EIS 1287
FTAIiiiioi;
An environmental impact statement for a proposed new quarry on the property "Blue Rock" near Pallamallawa in the Shire of
Ya II aroi i1f3i1(, LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd A.C.N. 055 099 557 NSW DEPT PRIMARY 86- 88 Ring Street, IES P.O. Box 332 Inverell. 2360 ABQ200 75 Ph. 067225110 I L Ph./Ah 067 223833 Fax. 067223918 Mobile. 018 651115
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
STATEMENT
for a
PROPOSED NEW QUARRY
on the property "BLUE ROCK"
near Pallamallawa
in the Shire of Yallaroi
prepared for
Mr Sam Turnbull
. Providing a full range of professional engineering services to Local Government U _L - LV7T=:V(3,,
I_Q~ ~9 CONTENTS
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 4
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT...... 5 2.1 SUMMARY ...... 2.2 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCALITY ...... 5 2.3 MATERIAL TO BE EXTRACTED...... 6 2.4 ESTIMATED QUANTITIES ...... 6 2.5 PLAN OF OPERATION...... 6 2.5.1 Overburden ...... 6 2.5.2 Quarry Blasting Qperations...... 6 2.5.3 Crushing Plant...... 7 2.5.4 Stockpiles ...... 2.5.5 Hours of Operation ...... 8 2.5.6 Production Rates ...... 8 2.5.7 Transporting Produced Materials...... 8 2.5.8 Access to Site...... 9 2.5.9 Facilities...... 9 2.5.10 Siltation Dams...... 9 2.5.11 Safety ...... 10 2.5.12 Personnel ...... 10 2.5.13 Professional Experience...... 10 3 OBJECTiVES OF THE DEVELOPMENT...... 11 3.1 EXTENT OF EXTRACTION ...... 11 3.2 DESTINATIONS ...... 11 4. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...... 12 4.1 FLORA...... 12 12 4.1.1 SEPP46 - Native Vegetation ...... 4.2 FAUNA ...... 12
4.2.1 SEPP44 - Koalas...... 12 4.2.2 Other Fauna...... 13 4.3 GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY ...... 13 4.4 CLIMATE ...... 14 4.4.1 Rainfall...... 14 4.4.2 Temperature ...... 14 4.4.3 Humidity...... 15 4.4.4 Wind Frequency Analysis...... 15 4.5 HERITAGE AND ABORIGINAL SITES ...... 16 4.6LANIDUSES ...... 16 4.7 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ...... 16 4.8 SERVICES AND UTILITIES ...... 16 4.9 PRESENT DUST AND NOISE LEVELS ...... 16 4.10 PRESENT TRAFFIC LEVELS...... 17 4.11 PRESENT ROAD CONDITIONS ...... 18 4.11.1 Sight Distance ...... 21 INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT ...... 22
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS...... 23 6.1 IMPACT ON TRAFFIC ...... 23 6.1.1 Worst Case Scenario ...... 23 6.1.2 Traffic Volumes...... 23 6.1.3 Impact on Shire Road No 14...... 23 6.1.4 Impact on Shire Road No 16...... 23 6.1.5 Impact of cars ignored...... 23 LOCAL GOVI3RNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 3 L T-7-V...... (0 ;9, 6.1.6 Impact and Compensation ...... 6.1.7 Traffic Safety...... 24 6.2 IMPACT ON DUST ...... 25 6.3 IMPACT ON EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL ...... 26 6.4 IMPACT ON NOISE AND VIBRATION...... 26 6.4.1 Track Drill ...... 26 6.4.2 Blasting...... 27 6.4.3Equipment Noise Limits ...... 27 6.4.4 Loader...... 28 6.4.5 Crushing Plant and Screens...... 28 6.4.6 Generator...... 29 6.4.7 Trucks...... 30 6.4.8 Overall Noise ...... 30 6.5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS...... 30 6.6 COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS...... 30 6.7 IMPACT ON VISUAL ENVIRONMENT ...... 31 6.8 IMPACT ON SAFETY HAZARDS ...... 31 6.9 IMPACT ON CONTAMINATED SOiLS ...... 31 6.10 IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY...... 32 6.11 IMPACT ON HERiTAGE ...... 32 JUSTIFICATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT...... 33
MEASURES TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT ...... 34 8.1 SHORT TERM MEASURES...... 34 8.2 LONG TERM MEASURES ...... 34 8.3 MONITORING PROGRAMME...... 34 ENERGY REQUIREMENTS ...... 35 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS...... 36
ALTERNATiVES ...... 37 CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PROCEEDING...... 38 CONSULTATION...... 39
MAPS & PLANS Appendix 1
PHOTOGRAPHS Appendix 2
LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Appendix 3
LETTERS RECEIVED Appendix 4
CERTIFICATE Appendix 5
TRAFFIC COUNTS Appendix 6
FLORA AND FAUNA REPORT Appendix 7
NPWS FAUNA DATABASE Appendix 8
WEATHER DATA Appendix 9
KEY ISSUES Appendix 10
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1. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS This report refers to the development of a quarry at "Blue Rock" near Pallamallawa.
The arguments FOR the development include:- Economic justification due to reduced road maintenance and construction costs. More efficient use of limited road funds. Improved road system. Effective short term and long term environmental protection measures are proposed. Effects on the environment will be minimised. No known endangered species will be significantly affected. An effective Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan is proposed.
The arguments AGAINST the development include:- Traffic and road safety. Dust and noise from crushing and blasting. Cumulative effects due to existing adjacent "Runnymede" quarry.
Effective measures are proposed to minimise dust and noise.
A sinail amount of additional traffic will be generated. But with a co-operative effort between the Council and the Developer, the road system can be improved sufficiently to cater for the additional traffic, and result in safer roads for all concerned. The Developer has made it clear that he is prepared to make a fair contribution towards the upgrading of the roads, but the amount of that contribution is a matter for negotiation between him and the Council.
The adjacent "Runnymede" quarry has been in operation for approximately two years. Unfortunately the Environmental Impact Statement carried out for Runnymede did not truly anticipate the actual volumes of material that would be extracted from that site, and the actual volume of traffic that would be generated, because the operators of Runnymede were successful in winning a major supply contract for the RTA which required the transportation of a large volume of road base material north along Shire Road 16. Moreover, anticipated road improvements have not yet been carried out, and this has made residents cautious in their attitude to another quarry in their area.
Due to the proximity of this proposed development to an existing quarry with a similar operation, cumulative effects have become an important issue. However, another important issue is the urgent need for quality road building materials.
Australia's road network is deteriorating at an alarming rate, and the extraction of road building materials from any location will effect the environment in one way or another. Although there are some valid concerns, this location is probably better than most, and the safeguards proposed are sensible and practical.
In my opinion, the environmental concerns and the effects of increased traffic are outweighed by the economic justification of developing another valuable source of blue metal for roadbase and bitumen surfacing aggregate.
It is recommended that the development be allowed to proceed. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 5. ]
2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT I 2.1 Summary I The proposed development involves the establishment of a blue metal quarry and crushing plant on the property "Blue Rock", near Pallamallawa, to produce roadbase and aggregates.
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I 2.2 Property Description and Locality The site to be developed is described as: Portions 56 & 74 Parish of BULLALA County of BURNETT Shire of YALLAROI
The property is located at longitude 1500 18', latitude 290 23', approximately 24 kilometres northeast of Pallamallawa.
The area of the property is 482 hectares (1190 acres), but the applicant will confme the quarrying activity to an area of approximately 3 hectares as shown on the locality map in Appendix 1.
The crushing plant and stockpile areas will be located within the area of the quarry.
The land is owned freehold by the applicant, Mr Sam Tumbull, 7/30 Collingwood St, Drummoyne NSW 2047.
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I 2.3 Material to be Extracted No exploratory drilling has been carried out yet. Site investigation so far has been limited to clearing the surface to uncover rock outcrops. So, there is no certainty about the quantity or I quality of the resource. However, surface indications are that the rock is a basalt, similar to the material being extracted I on the adjacent property "Runnymede".
The "Runnymede" material when crushed and mixed with the right grading of fine sand, has been I used as an Al base course for road construction by the RTA.
If the resource proves to be similar to "Runnymede" in quantity and quality, it will be an excellent and valuable source of road base, and if crushed and screened it would also be suitable as aggregate for road surfacing works and for making concrete.
I 2.4 Estimated Quantities In general, the rate of extracting material from the quarry site will depend on demand, and success in winning supply contracts. I Initial estimates by the applicant were that he would expect to produce approximately 10,000 to 16,000 cubic metres of road-base and/or aggregate per year. For the purposes of this study, I have I adopted the higher figure of 16,000 cubic metres.
Allowing for wastage of 40%, this means approximately 22,000 cubic metres of material would be extracted each year, and assuming a density of 1.8 Tonnes per cubic metre for loose crushed rock, that equates to approximately 40,000 Tonnes of material being extracted, and about 29,000 Tonnes of road-base or crushed aggregate being transported away from the site each year.
2.5 Plan of Operation
2.5.1 Overburden It is apparent from surface outcrops of rock, that there may only be a fairly thin layer of topsoil overlaying the basalt rock.
As it is removed, the topsoil will be stockpiled for' future reuse as topdressing for progressive rehabilitation of the quarry batters as the work proceeds.
2.5.2 Quarry Blasting Operations The proposal is for the quarry to be operated by establishing a blasting face of up to a maximum width of 150 metres, and then progressively moving east.
Blasting operations will be carried out by a licensed shotfirer, using Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (ANFO) as the primary explosive. Drill holes will be drilled using an air-track drill rig, to a depth of up to 25 metres, in a regular drilling pattern designed to optimise fragmentation, while LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd I 7
maintaining a clean blasting face. The tops of the drill holes will be stemmed with nlosi I material to a depth of 600mm to 1 metre, in order to reduce uncontrolled flyrock from the blast. Milli-second delay electric detonators will be used in a firing sequence to reduce noise and I vibration.
The drill and blast operation will be carried out by expert qualified sub-contractors. The operation I will take up to 10 days with one blast per contract of 16,000 cubic metres Broken rock will then be loaded into the crusher with a front-end loader (either a Cat 966 or 980).
As the operation advances towards the east and sufficient rock has been removed, progressive rehabilitation will be carried out to stabilise the sides of the quarry. This work will involve I reshaping and flattening the batters, spreading the previously stockpiled topsoil, planting of native trees and grasses, to prevent erosion and loss of topsoil, and to improve the appearance of I the site.
2.5.3 Crushing Plant A mobile crushing plant will be used to crush and screen the materials.
It is proposed to use sub-contractors.
The proposed site for the mobile crushing plant is shown on the site layout plan (Appendix le). This layout is as proposed for Stage 1. For subsequent stages, it is proposed to set up the mobile crushing plant close to the face, on the floor of the quarry.
The mobile crushing plant will most likely consist of :- a hopper for loading the raw rock a primaly jaw crusher a secondary crusher vibrating screens conveyor belts.
A diesel generator will be used to produce power for the electric motors that run the crushers, screens and conveyors. The generator will be contained in a sea container on site to cut down noise.
No washing of aggregates is proposed, but fme mist bars will be used on the jaw crusher and screens to settle the dust. It is proposed to sink a bore on site to provide water.
2.5.4 Stockpiles An area has been set aside for the stockpiling of crushed aggregates. This area is conveniently located beside the screens and conveyors. This area will also be used for the loading of trucks once production commences. Trucks will be loaded with a front-end loader (either a Cat 966 or Cat 980).
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2.5.5 Hours of Operation I Hours of operation will be restricted as follows:- Drilling and Blasting - 6 days per week, Monday to Saturday, 10 hours per day, 7am to 6pm. I Crushing and screening - 6 days per week, Monday to Saturday, 10 hours per day, 7am to 6pm. Hauling - 5 days per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8am to 4pm.
2.5.6 Production Rates I The work will not be continuous every week, because supplies of aggregate will only be produced as required. For example, it is proposed that drilling and blasting work will only be carried out once for each contract, and drilling will last for approximately 10 days with only one blast. The I crushing and screening operation is expected to last approximately 8 weeks (at an estimated production rate of 1000 cubic metres per week) for each contract. Rates of delivery are based on recent Moree Plains Shire aggregate contracts of 400 cubic metres per week. If based on a I contract of 8000 cubic metres (as was the recent contract advertised by Moree Plains Shire Council), this equates to 20 weeks of haulage at 400 cubic metres per week. I If the applicant is successful in wilming two aggregate supply contracts per year, then the following production rates and quantities would apply:-
Drilling - 10 days twice per year Blasting - one blast twice per year - producing a total of 22,000 cubic metres (40,000 Tonnes) of rock per year. Crushing and screening - 8 weeks twice per year - producing a total of 16,000 cubic metres (29,000 Tonnes) of aggregate per year. Hauling - 20 weeks of haulage at 400 cubic metres per week = 8000 cubic metres twice per year - for two contracts - equals a total of 40 weeks of haulage per year.
2.5.7 Transporting Produced Materials In general, the major transport route will be to Moree, via Shire Road 16 (Gil Gil Rd) to Mosquito Creek Road, then via Mosquito Creek Road to Pallamallawa, then via the Gwydir Highway(State Highway No. 12) to Moree.
Another possible transport route will be to Warialda via Shire Road 16 and Mosquito Creek Road.
These routes are illustrated on the map in Appendix 1.
It is proposed to use 14 cubic metre gravel trucks. Truck loads will comply with weight of loads regulations.
Truck movements are expected to be as follows (on average):- 400 cubic metres/week @ 14 cubic metres per truck = 28.6 trucks per week 28.6 trucks per week @ 5 days per week = 5.7 trucks per day - say 6 trucks per day 6 trucks per day (ie round trips) = 12 truck movements per day.
