The Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by White Beach Civil Solutions Pty Ltd for an intensification of White Beach Quarry in the Tasman municipality.
The proposal is for an increase in annual permitted extraction and processing quantities at the existing Level 1 quarry. White Beach Quarry is currently permitted to extract a maximum of 5,000m3 of product per annum and process up to 1,000m3 per annum. The proponent is seeking to increase both the annual extraction and processing limits to 30,000m3 (equivalent to 48,000 tonnes). The proposal will involve crushing, screening and drilling to win rock product, and up to 2 blasting events per year.
The 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 Tasman Council.
Public consultation was open for a 28-day period from 20 April 2024. Twenty-eight representations were received in relation to the proposal. The environmental issues raised in these representations were noise emissions, vibration and blasting impacts, increased heavy vehicle traffic and potential impacts to flora and fauna.
“Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly noise emissions, blasting impacts, dust and natural values,” Mr Paul said.
“A number of permit conditions have been determined by the Board and forwarded to Tasman Council to be imposed on any issued planning permit, including requirements for additional noise mitigation measures, notification of residents prior to blasting, monitoring of blasting, and time restrictions on heavy vehicle movements.”
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 Tasman Council and provided to the proponent.
This decision and all assessment documents can be viewed on the EPA website at White Beach Civil Solutions Pty Ltd, White Beach Quarry Capacity Increase.
Published on:
5/12/2024