Hanson provides a response to request by Mt. Cannibal & District Preservation Group's commit
In 2006, Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (Hanson) purchased 157 hectares of freehold land in Sanders Road, Garfield North for the purpose of developing a quarry. The site contains a granite reserve which Hanson will extract, process and transport to markets, particularly for development projects within Cardinia, Casey and Frankston areas. It is expected the site will have an operating life up to 100 years processing 2 million tonnes of granite per annum at full production. In accordance with the commitment made at the recent meeting in the Hanson Offices and taking into account the purchase of the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre, Hanson’s responses to the questions raised by the community in the past are provided below.
1. What is the feasibility study? Since January 2010, the application for approval to extract sand, stone and clay in Victoria has been guided by the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Extractive Industries) Regulations 2010 made under the section 124 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990. The regulations require Hanson to prepare an application for a Work Plan. Once submitted, the Minister for Planning may advise the requirement for a decision on the need for assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978.
2. What types of surveys and / or investigations will be undertaken? To satisfy the requirements of the Work Plan application, Hanson must assess and prepare reports on:
Flora
Fauna
Water
Noise
Operational process
Rehabilitation plan
Environmental Management Plan
Community Engagement
3. Will the outcomes of the surveys or investigations be in the public domain? Yes. There are various opportunities throughout the process for the community to review and comment on information provided by Hanson to the relevant authorities. Further, Hanson intends to engage with the community throughout the application process to ensure relevant information is provided and available for review.
4. How long will the study last? When do you plan for the quarry to be up and running? Hanson is subject to a legislative process to develop the quarry, which is predicted to take up to two years to complete. Once approval is received, a small mobile plant will be located onsite within the first year. It is estimated that site excavation will commence 2018-2019.
5. How much of the mineral is believed to be on site? What is the life expectancy of the quarry? Current assessments indicate the potential for up to 100 million tonnes of material is available for extraction, with a lifespan based upon market demand.
6. What are the minerals being sought? Hanson extract and process granite. Sand will also be extracted to offer fine, medium and coarse sand products for applications including ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, concrete blocks, asphalt and drainage materials.
7. What is the market for these minerals, who are the customers, where are they located? The market is the south east metropolitan region of Melbourne and Gippsland for urban development.
8. Will customers come to site to purchase and pick up stocks? Customers will come to site to collect quarry products generally in bulk transport vehicles.
9. How will the mineral be extracted? Drilling, blasting, loading and hauling to onsite processing.
10. Where on the site is the quarry planned? The quarry will be located in the Hanson Landbank to its limits within the 100 metre boundary buffer zone.
11. Where on the site will the crusher plant, gatehouse and offices be located? The current design locates the crusher plant on the north-western corner of the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre site. The gatehouse and site management office will be located adjacent to the access road off Bunyip-Tonimbuk Road.
12. Is the plan really to remove the top of the hill? Eventually granite located within the hill will be extracted. However, the Work Plan proposes extraction to commence in the valley between three hills. The entire site will be subject to a rehabilitation plan requiring Hanson to progressively reform and revegetate the site.
13. When will quarrying and crushing be running? What are the hours of operation? Weekends? After hours?
The opening hours of the quarry are dependent on Hanson demonstrating its compliance to the EPA guidelines for noise within a rural environment. These hours are typically stipulated in the General Conditions of the Work Authority.
14. When and how often will Hanson be blasting? Hanson will blast in accordance with the requirements of the Work Authority.
15. What will blasting feel like? Any vibration that may be felt will be at an extremely low level and of very short duration. Noise and blast monitoring will be undertaken during each blast to confirm that all levels are in accordance with the Work Plan.
16. Is there a blasting buffer zone? There is a 100 metre buffer zone around the entire boundary of the extraction site which will be maintained to support and enhance local flora and fauna. The planting of trees will be utilised to establish and maintain buffers around the extraction areas throughout the site.
17. What actions have to be taken by a quarry before blasting work can be commenced on any given day? Work Authority conditions will outline Hanson’s statutory obligations with regard to blasting.
18. What actions need to be taken by residents in or near the buffer zone? No action by residents is required prior to blasting.
19. Will Hanson give us double glazing for our windows? Hanson will work to ensure strict legislative noise controls are being met, so there is no requirement for double glazing.
20. What will Hanson do about structural damage? The blast design, noise and dust levels, and monitoring required by the regulators indicate that no structural damage should be experienced by facility neighbours.
21. Will Hanson repair cracks in the houses? Cracks in houses can be the consequence of a wide range of issues such as age, construction quality and soil subsistence. To attribute a crack to a specific impact would require a range of assessments to be undertaken. Hanson would review any evidence of blasting impact to a neighbouring property.
22. We have horses. Will they be scared by the blasting? Any vibration that may be felt will be at an extremely low level and of very short duration. The Hillview Agistment Park is currently located at the front of the Hanson Lysterfield Quarry and the horses located there have shown no flight response nor adverse effects to the blasting conducted at the quarry.
23. My house is on the same slab of granite. How will it be protected? Will there be any underground rock barrier? All neighbouring properties will be protected by compliance to legislative operational requirements and blast monitoring will be undertaken during each blast to confirm that all levels are in accordance with the Work Plan.