LOCAL GO V73RNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd I Z7r_==V~~ The effects of traffic generated by the development on the environment are discussSecti
- 2.5.8 Access to Site Legal access is presently available across the Bullala State Forest to the south-western corner of I Lot 74. However, the route from that corner of the property to the quarry site is steep and would - be a difficult route for trucks.
With permission from State Forests, a new access road will be constructed during Stage 1. The access road will follow the route of an existing unformed dirt track as shown on the locality sketch in Appendix 1. I The existing access track is narrow and will require widening to an 8 metre wide formation to accommodate trucks. It will also require forming up with a grader with table drains, at least one I pipe culvert, and gravelling to provide an all-weather surface. It is proposed to use road-base from the crusher.
The access road passes through a section of State Forest, and therefore any work involving widening of the track will require the approval of the State Forests.
The access road meets Gil Gil Road (Shire Road 16) at approximately 8.6 km north of Mosquito Ck Rd. There is at least (insert figure) metres of clear sight distance in both directions where the access road intersects with Gil Gil Rd. This is more than adequate for safe stopping at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour.
2.5.9 Facilities Facilities to be provided on site include: A toilet block A crib hut A tool shed / site office A water bore 2 x 20,000 litre water tanks
No power or telephone services are proposed. A mobile phone will be used for communications, and the generator will provide power for the equipment.
The toilet will be portable type with removable chemical pan.
2.5.10 Siltation Dams While it is not proposed to wash the aggregates on site, the ground will be disturbed and erosion might occur due to stormwater. To minimise the effects of this, and to trap silt and prevent loss of silt from the site, two siltation dams are proposed to be constructed (see site plan in Appendix 1).
- The first siltation dam will be constructed during Stage 1. The second dam will be constructed either during Stage 2 or Stage 3.
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The dams will have a first flush capacity equivalent to a storm with an ART of 1 s an I duration of 2 hours.
- 2.5.11 Safety The crushing plant will comply with and be operated in accordance with the relevant Australian I Standards, and in accordance with Mines Act regulations. All electric motors will be fitted with appropriate earth leakage protection units.
All loaders, trucks and other equipment will be maintained regularly.
All relevant requirements of the Mines Inspection Act will be strictly adhered to.
11 2.5.12 Personnel Up to 5 people will be employed on site when the crushing plant is in full production. Up to 6 truck drivers will also be employed to transport the materials to various work sites.
2.5.13 Professional Experience The developer, Mr Sam Tumbull, is a degree-qualified mining engineer with 4 years experience in civil contracting work. His background has included mining and building new sections of freeway throughout NSW. During this time, he has been responsible for quarry operations at several different locations including some quarries in environmentally sensitive areas, others in close proximity to townships, and some in small rural settings.
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3.1 Extent of Extraction The quarry site will be confined to an area of approximately 3 hectares as shown on the locality map and site map in Appendix 1.
The proposed extent of excavation is shown on the site map and the cross section (both in Appendix 1). Assuming an average depth of 20 metres (the cross section shows a maximum of 25 I metres), and an area 150 metres by 150 metres, it is estimated that during the life of the quarly, a total of 20 x 150 x 150 = 450,000 cubic metres of material (bank volume) will be excavated. Assuming an allowance of 40% for wastage and fines, this represents a 20 year supply at the I previously stated production rate of 16,000 cubic metres per year (see Section 2.4).
However, the above figures are pure speculation. It is impossible to predict accurately what I contracts might be won, and the quality and quantity of the resource is unknown.
3.2 Destinations Again it is difficult to estimate the destinations because these will depend on the company's success at winning supply contracts.
For the purposes of this report, it has been assumed that 75% (say 12,000 m3 per year) of the aggregates will be transported to various markets in the Moree area via Pallamallawa. It is further assumed that the remaining 25% (say 4,000 m3 per year) will be transported to the Warialda area via Mosquito Creek Road.
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4. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
4.1 Flora I On 10 March 1997, a site inspection was carried out with Wendy Hawes, District Vegetation Officer, Department of Land and Water Conservation. The variety of trees, bushes and grasses identified during that inspection are listed in Appendix 7.
The site of the proposed quarry is only sparcely vegetated with trees - probably because of the rocky ground (see photos in Appendix 2).Grasses on the quarry site consist of a mixture of annual I summer grasses and perannial winter grasses. However, the area around the perimeter of the site is covered with a medium density of trees. The I majority of the trees ( approximately 90%) are Black Cyprus Pine (callittris endlicheri). Other - species include White box and Silver-leaved fronbark.
The area of the access road through the State Forest is described as open forest with closed shrub understorey - an area of high biodiversity for its type, with natural timber, structurally diverse. Trees in this area consist of:- - Belah Casuarina cristata Silver-leaf Ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia Black Cyprus Pine Callitris endlicheri I Wattle Acacia leiocalyx ssp leiocalyx Wattle x 2 species Acacia spp.
None of the flora observed on site are considered to be rare or threatened species.
4.1.1 SEPP46 - Native Vegetation Legislation is planned by the State Government, which is likely to reduce controls over the I removal of native vegetation. However, at the time of writing this report, SEPP46 is still in force and has not been revoked.
I SEPP46 requires landowners to obtain consent for the clearing of native vegetation. However, this proposal is exempt because less than 2 hectares will be cleared per annum.
11 4.2 Fauna .4.2.1 SEPP44 - Koalas I A fauna database search was requested from the National Parks and Wildlife Service endangered Species Unit.
I National Parks and Wildlife Service records revealed two reported sightings of koalas (Phascolarctos cinerius) Both sightings were on the same day, 30 November 1949, by W.R.
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Harrison, at a location approximately 8 km south-east of the quarry site. The dataport I reproduced in Appendix 8.
One neighbour, Mr Warren Schultz, reported finding a dead koala on the Gil Gil Road near the 11 front of his property last year.
Koalas have been listed on Schedule 12 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 as vulnerable and rare. Declining koala populations have led to the issuing of a special State EnvironmentalPlanning Policy - SEPP44 "Koala Habitat Protection". The policy aims to encourage the proper conservation and management of areas of natural vegetation that provide a habitat for koalas, to ensure permanent free living populations over their present range and to reverse the current trend of population decline.
SEPP44 requires the identification of "potential koala habitats" and "core koala habitats" in lands subject to development applications. A "potential koala habitat" is defined as an area of natural I vegetation where at least 15% of the total number of trees are primary koala food trees as listed in Schedule 2 of the Policy. A "core koala habitat" is defined as an area with a resident population of koalas. The Policy requires that if an area is a potential koala habitat, then a local environment I study may be required. If an area is a core koala habitat, then the preparation of a plan of management may be required
I The whole site, including the perimeter of the proposed quarry site was checked for the presence of koala feed trees, to see if the site should be classified as a potential koala habitat. Only 9 trees were found from the Schedule 2 list. These were White box (Eucalyptus albens). They represent I only 4% of the total tree population. Therefore, the site cannot be classified as a potential koala habitat. I 4.2.2 Other Fauna During the site inpection on 10 March 1997, an Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) was caught (see photo in Appendix 2), and tracks were found from emus, kangaroos and wallabies.
These are classified as protected species (as are all Australian native fauna), but are not considered to be endangered.
No rare species of birds were observed. However, the Regent Honey Eater(classification?) could inhabit the area, as one of its favourite food sources is Mistletoe, and a small number of Mistletoe were observed near the quarry site. And Black Cockatoos (classification?) could inhabit the area, since some casuarinas were found in the State Forest area near the access track, and casuarinas are a food source for Black Cockatoos.
The State Forest area may be a corridor for movements of fauna
4.3 Geography and Geology The quarry site is located on the crest of a hill, and is surrounded by a sparse natural buffer zone of trees.
Not much is known for certain about the geology of the area, but it appears from initial shallow excavations that the site consists of a shallow layer (could be 100mm to 300mm) of black soil, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 14 _
and then hard basalt rock of un1uown depth. In some places, there is no top soil atst roz~ outcrops (see photos in Appendix 2). The rock outcrops increase towards the north.
4.4 Climate
4.4.1 Rainfall The nearest Bureau of Meteorology station is at Moree Post Office. A histogram showing average monthly rainfall is shown below. On average there are 59 rain days per year, with a total average annual rainfall of 578mm. The wettest month is February with an average rainfall of 68mm on 6 days. The driest month is April with an average rainfall of 33mm on 4 days.
Average Monthly Rainfall
20
10
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Moree Post Office
4.4.2 Temperature Daily maximum temperatures range from 17.50C in July to 33.30C in January. Daily minimum temperatures range from 3.70C in July to 19.70C in January. A graph of the maximum-minimum temperatures is shown below:-
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Max and Min Temperature 35 . . 30 . 25
20 Max . A. I Min CL • 15
10
5 0 -
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Moree Post Office
4.4.3 Humidity Average relative humidity is 63% at 9am but drops to 37% at 3pm. The variation throughout the year is shown on the graph below:-
Mean Relative Humidity (%)
Moree Post Office
4.4.4 Wind Frequency Analysis The wind frequency analysis information in Appendix 9 shows that the most common wind directions are north-easterly and easterly at 9am, but the winds are more likely to be south- westerly or westerly at 3pm.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 16 ] 4.5 Heritage and Aboriginal Sites A search of Aboriginal site records in 1995, for the adjacent "Runnymede" quarry found that there are no records of Aboriginal sites in this vicinity.
During an inspection of the site, no evidence of any Aboriginal archaeology could be found.
With regard to European heritage, there is no evidence of any development on the site.
4.6 Land Uses The site of the proposed quarry and crushing plant is undeveloped and unimproved.
Surrounding land uses are predominantly farming of winter and summer cereals and grazing of sheep and beef cattle.
The site is approximately 24 kilometres from the nearest urban area, Pallamallawa.
4.7 Socio-Economic Environment The site is in a rural region.
It is not an area of significance for tourism or bushwalking or any other social activities.
However, the maintenance and improvement of the road network is of prime importance to the people who live and work in the district. Their economic well-being depends on access to their properties and their markets in all weather conditions. And all weather access is required for medical, educational and social and commercial reasons.
So, the development of new roadbuilding resources at economic rates is regarded as an important issue in the socio-economic environment of this region.
4.8 Services and Utilities No existing services will be directly affected by this proposed development.
4.9 Present Dust and Noise Levels Before the establishment of the Runnymede quarry in 1995, the location was relatively peaceful, with only occasional traffic noise, and noise from farm animals and farm machinery.
Trucks hauling roadbase from Runnymede quarry to various markets - especially to an RTA site on the Newell Highway - create noise and dust, which is a concern to residents. This has been a bigger problem than was anticipated in the Runnymede EIS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 17 _(0,0 However, there was already some dust created by traffic using the local unsealed ro AL-b-9fore Runnymede quarry was established, so it would be unfair to blame Runnymede quarry for all of the present traffic noise and dust.
I The road gravel used on Gil Gil Road has a lot of fme particles which become airborne under traffic. Bitumen sealing would solve this problem. But the road is unlikely to be sealed in the I foreseeable future, because there are many other roads in the Shire of Yallaroi which have a higher priority for the limited roadbuilding funds available to Council.
4.10 Present Traffic Levels In order to assess the effects of traffic generated by the proposed quarry at "Blue Rock", we need to know the existing traffic volumes of both light and heavy vehicles.
In 1995, traffic counters ("classifiers") were placed on the Mosquito Creek Road (Shire Road No 14), and the Gil Gil Road (Shire Road No 16). The counters were left for 20 days (24/5/95 to 13/6/95). This was after the commencement of Stage 1 of Runnymede quarry, but before the commencement of haulage of any roadbase to the Newell Highway.
The full results of the traffic counts are tabulated in Appendix 6.
From these traffic counts, the following tables illustrate the volumes of traffic before Runnymede became fully operational:-
Shire Road 14 (Mosquito Creek Road) Light Heavy Total Westbound 324 67 391 Eastbound 340 64 404 Total 664 131 795 Daily v.p.d. 33 7 40
Shire Road 16 (Gil Gil Road) Light Heavy Total Northbound 226 53 279 Southbound 230 53 283 Total 456 106 562 Daily v.p.d. 23 5 28
No official traffic counts have been carried out since Runnymede quarry became fully operational. So, to estimate the true present level of traffic (especially heavy vehicles), we can add to the above figures, the numbers of trucks carting roadbase away from Runnymede quarry.
Yallaroi Shire Council has advised that 75,000 tonnes was carted from Runnymede quarry in the year up to 30 June 1996, and the maximum cartage was during the September quarter (June 1996 to September 1996) at a total of 48,000 tonnes.
Assuming that semitrailer/dog trailer combinations were used with a total tare weight of 45 tonnes, the number of truck movements can be calculated as follows:-
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48,000 tonnes for 3 months = 1067 trucks I 13 weeks = 82 truck loads per week = 8ays week = 14 truck loads per day (round trips) = 28 truck movements per day.
This figure is consistent with information provided by Mr Warren Shultz from the neighbouring property "Mynook", who claims that "during a period of peak activity at the Runnymede quarry, (he) estimated 1200 to 1500 tonnes of material a day was carried north from the quarry to the Newell Highway". That would equate to approximately 50 to 60 truck movements per day during the peak period observed by Ivfr Shultz.
Therefore would appear that the above figure of 28 truck movements per day could be regarded as a reasonable average for heavy traffic from Runnymede quarry on Shire Road 16, in addition to the traffic counts recorded above.
It is assumed that no additional light traffic was generated as a result of the Newell Highway contract.
It is also assumed that 10 - 15 % of the trucks (ie 4 truck movements per day) carted material via Mosquito Creek Road as well as travelling on Gil Gil Road.
