The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Dorset Council for an increase in production at Ben Ridge Quarry.
The proposal involves increased extraction and processing over an expanded area at the existing Ben Ridge Road Quarry. Production is proposed to increase from 5,000 cubic metres to 10,000 cubic metres of siltstone per year and crushing and screening of material will increase from 1 000 cubic metres to 10 000 cubic metres per year. The quarry will be expanded by 0.3 hectares. Ben Ridge Quarry uses drilling and blasting techniques to win rock, which is processed through mobile crushers and screens to produce road construction and maintenance gravels.
The EPA Manager Assessments, Helen Mulligan, who made the determination under delegation from the EPA Board, concluded that the proposed development can be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with conditions. These conditions are required to be included in any permit subsequently granted by Dorset Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly the appropriate protection of water quality. This will be enhanced through new sediment control measures that must be installed before the intensification works can start," Ms Mulligan said.
Public consultation was open for 14 days from 2 November 2024. One representation was received in relation to the proposal. The environmental issue raised in this representation was regarding the adequate protection of water quality.
The proposal was considered by the Board's delegate 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 EPA are to administer and enforce the provisions of EMPCA, to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives and to use its best endeavours to protect Tasmania's environment.
The Manager Assessments 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 Dorset Council.
This decision and all assessment documents can be viewed on the EPA website at Dorset Council, Ben Ridge Quarry Intensification, Trenah.
Published on:
20/12/2024