind speed and weather I conditions will be monitored at a pennanent exposed location. This will allow operational modification to occur during the initial phases of quarry development. A Noise Management I Plan will also be prepared and implemented to ensure that the operation of the quarry does not Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental cause significant impact to residential receivers. Details of additional noise management initiatives are provided in Section 4.3.2. Transport-related noise impacts were assessed using the goals described in Section 5.8.3. It is calculated that at a maximum production rate of 500,000tpa, an average of approximately 80 truck loads (25t capacity) will leave the site per day. This equates to approximately 16 vehicle movements per hour on the Great Western Highway. Truck noise from the quarry is expected to contribute less than 2dB(A) to the existing traffic noise at receivers near the Great Western Highway, therefore the assessment goal is complied with. At times it may be necessary to import water to the site to meet daily requirements. This activity will result in an additional five 1 0,000L capacity, water truck loads entering the quarry site each day during extended dry spells. These movements are not expected to alter the predicted operational noise emissions from the site. A more stringent goal of 55dB(A) applies to trucks on the access route from the highway to the quarry. Modelling data indicates that with the expected volume of vehicle traffic entering and leaving the quarry site, the predicted LAeq,ihr traffic noise level at the nearest receiver to the site access road is 28dB(A), which is well within the assessment goal. For a proportion of the production , it will be necessary dispatch trucks from the site in the early hours of the morning to meet Sydney construction demands. Investigations indicate that a night time goal of 55dB(A) LAeqlhr applies in this instance. The predicted value [28dB(A)] likely to occur at the intersection is well within this assessment goal, therefore no impact is likely to result from these infrequent vehicle movements. 5.9 VIBRATION AND BLASTING To assess the potential for vibration and blast impacts resulting from the proposed quarry development, Acoustic and Vibration Engineers, Atkins Acoustics, undertook a detailed Noise and Blast Impact Assessment. The results of this assessment are provided in Appendix 9. 5.9.1 Vibration and Blast Terminology The following descriptors are commonly used to assess vibration and blast impacts: . PPV. Peak Particle Velocity provides a measurement of ground vibration resulting from blasting operations, it is measured as mm/s; and dB(Lin). Noise as pressure fluctuations in air measured in decibels (dB). The measurement of noise with no adjustments for human perception is known as 'linear' scale. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 0 1km I I I I Legend I =r== L1OdB(A) Figure 5.13 14. House Locations PREDCTED NOISE LEVELS FOR INITIAL TRENCH, STAGE 1 (YEARS 1-2). I Equipment at northern end of quarry. I Calm weather conditions. I I I I I I W a Ile raw ai P ihi It hool - I N I Barton I Aveue I I 16 - I I " Giat Wésterti -Tighwy - IA I na 0 o I / - ljI/Ii ~' N )r1h/j n w L 'LocI I2. 4 , I Ii I rIIi dtvisiI --- - N jIS I N, I N ( I Mv I I I 0 1km I I I I I I Legend I = L1OdB(A) Figure 5.14 140 House Locations PREDOCTED NOOSE LEVELS AT I COMPLETOON OF STAGE 1 (YEARS 12). Equipment at northern end of quarry. I Calm weather conditions. I V1II!UII ' I 000 W. cy ti•l1.iuuiuI - , d ' " •) , ivq QR 0 1km I I I I Legend == L1OdB(A) AJr!U iii.%11 14 M House Locations PREDICTED NOUSE LEVELS FOR INITIAL TRENCH, STAGE 2 (YEARS 34). Equipment at northern end of quarry. Calm weather conditions. I I I I I I I I 0 1 km I I I I M0099Rgi4 I Legend LIOdB(A) Figure 516 I 14 N House Locations PREDICTED NOISE LEVELS AT COMPLETION OF STAGE 2 (YEARS 4-15). Equipment at northern end of quarry. k Calm weather conditions. I 47 I I 5.9.2 Existing Environment There are currently no blasting operations occurring within the vicinity of the proposed quarry development, therefore, blast and vibration effects are non-existent. I A 300kV transmission line pylon is located adjacent to the southern boundary of the proposed I quarry development. The pylon structure is located within an established 60m wide easement, managed by TransGrid. Discussions with TransGrid staff indicate that damage to the structure I will be avoided if ground vibration levels at the base of the transmission line pylon do not exceed 25mm/s (PPV). I Safety regulations managed by the DMR concerning blasting within proximity to public roads, require road closure when blasting is within 500m distance. I 5.9.3 Vibration and Blasting Assessment Goals U Guidelines in the ANZECC document titled "Technical Basis fir Guidelines to Minimise Annoyance due to Blasting Overpressure and Ground Vibration" were used to establish goals I for the assessment of air-blast over-pressure and ground vibration from blasting. Table 5. 10 summarises the assessment goals for blasting. I Table 5.10: Assessment Goals for Blasting (from ANZECC guidelines) Air-blast Over-pressure Ground Vibration I dB(Lin) peak particle velocity Time of Blast mm/s Recommended Allowable Recommended Allowable Long Term Goal I Monday to Saturday 115 120 5 10 2 9.00am to 500pm I 5.9.4 Impact Assessment The EPA' s guidelines indicate that the recommended air-blast over-pressure assessment goal I may be exceeded in up to 5% of the total number of blasts over a period of 12 months. However, the allowable levels described in Table 5.9 should not be exceeded at any time. I Air-blast over-pressure impacts from blasting are expected to meet the assessment goal criteria on the majority of occasions. When blasting operations occur within 500m of the nearest I receptor (ie. operating at the northern end of the quarry), assessment goals may be marginally exceeded when larger blast sizes are used. I Ground vibration levels were calculated using an Australian Standard predictive formula (AS 2187:2) and indicate that ground vibration impacts will not be apparent to any residential I receptor, under any circumstance. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Regular blast monitoring will be carried out to determine safe working levels when high explosive charges are used as higher ground vibration and air-blast over-pressure may result under unfavourable weather conditions. In the event that excessive impacts from blasting do occur, alternative explosive charges will be used or blasting operations will be suspended. Ground vibration impacts within the vicinity of the transmission line pylon are not expected to exceed the advised maximum of 25mm/s. To ensure compliance with the advisory requirements, vibration monitoring will be undertaken near the base of the structure. Blasting will commence in the northern section of the quarry initially, furthest from the pylon to enable feedback from early blasts to be incorporated in the blast design as the quarry progresses towards the pylon. A minimum setback of 50m from the pylon will be maintained throughout the life of the proposed quarry operation. Closure of the Great Western Highway for short periods of time will be necessary during the majority of blasting within the quarry except when operations are at the southern extremity of the quarry. At the lower production level, closure could be expected once every two months and once every two weeks at the higher level of production. 5.10 VISUAL ENVIRONMENT Visual impact can be described as any perceptible change to the existing aesthetic environment, which causes a loss of amenity to surrounding properties or recreational viewers. Such impacts may include; distractive lighting from security or night-time operations, vegetation clearing, location or size of stockpiles, the form and bulk of the plant, the location of roads and fences and the orientation of the quarry relative to sight lines. 5.10.1 Existing Environment The quarry site is located on a treed hifi that has no specific landscape attributes that make it visually significant. The hill, however, is visible from a number of locations. A visual survey of the site was conducted in August, 2000 to assess the visual qualities of the site from various locations as indicated in Figure 5.17. Photographs were taken at the locations shown in Table 5.11. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I I I I I I I I I I H I I / / / I / r U I House Caravan I 0 1250m Figure 5.17 Photograph Ii I position 1:25000 LAND USE & ZONNG. Table 5.11: Reference Points for Visual Impact Assessment View Point Location 1 Rocky Waterhole. Nearest residents north-east of the quarry. Elevation (Refer to Plate 2) approximately 950m AHD. 2 Great Western Highway at Coxs River Bridge. Elevation approximately 870m (Refer to Plate 4) AHD. 3 Wallerawang Primary School. Elevation approximately 880m AHD. (Refer to Plate 6) 4 Great Western Highway, west of the site. Elevation approximately 980m AHD. (Refer to Plate 8) Helium-filled balloons were used to help delineate the site in photographs and in subsequent impact assessment. 5.10.2 Impact Assessment Visual impact assessment was undertaken by viewing the site from all surrounding public I viewing points and on a number of private properties. The predicted impact of changes to the visual environment as a result of the quarry was assessed using sight line sections from the I viewing position towards the proposed quarry development site. The results were depicted graphically using 'Photoshop computer software and the most representative are included in I this report. The proposed quarry development will result in minor alterations to the visual landscape. These I changes will consist of vegetation clearing during pre-quarry development, modifications to topographic features during Stages 1 and 2 of quarry operations as the hill surface is lowered I and exposure of rock surfaces during quarry operations. Possible impacts will be limited to Stages 1 and 2 of quarry development as Stage 3 represents a deepening of the area disturbed during Stage 2. View Point 1 is located near the residential properties to the NE of the proposed quarry development site. Situated at approximately 20m below and 1200m away from the proposed quarry site, the visual impacts will be limited to a minor change in topographical outlook from this site (Plates 2 & 3). It is anticipated that the quarry operations will not be seen as a result of the tree cover. Topographic alteration will be represented by a lowering of the tree profile from this view point. I View Point 2 is located on the southern side of the Great Western highway at the Coxs River Bridge, NE of the proposed quarry development. Situated at approximately lOOm below and 900m away from the proposed quarry site, the visual impacts will be limited to a minor change in topographical outlook from this site (Plates 4 & 5). It is anticipated that the quarry operations Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 50 will not be seen as a result of the tree cover. Topographic alteration will be represented by a lowering of the tree profile from this view point. View Point 3 is located adjacent to the Wallerawang Primary School, north of the proposed quarry development site. Situated at approximately 80m below and 1800m away from the proposed quarry site, the visual impacts will consist of a lowering of the surface topography visible from some locations at this site (Plates 6 & 7). However, much of the profile will blend with the background landforms. View Point 4 is located on the northern side of the Great Western Highway, NW of the proposed quarry development site. Situated in a slightly elevated position and approximately 800m away from the proposed quarry site, this view represents the quarry outlook visible to eastbound highway traffic. Visual impacts will consist of a lowering of the topographical landform and a gradual exposure of disturbed rock surface as the Stage 1 and 2 highwali takes shape on the eastern side of the proposed quarry development (Plates 8 & 9). Plate 10 illustrates how the rehabilitation of the land surface to the east of the Stage 2 trench (commencing Year 3) will soften the visual outlook from this view point. Existing trees of 10-15m in height will largely screen all quanying operations from view points to the north and east of the site (Viewpoints 1, 2 and 3). Views to the Quarry from View Point 4 will predominantly occur from eastbound vehicular traffic, travelling at a nominal speed of 1 10km/h. The quarry surface facilities area and stockpiles are not expected to be visible from the Great Western Highway at View Point 4. This view will be below the level of the quarry surface facilities area and filtered by existing trees. The proposed quarry will operate predominantly during daylight hours. Lighting of the site will occur to a limited extent during winter, for maintenance activities, security purposes and for early morning loading of trucks. Lights will be specified as low glare and will be orientated away from public viewing locations. No visual impacts are expected to occur at night. 