Therefore, the following traffic numbers have been adopted as a best estimate of the present traffic volumes, including truck numbers from Runnymede quarry :- Total Shire Road 14 (Mosquito Creek Road) Light Heavy Daily v.p.d 33 11 44 Shire Road 16 (Gil Gil Road) Light Heavy Total Daily v.p.d. 23 33 56
4.11 Present Road Conditions The Mosquito Creek Road (Shire Road No 14) will be affected by traffic generated by the development of the proposed quarry at "Blue Rock". It is an all-weather gravel road in good condition, and is regularly maintained by Yallaroi Shire Council. The effect on other roads such as the Gwydir Highway will be insignificant.
However, the road most affected by the proposed development will be the Gil Gil Road (Shire Road No 16).
It is an unsealed rural road of varying width and varying surface conditions. It commences at Shire Road No 14 (Mosquito Creek Road), and terminates at the County Boundary Road.
On Wednesday, 141h June 1995, a condition survey was carried out on the road, commencing at 11.3Oam.
The following table sets out the results of that road survey:-
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Chainage Road Gravel Continent (kin) Width (in) Dept/i ('mm) 0.00 Tntersection Shire Road 14 (Mosquito Creek Rd) 0.20 5 50 Tight RH bend (sight distance approx 40m) 0.30 0 Bad section approx. 20m long 0.35 5 0 Crest (sight distance approx 50m) 0.40 NalTow concrete causeway (width 5.0m) 0.50 5 0 Curve and crest (sight distance approx 40m) 0.70 Cattle grid 0.75 Access right to Milgi Park 0.85 Curve (sight distance approx SOin) 1.00 5 20 1.20 5 0 1.50 5 20 1.70 Access road left 1.80 5 20 2.00 5 20 2.20 5 20 Curve (sight distance approx 20m) 2.50 5 0 2.80 5 0 3.00 5 0 3.50 5 0 4.00 5 0 4.30 5 20 Short section of gravel about 50m long 5.00 5 0 5.30 5 0 5.50 Turnoff RHS to "Runnymede" 5.60 5 50 5.70 5 10 5.85 Tight corner (sight distance approx 30m) 6.00 5 0 Gully with no pipe or causeway 6.50 5 0 6.80 6 75 Start of red gravel 7.00 6 75 7.30 6 75 End of gravel section 7.50 6 0 8.00 6 0 8.50 6 0 8.60 Turnoff RHS to "Blue Rock" 8.70 4 0 Road narrows 9.00 5 0 Poor condition 9.30 Crest & intersection with LH curve (S.D. approx 50m) 9.50 5 0 9.80 6 20 R.H. curve (sight distance approx 40m) 10.00 6 50 10.50 6 10 10.80 Tight L.H. curve (sight distance approx 30m) 11.00 5 20 11.40 5 0 Crest (sight distance approx 50m) 11.60 Tight R.H. curve (sight distance approx 30m) LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 0 z , (3 21
The condition of part of Shire Road No 16 has improved since the road survey was done in 1995. Improvements have been made to the section south of Ruimymede turnoff by Johnstone I Readymixed Concrete. However, the condition of the northern section is much the same. As a condition of development, Johnstone Readymixed Concrete was required to supply 1% of the gravel extracted to Yallaroi Shire Council, for the purpose of upgrading Shire Road No 16. I However, at the time of writing this report, the gravel upgrading work had not yet been done.
4.11.1 Sight Distance A gravel road should have a stopping sight distance of 110 metres for a design speed of 70 kmlhr, or a stopping sight distance of 60 metres for design speed of 50 kmlhr. (These distances are for a normal passenger vehicle, assuming level dry conditions. A coefficient of friction of 0.25 was used).
The intersection of Shire Road No 14 and Shire Road No 16 has adequate sight distance, as does the intersection of Shire Road No 16 with the access track to "Blue Rock".
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd U 22 _ I 5. INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT
In order to identify and prioritorise the key issues which will need a full analysis in the ETS, the table in Appendix 10 was used. This table was discussed at the Planning Focus Meeting on 27 February 1977, and it was agreed that the key issues would be :- Transport and the effects on the road network Noise and dust - especially since the site is close to a house occupied by Mr and Mrs Schultz Erosion and sedimentation control Cumulative effects since there is a similar operation already in place nearby
Other issues which were considered to be not key issues include:- Community and Economic issues Flora and Fauna Visual environment Hazards • Contaminated soils Water quality Heritage
These will be addressed briefly in the EIS.
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6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Consideration is given here to the issues in order of importance as identified in Section 5 and Appendix 10:- I 6.1 Impact on Traffic
6.1.1 Worst Case Scenario The percentages quoted below are estimates only, and assume that both quarries would continue to operate at the same time. As far as the road pavements are concerned, this is the worst case I scenario. In fact, it could be said that with two quarries operating side by side, the chances are that they will be in competition for supply contracts, and so the deliveries which will result in truck movements would have originated from the same vicinity anyway. In this case the impact I on the road system would be nil. However, for the purposes of this study, I have assumed the worst case scenario. I 6.1.2 Traffic Volumes As stated in Sections 2.5.7 and 3.2, it is estimated that the development will contribute an additional 12 truck movements per day, with approximately 75% (9 truck movements per day). travelling to Moree via Pallamallawa, and approximately 25% (3 truck movements per day) travelling to Warialda via the Mosquito Creek Road.
6.1.3 Impact on Shire Road No 14 The effect of the increased traffic on Shire Road No 14 (Mosquito Creek Rd) will be an 82% increase (9 / 11 x 100) in truck movements towards Pallamallawa, and a 27% increase (3 / 11 x 100) in truck movements towards Warialda.
6.1.4 Impact on Shire Road No 16 The effect of the increased traffic on Shire Road No 16 (Gil Gil Rd) will be a 36% increase (12 / 33 x 100) in truck movements from the Blue Rock quarry towards the Mosquito Creek Road.
6.1.5 Impact of cars ignored It is generally accepted by road engineers that the impact of cars on a road pavement is insignificant compared to trucks. The damage done by a truck is approximately 1000 times greater than a car. For this reason, the impact of cars on the roads has been ignored.
6.1.6 Impact and Compensation Assuming traffic increases (trucks only) of 82% and 27% on Shire Road No 14, and 36% on Shire Road No 16, the development will have a significant impact on the road network. This impact will be felt in increased road costs, as well as road safety.
LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd I 24 _ / L-/7 In order to compensate for the impact on the road network, the developer is prepo ass;4 19 I Council to upgrade the roads by the supply of gravel as a similar condition of development that - was imposed on the developers of the Runnymede quarry.
- In addition, the developer is prepared to send his own grader out onto the public road (with Council's permission) to reshape any sections that deteriorate before the Council grader can get I back there.
6.1.7 Traffic Safety Increasing the number of trucks on the roads will have an effect on traffic safety, because of:- . Increased traffic numbers I Trucks travelling at high speed on a gravel road require a long stopping distance . Dust created by trucks reduces visibility
I School Bus Routes Bill Phillips drives a school bus twice a day from Warialda to the junction of Shire Road 16 and Shire Road 14 where he stops to pick up school children and turns around and travels back to I Warialda. Five children are delivered to the bus stop by their parents from along Shire Road 14, - and another 4 children come from along the Mosquito Creek Rd to meet the bus at this bus stop.
Barry Cleal drives a school bus twice a day from Warialda along the Oregon Road, but he stops about 19 km short of Crooble. Barry's bus route would not be affected by traffic from the proposed development. However, he is currently seeking an extension of the route.
Max and Janelle Jones operate a school bus which travels along the County Boundary Road to Crooble and down the Gil Gil Creek Road (Shire Road 14) as far as the property "Warmoggie". This bus picks up 8 children from Shire Road 14 and takes them to school at Pallamallawa.
(Janelle Jones told me that she has found the truck drivers from Runnymede to be very courteous, and always on the look-out for the school bus. She said that in general drivers of 4 wheel drive vehicles are more of a safety problem because of the speed that they travel along the gravel roads.)
So, the proposed major route for trucks from Blue Rock (ie along Shire Road 16 to Shire Road 14 and then west towards Pallamallawa) is not a school bus route.
However, part of the minor route (ie Mosquito Creek Rd east of Shire Road 16) is a school bus route. And parents do have to drive their children along Shire Road 16 to get to the bus stops at Warmoggie, and the junction of Shire Roads 16 and 14.
Sight Distance Some crests and curves on Shire Road 16 have inadequate stopping sight distance for the speed of the traffic using the road (see Section 4.11). Increasing the traffic on Shire Road 16 - especially with truck which require longer stopping distances - without improving these crests and curves, will have an effect on safety.
Signs Some crests and curves on Shire Road 16 should have warning signs erected in accordance with Austroads and RTA guidelines. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 25 ]
6.2 Impact on Dust I A small amount of dust will be generated by the quarrying and crushing operations, but this will not be significant because blue metal is usually clean and dust-free. If necessary, the developer I proposes to settle dust at the crushing plant by using mist sprays on the jaw crusher. The dust created by trucks using the Shire Roads will be greater than any dust produced on site. However, the residents are used to gravel roads, and most of the houses on the proposed routes are a fair distance from the road.
Just the same, an increase in truck movements will create an increase in dust, and this is a concern to residents. It was raised as a concern at the Planning Focus Meeting by Warren Shultz whose wife is an asthmatic, and by Alan Rohde whose property is about 4 km west of Blue Rock. I Residents claim that the dust created by Johnstones' trucks from Runnymede has been worse than anticipated. And they are concerned that a proposed quarry at Blue Rock will make the dust I problem even worse.
Dust from unsealed roads also impacts on other aspects of the environment. It can degrade agricultural produce, be a problem to households, affect health, reduce road safety, increase wear and tear on vehicles and it results in an increase to the rate of deterioration of the roadway.
The Australian Road Research Bureau's Special Report 54 "Road Dust Control Techniques" says that:- "The prime factors for the creation of dust from unsealed roads are a loose surface and strong wind due to natural elements, but in particular, air currents caused by fast moving vehicles. Climate is also a major factor, with hot and dry areas being more prone to dust generation.
"Road fines (<0.075mm), lost as dust from the wearing surface, can cause a more rapid deterioration of the road pavement, in that the fines blown away will reduce the ability of the pavement to remain bound together. The loss of fines exposes the coarse aggregate, and under the abrasive action of traffic, these stones become readily dislodged, leading to earlier ravelling of the road surface.
"Lost paving material will need, in time, to be replaced by resheeting the road with materials with properties chosen for service as a wearing course, spread, shaped and compacted to provide the road with a hard surface layer and a crowned cross-section."
The only effective way of preventing dust generation is to bitumen seal the road. With limited road construction funds, and other roads in the Shire with higher traffic volumes, it is unlikely that Yallaroi Shire Council will consider sealing either Shire Road 14 or Shire Road 16.
Measures to limit the generation of dust include:- Good construction and maintenance techniques incorporating well-graded materials Watering the road Using chemical dust suppressants (chloride-based products were found by the ARRB report to be the most cost effective - however they have a limited life and should not be regarded as a "magic cure" for dust suppression) LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 26 ]
The developer proposes to use bore water from his property to water the roads to suppress dust.
6.3 Impact on Erosion and Sedimentation Control I Soil erosion could become a major problem at this site if adequate erosion and sedimentation control measures are not introduced and maintained.
Some vegetation has already been cleared from the site, and this will expose those areas to possible erosion from stormwater.
I It is expected that the crushing plant will be adry operation unless the blue metal is contaminated with clay. Mist sprays may be used to suppress dust if necessary, however washing of aggregates I will only be necessary if the material is very dirty. Given that erosion is only likely to occur from stormwater runoff, the following measures are proposed to control erosion:- I 1. Contour banks above the quarry face to divert overland stormwater 2. Contour banks and catchdrains below the quarry to divert stormwater into a series of sedimentation dams. I Sedimentation dams provided with a first flush capacity to store the runoff from the entire catchment area from a 1 in 10 year storm event with a 2 hour duration. I Sedimentation fences and silt traps constructed with hay bales will be used to trap silt and control loss of silt from the site. 5. Staged development, and progressive rehabilitation after each stage to flatten batters, I replacing topsoil previously stockpiled, and planting trees and grasses.
6.4 Impact on Noise and Vibration The development will produce an increase in noise levels and vibrations. Noise and or vibrations will be produced by the following plant items or activities:- Track drill Blasting Loader Crushing Plant and Screens Generator Trucks
6.4.1 Track Drill It is proposed to use an air-track drill rig to drill blast holes. This will generate noise which is likely to be audible up to 2 kilometres away depending on the wind direction. However, it will only be for a short duration - approximately 10 days drilling twice per year, and only during daylight hours.
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6.4.2 Blasting I The rock will be dislodged and fragmented using explosives. This will generate a loud noise and vibrations. The vibrations and noise will be reduced by using milli-second delay electric I detonators in a firing sequence. This method of firing also has the advantage of optimising fragmantation and reducing fly-rock, so it is to the operator's advantage to use this method.
I Even using milli-second delay detonators and sequential firing, it is estimated that the blast will be audible up to 5 kilometres away. However, it will sound like a "rumble" rather than a loud "bang". And the noise will be a very short duration as it estimated that there will only be one I blast twice per year.
Vibrations should not be a problem to any nearby residents using this method of firing, because I the delay detonators restrict the total blast to a large number of separate smaller blasts spread out over a short but not instantaneous time span. I would expect that the vibrations will travel up to 500 metres along the basalt ridge. But provided that the blasting is carried out by a professional I shotfirer with experience in electrical sequential firing (as is proposed by the developer), then there will be no structural damage to nearby residences (the nearest home is approximately 900 metres away), and the neighbours might not even feel the vibrations at all. I Major factors affecting airblast overpressures are the magnitude of the blast (low maximum instantaneous charges (MIICs) will be used with delay detonators), exposure of explosive I (stemming of the blast-holes will be used to confine the blast), topography (the natural buffer of hills and trees will reduce the noise), and atmospheric conditions (upwinds can reduce blasts by I up to 6 dBL and vice versa, and clouds can reflect blast noise to remote areas). TheAustralian Standard Explosives Code AS 2187 Part 2 (1983) recommends a maximum peak particle velocity (ppv) of 10 mmlsec in order to avoid damage to residential dwellings. To create a ppv of 10 mmlsec at the nearest residence 900 metres away, would require an instantaneous charge of 1087 kg. This is an extremely high charge per hole, and is not realistic. It is more likely that charges will be approximately 20 kg per hole with millisecond delays between holes.
