Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Road Quarry Intensification, Mathinna Plains

Current Stage

Assessment Completed

Proposal Details

Client: Dorset Council

Premises: Ben Ridge Quarry

Activity: quarry and materials handling

Class of Assessment: 2A

Important Dates

Assessment Commenced: 2/10/2023

Case for Assessment Opened for Public Comment: 2/11/2024

Case for Assessment Closed for Public Comment: 17/11/2024

Assessment Completed: 19/12/2024

​The Proposal

Dorset Council is proposing to intensify operations at the Ben Ridge Road Quarry, located off Ben Ridge Road approximately 2.7 km west from the Mathinna Plains Road junction. The proposal involves a production increase from 5,000 cubic metres to 10,000 cubic metres of gravel per year, and an increase in crushing and screening of material from 1 000 cubic metres to 10 000 cubic metres per year.​

The proponent has lodged a Permit Application with a supporting Environmental Effects Report (EER) to Dorset Council.

The application was referred to the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (the Board) for assessment under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).

Notice of Intent​​​​

 Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Road Quarry Intensification, Mathinna Plains (PDF 2Mb)

​Environmental Effects Report Guidelines

EER Guidelines have been prepared by the Board to assist the proponent to prepare a case for assessment. Based on the information contained in the Notice of Intent, the guidelines identify the key issues which are expected to be relevant to the assessment of the proposal.

 Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Road Quarry Intensification, Mathinna Plains - EER Guidelines (PDF 266Kb)

​Public Exhibition of Documentation

A copy of the permit application and all plans and other documentation submitted with the permit application (including the EER) were made available for public inspoction. The public consultation period has now closed.

Environmental Effects Report

The purpose of the EER is to provide a source of information upon which interested individuals, groups, government agencies and the Board may consider the environmental impacts of the proposal.

The EER was prepared by the proponent on the basis of the Project Specific Guidelines for preparation of an EER which were provided by the Board.

 Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Road Quarry Intensification, Mathinna Plains - EER (PDF 4Mb)

Environmental Assessment Report and EPA Decision

The environmental assessment report (EAR) has now been completed and can be viewed below. The report contains the permit conditions required by the Board to be included in the land use permit, if a permit is granted, by Council.

 Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Road Quarry Intensification, Mathinna Plains - EAR (PDF 2Mb)