5.11 RECREATION 5.11.1 Existing Environment The proposed quarry development site is located upon both private property (Lot 6, Hickman and Goh, for which an option to purchase agreement is available) and State Land, managed by NSW State Forests. Recreational use of the State Forest land is known to occur, with trail bike riding allowable and identified in the area. No bush walking is known to occur within the site Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I I I I I I I I I I £ V L MR 00, • ...'.. I ..$ .' . I Existing. I 70 mm Lens. I I 1 I I EXISTING I IROCKY 1I!E I pRoJ/DRAFT06/pI ATFS I I I I T1TTT1 pq IF F4 J RE It4 F F4' F 3 I 4 I I Stage 2. 70 mm Lens. I I. 980 I 960 Viewing 940 I Position 10 I 920 900 C') 2 I 880 860 I 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Distance (Metres) I Une of Sight Section. Scale Vertical 1:2000 (5x exaggeration) I Horizontal 1: 10000 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Exstng. I 70 mm Lens. I I I I I POate 4. EXSTNG VEW FROM THE I COXS RIVER BRDGE. I rnOJDflArr/auu,r LAi I I I I I I I I I I Stage 2. 70 mm Lens. I I 980 I 960 940 I ci, .._ 920 C) I a) I 900 I 880 Viewing Position - I 860 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Distance (Metres) I Line of Sight Section. Scale Vertical 1:2000 (5x exaggeration) Horizontal 1: 10000 Plate 5. VIEW TO QUARRY FROM THE COXS RIVER BRIDGE. PROJ/ORAFT/206/PLATES I I Li I I I I I I I I I I I I I E I Pate 6. EXSTNG VOEW FROM THE I WALLERAWANG PRIMARY SCHOOL. PROJ/DRAFr/2ot3/rLATEs I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Line of Site Section. Scale Vertical 1:2500 (5x exaggeration) I Horizontal 1: 12500 Plate 7. VIEW TO QUARRY FROM THE I WALLERAWANG PRIMARY SCHOOL PROJ/DRAFT/206/PLATES I I I I I I I I I I I I I . -p --- . - Exisfing. 70 mm Lens. I I I I I I POate B. EXSTNG VEW FROM THE I GREAT WESTERN HGHWAY. I F'flOJ/DRAIT/206/PLATES • U Outline of existinq hill. I I I H I I Stage 1. 70 mm Lens. I LII I Outline of existing hilt I E I I I Stage 2. I 70 mm Lens. 111 I POJ/DRAFT/206/PLATES I I I I I I I I I : I RehabiHtaton. 70 mm Lens. I I Viewing 980.-- - - ... I Positton I I I I 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Distance (Metres) I Une of Sight Secflon. Scale Vertical 1:2000 (5x exaggeration) I Horizontal 1: 10000 POate 10. VEW TO REHABLHTATED QUARRY I FROM THE GREAT WESTERN HGH WAY. I PFIOJ/DHAFT/206IPLATES 51 I proposed for development. The Coxs River is an active trout fishing river, popular with a small LI number of local enthusiasts and visitors. 5.11.2 Impact Assessment I The development of the proposed quarry will result in a number of tracks within the site vicinity being closed to trail bike riding. This is not expected to have a significant impact on amenity, as I the area of restriction is only a small fraction of the trail area available within the adjoining I Lidsdale State Forest. Strict water management controls, including a nil discharge policy (except under extreme I circumstances), will be implemented to ensure that quarrying operations do not adversely affect the water quality and hence fishing potential of the Coxs River. As part of the Water Management Plan for the site, a water quality monitoring program will be implemented to I monitor the success of on-site water management controls I Access to the River will not be impeded during quarry development and operation, as several I alternative access routes exist. 5.12 LAND USE, TENURE AND SERVICES I 5.12.1 Existing Environment Land uses within the vicinity of the proposed quarry development site are shown in I Figure 5.17. The two major land use zones to the south of the Great western highway are Rural Forestry, zoned 1(f), and general agriculture, zoned 1(a) Rural General. The area to the I north of the Great Western Highway and adjacent to the proposed development is comprised of I predominantly small rural holdings, zoned 1(c) and Rural Forestry 1(f). The proposed quarry development site is located upon land zoned both 1(a) and 1(f). The I majority of the site is located on State land, operated and managed by NSW State Forests (Lidsdale State Forest), while the remainder of the proposed quarry site is privately owned. The proponent has acquired an option to purchase the privately owned portion of the site, pending development approval for the project. I The main agricultural land use in the area is forestry within the Lidsdale State Forest. The Marrangaroo Quartzite Quarry, established in 1912, is located 31cm SE of the proposed quarry I development site. 1 Nineteen dwellings are located within 2km of the proposed quarry development site. The majority are located to the NW of the site along Forest Ridge Drive and adjacent roads. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacnm Environmental 52 Table 5.12 lists all nearby residents and their relative distances from the proposed quarry site. Figure 5.18 identifies the location of each dwelling. Table 5.12: Nearest Residents Residence Resident Minimum Distance Land use N0.* and Direction from Quarry 1 Mr DJ and Mrs KL McGrath 1.8 km NW Rural Residential 2 Mr LW and Mrs CJ Bird 1.7 km NW Rural Residential 3 Mr DA and Mrs LM Doonan 1.6 1cm NW Rural Residential 4 Mr JW and Mrs CA Stevens 1.4 km NW Rural Residential 5 Mr JW and Mrs JK Brew 1.2 km NW Rural Residential 6 Mr RD and Mrs DJ Martin 1.2km NW Rural Residential 7 Mr WJ and Mrs R Edwards 1.0km NW Rural Residential 8 Mr G and Mrs RM Partridge 1.2km NW Rural Residential 9 Mr JR and Mrs SG Paine 1.0km NNW Rural Residential 10 Mr MA and Mrs U Nolan 650m NNW Rural Residential 11 Mr BH Skelton and Ms JA Egan 750m NNW Rural Residential 12 Mr RW Barker 1.2km NE Rural residential 13 Mr and Mrs Booker 1.61cm NE Rural Residential 14 Mr GD and Mrs SL Williams 2.0km NE Rural Residential 15 Mr GR and Mrs KS Brown 1.6km NE Rural Residential 16 Mr MC Wilson 1.1km ENE Rural residential 17 Mr E and Mrs R Hussein 1.1km NE Rural residential 18 Mr M Griffiths and Mrs NI Wright 1.0km NE Rural residential 19 Mr RC Hickman and Mrs PP Goh 250m NE Rural residential A power supply easement is located adjacent to the southern extremity of the proposed quarry development site. As part of Delta Electricity's power supply infrastructure, the easement, as shown in Figure 1.2, contains high-tension overhead power transmission lines and associated towers. The proposed quarry development site is not serviced by water, sewerage, power or telephone. 