Minerals and Extractive Newsletter Issue 11, October 2009 DPI Earth Resource Industry Information Days DPI visited five parts of the State over recent weeks to create feedback opportunities for mining and extractive industries to obtain information and ask questions. Information days held at Benalla, Bendigo, Traralgon, Melbourne and Ballarat were attended by • In the afternoon, presentations on around 200 people. changes to extractives legislation, community engagement and the new The days comprised three sessions: Code of Practice for Small Quarries were followed by questions and • A range of issues were raised, answers. sometimes vigorously, during the morning workshop to obtain feedback DPI was very pleased with the level of on the Mineral Resources (Sustainable interest shown by industry as demonstrated Development) Act 1990 . Issues by the number attending and the level raised will be summarised and placed of participation in the information on www.dpi.vic.gov.au for your sessions. Feedback from attendees about information. the information days is overwhelmingly supportive and will encourage us to hold • Over lunch, attendees browsed future similar events. through brochures on native vegetation, groundwater, work plans, community engagement; talked to Government representatives from DPI and DSE; and engaged with the demonstration of the rehabilitation bond calculator. Strzelecki Awards Success Earth resources operators Austral Bricks, for Energy and Resources, The Hon Iluka Resources and Imerys Minerals Peter Batchelor on 17 August at the 2009 have been recognised for their Resources Victoria Conference. commitment to sustainable development • Winner - Large Earth Resource through the 2009 Strzelecki Awards. Operation Category - Austral Bricks/ The awards are designed to recognise and Golder Associates for its Scoresby encourage the sustainable development Quarry rehabilitation project; of Victoria’s Earth Resource Industries • Commendation - Large Earth Resource are named in honour of the famous Operation Category - Iluka Resources Polish explorer and mineralogist Sir Pawel for the sustainable operation of its Edmund de Strzelecki. Sir Pawel Edmund Douglas Mine; travelled extensively through south- east Australia in the 1830s and strongly • Winner - Medium Sized Earth Resource advocated the rational use of resources, Operation Category - Imerys Minerals while protecting the environment. Australia for its water recycling The awards were announced by Minister scheme at its Pittong Mine, and its 2 Strzelecki Awards Success continued provision of accommodation to users of the Ballarat to Skipton rail trail; • Winner - Exploration Projects Category - Iluka Resources for its environmentally-sustainable exploration works in Little Youngs Timber Reserve. Cameron McCormick-Austral Bricks, Chris Brynant-Austral No award was made in the Small Earth Bricks, Michael Gerner-Golder Associates, David Kidd- Resource Category. Minister Batchelor, Iluka, David Sleigh-Iluka, Colin Bullen-Imerys Minerals thanked the small operators who Australia, The Hon. Peter Batchelor, MP submitted entries and encouraged them made recommendations to DPI. These to continue on their sustainability journey. recommendations are further reviewed by The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) DPI to determine the winners. and Banksia Environmental Foundation jointly administer Strzelecki Awards. Banksia appointed the judging panel that Organisational Changes with DPI Following a detailed review of the structure previously been in the position of Executive and organisation of the Energy, Earth Director Earth Resources Division. Resources and Major Projects Group within Former Deputy Secretary EERMP, Dale DPI, the Group will be renamed Energy and Seymour has taken up an appointment with Earth Resources Group (EER) effective from the Department of Innovation, Industry and 14th September 2009. Regional Development (DIIRD). The changes to the Energy and Earth EER will comprise four divisions: Resources Group will enable DPI to build on its considerable achievements • Energy Sector Development, with by providing a stronger focus and new Marianne Lourey continuing as capabilities to meet the challenges ahead, Executive Director; which are growing rapidly under climate change policy. • Earth Resources, with Doug Sceney as Acting Executive Director; The new Group is also designed to help meet the unprecedented innovation and • Energy Technology Innovation, with Dr investment task facing Victoria. The task Peter Redlich continuing as Director. of transforming Victoria’s energy sector is The new Energy Resources Development driven by the Commonwealth’s expanded Division has been created: Renewable Energy Target and planned Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. • to coordinate and drive new energy resources developments; Richard Aldous is now appointed the Deputy Secretary, Energy and Earth • to provide a stronger focus on the Resources. Richard was acting Deputy challenges and opportunities for Secretary since January 2009, having investment in Victoria’s world-class 3 Organisational Changes with DPI continued brown coal, petroleum and carbon Victoria’s earth resource industries through capture and storage (CCS) resources, world class geoscience information remains and the prospects for geothermal a key goal for the Earth Resources Division. energy. To further support this objective, the Earth The responsibilities of the new division will Resources Policy and Legislation unit will include the management and oversight of transfer to the Earth Resources Division Clean Coal Victoria, the coordination of CCS from the Energy Sector Development activities across EER, facilitation of approvals Division. This shift is aimed at improving for energy resources developments, and the the integration and development of earth marketing and promotion of new investment resources policy advice and the generation opportunities across the state. of legislation and regulations. Effective regulation and development of Review of Aspects of Geotechnical Management at Mines and Quarries In the period September 2008 to May 2009 However, the reviews did identify a the DPI undertook a program of reviews number of significant issues that required of geotechnical management at significant management actions. mines around the State. The primary Several issues were identified where mine objectives of the reviews were to assess or quarry excavations and infrastructure the management of site stability and were adjacent to public roadways or were geotechnical issues for all key elements of developed close to residential areas. Issues the operations, in order to: also arose where mining developments 1. Identify any significant or major underlay public infrastructure or housing issues likely to impact on or affect the developments. environment surrounding the mine or The main recommendations arising from quarry. the reviews included: 2. Assess potential for any impacts on Review of surface water management. public infrastructure. Ongoing monitoring to identify and deal 3. Assess any potential for impacts on with open cracks or joints in benches and public safety. evaluation of the monitoring data. The review team comprised a Geotechnical Positive outcomes of the reviews identified Engineer, Mr Tim Sullivan; a mining were: engineer and an audit specialist. • The majority of sites assessed The review’s overall conclusion was that had adequate resources and good mine and quarry developments in Victoria management plans in place to have limited potential to impact on public maintain the geotechnical stability of infrastructure. Public safety is generally the sites. well managed. The potential for impact on the environment surrounding the sites was • Potential risk areas had generally identified as an ongoing concern. been identified and appropriate actions were either completed or The review did not identify any imminent in progress. It is considered this geotechnical stability issues or concerns important aspect was being well with impacts likely to extend significantly managed. outside the mines or quarries themselves. 4 Site Security and Buffer Zone Audits 2009 Introduction During the second quarter of 2009, DPI inspected a total of 89 mine and quarry sites across Victoria to ensure compliance with site security and buffer zone requirements. The locations of the audited sites are shown in the following map: The audit comprised four main components: Each area of assessment was assigned one of three scores: • identification of tenement boundaries; • meets or exceeds requirements; • signage; • opportunity to improve; or • fencing; and • significant opportunity to improve • buffer zones. The Earth Resources Regulation Branch’s role is to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations and to encourage performance beyond compliance through self-regulation. 5 Site Security and Buffer Zone Audits 2009 continued Graph 1: Overall compliance outcomes reassessment required 7% significant opportunity to improve 20% meets or exceeds requirements reassessment required 40% opportunity to improve meets or exceeds requirements 33% opportunity to improve significant opportunity to improve The inspection of sites revealed some notable issues It was identified that only 40% of the 24 • Required extraction limit posts were elements audited were found to meet or not in place (59%); and exceed requirements. The audits identified • Sites were generally poorly signed and tenement boundary post and extraction required improvement