SMK CONSULTANTS surveying – irrigation – environmental – planning Wandoona Sand Quarry ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd Lot 5 in Deposited Plan 236547 October 2020 The publication of this document has been developed by SMK Consultants. Copyright 2020 by SMK Consultants. All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission. All images and diagrams remain the property of SMK Consultants. SMK CONSULTANTS surveying – irrigation – environmental – planning ABN 63 061 919 003 ii 39 Frome Street PO Box 774 SMK Moree NSW 2400 Ph 02 6752 1021 CONSULTANTS Fax 02 6752 5070 surveying – irrigation – environmental - planning [email protected] ABN 63 061 919 003 Other offices: Goondiwindi, Gatton, Brisbane www.smk.com.au Wandoona Sand Quarry ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd Lot 5 in Deposited Plan 236547 Prepared by: SMK Consultants 39 Frome Street, Moree, NSW 2400 October 2020 iii DOCUMENT CONTROL Project Name Wandoona Sand Quarry Proponent Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd Project Reference 15-229 Report Number 15-229 – Environmental Impact Statement Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd P.O. Box 941, Moree NSW 2400 Moree NSW 2400 Prepared for Contact: Mitch Johnstone E: [email protected] Ph: 0427 540 212 SMK Consultants Prepared by 39 Frome Street Moree, NSW 2400 Marie Duffy Contact [email protected] 02 6752 1021 Author Marie Duffy Name Marie Duffy BSc. (Hons), MSc. Position Environment & Resource Consultant Company SMK Consultants Reviewed By Name Hayley Greenham BB. BSc. Position Environment & Resource Consultant Company SMK Consultants Revision History Version Number Date Authority Details Peter Taylor Initial Issue 0 June 2016 (SMK Consultants) Peter Taylor Amendments as per 1 October 2020 (SMK Consultants) Council Request iv CERTIFICATE Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 Submission of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Prepared under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and meeting the requirements for clauses 6 and 7 of Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. This Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared by SMK CONSULTANTS PTY LTD to accompany a Development Application made in respect of the development described as follows: Development: Expansion of Wandoona Quarry, Moree Applicant: Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd Address: P.O. Box 941, Moree NSW 2400 Land to be developed: Lot 5 in Deposited Plan 236547 Environmental Impact Statement: The contents of this Statement, as required by Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, are set out on the following pages. Certificate: I certify that I have prepared the contents of this Statement and to the best of my knowledge: It has been prepared in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000; It contains all available information that is relevant to the environmental assessment of the development to which the statement relates; and The information contained in this Statement is neither false nor misleading. Signature: Peter Taylor Date: October 2020 Peter Taylor B.Sc. MEIANZ CIAg LAA. Director SMK Consultants v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This development proposal has been prepared by SMK Consultants on behalf of Johnstone Concrete and Landscape Supplies Pty Ltd (“the Applicant”) to support the expansion of the existing “Wandoona” quarry footprint. The current footprint extends over approximately 2 Ha and it is proposed to increase the footprint size to a total area of 12.6 Ha, including roads and associated temporary infrastructure. Applicant: Johnstone Concrete and Quarries Pty Ltd 35 Drive In Road Moree, NSW 2400 Owner: Wandoona Pty Ltd 35 Drive In Road Moree, NSW 2400 Land involved: Lot 5 in Deposited Plan 236547 Local Government Authority: Moree Plains Shire Council Zoning: ‘RU1’ – Primary Production under the Moree Plains LEP 2011 Development Type: Designated and Integrated Development Development Description: Expansion of Existing Quarry Footprint Capital Investment Value: $80,000 Approvals and Licences The following approvals are required to amend operations at the existing quarry at Wave Hill: • Development Approval for Regional Development – Extractive Industry from the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) under the State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011. • Environmental Protection Licence from the NSW Environment Protection Authority issued under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997). Background Johnstone Concrete & Quarries (JCQ) currently operate a sand and gravel quarry on the property of “Wandoona” near Moree. The current consent conditions for the site enable a vi maximum extraction limit of 29,000 cubic metres of material per annum over a limited footprint of approximately 2 Ha with a 40 metre minimum buffer distance between operational areas and the adjoining Mehi River. The current operations are confined to the south-eastern section of the property. The average annual extracted quantity is in the order of 15,000 tonnes at present. The resource material available on the site extends outside of the approved footprint of the development. In order to ensure that the site operation can continue to expand to meet regional sand and gravel resource demands, the Proponent proposes to extend the current footprint to secure a reliable long-term supply of materials. The annual extraction limit would remain the same. The Proposed Development The proposed development involves extending the footprint of the existing sand pit extraction area and extracting the ridge gravel resource which is available on Wandoona. The annual tonnage or method of extraction will not be altered. The access road will utilise the existing gravelled road around the eastern and northern perimeter of the property in replace of the current central access road. The proposal will also include reusing the wash water generated from the sieving plant for irrigation of various crops. Other operational activities would also need to be changed. The intended hours of operation would remain the same. The limit on the number of truck trips per day would need to be increased to enable materials to be moved from the site in bulk amount rather than smaller constant amounts on a daily basis. Extension of the gravel quarry footprint triggers several parameters relating to Schedule 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (The Act). Primarily, the proposed development would extend beyond the limit of 2 hectares in total area. The haul road is located within 40 metres of the Mehi River bank over a short distance. Both of these dimensions trigger the provisions of the Act to classify the development proposal as Designated development. The land included in this proposal comprises Lot 5 DP 236547. The subject land is owned by the Directors of the Proponent (Wandoona Pty Ltd). The quarry has been utilised by Moree Plains Shire Council (MPSC) and private developers for several decades, until regular extraction ceased approximately ten years ago. The historical extraction of gravel from this site occurred without a consent from the local Council as this was not needed when the original extractive works commenced. The Proponent purchased the property in about 2013-14 for the purpose of obtaining sand for their ready mixed concrete and aggregate business. The Proponent lodged a development vii application for a non-designated sand and gravel extraction enterprise. Moree Plains Council issued development consent 2014-58 for the extraction and sieving of aggregate from the site. The project involved establishing a portable sand sieve plant on a raised pad, installation of a river pump under a DPI Water works approval and extraction of gravel and sand material from within the initial extraction area. The extraction operation commenced once an occupation certificate was issued. JCQ wishes to extend the Quarry footprint to the west and north of the current extraction area. Additionally, an area of “ridge gravel” has been uncovered at an old pit on the southwest corner of the property. The extraction of this material is included in this current proposal. A plan showing the potential long-term extension of the gravel extraction area is presented as Plan 1. The extended area has been previously cultivated and cropped. The trees within the footprint of the extended areas will be preserved with appropriate buffers. The proposal intends to reuse water from the sieving operation through a centre pivot for production of various crops including lucerne hay. The approximate location of this centre pivot area is indicated on Plan 1. The pivot will be mobile to provide flexibility in cropping arrangements. Under the existing approval, JCQ’s extraction limit is set at 29,000m3 of sand and gravel from this site in any one year. The annual average is predicted to be in the order of 15,000 tonnes. In exceptional circumstances including flood damage repairs etc., additional extraction may occur, but this would be limited to less than 29,000m3 per annum. The resource available on the site indicates a life span of 30-years or more. The proposal is Designated development under the provisions of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and requires development consent from