5.12.2 Impact Assessment The proposed quarry development will not result in any changes to potential land use in the vicinity of the site. Forestry operations in the Lidsdale State Forest will not be affected by the development as the site is considered too steep for timber harvesting and not included in any compartment. It is not likely that other agricultural activities in the area will be impacted by the proposed development. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I H I I I 1~, I I r— I i k I I I I I Base Map Source: Surveyor-Generals Department 1998. NSW4438(M21 18) 0 ! Residence Fgure 5.18 F1 yyry Caravan 18 ADJACENT LAND Block number 0 bOOm 13 SUDVSONS in subdivision AND RESDENCES I 1:15 000 I 53 The amenity of nearby residents is unlikely to be significantly impacted by the proposed quarry I development. Previous sections (Section 5.7-Air Quality, Sections 5.8 & 5.9-Noise and Blasting respectively, Section 5.10-Visual and Section 5.11-Recreation) have outlined the potential impacts of the quarry proposal and provided management proposals for each item. I To avoid any potential impact, a 50m set back will be maintained from the power pylon located at the southern end of the proposed quarry development. With the exception of power and telephone, no other services will be connected to the site. Potable water will be purchased off-site as required, while all other water requirements (dust I suppression, vehicle washing, landscaping etc.) will be met by on-site storage in the Water Management Dam. Wastewater services will be provided by the installation of a packaged Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) to service the office and amenities. All treated I water from the system will be irrigated onto a managed landscape area. I 5.13 PLANNING AND ZONING 5.13.1 Existing Environment The project is an integrated development under the provisions of the EP&A Act, 1994, as it I requires approvals from other statutory approvals as prescribed in the POEO Act, 1997. The proposal is a State Significant Development because the initial extraction rate at the I proposed quarry will exceed 200,000tpa. As such, the Minister for Urban Affairs and I Planning is the Determining Authority for the proposal. The provisions of SEPP No 44 - Koala Habitat Protection apply to this development as the I proposal comprises a parcel of land greater than iha, that lies within a Local Government Area specified in Schedule 1 of SEPP 44. The provisions of State Environmental Planning Policy No 58 - Protecting Sydney's Water Supply (SEPP 58) apply to developments in this area, as the Lithgow area is within one of the I hydrologic catchments supplying water to the Greater Sydney region. The aims of SEPP 58 are: to provide a notification system whereby the Sydney Water Catehment Authority is informed of development within these catchments; I to ensure consistency in approach to assessment and control of development within these I catebment; and I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 54 to ensure that development within Sydney's water catchments does not have a detrimental impact on water quality. The zoning of land in the area of the proposal is a combination of Rural General 1(a) and Rural Forestry 1(f). Land within the proposed quarry development site is considered unsuitable for forestry activities and the encroachment of other agricultural activities is considered unlikely given the nature of the terrain. Current land zoning within the vicinity of the site is not expected to change within the foreseeable future. 5.13.2 Impact Assessment As a Designated, Integrated and State Significant Development, the ElS phase of this development proposal has included a comprehensive conirnunity and statutory consultation process (Section 3.10). The comments and feedback from all approval authorities has been integrated into the content of this document. Tables 1.1 and A1.1 (Appendix 1) highlight the major concerns raised about the project and Table 1.1 identifies the relevant section of the document addressing the concern. Consideration of the proposed quarry site under SEPP 44 "Koala Habitat Protection" was undertaken by a qualified consultant; refer to Section 5.5 and Appendix 4. The assessment described in Section 5.5.3, determined that the site does not constitute "Core Koala Habitat". SEPP 58 requires the proponent to implement measures so as to ensure the protection of Sydney's water catchment to the satisfaction of the SCA. The management strategies proposed in Sections 4.1, 4.4 and 4.5 will be implemented to ensure the protection of Coxs River and hence meet the requirements of SEPP 58. As described in Section 4.5, the proponent is committed to rehabilitating the quarry site to a state similar in species diversity and density to that which currently exists. Section 5.3 states that the land capability post quarrying will be reduced from a mixture of Classes VI and VII to mostly Class VII because of the shallow soil profile in rehabilitation areas. Class VII land is best protected by green timber and the rehabilitation of the site with endemic trees, shrubs and groundcovers is an acceptable consequence of the project. Extractive industry represents permitted development under the existing site zoning, provided development consent is received from the Determining Authority. Council needs to be aware of the assessed Quarry impacts when considering future development applications in the vicinity of the Quarry, so as to avoid future conflicts. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 1 55 1 1 5.14 TRANSPORT 5.14.1 Existing Environment 1 The Great Western Highway, passing directly north of the site, is classified as a State Highway and provides the major access route between Sydney and the NSW Central West. It is I constructed as a dual carriageway, with a sign-posted speed limit of 110km/h. In the vicinity of the proposed quarry development, the Great Western Highway comprises a long uphill gradient I (6-8%) towards the west. I Existing traffic loads on the Great Western highway consist primarily of: local traffic from the Lithgow and Wallerawang districts; I • NSW regional traffic; and Intra-State freight transport. Presently there is no direct access to the proposed quarry development site from the Great I Western Highway. However, there are several at-grade junctions in the vicinity of the proposed quarry including: I • Barton Avenue - approximately 500m east of the quarry site; Forest Ridge Road - approximately 1km west of the quarry site; and I • Gemalong Close - approximately 2km east of the quarry site. RTA statistics, reported in the Traffic Assessment Study (Appendix 2), indicate that truck I movements comprise approximately 10% of total traffic volumes on the Great Western ' Highway and Mudgee Road, while vehicle movement on Barton Avenue is dominated by light traffic (Table 5.13). Table 5.13: Existing Traffic Volumes Road Name AADT Average Vehicles per Day -- (Year of Count) Light Vehicles Rigid Trucks Articulated I Trucks Great Western 9,550 (1999) 6,900 430 570 Highway I Barton Avenue 2,300 (1998) 2,170 80 10 Mudgee Road 4,375 (1999) 3,655 160 220 Source: RTA I I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 56 5.14.2 Impact Assessment Three access alternatives for the proposed quarry development site were investigated and modelled for traffic impacts during the Traffic Assessment Study. The level of service and operational condition of each alternative was modelled using the 1NTANAL traffic systems program and measured against accepted performance standards. The Traffic Assessment Study recommended that a new seagull junction, as shown in Figure 3.11, be constructed at the intersection of the proposed quarry access road and the Great Western Highway, approximately 500m west of Barton Avenue. The RTA also concurs with this decision, citing the new seagull junction as the preferred option. RTA correspondence is included in Appendix 1. Figure 1.2 illustrates the location of the seagull junction in relation to the proposed quarry development. Modelling results indicate that the proposed seagull junction would operate with very low overall delays and a high level of service in terms of intersection operating conditions. It is predicted that the market for quarry product towards the west will be negligible, with most of the quarry traffic travelling in an easterly direction on the Great Western Highway, towards Lithgow, the Blue Mountains and Sydney. To minimise disruption to existing eastbound traffic flow on the Great Western Highway, an eastbound acceleration lane will be constructed along the existing depressed median (see Figure 3.11). The eastbound acceleration lane will be shielded from the fast-lane along its length and will allow laden eastbound traffic leaving the proposed quarry site to safely accelerate prior to entering highway traffic. Acceleration of eastbound truck traffic would be assisted by the downhill gradient, resulting in reduced impact on existing traffic flows. The provision of deceleration lanes for trucks entering the quarry from both the east and west will minimise the impact slower moving trucks may have on traffic on the Great Western Highway. The predicted impact of quarry vehicles on traffic flow on the Great Western highway and Mudgee Road is shown in Table 5.14. Traffic generated by the Quarry will be predominantly heavy vehicles. For the Great Western Highway, the percentage increase in heavy vehicles will vary from 7% at the lower production rate (125,000tpaI150,000tpa) to 28% at the maximum production rate of 500,000tpa. For Mudgee Road, assuming that intensive development occurs on the Wallerawang Industrial Park, the percentage increase in heavy vehicles will vary from 18% at the lower production rate (125,000tpal150,000tpa) to 73% at the maximum production rate of 500,000tpa. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 57 I Table 5.14: Predicted Truck Traffic Volumes Average Movements Per Day Production H Road Name Existing Truck Predicted Track Percentage Level Traffic Traffic Change (%) Great Western 125,000tpa 570 610 7 I Highway 500,000tpa 1 570 730 28 125,000tpa 220 260 18 Mudgee Road F1 500,000tpa 220 380 73 The predicted hourly truck traffic movements on the Great Western Highway at the proposed seagull intersection are shown diagrammatically in Figure 5.19. Contributions arising from the I proposed quarry development are shown in bold. I Great Western Highway I 362 FT] I I 1 I Proposed Quarry Access I Figure 5.19. Estimated Hourly Truck Movements Associated with the I Proposed Quarry Development (500,000tpa). LI At times it will be necessary to suspend traffic on the Great Western Highway for short periods of time during blasting operations. DMR safety regulations require that the Highway be closed temporarily when blasting operations are to occur within SOOm of the traffic corridor. This I action will be necessary during the majority of blasting within the quarry except when I operations are at the southern extremity of the quarry. To ensure that transport disruptions are minimised, blasting operations will be planned in I co-ordination with RTA advice and assistance. This action is necessary to ensure that the safety I of the transport corridor is protected during blasting operations. I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 5.15 SOCIO-ECONOMICS 5.15.1 Existing Environment The proposed quarry development site is located in a region dominated by forestry and agricultural operations. The principal employers in the region include coal mining (Newcom and Angus Place Collieries), power generation (Wallerawang and Point Piper Power Stations) and rural/industrial operations. The total population of the Greater Lithgow Local Government Area is estimated at 19,719 (Lithgow City Council, pers. comm., 2000) and is expected to increase to around 21,600 by the year 2004 and 25,900 by 2018 (ABS, 1996). Unemployment in the region is approximately 11% and is typical for many regional communities in NSW. 5.15.2 Impact Assessment The proposal will result in a number of positive socio-economic impacts for Wallerawang and the Greater Lithgow region. During development and operation of the project, the opportunity exists for continued employment of up to four employees. Additional direct employment will also result from the use of subcontract hauliers and machinery hire. The output value from the quarry will be approximately $3.85M per annum at an average production rate of 175,000tpa, or $77M for the life of the quarry. Direct annual expenditure will include wages, taxes, materials and services, with the majority being expended in the local area. Increased overall employment and expenditure resulting from the development of the project will occur through both indirect and induced multiplier effects. The development of the proposed quarry is not likely to alter the demand for housing, facilities or services in the local region. 