24. How many trucks will Hanson have per day? In approximately 10 years, when Hanson has reached full production, it is estimated that between 140 and 150 trucks will access the quarry each day. This will be highly variable based on demand for the products.
25. What level of traffic and noise will there be? Traffic and noise will be managed by compliance to legislative operational requirements. The levels will be determined by the relevant regulators during the application process and consistent monitoring will ensure adherence to regulation.
26. What is the truck route? The purchase of the Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre property has allowed Hanson to develop the route with entry / exit to the quarry from Bunyip-Tonimbuk Road to Princes Highway.
27. Is it possible for trucks to enter one way and exit another way to halve the pain for residents? This concept is no longer required as Hanson has moved the entry / exit from Sanders Road to Bunyip-Tonimbuk Road.
28. Will I have to worry about my grandchildren’s safety on the roads? The relocation of the entry/ exit access from Sanders Road to Bunyip-Tonimbuk Road reduces the haul distance to the Princes Highway.
29. Will the roads be widened and asphalted? The proposed route, Bunyip-Tonimbuk Road to Princes Highway, is already asphalted and of sufficient width to manage quarry vehicles. However, Hanson will advise VicRoads and Shire of Cardinia officers to ensure the route is maintained.
30. How much dust will enter my property? Dust management is directed by regulatory controls that require consistent monitoring and reporting to the relevant authority. Further, Hanson’s operational processes include dust suppression practices and research and development trials into products that manage fine dust particles.
31. What will Hanson do to ensure that no dust enters my property? The Environmental Management Plan defines the actions Hanson will undertake to meet the regulatory requirements for dust management. These include process, monitoring and reporting activities for excavation, stockpiling and transport. Hanson will encourage facility neighbours to report concerns relevant to dust, as the information will assist the organisation to consistently improve work practices.
32. What is in the dust? It is normal granite.
33. How will the dust affect my health? Am I at risk of Silica or Cancer? Dust suppression processes and practices are not only managed for the consideration of facility neighbours and the community, but as a necessary health and safety obligation to Hanson employees. Process, monitoring and reporting activities for excavation, stockpiling and transport will be consistently undertaken to ensure all environmental standards are being met.
34. How will the dust affect my plants, my pets, my farm animals and the ecology of the area? How much dust will enter my property?
The management and delivery of dust suppression processes and practices to best practice standard are a condition of Hanson’s approval to operate. Hanson will encourage facility neighbours to report concerns relevant to dust, as the information will assist the organisation to consistently improve work practices.
35. Will there be buffer zones? How extensive is the buffer zone? There are no trees on the hill, will Hanson plant trees? There is a 100 metre buffer zone around the entire boundary of the extraction area which will be maintained to support and enhance local flora and fauna. The planting of trees will be utilised to establish and maintain buffers around the operational areas throughout the site. Some plantings have already occurred.
36. What will the view look like from my window? The site will be well screened.
37. What is the current level of noise at the undeveloped site? A specialist consultant will undertake assessment of the current noise levels, utilising these findings in advice for regulated noise levels from the operating site.
38. What will Hanson do to minimise the noise? In addition to the 100 metre buffer for extraction areas, tree planting, plant enclosure and shielding screens to minimise operational activity, truck movements are subject to strict noise reduction regulation. Hanson will encourage facility neighbours to report concerns relevant to noise, as the information will assist the organisation to consistently improve work practices.
39. How much water will the quarry use? The total amount of water required to operate the quarry is still being assessed. However, water will be sourced from onsite bores and water collected on site.
40. What will the impact be on our springs and underground river system as a result of blasting? Impacts on all local water sources will be assessed by specialist groundwater consultants with the results and any required actions included in the Environmental Management Plan.
41. What will be the impact on our water load and water tanks? Impacts on all local water sources will be assessed by specialist groundwater consultants with the results and any required actions included in the Environmental Management Plan.
42. Where will the quarry get its power from? Power will be accessed from the nearest high voltage source. 43. What are the requirements in terms of closure and site rehabilitation? Hanson must provide a rehabilitation plan, including interim rehabilitation, final landform and end use concept as a condition of its Work Authority application. A substantial bond is also held by the regulator to ensure compliance of approved site rehabilitation. However, it is Hanson’s intention to source the input of facility neighbours and the local community in the design and delivery of the site’s final form and end use.
44. Is Hanson or any other related party involved in landfill operations? Yes. Hanson operates a landfill at its Wollert South Quarry site.
45. Does Hanson rule out this type of site use in the future? If not, can the site be used as a refuse tip? Can the site be used as a toxic waste dump? Hanson does not have any plans to utilise the closed quarry as a landfill. Further, current waste and resource recovery legislation would preclude the site from being considered as a potential location for a landfill or contaminated soil processing facility.
46. What will Hanson give me to compensate for the loss of value on my home? Hanson’s development and management of the quarry will be approved and monitored by legislation, regulatory requirements and statutory monitoring and reporting.
47. Will there be any compensation for having to put up with the noise, dust and blasting? Hanson’s development and management of the quarry will be approved and monitored by legislation, regulatory requirements and statutory monitoring and reporting.
48. Will the quarry be extended in future years? If so, what is the planned expansion? Hanson has no current plans to expand the quarry.