The developer Mr Sam Tumbull is an experienced and degree-qualified mining engineer. He has I said that airblast overpressure emission levels will not exceed 120 dB linear when measured at the nearest residence 900 metres away.
It should also be noted that blasting will only occur twice per year and all neighbours will be well informed of blast times (to the minute).
.6.4.3Equipment Noise Limits I Hours of operation will be 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with no work on Sundays. The following equipment noise limits will apply when measured at a distance of 7 metres from the I item of plant:-
Rock breakers 97 Dump truck 96 I Bulldozer D10 93 Air track drill 90 Loader 90 I LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 11 8 I 28 _
Bulldozer I 6.4.4 Loader It is proposed to use a front-end wheel loader (either a Cat 966 or 980) to load broken rock into I the crusher, and then later to load crushed rock into trucks. As the loader has rubber tyres rather than tracks, it will be no noisier than a regular farm tractor, I and the developer will ensure that the loader as well as all mobile plant on site complies with the equipment noise limits listed above. 6.4.5 Crushing Plant and Screens I The crushing plant will produce the most significant amount of noise. Load noises will result from the dumping of rocks into the hopper. A low pitched humming noise will come from the hydraulically operated conveyors. A high pitched noise accompanied by continuous vibrations I will emanate from the vibrating screens. But the noisiest piece of equipment is the jaw crusher which makes a load continuous "thumping" noise with occasional load "bangs" as rocks break. As the development has not yet commenced, it is impossible to predict with certainty what the impact of noise will be on nearby residences. Warren Shultz (approx 900 metres from Blue Rock site) advised that he and his wife occasional hear a continuous thumping noise (although not loud) from Runnymede quarry which is 4 km away from their home. Mr and Mrs Shultz are concerned that the proposed Blue Rock quarry will create noise that will be clearly heard at their home, and they hope that the operation will be restricted to daylight hours and not on Sundays. Alan Rohde (approx 4 km south-west of Blue Rock, and approx 3 km west of Runnymede) advised that when the crusher is operating at Runnymede, he can sometimes hear a continuous "thumping" noise - especially if it is early in the morning when there is no wind. He said that it is not ear-shattering, and is pitched a little loader than the surrounding noise. Both Warren Shultz and Alan Rohde promised to ring me when the noise could be clearly heard, so that I could drive out and take noise readings, but neither of them contacted me. I wanted to carry out a noise study on the crushing plant at Runnymede, but I was not given permission to do this by the operator, Paul Johnstone. So, I carried out a noise study on a similar plant operating at Inverell. LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 29 _ Inverell Noise Study Reg Wilkins and Mark Bath operate a basalt quarry at Rifle Range Road, Inverell. It is located in a gully with similar topography to the Blue Rock site. The quarry has a fixed crushing plant that has been operating more or less continuously for at least 10 years. The noisiest piece of equipment is an 1 8x32 jaw crusher. In order to simulate conditions at Blue Rock, a spot was chosen approximately 900 metres north of the crushing plant to represent Warren Shultz's house. The topography is similar, both having a sparse covering of trees to buffer the noise, and both "house" sites being out of sight of the crushing plant, over a rise and on a lower level. Noise level readings were taken at varying distances from the crushing plant, on two separate occasions. Background noise was approximately 48dB The following table and graph show the results of the noise study:- 15 94 92 40 84 87 100 75 78 200 68 67 400 58 56 500 52 54 650 50 52 800 not heard 50 100 90 Rifle Range Quarry, Inverell 80 70 1- 60 -28-A r-97 50 29-Apr-97 40 30 20 10 0 15 40 100 200 400 500 650 800 900 metres Assuming that this noise level study is a fair approximation of the noise which can be expected at the proposed Blue Rock quarry, the amount of noise from the crushing plant which can be expected at "Mynook" 900 metres away will be about 50 dBA. 6.4.6 Generator A diesel generator will be used to produce power to operate the crusher and vibrating screens and any other electrical power tools. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 30 I ] I In order to cut down noise from the diesel motor, the generator will be contained in a sea - container. 6.4.7 Trucks Trucks will be used to transport the crushed aggregate to various markets. Noise from this I operation will be no louder than normal transport noise. 6.4.8 Overall Noise IVIrTurnbull has stated that the maximum noise emanating from the site when measured 1 metre from the Mr and Mrs Schultz's house at "Mynook", 900 metres from the quarry, will not exceed an LAb 0 (15 minute) sound pressure level of 65 dBA. 6.5 Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects will have an impact on the environment at this proposed quarry site, because an existing quarry is already operating on the adjacent property "Runnymede". When considering the effects of the proposal on the environment (jarticularly traffic effects), the worst case scenario has been adopted, that is, the effects of traffic have been compounded. In fact, this might not be a realistic situation, because the two quarries might be in competition with each other for the same supply contracts, and the traffic is therefore likely to originate from one or other of the quarries, but not both. However, other effects on the environment, for example the effects on flora and fauna, will definitely be compounded by the cumulative effect of two quarries side by side. 6.6 Community and Economic Effects The effects of the proposal on the community and the local economy will be beneficial. Blue metal aggregate is a highly sought after resource in the road building industry. It is also preferred by engineers for use in concrete. Provided that the production costs can be kept low enough to win supply contracts, the proposed development will have a beneficial impact on the local and regional economy. Up to S people will be employed on site when the crushing plant is in full production. Up to 6 truck drivers will also be employed to transport the materials to various work sites. The employment of this number of people will have a beneficial impact on commerce - especially in the village of Pallamallawa. It will also result in lower costs of building and maintaining roads with top quality materials. This will benefit all of the community. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEER IJJG SER VICES Pty Ltd 31 ] 6.7 Impact on Visual Environment I The quarry site is elevated, and can be seen from the Crooble area. However, it is well screened by trees and cannot be seen by passing vehicles on Shire Road 14 or 16. I The development will not have a significant effect on the visual environment, and the appearance of the site will be enhanced by the rehabilitation works. 6.8 Impact on Safety Hazards I The dangerous goods expected to be used on site include explosives and fuel. I Explosives will not be stored on site except during the drilling and blasting phases. Then the explosives (ie detonators and primers) will be stored in a licensed magazine, and agricultural fertiliser (Ammonium Nitrate) used as explosive will be stored in a separate, dry, clean storage I area, away from diesel fuel. Fuel for plant and equipment will be stored in an overhead fuel tank, with a secure bund area beneath it, with sufficient capacity to contain 110% of the volume of the fuel tank. All personnel will be trained in work safety, and all plant operators will be required to hold current licences for the equipment to be operated. Staff will be supplied with safety equipment appropriate to their jobs (eg hard hats, protective clothing), and first aid facilities will be provided. The crushing plant will comply with and be operated in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards, and in accordance with Mines Act regulations. All electric motors will be fitted with appropriate earth leakage protection units. All loaders, trucks and other equipment will be maintained regularly. All relevant requirements of the Mines Inspection Act will be strictly adhered to. 6.9 Impact on Contaminated Soils No chemicals apart from fuel and explosives will be used on site. No organic wastes will be disposed of on site. As the fuel and explosives will be stored carefully, it is not expected that there will be any contamination of soils. LOCAL GO VI3RNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 32 _ 6.10 Impact on Water Quality The development is not expected to have a significant effect on water quality. There is no river or creek near the site. A series of sedimentation dams will trap stormwater from the site, and silt traps are proposed to stop erosion of the site. All stormwater runoff from the site will be contained in the sedimentation dams, allowed to settle, and then flow into the natural gully nearby. By this method, the quarry will not result in any contamination of water courses or neighbouring farm dams. Other possible contaminants such as diesel fuel will be properly contained in a bunded storage area. There is a water bore on "Mynook" (246 feet deep, 183 feet to water, approx yield 1700 gallons per hour), and the developer proposes to sink a water bore to supply water for dust suppression on the roads. However, there is not expected to be any contamination of the groundwater due to the proposed development. Ground vibrations at the bore will be controlled by lowing the instantaneous charge of the blast, changing the blast geometry, and changing the properties of the ground (eg pre-splitting the blast face), to reduce the peak particle velocities (ppv) at the bore (see Section 2.5.2). Therefore, the water bore is not likely to be damaged by blasting vibrations. 6.11 Impact on Heritage As stated in Section 4.5, a search of Aboriginal site records in 1995, for the adjacent "Runnymede" quarry found that there are no records of Aboriginal sites in this vicinity. During an inspection of the site, no evidence of any Aboriginal archaeology could be found. With regard to European heritage, there is no evidence of any development on the site. Therefore, the development is not expected to have a significant effect on heritage. LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 33 _ 7. JUSTIFICATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Significant benefits to the community will result from the development, due to the reduced cost of construction and maintenance of roads with top quality materials. Both Main Roads and Shire Roads will benefit - mainly within the areas covered by Moree Plains Shire and Yallaroi Shire. Apart from the Runnymede quarry, other blue metal sources are much further away, and the extra haulage costs could amount to approximately $100,000 per year. Without blue metal, road authorities would be forced to use river gravel as a road aggregate. But river gravel is not only inferior in quality. The removal of river gravel is to be discouraged on environmental grounds. The Department of Land and Water Conservation is strongly discouraging the extraction of sand and gravel from river banks because of the effects on the river environment. So, the proposed development can be justified both on economic grounds and on environmental grounds. Other benefits flow on from accelerated road improvements made possible due to the reduced cost of road materials:- Less wear and tear on vehicles Less stress on drivers Fewer accidents Reduced travelling costs Shorter travelling times LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGIN8ERING SER VICES Pty Ltd I 34 L (0, I 8. MEASURES TO PROTECT THE I ENVIRONMENT I 8.1 Short Term Measures The following measures will be taken to protect the environment during the operation of the proposed quarry, in order to minimise the impact of the development on the environment:- I Fine mist bars will be used on the jaw crusher and screens to settle dust A water cart will be used on the roads to reduce dust 3. Millisecond delay detonators and sequential firing used to reduce noise and vibrations I from blasting operations 4. Normal hours of operation will be limited to 7.00am to 5.00pm, with no work on Sundays I 5. Siltation dams will be constructed to trap any clay or silt from stormwater runoff 6. Contour banks, catch drains and silt traps will be constructed to minimise soil erosion I Regular maintenance of plant and equipment A natural buffer of trees will be maintained to minimise noise and reduce the impact on flora and fauna I 8.2 Long Term Measures I A long term rehabilitation plan is proposed. I When operations have reached each successive stage, progressive rehabilitation of the quarry site and crushing plant site will be carried out. I This rehabilitation work will involve reshaping and flattening of batters, spreading of previously stockpiled topsoil, and planting of native trees, to improve the "natural" appearance of the site. I 8.3 Monitoring Programme An environmental monitoring system will be established to allow annual checking of the long- I term environmental sustainability of the operation. This system should be developed in consultation with Yallaroi Shire Council after the I development has been approved. I The system would normally take the form of a simple checklist/short answer sheet to be completed by the operator each year, and submitted to Council for the purpose of ongoing environmental monitoring, and to provide statistics on the volumes of materials extracted. - LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd I 8 35 _ 9. ENERGY REQUIREMENTS The development of the Blue Rock quarry will entail the use of the following diesel powered equipment:- Front end loader Haul trucks Generator The diesel generator will produce electricity to power the motors which drive the crushers and vibrating screens, and a hydraulic motor to drive the conveyors. LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd 36 _ 10. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS• Clean Air Act 1961 Noise Control Act 1975 The site is not a "Scheduled Premises" as defined by these Acts, because less than 50,000 Tonnes per year will be extracted. SEPP 46 Native Vegetation As described in Section 4.1.1, SEPP46 is still in force, however, this site is exempt. I LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd I 37 I 11 ALTERNATIVES To the best of our knowledge, there are no other sources of blue metal within a reasonable distance of the Moree area, except for the Runnymede quarry. I , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 38 _ 12. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PROCEEDING - The main thing that affects the cost of supplying road building materials is the haulage distance. This is particularly relevant in the black soil plains of Moree and Narrabri, were good quality I materials are scarce. Without blue metal quarries, road authorities would have to either pay more for blue metal hauled from sites further away, or use river gravel which is inferior in quality and discouraged on I environmental grounds. Either way, the community will pay more for its essential roadworks. LOCAL GOVERNMEIVT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 39 I 13. CONSULTATION Letters were sent to the following Government Authorities seeking the issues and cocems that they would wish to be addressed :- Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Yallaroi Shire Council National Parks and Wildlife Service I Environment Protection Authority Department of Mineral Resources Roads and Traffic Authority I Department of Land at Water Conservation Tamworth (No reply received) Department of Land at Water Conservation Warialda (No reply received) I State Forests Inverell (No reply received) I All replies are provided in Appendix 4 A preliminary on site meeting was held on 28 January 1997 to discuss the proposed development and the planning procedures. This meeting was attended by:- I Sam Turnbull (the applicant) Bob Martin (Yallaroi Shire Council) Tony Ryan (Department of Land at Water Conservation Warialda) I Rob Shaw (Local Government Engineering Services Pty Limited) On 27 February 1997, a Planning Focus Meeting was held on site. This meeting was attended I by:- Bob Martin (Yallaroi Shire Council) Tony Ryan (Department of Land at Water Conservation Warialda) Rod Brown (Department of Land at Water Conservation Tamworth) Tom Newby (State Forests) Warren and Barbara Shultz (Nearest neighbours - "Mynook") Alan Rohde (Neighbours - western side) John and Debbie Gall (Nearby residents) Rob Shaw (Local Government Engineering Services Pty Limited) Later, informal discussions regarding the development were held with the following people:- Simon Smith (EPA, Armidale) Wendy Hawes (Department of Land at Water Conservation Inverell) Ian and Paul Johnstone (Southern neighbours - "Runnymede") Bill Phillips (Bus driver - Mosquito Ck Road school run) Bany Cleal (Bus driver - Oregon Road school run) Janelle Jones (Bus .driver - Pallamallawa-Crooble school run) A summary of some of the comments received follows:- Simon Smith (EPA) It would be "economically unjustifiable" to require the EIS to include an expert noise study. Given the size of the proposed operation, it is "not worth employing an acoustics engineer". The LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Pty Ltd 40 L (0, proposed methodology was discussed, including aftempting to duplicate the-4 circumstances and extrapolate noise levels. - Warren and Barbara Shultz ("Mynook") On 12 March 1997, I had a thorough discussion of the proposed development and the issues of concern to Mr and Mrs Shultz. Being the nearest residents to the quarry site, their main concerns regarding the proposed development were:- Effect of increased traffic on the road which is already in poor condition Road safety Effect on their land values Noise, dust and vibrations Scenic quality They provided a written list of concerns which has been reproduced in Appendix 4. Alan Rohde Main concern is transport and the dangerous condition of Shire Road 16. LOCAL GO VERNMENT ENGINEER ING SER VICES Pty Ltd Appendix I - Maps & Plans I WoI hd - j 0 -. At don.d _-\ I 2 70 .376 / 26 Hole '-\- . ) .------L - / . . Ab Stmthd8,8 A. / N . o - -. ,' ' 31 Gi , .-y1 7+2T 32 . "1 I5722, 3/ 6 31 / L (71\ - BULtAA ,rArE FO/€S 25 40 •'°'/i 60 38 I'iy8den' I WBJShft 5hebo 9 Ams 39, 1 36 76 33 - 293 ( I - --. I -1 3 14.1/- - -' 7 / !ZJb0 79 7 " A tv\ I I /l '-(_7/5_ I __.' ad loo 31 AR0 5// LA \ I 1 I w I' - . - \1)REST (V --7 / I .3 . l I U LIL A L A 20 8 7) 87 i 1 I 6 1 2 -1-- 8 J28 rI 14 1 7 on LP ;/• .. -7 I ;. -7 .L7L7 ii - 1-1L2y_ -- 'f 7 - . 73\.\ I / ' 4 \\ I Ro \l cl - / /16 32 k-\ I 17 6 10 7 S1\\ I N5) 3d7J126 7 )3534 4 7 N' '1 t 26 N) i'NA N t 71 77 dj I I 7 1 Mano / 18 J - / ( Adjoining Landowners 2 \, (lb) 6 Woi 26 ) I L Ii:_:_ 7 34 3 LATEFOR€ST3TA \ /7______a'32 77 / WK & BJ Schultz P0 Box 424 LA jMoreeNSw2400 60 - Lots 40,41 & 60 DP 751093 j J a Lot 39DP 808249 JC4 392 7 fr 220 .374 Takchi ' L///( S6 "Sheeba Downs" j3<4 Lots57, 76,77, 78, / _ i\ Abandom d -- Lot 39 DP 808249 ' ------ - 70 i /[ BuL /1A' • I / , )9 I/f IA, LR & PF Johnstone - / 0 MoreeNSW 2400 / A "Runnymede" 8. _ Moiee Local Aboriginal Land Council /1 2 POBox 924 MoreeNSW2400 I .370\. 311 / Lot 81 DP751093 ( // 73\ — .1. 61 I I WK. & B.L. Shultz "Mynook" I Approx. 900m from I quarry site. I I I vpen rarest witfl I - closed understorey. with shrLlbby Area of high und erstorey. To be maintained 7 biodiversity. To be moinLained. I Proposed bore and water tanks I Proposed mobile crushing plant Proposed site office & amenities 12' S- '. Proposed quarry area 150m x 150m opprox. I ' 'S Leave gully area Stage 1 Sedimentation Dam uncleared to I ovoid soil erosion. I I . "Blue Rock" I Lb lo 'a Scale 1:10000 Johnstone Ready Mixed Concrete Pty Ltd. "Ru nnym code" Approx. 1 50m rea cleared and excavated for Access rood floor of quarry Section A—A Sca'e 1:10000 - ------ /1 whshbbY understOreY. Bore / To be maintained. 7! Water 2x20000L / Stage 3 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stoc ke Stage Blasted rock Secondo'Y / Crusher Prima ry All waste water Crusher collected here Screens ylzbl- 150m Approx. Generator in sea container AcrCe s srod // 1 50m / Approx. Office Amenities Sed Basin Overflow Equipment (Qoroge sheds Topsoil SITE PLAN Stockpile Site. cale 1:1000 Appendix 2 - Photographs PIC Arc i - - - - .' ..' FF : V -.: & Photo 4 - Planning Focus meeting on site 27 February 1997 Photo 5 - Section of Shire Road 16 - gravel provided and placed by Johnstone Readymixed Concrete from Runnymede Quarry Photo 6 - Section of Shire Road 16 - North of Blue Rock shQwing poor alignment and lack of wearing surface material *i- - - •- '- '' -- : - F - - ---- '44- - Photo 8 - Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) I Appendix 3- List of Persons Contacted List of nersons and bodies contacted Formal letters were sent to the following:- Department of Urban Affairs and Planning I Yallaroi Shire Council National Parks and Wildlife Service Environment Protection Authority Department of Mineral Resources Roads and Traffic Authority Department of Land at Water Conservation Tamworth (No reply received) I Department of Land at Water Conservation Warialda (No reply received) I State Forests Inverell (No reply received) Informal comments were received from the following people:- Bob Martin (Yallaroi Shire Council) I Tony Ryan (Department of Land at Water Conservation Warialda) Rod Brown (Department of Land at Water Conservation Tamworth) Wendy Hawes (Department of Land at Water Conservation Inverell) I Tom Newby (State Forests) Simon Smith (EPA, Armidale) Warren and Barbara Shultz (Nearest neighbours - "Mynook") I Ian and Paul Johnstone (Southern neighbours - "Runnymede") Alan Rohde (Neighbours - western side) John and Debbie Gall (Nearby residents) I Bill Phillips (Bus driver - Mosquito Ck Road school run) Bany Cleal (Bus driver - Oregon Road school run) I Janelle Jones (Bus driver - Pallamallawa-Crooble school run) Appendix 4- Letters Received LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING SER VICES Ply Ltd A.C.N. 055 099 557 86- 88 Ring Street, P.O. Box 332 Inverell. 2360 Ph. 067225110 Ph./Ah 067 223833 Fax. 067223918 31 January, 1997 Mobile. 018651115 The Regional Manager, Department of Land and Water Conservation, P0 Box 550, Tamworth 2340. re: "BLUE ROCK" QUARRY Dear Sir, This firm has been engaged to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed blue metal quarry and crushing facility at "Blue Rock" near Pallamallawa, on behalf of the owner/developer, Mr Sam Turnbull of 7/30 Collingwood St Drunimoyne 2047, 'phone 02 9878 0592. Enclosed is a summary of the development proposal and a locality sketch. Yallaroi Shire Council has advised that in view of the area affected, an EIS will be iiecessary. I have a copy of the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning's "EIS Guidelines", and will follow the requirements laid out in Section B of those guidelines, in the preparation of the EIS. I have written to the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and other Government Departments, seeking their comments on the key issues that need to be addressed in the EIS. The Manager Environmental Services at Yallaroi Shire Council, Mr Bob Martin is arranging a planning focus meeting. In the meantime, would you please provide directions for the key issues and concerns to your Department which need to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement? A copy of this letter has been sent to Tony Ryan at Warialda. LeJe5 Se 4o: I. ep4 o'C PtA 9.- Yours faithfully, T. 3. NL Pctcs o..., 4.EPA . Dep4 e't M'-M-o- Rccoui-ca; Rob Shaw Director -,. 4,c Cv6* (sto s.ej) S'c ,' ( C-io4.--. c.r? sc( .JbAiC1c. eU (o rtp) Providing a full range of professional engineering services to Local Government New South Wales Government Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Rob Shaw Contact: Local Government Engineering Services Pty Ltd Meredith McIntyre P0 Box 332 Our Reference: INVERELL 2360 G97/00023 Your Reference: L 17 FEB 1997 Dear Mr Shaw, Proposed Environmental Impact Statement for a Blue Rock Quarry, Near P a 11am allawa Thank you for your letter of 31 January 1997 seeking consultation with the Director- General for the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the above I development. Under clause 52 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act Regulation 1994 I (the Regulation), the Director-General requires that the key issues outlined below are specifically addressed in the EIS. Key Issues Cumulative effect on regional transport networks; I Potential impacts on Bullala Creek and other local waterways; and . Cumulative effect, both locally and regionally, given the proximity of other similar I operations in the area. Attached is the Department's EIS Guideline 'Extractive Industries Quarries'. It contains I a guide to the type of information most likely to be relevant to the development you propose. Not all the matters it contains may be appropriate for consideration in the EIS I for your proposal; equally, the guide is not exhaustive. The EIS shall be prepared in accordance with clauses 50 and 51 of the Regulation. Statutory requirements for the form and content of the EIS are outlined in Appendix I of I the attached Guideline. You should consult with Yallaroi Shire Council and take into account any comments I Council may have in the preparation of the EIS. Other issues emerging from consultation with relevant local, State and Commonwealth government authorities, I service providers and community groups are to be addressed in the EIS. Governor Macquarie Tower I 1 Farrer Place, Sydney 2000 Box 3927 GPO, Sydney 2001 Telephone: (02) 9391 2000 U Facsimile: (02) 9391 2111 I I Should you require any further information regarding the Director-General's requirements for the ETS, please contact Ms Meredith McIntyre on (02) 9391 2384. I Yours sincerely, David Mutton I ô- A/Manager Major Assessments and Hazards Branch I As Delegate for the Director-General 276 '1: RM : CC ii Felvua ry .1 997 P. L LA HO I NI r R a b S ii a w SHIRE COUNCIL Luca I Cove j'nm(---n 1 Erij nee r ] fl9 Se rvjCes P0 Box 332 INVERELLI N SW 2360 Re: Proposed Quarry at "Blue Rock" FIOPE STREET (1)0 BoX 93) F)ea r S ii' WA RI ALDA RE eiFil: of yol1IT I cItTel: aiid ini&o:mati on re]ard iIicJ the above NSW 2102 pt:1alis ai:lcrjow 1 cci Ar ra ni 'men L s a re be nc; macla for a focus p1 ann i nj meet lay I: a be 1 LI on siLe on 1'Iiui'sday 27Lh February 1997 at 11.00 a .m. Le Lt:e r have I 'cen f:c1'Vd rdad La a .1 1 neces sa ry Government: TEELPI t( )NE aqencies nviti nq Lheiii at that: t.me. Yni Ii jli I: i a ía riti Ni' Ta rnhu 1 1 of t he a na ncjement s 067 291 016 Y () ii r s ft i I Ii iii 1 I IA(SIIIIE ) -J 067 291 -I0() /-// G ERAL MANAGER 5 March, 1997 NSW NATIONAL Rob Shaw PARKS AND Director WILDLIFE LEGS SERVICE P0 Box 332 INVERELL NSW 2360 Our reference: Your referencg1 92/I 591/scn Dear Sir/Madam BLUE ROCK QUARRY, PALLAMALLAWA I refer to your letter of 31 January 1997 seeking the comments of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in regard to matters that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should address for the above proposal. I apologise for the delay in responding to the letter, as this is largely a result of cumulative delays associated with forwarding the correspondence to the Coffs Harbour Zone who are responsible for planning matters within the Shire of Yallaroi. Unfortunately the NPWS was unable to attend the focus meeting on 27 February 1997. However, inorder to assist in the facilitation of the planning process, as requested, the NPWS intends to inspect the site. Could you please contact Simon Nally on (066) 598 236 to arrange a date for this inspection. In response to your query, the NPWS recommends that the relevant issues in the attached sheet be considered in the environmental impact statement. Please note that these issues will apply to a greater or lesser degree depending on site specifics. The NPWS is particularly interested in the following: Areas of native vegetation, with special reference to threatened, regionally and locally significant flora species or communities. Areas of potential significance for native fauna with special reference to the value of the habitat for threatened, regional and locally significant species. Northern Zone Areas of native vegetation that form part of a local or regional habitat corridor. 