5.16 HAZARD ANALYSIS State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33-Hazardous and Offensive Development (SEPP 33) requires that potential hazards or offensive impacts of a proposal are identified and addressed as part of the development application process. The proposed quarry will involve several activities and operations, which may have the potential for hazardous or offensive impacts. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacnm Environmental I 59 i The primary hazard identified will be the transport and use of explosives for blasting purposes. To minimise the risk of hazardous impact from this activity the following actions will be undertaken: • detonators and initiating systems will be stored on-site in a bunded and secure storage I magazine as prescribed by the requirements of the Dangerous Goods Act 1975; • bulk ANFO explosive material will be stored off-site and delivered, prepared and used at the I site only on specified blasting days. Excess material will be removed from the site on completion; and I blasting will be undertaken by qualified contractors on a periodic basis. For each blasting campaign, enough raw material will be won for one to two months processing and I marketing. I The operation of the proposed quarry development may also result in several other potentially hazardous or offensive activities. Each of these has been identified and described, along with 1 proposed mitigation measures, in Table 5.15. 1 Table 5.15: Hazard Analysis for Proposed Quarry Activities Environmental Environmental Hazard Mitigation Measures Risk Potential Chemicals and waste materials will be stored in Site Contamination appropriately protected areas as described in Section 4.4. Low Risk of operations Fuel to be delivered to the site by a licensed contractor I contaminating site who will be required to carry a hydrocarbon clean up kit. Hazardous chemicals are not used in the process. Appropriate Water Management Plan as described in I Surface Water Section 4.1. Contamination Maximum re-use of water generated on-site. Low Water quality monitoring program to be included in Risk of disturbed water Water Management Plan for site. Sampling will be I discharge to the Coxs River undertaken within adjacent catchment area. Regular maintenance of water management structures. Fencing provided around identified aboriginal I archaeological site. Disturbance of Low Employee/Contractor induction program. Archaeological Material Management strategies in case of further archaeological I discoveries,_as_per_ Section _5.4. Air Quality Predicted amount of silica to be generated is well below Low accepted standards. I Respirable silica - health Noise Low Restriction of operations during adverse wind or weather Risk of excessive noise to conditions. I impacts to residents Medium Noise monitoring to be undertaken. I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry ______Pacrim Environmental ZE Table 5.15: Hazard Analysis for Proposed Quarry Activities (Cont) Environmental Environmental Hazard Mitigation Measures Risk Potential Blast Vibration monitoring to be undertaken at base of pylon. Minimum 50m set back established for quarry Risk to Transmission Line operations. pylon Low All blasts will be monitored. Utilisation of small diameter drill holes and delayed initiation blasts. Risk of flyrock damage • Temporary highway closure during blast operations. Fuel reduction program undeakenrt around quarry area as Bush Fire Management necessary. Low Water Truck fitted with fire fighting appliances. Risk of bushfire at site Extinguishers provided on-site. Transport New access junction as per RTA recommendation (Section 5.14). Safe access to proposed Acceleration lane separated from highway traffic. quarry development site No truck movements allowed during poor visibility Low conditions. RTA approved signage will be prominently displayed in Risk to existing highway both directions along the Highway warning motorists to traffic be aware of truck movements. 5.17 ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) relates to the use, conservation and enhancement of "the community's resources so that ecological processes are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased". The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, lists the principles of ESD as: The Precautionary Principle The EP&A Act, 1994, states that "if there are threats of serious or irreparable damage, the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation". The potential environmental impacts of the proposed development have been thoroughly analysed and appropriate mitigation and control measures have been incorporated into the project for pre-development, construction and operational phases. Threats of serious or irreparable damage to nearby environmental resources were assessed and mitigation methods detailed. Social Equity Social issues have been assessed throughout the EIS process, particularly when addressing flora and fauna, archaeology, visual amenity, noise and air quality, and economics. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 61 Mitigation measures, including revegetation and rehabilitation of the site, the preservation of I aboriginal archaeological relics, and the minimisation of impacts on surrounding residents over the life of the quarry will ensure that the proposal does not impact significantly on current or I future generations. The quarry has the potential to generate approximately $77M over its operating life. As I preference will be given to local suppliers, contract hauliers and machinery hire, increased employment and expenditure resulting from the quarry operation will occur both directly and I indirectly in the region. (iii) Conservation of Biological Diversity Biological diversity includes genetic, species, population, community, habitat and ecosystem diversity. The flora and fauna assessment (Appendix 4) found that floral and faunal species/habitat occurring on or near the proposed quarry site are not unique to the site and are not threatened by the proposed development. Impacts on species off-site will be minimised by careful establishment and maintenance of environmental controls including air quality, water anderosion controls. Rehabilitation of the site will aim to reproduce the species density and diversity present on the site prior to development of the quarry. I (iv) Valuation of Environmental Resources To ensure the protection of environmental resources at the site and to mitigate against any potential or perceived environmental effect of the proposal, this EIS outlines an ongoing I program of prevention, management and remediation for the proposed quarry site and surrounding areas. Establishment will include installing water protection and erosion control measures. I Revegetation, noise, air pollution and visual amenity controls will be in place throughout the life of the quarry, and the final landform will be seeded with endemic tree, shrub and groundcover I species to produce a vegetative cover at a density similar to that which currently exists. 