Frequently Asked Questions

  • How will waste from the quarry be disposed?
    • The majority of waste generated by the proposed quarry will be overburden material and waste product from screening and crushing extracted materials. These are natural materials that will be reused within the site as part of the rehabilitation process.
    • The proposed quarry will also generate small quantities of domestic and industrial waste, which will be removed in accordance with EPA guidelines by licenced contractors.
  • How will chemicals be stored on the subject land?
    • The only industrial chemicals to be used by the proposed quarry operations will be hydrocarbons (fuel and lubricants) for plant and vehicles.
    • These chemicals will be stored and disposed of as per EPA and Australian Standards requirements in exactly the same way they are safely managed and stored for farm machinery.
  • Will the quarry release respirable crystalline silica?
    • Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling unsafe levels of crystalline silica dust.
    • Core test samples of bluestone taken at the subject land revealed the chance of any extracted materials containing crystalline silica as negligible.
    • The risk to the public of exposure to respirable crystalline silica from extraction operations at the proposed quarry is consequently also negligible.
  • Will the proposed quarry impact Aboriginal heritage?
    • The proposed quarry will not impact any areas of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sensitivity.
    • An area of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sensitivity is located near the western boundary of the land, adjacent to the Hopkins River. However the entirety of the Work Authority will be outside of this area.
    • Notwithstanding this, the operations of proposed quarry will remain subject to the requirements and ongoing obligations of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
  • Will the quarry impact native flora or fauna?
    • The proposed quarry will not impact any native flora or fauna.
    • The extraction area and associated plant will be limited to those parts of the subject land currently used for agriculture. These areas are highly modified and contain no native vegetation or habitat.
    • The Work Authority and extraction area will also be setback at a minimum of 200 metres from the Hopkins River at any point.
    • An inspection carried out by DELWP officers on 1 August 2019 confirmed that there is no native flora or fauna within the proposed Work Authority area.
  • Will the quarry discharge water to surrounding land?
    • The proposed quarry will not require the discharge of water from the extraction area to surrounding land.
    • Rainwater and surface flows will be directed to the quarry sump via a network of swale drains, channels, sediment traps and pipes.
    • Clean rainwater that falls outside the extraction area will be diverted and discharged from the land to adjacent creeks and rivers.
    • Water used in processing and other quarry operations will be diverted to sediment dams and eventually to the quarry sump to be reused.
    The quarry sump will have sufficient capacity to accommodate any storm event
  • Where will the quarry source water?
    • Water for the proposed quarry will be sourced from both ground water bores within the subject land and from rainwater and surface water flows.
    • Rainwater collected within the extraction area will be diverted to the quarry sump and sediment dams.
    • The water table within the subject land is estimated to be located at between 50AHD and 60AHD. The pit floor is to be located no lower than 82AHD, at least 20 metres above the ground water level and it is highly unlikely that ground water will be impacted by the proposed quarry operations.
  • How will the quarry use water?
    • The amount of water required for hard rock quarries is significantly less compared to other types of quarries.
    • Unlike sand or gravel quarries, hard rock quarries utilise a dry extraction pit as washing of extracted resources is not required. As such, a slimes dam is not proposed.
    • Water used by the proposed quarry will primarily be for dust suppression, and in staged rehabilitation of exhausted extraction areas.
  • What blasting impacts will the quarry have?
    • Like most hard rock quarries, the proposed quarry will from time to time conduct blasts to fragment the rock before it can be processed.
    • As a small quarry operation, the proposed quarry will only need to blast between six to eight times per year.
    • Blasting at the quarry will not impact adjoining properties, with the closest sensitive receptor approximately 550 metres from any part of the extraction area, allowing a minimum 500 metre exclusion zone to be maintained at all times. All residents of nearby sensitive receptors will be notified at least 36 hours prior to any proposed blasting events.
    • Blasting is a heavily regulated component of hard rock quarrying and is conducted in accordance with a blasting management plan and the noise and vibration limits in the Australian Standard 2187.2 – 2006 Australian Standard Explosives- Storage and handling Part 2: Use of Explosives.
    The first five blasting events for the proposed quarry will also be monitored, with one event monitored per year following this to ensure compliance with AS 2187.2