The Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Tasmanian Advanced Minerals for South Blackwater Silica Mine at Temma in the Circular Head municipality.
Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd is proposing a new silica mine with an extraction and processing limit of 75,000 tonnes per year. The location of this proposed mine is adjacent to their existing Blackwater Silica Mine, on a large mining lease which falls within the locality known as takayna/Tarkine.
Chair of the EPA Board, Andrew Paul, said that the Board concluded that the proposed development can be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with conditions. The Board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by Circular Head Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly potential impacts to threatened fauna, a precautionary approach involving pre-clearance surveys, stormwater and sediment management practices and ongoing monitoring to allow for adaptive management are included in the permit conditions," Mr Paul said.
Public consultation was open for 28 days from 10 July 2024. One agency representation was received in relation to the proposal. The main environmental issue raised in this representation was rehabilitation of the site upon cessation of the activity, which has been addressed through standard extractive industry site rehabilitation conditions.
A submission was also received outside the formal representation period, raising concerns about potential impacts to Tasmanian masked owls. This submission was considered by the Board and addressed in the permit conditions where appropriate.
The proposal was considered by the Board in the context of the sustainable development objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and in the context of the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System (EMPCS) established by the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).
The functions of the Board are to administer and enforce the provisions of EMPCA, to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives and to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of Tasmania.
The Board undertook assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the Act.
The environmental assessment report, including the environmental conditions, has been issued to Circular Head Council and provided to Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd.
The decision in relation to Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd, South Blackwater Silica Mine can be viewed on this website.
Published on:
7/11/2024