1 5.18 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS The proposed quarry development site is located within an area of predominantly rural land I uses. Comparable development within the project vicinity includes the Marrangaroo Quartzite quarry, located approximately 3km SE, the Wallerawang Power Station and the former coal I loading facility, located approximately 5km NNE of the quarry development site. Although these developments produce similar emissions (dust, noise etc.) to those identified for the I proposal, they are considered to be sufficiently distant from the proposed quarry, so as not to result in cumulative impacts to the surrounding environment. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 62 Potential dust, noise and water quality impacts of the proposal were assessed using existing data for the area (including emissions from existing development) as the baseline for analysis. In all cases, predicted impacts were found to be minimal under most weather conditions. Under adverse weather conditions, mitigation and management options were identified and prescribed. The proposal is expected to result in an increase in truck traffic volumes on the Great Western Highway and Mudgee Road. However, this increase is not likely to reduce the level of service available to existing road users. Modifications to the Great Western Highway at the proposed quarry access intersection will ensure the continued safety of all road users. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Li 6. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND ALTERNATIVES U This section describes the need for the Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry, in the context of the availability of coarse aggregate within the Sydney Planning Region. Alternatives to the project LI and its justification are also discussed. I 6.1 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION I Quartzite, quartz gravel and reef quartz deposits are the major source of coarse silica in New South Wales. Across the State however, there are only four deposits currently being worked. I Quartzite is quarried at Marrangaroo, near Lithgow, by Metromix Pty Ltd, for use as a flux in steel-making and as coarse aggregate. This quarry is located approximately 3km SE of the H proposed development site. I At Bolivia, near Tenterfield, Tenterfield Silica Pty Ltd has mined a pipe-like body of extremely high purity quartz. This material has previously been exported to Japan to produce high-grade I fused silica, it has been used as a filler in semi conductors for the electronics industry, in addition to its use as a refractory medium. I In the vicinity of Cowra, gravel deposits composed predominantly of high purity quartz pebbles are quarried at two locations - at "Glenella' by Glenella Aggregates Pty Ltd and at "Mulyan" by I TJ Bryant Pty Ltd - principally for use as decorative aggregate and filtration gravels. I A report on potential supply and demand for coarse aggregate in the Sydney Planning Region (Pienmunne, 2000) found that currently identified resources within the planning region are I sufficient to supply aggregate at present levels for the next ten years, after which significant shortages will occur as established supplies are exhausted. The report found that it is imperative that a strategy for sourcing and developing identified coarse aggregate resources H outside the Sydney Planning Region be adopted. The proposed Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry has the potential to reduce the predicted shortfall in coarse aggregate resources in the long-term I while also providing consistent local product in the shorter term. I The proposed quarry has been planned such that impacts to the surrounding environment have been minimised, where possible, through operational and design alternatives. Where impacts I have been predicted to occur, mitigation and management strategies have been designed and proposed. These strategies will be supported by a set of Management Plans for the operation of I the proposed quarry development. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental ME 6.2. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES 6.2.1 Not Proceeding The alternative of not proceeding with the proposed Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry requires analysis of the value of the resource and estimated tonnages. This has been undertaken prior to and during the development of this EIS. If this proposal does not proceed an estimated 3.5Mt of high quality quartzite (aggregate) will be lost to the Western Sydney/Lithgow construction industry. This equates to $77M over the life of the project. In this case, alternative resources in the regions surrounding Sydney will need to be developed and aggregate for development in the Lithgow region will need to be imported. 6.2.2 Alternative Quarry Areas Quarrying in the area surrounding the proposal is limited by the extent of similar resources, environmental factors and economic issues. Sampling undertaken within the area covered by Exploration Licence EL 4473 has shown that the proposed quarry is the most appropriate location for extraction of the quartzite resource. Other quartzite bodies identified in the immediate area have been rejected for one or more reasons including: inaccessibility due to the presence of the Coxs River; steep slopes providing little or no opportunity for water diversion and treatment; proximity to the Coxs River, the Lidsdale State Forest, Great Western Highway and the power transmission easement; and inferior reserves of quartzite. 6.2.3 Alternative Quarrying Methods Quartzite is a difficult material to extract due to its hardness. For this reason, drilling and blasting is the most appropriate means of extraction. The small (89mm) drill holes proposed will reduce the levels of vibration, overpressure and the chance of fly rock. No alternative methods are considered economically and environmentally acceptable. 