EIS 309 AA053499 Rural lands study : a study of rural lands within 20 km of Taree I A A 053499 I , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 309A I I I I I I [Rwd Lands Sftudy 1 A STUDY OF RURAL LANDS WITHIN 20km OF 1 TAREE VOLUME 2 APPENDICES I I I I I I I I Davenport, Campbell & Partners (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. Level 17, 60 Margaret St., I Sydney, N.S.W. 2000 Australia I 02 233 7044 Telex AA 23386 I I I I JUNE 1984 I I 1 1 I I H I [1 I [ j I I I APPENDIX A I rcr CC'TC'AT I Department of Mineral Resources t ,TJ7t d. I (W. Rooney) Li I I R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd 1. GeologicaiResources Introduction I 1.1 The principal geological resources of the Taree area are non-metalliferous sedimentary deposits which have a variety of uses principally in the I construction industry. Igneous or metamorphic deposits are of less significance based on present knowledge. Deposits of heavy mineral sands I occur along the coastline, although most of their potential has already i been realised. 1.2 The non-metalliferous deposits consist of limestone, construction sand, I gravel, structural clay/shale, road base and fill, and possibly peat. 1.3 There are no known unusual geological hazards in the area. Coastal erosion of the beach/dune complex and flooding of the Manning River tidal delta are recurring hazards, while poor soil permeability and relatively high rainfall contribute to liquid waste disposal problems in many areas. The known geological resources are shown on Map 2. 1.4 This section is based on information supplied by the Department of Mineral Resources. I Heavy Mineral Sands 1.5 Deposits of heavy mineral sands occur in the sandy Quaternary barrier and backbarrier sediments along the coastline of the study area. However, most of the economically significant concentrations have previously been mined, and there is apparently only limited potential for further extraction. 1.6 Mining titles/applications for heavy mineral sands affect all the coastal parishes within the study area; the parishes are (from north to south) Harrington, Oxley, Bohnock, Beryan, and Tuncurry. Of the current leases within the study area only SpL 410, Parish Tuncurry on the southern I R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd boundary of the study area, and ML 466 (1973) and PL 477, Parish Bohnock have potential for economic recovery of heavy mineral sand in the I foreseeable future. 1.7 Economically significant concentrations of heavy minerals occur within Old Bar Park and Portion 12, Parish Bohnock at the southern entrance to the Manning River (See Map 2 ). Although not currently held under title, this deposit is considered by the Department of Mineral Resources to have potential for future economic extraction, and should not be sterilised by / other incompatible land uses until the deposit has been worked. 1.8 Significant concentrations of heavy minerals have been identified behind Black Head Beach. Title over this area was relinquished by the holder because of the small size of the deposit and the environmentally sensitive nature of the site. Future recovery of this deposit appears to be unlikely. 1.9 According to the Department of Mineral Resources there is little potential for the discovery of further heavy mineral deposits of economic grade in the study area. Limestone 1.10 There are a number of extensive limestone deposits within the study area west of Taree (refer to Map 2 ). Some of these deposits have been worked in the past and some have potential for further extraction. The limestone is used principally as a metallurgical flux and as an agricultural soil improver, although one quarry is capable of producing high quality massive limestone, presumably suitable for decorative stone as cladding/facades on buildings. Cedar Party Limestone 1.11 The most important limestone deposits are those within the Cedar Party Limestone formation, The principal outcrops of this formation occur between Taree and Wingham and immediately to the north. I R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd '1.12 Two exposures of this formation occur partly within an area in the vicinity of Kolodong which is currently being investigated by Council as a possible site for urban expansion of Taree. I 1.13 The Cedar Party Limestone deposits have been worked at a number of sites in the past but the exact extent, quality, amount of overburden and depth of deposit have not been investigated in any detail. The limited information available does apparently suggest that the deposits have I significant economic potential and warrant further investigation. A major advantage of this formation is fts location close to major I population centres and transport facilities. 