010 House Areas of Aboriginal archaeological potential and Aboriginal heritage values as defined by the 24 Moonee Street Aboriginal community. Coffs Harbour NSW Areas of proposed or existing NPWS estate. Australia P0 Box 914 Should you wish to discuss any of these matters further, please contact Simon Nally, Environmental Coffs Harbour 2450 Planning Officer on (066) 515 946. Fax: (066) 516 187 Tel: (066) 515 946 Yours faithfully, Head Office 43 Bridge Street Hurstville NSW JATNELLE BROOKS Australia Acting Manager Environmental Planning P0 Box 1967 Northern Zone Hurstville 2220 Fax: (02) 585 6555 Tel: (02) 585 6444 for DIRECTOR-GENERAL Australian-made 100% recycled paper cc Bob Martin Yallaroi Shire Council NSW NATIONAL VARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, NORTHERN ZONE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED INTRODUCTION IThe following list is provided to assist preparation of Development Applications. The list details the minimum information that is required by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in their assessment of such applications. Please note that the provision of information in accordance with this list does not negate the applicant's obligations under any legislative or planning instruments. NPWS suggests that the applicant contact the relevant local council, and the IDepartment of Urban Affairs and Planning, to ascertain these obligations. GENERAL I Map(s) showing the locality of the proposed development in a regional and local context. Local context maps should be based on 1:25 000 topographic plans. Photographs of the site's key attributes may provide useful documentation. I A description of the existing environment on the subject land and surrounding land, the proposed development and ancillary works, and the manner in which the environment will be modified by the proposal (particularly with regard to the clearing of native vegetation and impacts on fauna habitat). The area subject to development should be clearly identified on an appropriately scaled plan. This includes all ancillary .works such as buildings and other structures, parking areas, loading/processing/treatment areas, access roads, and I material stockpiling areas. 4. The applicability or otherwise of Local Environment Plans (LEP), Regional Environment Plans (REP) and State I Environmental Planning Policies (SEPP) to the site should be determined and detailed. In particular, your attention is drawn to SEPP No. 14 - Coastal Wetlands, SEPP No. 26 - Littoral Rainforest, SEPP No. 44 - Koala Habitat Protection, and SEPP No. 46 - Protection and Management of Native Vegetation. FLORA 1. A comprehensive description of the vegetation on the site. This will include an assessment of the condition of the plant I communities present, including the designation of conservation significance at a local, regional and State level, and the identification of the presence of any threatened species, populations or ecological communities listed under Schedules I or 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and any Rare or Threatened Australian Plant (ROTAP) species A plan showing the distribution of the Threatened and ROTAP species and the vegetation communities on the site, and the extent of vegetation proposed to be cleared. This plan should be at the same scale as the plan of the area subject to I development in order to assist in the assessment of the impact of the proposal on the existing vegetation. Where the assessment concludes that threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats, exist on or in proximity to the subject land, the effect of the proposed development should be determined in accordance with the eight point test described in Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. An assessment of the impact of the development on the plant communities and/or ROTAP species should also be provided. A description of the measures proposed to mitigate and/or ameliorate the impact of the development on the plant communities and/or Threatened and ROTAP species. - FAUNA 1. A fauna survey to identify the distribution and abundance of fauna species known or likely to utilise the site, including a I description of available fauna habitats and an assessment of the conservation status of each of the faunal components at a local, regional and State level. I 2. A plan showing the results of the above survey. This plan should be at the same scale as the plan of the area subject to development to assist in the assessment of the impact of the proposal on the identified fauna! components. I srn!I11Iq6 1 An assessment of the impact of the development on the identified fauna! components. An assessment of the existence or likely occurrence of threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats on the subject land. Where the assessment concludes that threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats exist on or in proximity to the subject land, the effect of the proposed development should be determined in accordance with the eight point test described in Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. 5. A description of the measures proposed to mitigate and/or ameliorate the impact of the development on the identified I fauna! components. I CULTURAL The presence or absence of Aboriginal sites should be identified and the significatjce of the area to the local Aboriginal community must be determined. Accordingly, a search of the NPWS Aboriginal sites register should be made and the local Aboriginal community should also be consulted with regard to any Aboriginal heritage issues associated with the I proposed development. 2. Aboriginal sites and places of significance to the Aboriginal community are to be detailed on a plan. This plan should be at the same scale as the plan of the area subject to development to assist in the assessment of the impact of the proposal on the identified cultural components. I 3. An assessment of the impact of the development on the identified cultural sites. 4. A description of the measures proposed to mitigate and/or ameliorate the impact of the development on the identified I cultural sites. S. A contingency plan that details the measures to be taken in the event that archaeological sites are discovered during the I course of operations must be prepared. I NOTES Surveys and Assessments I.Conclusions drawn in surveys and assessments must be substantiated by evidence resulting from those surveys and assessments. Those conclusions must be directly translated into the document being supported by the surveys and assessments. I All surveys and assessments should refer to the NPWS databases and Schedules I and 2 to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. I Fauna, flora and cultural surveys and assessments should be undertaken by suitably qualified persons and the qualifications and experience of the persons undertaking the work detailed. I Dates, site locations, design, methodology, analysis techniques, and weather conditions at the time of the assessments and surveys must be described. NPWS Databases S. The NPWS can provide records of flora and fauna held in the Wildlife Atlas and / or Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (ROTAP) databases. In addition NPWS has an Aboriginal Sites Register of which searches can be made. These I services generally attract a fee. Enquires should be made to NPWS l-lurstville office, telephone (02) 585 6444. 6.It should be noted that the above databases are not comprehensive and should only be used as a guide. They do not negate the need for specific site investigations. Oil Environment Mr R Shaw Protection Authority Director New South Weiss Local Government Engineering Services Pty Ltd 1st Floor NSW Government Offices P0 Box 332 85 Faulkner Street Armidale NSW 2350 INVERELL 2360 P0 Box 494 Armidale NSW 2350 Tel .061. 73 1133 Fax .061. 122336 Our Reference: AR202 Your Reference: Contact: Felicity Murray Dear Mr Shaw, "BLUE ROCK" QUARRY Thank you for your letter of 31 January 1997 seeking the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EJS) for the above proposal. The EPA provides the following comments for your consideration. Statutory The EPA administers the Clean Waters Act 1970, Clean Air Act 1961 and Noise Control Act 1975, all of which are potentially relevant to the operation of the proposed quarry. The proposed quarry may be a scheduled premise under the Clean Air Act 1961 where grinding and milling works are installed and the Noise Control Act 1975. A quarry is likely to require pollution control approval for the installation of equipment and works in addition to annual pollution control licence. An information package is enclosed for your information. The issues which the EIS should address are discussed in the following sections. Water Quarry activities can disturb large areas of land and result in the mobilisation of sediments and pollution of waters, particularly during rainfall events. Other potential sources of pollution include fuels and oil spills. It will be necessary to demonstrate that adequate works and measures will be installed to deal with these issues. Sediment control ponds should have a first flush capacity for containment of at least a 1 in 10 year 2 hour event, and incorporate an appropriate stormwater bypass. The dam may I need to be larger than this criterion which it adjoins a sensitive environment or is adjacent to a water course. The management of first flush ponds is necessary to ensure that capacity is reinstated quickly following rainfall events. Consideration may need to be given to treatment of the water to quickly settle out suspended matter, so that water can be reused in the primary processing plant or for irrigation or dust suppression. A bunded area with the capacity to store 110 % of the largest tank is required for the storage of fuels and oils. Batters on the quarry, stockpiles and overburden piles, particularly near water courses, must be stabilised and maintained to ensure sediments are not mobilised. The proponent should also demonstrate how the clean and contaminated water systems are separated. Clean water should be diverted around the site, with contaminated areas directed to the first flush system. Air Dust from crushing and sorting operations and product transport, particularly on unsealed roads, will need to be suppressed to ensure that airborne dust particles do not emanate into the atmosphere. The EIS will need to provide details of the proposed management regime and demonstrate how dust will be controlled and monitored on the site. Noise The EIS must detail measures to be taken to ensure that the provisions of the Noise Control Act 1975 and requirements of the EPA's "Environmental Noise Control Manual" can be met, and that the acoustical environment will not deteriorate as a result of the proposed activities. In calculating the planning noise level, tables 20-1 and 21-1 of the "Environmental Noise Control Manual" should be referred to. As a general rule, the level of noise from the source (Li 0) must not exceed the background level (1-90) by more than 5 dB (A) at the nearest residence. The measured level must be increased by 5 dB(A) where the noise is tonal in nature. Operational hours will be subject to the demonstrated noise impact on residences, and may be a condition of the pollution control licence. The potential noise impact on nearby residences of vehicular movements along the external transport routes should also be assessed. In this regard the noise assessment must be consistent with the Environmental Noise Control Manual. Should blasting be performed, the operational procedures must comply with the ANZECC guidelines and the Environmental Noise Control Manual. Site Rehabilitation The quarry should be developed according to a plan included in the EIS, detailing the finished levels and batters which are appropriate for the ultimate use of the land. The plan should incorporate progressive rehabilitation measures, in the context of reasonable management practices. Monitoring An annual Environmental Management Report will be required under any EPA licence for the proposal. The EIS should provide details on how environmental monitoring will be conducted. If you have any concerns regarding the above then please contact Felicity Murray in our Armidale office on 067 737 133. Yours si erely, /%g: ROBERT O'HERN Acting Head, Regional Operations Unit Northern Tablelands for Director-General 14 February 1997 [ft\WP6\CORRESP\FM\PALQUARY.DOC] JVMINERAL RESOURCES MrR. Shaw Director NSW DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES Local Government Engineering Services Pty Ltd, level 2, ABS House 97-101 Faulkner Street (P.O. Box 651, Armidole, NSW 2350, Australia P.O. Box 332, Phone [067)702100. Fox (067) 70 2121 INVERELL NSW 2360 OUR REF: L97/3117 YOUR REF: 20th March, 1997 Dear Mr Shaw, Proposed Blue Rock quarry, Pallamallawa Thank you for your letter of 3 lth January, 1997, and please accept the Department's apology for the delay in replying. Departmental officers were to attend the planning focus meeting associated with this development on 27th February, 1997, but were stopped by flooding. Please see the enclosed general guidelines for preparing EISs and SEEs for extractive I industries. These guidelines discuss matters that the Department would consider in reviewing your forthcoming EIS. I The operation will need to conform to the safety requirements of the New General Rule under the Mines Inspection Act 1901 (please see attached guidelines). I Should you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Bruce Kremmer, Senior Inspector of Mines (Tel. 067 702 101), or Mr Jeff Browniow, Geologist (Tel 067 702113), in the Department's Armidale Office. I Yours faithfully, P.R.LISHMUND f' for Director-General End. EIS/ SEE guidelines I New General Rule jwb e:\gs\db\adniin\landuse\word\1973116.doc printed 03/20/1997 _JWMINERAL =RESO1IRCES NSW Department of Mineral Resources - North-eastern Region Resource and market assessments for EIS and SEE preparation All Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Statements of Environmental Effects (SEEs) for extractive industries should contain resource and market assessments. These assessment should be sufficiently detailed and illustrated to establish: The characteristi