6.2.4 Alternative Access Modes and Routes A detailed assessment was undertaken of alternative access routes to the Quarry (Appendix 2). The assessment was able to discount a number of alternatives due to cost and/or safety issues. Of the remaining acceptable access routes, the proposed access is considered superior in that it requires less construction between the quarry and the Great Western Highway and a high level of safety. The RTA concurs with this decision. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental 65 I I 6.2.5 Alternative Waste and Water Management Practices Waste The main wastes expected at the site are production wastes - unsold overburden and fines. The [1 current proposal is to use these materials in the rehabilitation process, for backfill and construction of erosion/water management structures. I The alternative of transporting these wastes off-site is not acceptable for economic and U environmental reasons. Off-site disposal would incur transport and disposal costs, and would require similar material to be purchased for construction works and rehabilitation at the quarry. Water I The water and erosion control system proposed for this development is based on DLWC's "Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for Extractive Industries" guideline, and includes best H practice techniques recommended in DLWC's "Urban Erosion and Sediment Control" and the NSW Department of Housing guideline "Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils and I Construction". It is not considered practical or prudent to adopt an alternative strategy. I 6.2.6 Final Landform Options In determining the most appropriate post-quanying landform, environmental issues such as noise, air quality and rehabilitation were considered. Leaving the eastern highwall as it is, is I considered the most appropriate alternative as it helps limit noise and dust emissions during the operational phase, and will provide a fmal slope of around 500, similar to existing gradients in I the area. The alternative of filling the Quarry to its original Iandform with clean fill is not economically viable. The alternative of filling the void with waste is not recommended due to the proximity I of the site to the Coxs River and the potential for leachate transfer. 6.2.7 Alternative Product Transport Option I The proximity of the proposed quarry development to the Great Western Highway makes road transport of product to the Sydney market, the preferred option. Due to the nature of the market, product transport needs to be as versatile as possible to meet demand at a variety of i locations. The use of rail transport has been identified as an alternative product transport option. The I Main Western Railway passes through Wallerawang to the north of the proposed quarry development site. The existing Wallerawang coal loader, currently used for the loading of I timber, would enable rail transport to constitute an alternative transport option for the quarry product. However, significant limitations exist with this alternative. The product would have I ______Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental I I to be moved to a bulk supplier within the Sydney market for this option to be considered economically viable. Truck transport provides the versatility to service a wide range of small markets at diverse geographical locations. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental REFERENCES Australia and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council. (1990) Technical Basis for Guidelines to Minimise Annoyance Due to Blasting Overpressure and Ground I Vibrations. ANZECC (2000), Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality ANZECC (2000), Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting I Australian Standard AS 2187:2 (1993). Explosives - Storage, Transport and Use - Use of Explosives. I Charman, P.E.V and Murphy, B.W. (eds) (1991). Soils: Their Properties and Management. I Sydney University Press, South Melbourne, Australia. Colmine Consulting. (2000) Wallerawang Quariy - Management Systems, Drill and Blast U Design, Equipment Selection, Environmental Considerations and Costing Estimates. Report to Sitegoal Pty Ltd, September 2000. Unpubi. Emery, K.A. (undated) Rural Land Capability Mapping. Soil Conservation Service of NSW. Ingpen, I.A. (1996). EL4473 Wallerawang. Report to Sitegoal Pty Ltd. Etheridge Henley Williams, Consulting Geoscientists. Unpubl. L Ingpen, I.A. (1997). EL4473 Wallerawang. Report to Sitegoal Pty Ltd. Etheridge Henley Williams, Consulting Geoscientists. Unpubl. El: Ingpen, I.A. (1999). Wallerawang Silica Project - EL4473 Wallerawang. Annual Report I Report to Sitegoal Pty Ltd. Red Hill Geoscience. Unpubl. Northcote, K.H. (1979). A Factual Key for the Recognition of Australian Soils. Rellim I Technical Publications, Adelaide SA. Unpubl. Managing Urban Stonnwater: Soils and Construction. I NSW Department of Housing. (1998). NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. (undated). Erosion and Sediment I Control Plans for Extractive Industries. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. (1992). Urban Erosion and Sediment I Control. I NSW Government 1994 - Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1994. I Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental Me NSW Environment Protection Authority. (2000). New South Wales Industrial Noise Policy. NSW Environment Protection Authority. (1999). Environmental Criteria for Road Traffic Noise. NSW Environment Protection Authority. (1994). Environmental Noise Control Manual. NSW Government 2000 - Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. NSW Government 1997 - Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. NSW Government 1996 - Protection of the Environment Operations Act (Waste) Regulation, 1996. NSW Government 1995 - Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. NSW Government 1975 - Dangerous Goods Act 1975. NSW Government 1972 —Clean Water Regulations, 1972 NSW Government 1999 - State Environmental Planning.Policy No. 58. Protecting Sydney's Water Supply. NSW Government 1995 - State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44. Koala Habitat Protection. NSW Government 1992 - State Environmental Planning Policy No. 33. Hazardous and Offensive Development. Pienmunne, J.T. (2000). Supply and Demand for Coarse Aggregate in the Sydney Planning Region, Geological Survey of New South Wales, Department of Mineral Resources, Geological Survey Report 2000/525, August 2000. Environmental Impact Statement - Wallerawang Quartzite Quarry Pacrim Environmental