1.14 It is recommended that the potential of the Cedar Party Limestone be clearly established by the Department of Mineral Resources as soon as possible and, in the meantime, no action be taken by the Council to 1 sterilise this resource or unduly restrict future extraction. It seems apparent that the extent of the formation is great enough to provide I adequate reserves and also allow rural subdivision as well as urban expansion over portions of the deposit. The important matter is to I determine the most environmentally sound and economically viable locations for extraction of suitable material prior to the establishment of other incompatible land uses. 1.15 Further information on the three most significant deposits within this formation is provided below. This information is taken from a report by I the Department of Mineral Resources. I Locality 1 1.16 This deposit is poorly exposed but has been traced over a distance of I about 8 km. It is estimated to be about 130 m thick on average with a maximum thickness of about 700 m. I 1.17 The limestone has been quarried at a number of places in the past, most notably at Western's Quarry near the Wingham Rifle Range, for use in the I steel-making industry in Newcastle. Significant tonnages of extractable I I I R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd material remain, particularly in the vicinity of Western's Quarry where I massive, high quality limestone is present. I Locality 2 1.18 This deposit can be traced over a distance of almost 8 km in a I northwesterly direction from near Taree to Cedar Party Creek, along the Cedar Party - Taree Road. It comprises a sequence of limestone and I intercalated sediments up to 130 m thick which dips steeply to the northeast. [ 1.19 Outcrop is poor and it has been suggested by some workers that the limestone is not continuous but consists in fact of a number of discrete LI pods. I 1.20 Numerous quarries have been developed within this deposit in the past, I mainly for agricultural limestone and metallurgical flux. 1.21 The deposit has considerable potential for further extraction of high LI quality limestone. Locality 3 LI 1.22 This deposit, which extends over a distance of about 5 km, occurs within a sequence of fine grained sandstone, and lenses out in a northwesterly direction.In places the unit consists of four distinct beds of limestone separated by lenticular intercalated sediments. I 1.23 The deposit has been quarried in a number of places. The larger quarries were operated by the Broken Hill Proprietary Company which produced about I 120,000 t of stone for use as a metallurgical flux. Moderate reserves remain in the deposit. The southeastern-most part of the deposit has I already been largely sterilized by urban development. I I I Li R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd Other Limestone Deposits I 1.24 A number of small or poor quality limestone deposits occur to the southwest of Wingham in the Killawarra, Kimbriki and Hillville areas (see I Map 2 ). The limestone in these deposits is generally variable and impure in composition and frequently contains interbedded sediments. I Consequently, the deposits are considered to have little potential for I future extraction. Construction Materials I 1.25 There is little detailed information on construction material resources within the study area and, apart from existing extraction sites, it is not I possible to identify additional specific areas which have significant I potential for extraction. I Construction Sand 1.26 Deposits of sand suitable for construction purposes occur within stream I channels and Quaternary floodplain deposits, and in the Quaternary barrier, backbarrier and estuarine deposits along the coast. I 1.27 Substantial quantities of medium to coarse grained river sand (and gravel) are dredged from the Manning River at Taree Estate by Readymix-Farley Pty I Ltd. Small quantities of fine-medium grained sand are extracted from a coastal barrier (dune) deposit about 3 km south of Old Bar (precise I location not known). 1 1.28 Extensive deposits of predominantly medium to coarse grained river sand and gravel occur within the Manning River (extending at least as far downstream as Taree) and in its associated floodplain deposits within the Lj alluvial sediments occurring along some of the other streams in the area H such as Cedar Party Creek and Dingo Creek. [I -J 1.29 The coastal sediments within the area appear to offer only limited I potential for future extraction, primarily because of the generally small I I 1 R Travers Morgan Pty Ltd size of the coastal barrier deposits which are the main potential sand I source. 1.30 Only one significant section of Quaternary alluvium has been highlighted by the Department of Mineral Resources and therefore shown on Map 2.