of the deposit including location, geology, extent, and significant internal variations in grade! quality The quantity and type of material to be extracted. Whether the expected products are marketable in the district or region. The need for those products in the district or region, in the context of known alternative sources, their availability, and market acceptance. Whether there is a significant risk of premature closure of the operation for economic reasons and what effect that would have on the potential cumulative benefits of the extractive operation to the community compared to possible adverse impacts associated with the gaining of development consent and developing the operation. Whether the operation would provide sufficient economic return to pay for rehabilitation. Whether other potentially recoverable conunodities occur at the site, and a justification for not exploiting them or not stockpiling them for later recovery (where relevant). The extent of documentation in an EIS or SEE should be in keeping with the size and duration of the proposed operation, the nature of the operation and the environmental sensitivity of the site. Documentation could be provided in supporting documents accompanying an EIS or SEE, rather than in the EIS or SEE, provided that: (a) the EIS adequately summarizes and cross-references data in the supporting documents; and (b) the documentation collectively meets all of the above requirements. Warnings - Expect close public scrutiny and prepare carefully Roads and Traffic Authority Tamworth Zone 512.5314;1 Mr Gore- 681435 RTA Local Government Engineering Services Pty Ltd Better Roads. Safer Roads Saving Uves. Noel Park House 155-157 Marius Street Telephone (067)68 1400 Facsimile (067) 68 1499 PROPOSED "BLUE ROCK" EXTRACTION QUARRY Tam PALLAMALLAWA SHIRE OF YALLARO!. E.I.S. PREPARATION. DX 6144 I Dear Sir I refer to your letter dated 31 Janiary 1997 concerning the subject development. The issues of concern to the Authonty in prepanng an Environmental Impact Statement for I this development are as follows; a). TRAFFIC GENERATION. I * The anticipated number of vehicle movements, both truck and light vehicles should be determined and information provided on; I - daily volumes of heavy vehicles - daily volumes of light vehicles - concentration of vehicles ineak penocjs 1 - location of proposed access i'o the public road system * The routes proposed to be utilised by haulage or transport vehicles and an indication of existing traffic volumes. I * The anticipated destinations of haulage/transport vehicles. I b). EXISTING ROAD CAPACITIES. * Consideration, needs to be given to intersection capacities along the route and the site access point from public roads. I * Intersectionlaccess points with public roads should generally conform to Austroads, Guide to Traffic Enginering Practice Intersections at Grade. The treatment type is dependent on tracffi volumes. Adequate sight distance should be I maintained. (BLUEROCK] ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, NOISE ETC. * The proposed hours in which haulage vehicles will be operating and possible escalation of traffic noise, particularly Through residential areas. * Consideration of precautions for haulage vehicles to prevent loose materials or excess dust emanating from the load and affecting road users or dust affecting adjacent houses. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT * Consideration of possible future plans for escalation of the development, if any. UPGRADiNG OF FACILITIES. * The developer may be required to contribute to the upgrading of the public road system to accommodate the development. Should you require further information please contact Mr P Gore. Yours faithfully r i Collins Regional Manager. [bluerock] ol - k~7/E4i iw.1Q ..FI1V7t4F c4fy ccr-'r. i ...... j?o- ... . I ,7517 Ji6 I ('i.cox y 'c C rc) . 3) ' . 69A ..ços'riç . ..s ,:ig;- • c-'ru eQ"' LQ fty. I ...- L2 -H i) fl'4 fL4-efS ,'s 'c'-'J ç) • V#:-S e4e.c /69Vfi I O"/.... So e49"ç . . 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Fcr4,c t -.------. .. -I -.--- v PEG/4L7' 7, 71 I C4)(- Appendix 5 - Certificate I CERTIFICATE I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT This statement has been prepared on behalf of Mr Sam Turnbull, being the applicant making the I Development Application referred to below:- The statement accompanies the Development Application for a proposed new quarry and I crushing plant for road and concrete aggregate supplies. The Development Application refers to the land described as :- I Portions 56 & 74 Parish of BULLALA I County of BURNETT Shire of YALLAROI The contents of this statement, as required by Clause 34 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 1980, are set forth in the accompaning pages. I The person who prepared this Environmental Impact Statement is :- I Name :- Robin Leslie Shaw Qualifications :- B.Sc.(Eng.), L.G.E., C.P.Eng., M.I.E.Aust., F.I.M.E.A., J.P. I Address :- 6 Miles Street, Inverell. 2360 I I CERTIFICATE I, Robin Leslie Shaw, of 6 Miles Street, Inverell, hereby certify that I have prepared the contents of this Statement in accordance with Clauses 34 and 35 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, 1980. I I Signed: Date: 7 ('97 I Appendix 6- Traffic Counts I)perational mode: Classify, 13-bin bidirectional File: 010.RTC rea: 16 Site 000 Location: 00 Direction: P1ftkbAU4AO 1 S7oorJD I Description: :ount interval: 1 day Detector: Tube Vehicle interval: n/a I ounter No: 2043 Firmware version: 1.09 I:0ttr read at: 12:42:45 on 13/06/1995 L'irst count recorded at: 00:00:00 on 24/05/1995 Uast count ended at: 00:00:00 on 13/06/1995 lotal vehicles recorded: 437 Total axles recorded: 972 ,Jetector spacing: 3000mm Channel 1 3ite log: < 16.SvprI I9tA 20 Yhci 40 .- 35"r kecT O()r. l/;,4j 7 io I Jperationai mode: Classify, 13-bin bidirectional File: 011 .RTC \rea: 16 Site 000 Location: 00 Direction: Av4tIrbouUd ST7o") I )escription: iount interval: 1 day Detector: Tube Vehicle interval: n/a I ounter No: 2043 Firmware version: 1.09 ounter read at: 12:42:46 on 13/06/1995 irst count recorded at: 00:00:00 on 24/05/1995 I . ast count ended at: 00:00:00 on 13/06/1995 Fotal vehicles recorded: 437 Total axles recorded: 969 I )etector spacing: 3000mm Channel 2 Site log: < 24/0500:00 23 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 25/0500:00 20 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 I 26/0500:00 22 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 27/0500:00 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 28/0500:00 18 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 I 29/0500:00 24 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 30/0500:00 19 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 31/0500:00 15 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 )1/0600:00 28 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 I 32/0600:00 17 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33/0600:00 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34/0600:00 7 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I )5/0600:00 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 )6/0600:00 17 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 37/0600:00 13 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I )8/0600:00 19 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39/0600:00 15 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 10/0600:00 14 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11/0600:00 15 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 I 12/0600:00 8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 f4()4f- I o LL veL;c(' '3, VO - '' r r - 0 I Fcr-Jr?r I )perational mode: Classify, 13-bin bidirectional File: 008.RTC rea: 14 Site 000 Location: 00 Direction: Northbound IDescription: tount interval: 1 day Detector: Tube Vehicle interval: n/a counter No: 2037 Firmware version: 1.09 tounter read at: 12:36:06 on 13/06/1995 First count recorded at: 00:00:00 on 24/05/1995 ILast count ended at: 00:00:00 on 13/06/1995 Irotal vehicles recorded: 309 . Total axles recorded: 670 Detector spacing: 3000mm Channel 1 tite log: < Date Time B]. B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 BlO Bll B12 B13 /05 00:00 20 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12425/0500:00 14 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 26/0500:00 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27/05 00: 00 9 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 128/0500:00 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29/0500:00 16 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0/05 00: 00 12 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 1/0500:00 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 F31/0600:00 11 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2/0600:00 10 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3/0600:00 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4/0600:00 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 35/0600:00 13 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6/0600:00 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 F7/0600:00 11 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38/0600:00 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9/06 00: 00 11 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/0600:00 10 3 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 I11/0600:00 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12/0600:006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I I 7 ° fpd I'! v.J 279 Dperational mode: Classify, 13-bin bidirectional File: 009.RTC ,~Irea: 14 Site 000 Location: 00 Direction: Southbound )escription: "ount interval: 1 day Detector: Tube Vehicle interval: n/a ounter No: 2037 Firmware version: 1.09 I"ounter read at: 12:36:07 on 13/06/1995 frirst count recorded at: 00:00:00 on 24/05/1995 tast count ended at: 00:00:00 on 13/06/1995 fotal vehicles recorded: 317 / Total axles recorded: 678 IDetector spacing: 3000mm Channel 2 log: < 24/0500:00 18 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25/0500:00 15 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 I26/0500:00 16 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27/0500:00 9 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28/0500:00 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 I29/0500:00 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 30/0500:00 11 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 31/05 00: 00 12 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 U/0600:00 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 32/0600:00 13 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 )3 /0600:00 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 /06 00:00 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 U35/0600:00 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36/0600:00 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 37/0600:00 9 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I38/0600:00 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 39/0600:00 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10/0600:00 13 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 11/0600:00 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 I12/0600:0042 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 2Es 2V- ' 3 (. (( 1d ('2LJ I 223 L;f-Lc44 ?It-Z It 4 ve I I N77?UG 1?43O TR CCJ1. G SUPFL. F. 1 JLIASRO TAKInhir TItRI rtg !L1frI ri AOlt1t'ffiY1I, - i -- '' •• • ''-1 #1 V L.I 1I%SI.L I%,# I I'..JI' Ho VEHICLE TYPE f * A0ES PATgF1N LWEL3 LEVEI.2 WLi pEsprcJN QYCLE 2 cc 1 1 1 MOT01'LE 2 ce i 11 1 0.00 to GEOAN 2 oo 1 1 1 I WA0N 2 00 1 1 1 4W0 2 00 1 1 1 IUTILJTY 2 00 1 I I UHTVAN 2 oo I $ I OThRH VEHICLE 2 00 ¶ I I VVOAQ.$ OAT VEHICLETOW$NG-A1-1,T1 3 2 2 2 mmum 7 TWOAXLE SHORT VEHICLE TOWJNG.A1 1 72 4 ô 0 oo 2 2 2 I to . — iWO-AXLE SHORT VEHICLETOWING-Rl.1T3 5 eo 000 2 2 2 :: — IAIIJM L)H1V I. IHUCr co 4 3 2 ii EIN3L DRIVE U$WTh TANDEM REAR.RJ.2 3 0 00 4 3 2 ' ' TWIN STEER TRUCK F-1 3 000 2 I TWIN STEER TRUCK F-2 4 90 5 3 2 CTFH1A MDtIJM VEHICLE 4 5 . 2 . TWO AE V-IICLE TOWING Rl-l.Tl 3 9 99 6 4 I - ARTICULATED 61.13 A1.1.1 3 0 0 0 6 4 3 > 11.0 to nCIJLM fr.; 3 0 0 0 8 4 3 to - - TVVCI AXt.E '*-ik.,t.E f.iwlr Ai-i,? 00 / TWO AXLE HICLE TOWING Ml .1 ,Ti -1 4 9 00 0 7 4 3 -I TANDEM DRIVE iRiCp TC?wlNt3 RI .271 4 0000 7 4 3 SINGLE DRIVE TANDEM FEAR Ml 01.15 TOWING RI -2,71 4 a coo 7 4 3 -r TWIN &iR m ciuon f-.T1 4 0000 7 4 3 I ARrIOIATEOTRIJO$ Trees Black Cypress Pine Callitris endlicheri approx 200 Wilga Geijera parvflora 3 Silver-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia 6 White box Eucalyptus a/hens 9 Box Mistletoe Amyenia miquelii very little Understorey Shrubby riceflower Pirnelea microcephala I Pickly Pear* Optunia s/ri cta * Broad-leaf Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa Prickly Acacia/Mimosa Acaciafarnesiana Bluebells Wahienbergia sp I Sedge Cyperus sp Native Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa Daisybush Olearia sp I Native Olive Notelaea microcarpa Grass and Herbs Medic* Medicago sp Queensland Bluegrass Dichanthiuin sericeuin Slender Bluegrass Diclianihiurn affine Darling Pea Swainsona sp Glycine Glycine sp Wallaby Grass Danthonia linkii Barbed Wire Grass Cynibopogon refract us Speargrass Stipa verticillata Winmill Grass Chioris trucata Blowaway Grass Agrostis avenacea Burr Daisy Cu/otis sp Rhodes Grass* Chioris gayana* Access Road through State Forest Open forest with closed shrub understorey. Area of high biodiversity for its type. Natural timber, structurally diverse. Belah Casuarina cristata Silver-leaf Ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia Black Cypress Pine ('allitris endlicheri Wattle Acacia leiocalyx ssp leiocalyx Wattle x 2 species Acacia spp Fauna Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata Emu Dromaius novahollandiae Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus Swamp Wallaby Wa/labia bicolor * introduced species I Appendix 8 - NPWS - Fauna Database Fauna database search conducted at 11:14:44 16 MAY tq 4MG search area SW corner 56 232000 6135000 (29:29:0729;S 159:l4;05i009:f) NE corner 56 251000 6754000 (29:19:103665:S 154:29:52159;f) 1:1001 000 map sheets covered - 6939' PAGE 1 11:15:01 16 MAY 1995 Key COMMON NAME SCL NAE ,, FIRSI PATE, LAST[IATE,, RE(PRPEP, [AT, [ONG,, 4CC REt LEGAL. STATUS W036720 Koala Phascolarctos cipereus 30 NOV 1949 30 NOV 1949 Harrison. W,R, 29:22 150:27 3 5 V W039226 Koala Phascolarctos cinerens 30 NOV 194930 NOV 104A Harrison. W.R, 29:24 10:19 3 5 V Appendix 9 - Weather Data NEW SOUTH WALES I Station Name MOREE MO Commenced 1960 E Elevation 212.1 m Number 053048 Latitude 29 Deg 28 Min S Longitude 149 Deg 51 Min Oct Nov Dec Year I Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 22 Years of Record 9 am Mean Temperatures (C) and Mean Relative Humidity (%) 8.9 11.3 15.5 19.7 22.0 24.1 18.0 Dry-bulb 24.6 24.2 22.8 19.1 14.0 10.1 • 7.1 8.9 11.7 14.7 16.2 18.2 13.9 Wet-bulb 19.2 19.1 17.8 14.7 11.3 8.3 U 6 8 11 12 14 11 Dew-point 16 16 14 11 9 6 5 76 71 61 56 52 54 63 Humidity 58 60 59 60 70 77 21 Years of Record pm Mean Temperatures (C) and Mean Relative Humidity (%) 3 16.8 18.4 21.7 25.5 28.8 31.1 25.0 I Dry-bulb 31.7 31.4 29.5 26.2 21.0 17.7 11.0 11.9 13.7 16.2 IT 19.6 16.2 Wet-bulb 20.9 20.9 19.4 16.7 14.1 12.0 5 5 6 8 9 12 9 Dew-point 14 14 12 9 8 6 47 45 41 36 34 29 30 37 U Humidity 34 35 35 34 43 22 Years of Record Daily Maximum Temperature (C) 17.5 19.2 22.8 26.6 30.2 32.7 26.1 Mean 33.3 33.0 30.8 27.0 21.9 18.5 20.7 22.6 27.2 30.9 34.8 36.9 86 Percentile 37.2 36.3 34.0 30.6 25.3 21.6 I 14.2 15.6 18.4 22.2 25.8 28.5 14 Percentile 29.6 29.6 27.6 23.0 18.2 15.0 22 Years of Record Daily Minimum Temperature (C) 5.1 3.7 5.3 8.2 12.5 15.4 18.4 12.2 Mean 19.7 19.7 17.1 12.5 8.4 8.7 10.4 13.7 17.0 19.7 21.7 I 86 Percentile 23.0 22.7 20.5 16.7 13.2 9.2 0.8 2.9 7.3 10.7 14.2 14 Percentile 16.1 16.6 13.4 8.2 3.5 1.0 -0.8 Rainfall (mm) HOREE P.O. 29 30 S 149 54 E Elev 207 m Yrs Jan Feb Mar Apr Hay Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year 86 Average 67 68 60 33 40 45 39 33 35 49 53 56 578 86 Median 48 48 itO 24 29 35 30 29 30 45 42 47 553 I 59RaInda'ps 6 6 5 4 4 5 5 4 4 5 5 6 59 BUREAU OF 1V1ETEElROLO6Y NEW SOUTH WALES REGIONAL OFFICE 580 George Street. Sydney NSW 2000 Tel (02) 269 8555 Fax (02) 269 8589 ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO Regional Director Bureau of Meteorology P0 Box A737. Sydney South NSW 2000 HOW TO INTERPRET A WIND FREQUENCY ANALYSIS Wind is a vector, that is, it has both direction and percentage of the total. This last point shows, to a speed. The term velocity incorporates both direction certain extent, the reliability of the observations. If and speed - it is not synonymous for speed. observations were taken every day at 9am and 3pm for the period of the analysis, the number of missing Prevailing winds, the incidence of sea breezes and so observations would be zero. If observations have on, are of great interest to many clients of the Bureau been missed, then these are expressed as a percentage of Meteorology. To show these, it is necessary to of the number of observations that could have been present winds in a form that shows both the direction made. Each block of the analysis also carries the and speed. The way we do this is to use a Mvid actual number of observations that were considered Frequency Analysis (WFA). for the analysis. The WFA available on microfiche is an analysis of The analysis itself gives a lot of information. The the winds recorded at the station over a period. horizontal axis shows the wind speed in kilometres (WFAs can be computed for individual years by our per hour, while the vertical axis shows the wind computer section in Melbourne. If these are required, direction to eight points of the compass. The figure they should be discussed with staff.) on the analysis shows the percentage frequency of occurrence of winds of that direction and speed at The WFA shows the frequency with which winds that time of the month. The percentage of recordings occur withii particular speed ranges from particular of calm is the figure in the top left corner. An asterisk directions. Thus if the figure for a northeasterly at 5- (*) shows that winds did occur at that speed and 10 Km/h i 16, it means that 16% of the time, the direction but the percentage of occurrence was less wind was a northeasterly at 5-10 KMJh. WFAs are than 0.5%. - done for 9am and 3pm for each month of the year. There can be significant variations in both direction At the bottom and to the right of each analysis are and speed between the morning and the afternoon. columns marked All. On the horizontal axis, these show the percentage frequency of occurrence of Information given on the WFA includes the ,iame winds of a particular speed from any direction, while and number of the Station, the first and last year of on the vertical axis, they show the percentage record of the years that have been analysed, the frequency of occurrence of winds from a particular number of years that have been analysed, and the direction at any speed. number of missing observations expressed as a DepQrtment of the Arts, Sport the Environment. ond Territories — — — — — — — — — — — —ationrmaeflt — — BUREAU OF TEL (03) 669 4082 FAX; (03) 66945 151 fl METEOROLOGY BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SURFACE WIND ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECTION BASED ON 30 YEARS OF RECORDS NUMBER OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE) 4.16 FIRST YEAR 964 LAST YEAR : 1993 29 28 S. 149 51 E 212. N ELEV STATION : 053048 MOREE MO APRIL 0900 HOURS LST 0900 HOURS LST MARCH 0900 HOURS LST JANUARY 0908 HOURS LST FEBRUARY I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) CALM I CALM I C AL M I II 31 41 51 A CALM 2 I I 6 II 21 31 41 5! A 23 I I 6 21 10 1 I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A L 9 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A I 10 TO TO TO TO TO S L I TO 10 10 TO TO TO S L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L 30. 40_SO_UP - L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & DLR1I_.5_I0_20_30_0_50_U2__L DIRNI - _5_ I0. 20 - DIEN I - _5_ I0_20 _30_40_50_UE_ _L D1RNI__5_!0.20_30_4G_50_U2__L 62 9 14 NI 1 283' . 4 NI * I 12115 19 NI '293 36122 22 NI 33 NEI 27203' 32 NEI 40 NEI 28202' 4 10 10 * 24 NEI 17247 * 27 El 37131 24 E I El 25111' 18 El 39142' 9 SEt 323' 8 34' 9 SEI 234' SEI I 12' 4 SEI I 3 SI I I 2'' 5 I I 3 SI *121' SI I I I' 3 SI I 4 SWI I 23 * * 5 I I 2 SWIl I 2'' SWI 'I I'' 3 SWI * I WI * 2 WI * * WI * * WI N(41 NW! * * * NW! 'I II 3 N141 I ALL I 12 22 37 5 50 8 ALL I 9 22 49 8 ' ALL 1 6 17 52 15 I ALL I 8 25 NO. OF OBS. 904 NO. OF OBS. 900 NO. OF OBS. 895 NO. OF OBS. 818 1500 HOURS LST ISGG HOURS LST MARCH 1566 HOURS LST APRIL JANUARY 1500 HOURS LST FEBRUARY SPEED (KM/HR) (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED CALM I CALM I CALM I CALM I 41 SI A 19 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 17 I I 6 II 21 31 4151 A 17 I I 6 II 21 31 14 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A L I TO TO TO TO TO 10 S L I TO TO 10 TO TO TO S L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & I TO TO TO TO TO TO S L DIRNI__5_ 10_20_30_40.50 _UE_ _L DIENI_ _5_ 1G_2O_3G4_5_UE_ L DIRNI - _5_ I8_20_30_40_50_UE__L D12NI__5_I0_20_30_0_50_UE_L II NI 333'' 9 17 NI 255' 13 NI 245'' NI 4572 344' II NEI 242' 8 14 NE I 2 6 7 I 15 NEI NEI 2461 1451' II. El 232' 7 12 El 256' 13 El El 2451 143 * 8 SEI 323' 8 6 SE I 2 4 4 1' 10 SEI * 10 SEI 1 2 3' SI I 4 42 * 12 SI 2341 S1*231' 7 SI I 34'' 9 ' 28 10 SWI 2 72 * 14 S141 34112 I I 2 5 2 10 SW I 2 3 4 I I II SW 7 WI 125 I 10 WI 245 WI 1 3 4 1 IG WI I 23 I * 7 6 NI-li 1 23 6 NWI 232 NWI 1 3 4 1 10 NWI 22 2' 18 25 32 5 * 4 ALL I 13 27 36 6 I * ALL I * ALL I 1 2 26 38 9 I * * ALL I 14 30 35 NO. OF OBS. 856 NO OF OBS. 837 NO. OF OBS. 861 NO. OF OBS. 784 PRODUCED BY M. I .S S 30/ 3/94 * OCCURRED BUT LESS THAN 0.5 PERCENT - - - BUREAUOF- - ------m - - TEL(03)6ó94082 FAX;(03)6694515 METEOROLO4iY [ BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SURFACE WIND ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECTION BASED ON 38 YEARS OF RECORDS NUMBER OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE) 4.16 % FIRST YEAR : 1964 LAST YEAR 1993 29 28 S 149 51 E 212.1 P1 ELEV STATION : 053048 MOREE MO 8980 HOURS LST 0908 HOURS LST JULY 6980 HOURS LST AUGUST MAY 8906 HOURS LST JUNE I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED CALM I CALM I CALM I CALM I I I 6 II 21 31 4151 A II 31 41 51 A 35 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 29 27 1 1 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 36 I I 6 21 I TO TO TO TO TO TO S L ITOTOTOTOTOTO& L I TOTOTOTOTOTOS L TO TO TO TO TO TO & L DIBNI - _5_ 18_ 28_38_ 46_SO UP - _L D1B1__5_1G_2O_3O_48_50_UE__L DIENI __5_1G_20_36_40_50_UE__L DIBNI - _5_ 18_28_36_ 40_SO_UP- _L NI I 13 5 NI I 242' 9 I 6 NI w I 2 4 NI I I 3 NEI 3 56 I 15 NEI 2511 2' 28 17 NEI 344 * II 14 NEI 3671 El 586' 19 El 356' 81 25 El 785 19 4 El 710 SEI I I I 3 SEI I 2 I 8 SEI 23 I 5 4 SEI 233 SI I I I 3 SI I I 2'' I 2 4 SI I 22 * 5 II SI I II SW! 2351 * 10 SWI I 252' 224 I 8 S11I 145 I I 7 SWI 6 WI I 14* 6 WI I 23 WI I I 2'' 4 WI I I 3 I 2 3 NWI * I I 2 NWI w I I lK NW! * * I NW1 I I I ALL I 14 20 26 3 ' ALL I II 2033 7 I ALL I 17 23 29 4 ' ALL I 16 23 23 2 ' NO. OF OBS. 938 NO OF OBS 929 NO. OF OBS. 928 NO. OF OBS. 960 1500 HOURS LST 1508 HOURS LST JULY 15oo HOURS LST AUGUST MAY 1500 HOURS LST JUNE I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) CALM I CALM I CALM I CALM I I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 3 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A II 21 31 41 51 A 151 I 6 II 21 3 4151 A 16 21 I I 6 I TOTOTOTOTOTOS L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TO TO TO TO TO S L _L DIBNI __5_10_20_36_40_58_UB_ _L DIEUL._5_18_28_38_46_50_UE__L DIRNI - _5_ 18 _20_36_ 48_56UE_ _L DIBNI __5_10_20_30_40_50_UB_ * 8 NI 236 I 12 NI 222 6 NI 2351 NI 233' 8 NEI 234 I 9 I 12 * 5 NEI 1231 6 NEI 233' 8 NEI I I I 3 122 • 5 El I I 3 El El 233' 8 El I I I' 2 SEI I I I 11 3 SEI SEI I I 2 ' 5 SEI 12 I * 5 SI 1241' 8 SI I 131' 6 SI 2 2 5 1 10 SI 135 I 10 SWI 26144 * 26 SW I I 4 12 5 I w 24 I 5 10 3 * 21 SWI 26165 I 38 SW 2 WI 24183 19 W I 2 4 16 5 I 22 WI I 472' 14 WI 3582w 18 NWI 233 8 NWI 233 I x 9 NW! I I 2. 4 NWI 223' 7 ALL I 12 21 46 10 I ALL I Il 2840 14 2 * ALL I 14 22 35 8 I ALL I 13 23 39 9 I NO. OF OBS. 862 NO. OF OBS. 864 NO. OF OBS. 859 NO. OF OBS. 836 PRODUCED BY P1.1 .S.S, 38/ 3/94 ' OCCURRED BUT LESS THAN 0.5 PERCENT ------BUREAUOF . TEL(03)6694082 FAX;(03)6ó94515 - lb BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SURFACE WIND ANALYSIS PERCENTAGE OCCURRENCE OF SPEED VERSUS DIRECTION BASED ON 39 YEARS OF RECORDS NUMBER OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS (AS PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM POSSIBLE) FIRST YEAR : 1964 LAST YEAR : 1993 29 28 S. 149 51 E 212. 1 M ELEV STATION 053048 MOREE MO DECEMBER 9900 HOURS LST 0900 HOURS LST NOVEMBER 0900 HOURS LST SEPTEMBER 9909 HOURS LST OCTOBER SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED (KM/HR) CALM I CALM I CALM I 41 51 A CALM I I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 8 I I 6 II 21 31 II I I 611 21 31 41 51 A 0 L 16 1 I 6 II 21 31 4151 A I TO TO TO TO TO 10 & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TOTOTOTOTO TO & L ITOTOTOTOTOTO & DIRUI_ _5_ 10 20_30_40_50_UE_ _L D19N1_5_10_20_30_40_50_U8__L DIRNL_5_1G_29_30_49_59_UE__L DIBNL._5_10_20_30_40_50_UE__L 22 NI 121251 20 NI 12117 • 23 274 * 14 NI 12127 I 16219 37 NI 31 NEI 24197 32 NEI • NE I 2 4 16 9 I * * 29 I 15 NE I 2 6 16 5 A El 2372 14 El I 48 • 10 I 12 El 1261 2 3 El I 46 4 SEI I I 2 5 SEI I I • SEI I I I • 2 SEI • I 2 * SI I I 3 5 SI * 23 * * 5 SI I I 31 • 6 SI I 22 I 6 8 SWI I 22 I 6 SW I I 2 5 2 10 SWI 232 * 14 * 2 SWI 3263 w WI I 3 WI I I I 11• 3 • * • * • 6 WI II I 2 WI I I 3 I NI.JI I 2 I 3 NWI I * * 2 * I I I * 2 NWI * NWI * I I * 17 49 18 I ALL I 9 15 48 18 I 11 ALL I 6 ALL I 9 18 41 15 I ALL I 7 14 45 20 2 NO. OF OBS. 891 NO. OF OBS 909 NO. OF OBS. 899 NO. OF OBS. 929 1500 HOURS LST 1509 HOURS LST NOVEMBER 1590 HOURS LST DECEMBER . SEPTEMBER 1500 HOURS LST OCTOBER (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) SPEED SPEED (KM/HR) I SPEED (KM/HR) CALM] CALM I CALM I 31 41 51 A CALM I 9 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A 9 I I 6 II 21 12 I I 6 II 21 31 4(51 A 9 I I 6 II 21 31 41 51 A TO TO & L ITO TO TOTOTOTO& L I TO TO TO TO L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & L I TO TO TO TO TO TO & DLRN! __5_1G_20_30_40_50_UE_ _L D1BNI__5_10_20_39_40_S0UB__t DI.BUI __5_ IG_20_39_49_59_UE__L DIENL._5_10_20_39_40_50_UP__L 17 NI 2572 15 NI 259 I • 2472 16 NI 2252 II NI • NEI 246 I 13 13 NEI 2351 II NEI I 25 I 9 NE I 2 3 6 2 124 7 6 El 1231 7 El • 123 El I I 2 • 3 El 0 • SEI 22 4 SEI I 12 3 • I 5 • 2 SEI 122 • . SE( w I I 241 8 SI I 23 1 • 6 6 S 1 2 2 4 1 9 SI * I • 14 SI I 23 • 7 3 I 3961 20 SW I I 2 • SWI * SWI 1394 I • lB * SW I I 4 13 6 I 25 7 3 16 16 WI 2841 16 W I 2 3 • 21 WI 1374 I * 131151 • 13 WI IG NWI 2362 12 NWI 2362 N141 I 26 I 10 NWI • 351 * * I • ALL I 9 20 43 17 2 I ALL I II 23 43 13 ALL I 8 17 46 15 2 ALL I 10 21 42 15 3 * NO. OF OBS. 832 NO. OF OBS 887 NO. OF OBS. 832 NO. OF OBS. 862 PRODUCED BY M.I .S.S. 30/ 3/94 OCCURRED BUT LESS THAN 0.5 PERCENT Appendix 10- Key Issues KEY ISSUES Identify & Prioritorise The Proposal:- TURNBULL'S QUARRY ("BLUE ROCK") (Max 1) (Max 1) (Max 1) (Max 3) (Max 3) (Max 3) (Max 3) Continuous Permanent Irreversible Level of Impact Indirect or or or public Total Remarks Severity Extent Impacts intermittent temporary reversible - concern 1 Transport 2 3 1 1 0 0 3 10 Major impact is effect of trucks carting aggregate from quarry. 2 Air quality 1 2 0 1 0 0 3 7 Dust created by trucks. 3 Erosion & 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 7 Erosion and loss of soil from sedimentation excavated site. 4 oise & 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 7 Rock will be won by drilling and blasting blasting. 5 Community & 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 6 Economic benefits. conomic 6 Iora&fauna 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 6 Land clearing involved. 7 Visual 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 5 Area well screened. nvironment 8 Hazards 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 5 Fuel and machinery hazards. Contaminated 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 4 Need to avoid oil and fuel spills. oils IC Water quality 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Not near a river or stream. 11 Heritage 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 No known Aboriginal sites.