FORESTRY TASMANIA MURCHISON DISTRICT

November 21, 2011

Authored by: Mark Pearce

Chatlee Quarry

Level 2 Activity Application & EER Cover Report

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Chatlee Quarry

Level 2 Activity Application & EER Cover Report

Proponent Information

Forestry Tasmania, Murchison District

2-4 East Cam Road, Camdale.

Tasmania 7320.

Mark Pearce - Forest Officer Works

Murchison District, Forestry Tasmania

Phone; 03 64346258 Mobile; 0448029586

Project Description

Application to apply for a level 2 activity for the existing Quarry located on State Forest at

Chatlee Road in the Salmon River Forest Block. The current level 1 quarry and its Special

Values has been assessed under FPP No DRT0207 QSR026. (See attached documents).

The assessment has been carried out in accordance with the Quarry Code of Practice 1991;

Forest Practices Code 2000 and the Forest Safety Code 1992. The existing quarry boundary

is established on a 5 ha site and supplies a small quantity of crushed material for road

maintenance and construction on State Forest roads in and around the Smithton area.

The quarry is established on a deposit of Precambrian Dolomite ideal for the type of crushed

rock material required for our roads. Current capacity under a level 1 quarry is for Maximum

of 5,000 m3 quarried per Annum and a maximum of 1,000 m3 crushed material.

Project Area

The quarry is located on State Forest in Murchison District on Sumac 3244 Map sheet at

coordinates 322476 mE – 5449846 mN in the Woolnorth IBRA region. The site has been

established on regrowth forest in an area that has historically been used for predominantly

Forestry. The quarry is located approx 33 km south west from Smithton, The quarry is

contained within a network of access roads administered by Forestry Tasmania and the

Circular Head Council.

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Land tenure in the area is State Forest managed by Forestry Tasmania. The nearest private

residence is approximately 7 kms east from the quarry site.

The 5.0 ha site is established on a regrowth forest coupe SR013D (1988 ) site dominated

Tall E. obliqua Wet schlerophyll forest over on Precambrian Dolomite Dark clayey with course sand and Dolomite gravels of moderate soil erodibility. The area sits on a moderate

slope with a westly aspect and is subject to an average annual rainfall of approximately

1000- 1250mm.

Site Operation

Forestry Tasmania, Murchison District, operates its quarries in accordance with the Forest

Practices code 2000, Mineral Exploration Code of Practice 1999 and the Forest safety Code

Tasmania 2002.

The site is currently operated under level 1 requirement where maximum quantity per

Annum 5,000 m3 to be quarried and maximum amount to be crushed is 1,000 m3 per

annum. The proposal is to lift the capacity of the site to Level 2 with maximum quarried

capacity to 19,500 m3 per annum and maximum crushed amount to 2,000 m3 per annum.

The increased capacity is due to the focus of harvesting and available wood product

markets expected in the next 5 years. The site is located to allow efficiencies in cost

associated with the maintenance and construction of our existing road networks on

expected cart routes. The site will be operated in accordance with the current regulations

and acts, under section 18 of the Forest Practice Act 1985 and a Forest Practice Plan (FPP)

has been prepared for the area.

The FPP includes a natural and cultural values assessment of potential impacts on Flora,

Fauna, geomorphology, Cultural Heritage, Landscape, soil and water. The FPP also

stipulates how the quarry will be operated under the plan and includes;

Topsoil and stripping

Drainage and erosion Control

Planned quarry development and sequence

Natural and Cultural Values

Other Environmental prescriptions

Management of Fuels and lubricants

Planned Rehabilitation procedures

The plan is audited and managed under Forestry Tasmania’s Forest Management System

(FMS) and within the framework of the Forest Practices Code (1985) and appropriate

regulations administered by the Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority. In addition the

operation also comes under the Forest Safety Code 1999 and associated regulations

administered by Workplace

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Standards Tasmania. See attached documentation Forest Practice Plan DRT0207-01 for

the designation for Chatlee Road Quarry and all special value information.

Activity from on site machinery may include excavators and dozers and or drilling and

blasting, and or the use of mobile crushing plant, and supporting vehicles.

The quarry will be an ongoing operation for the proposed life of the FPP. It is planned that

the quarry will operate during the hours between 6:00am – 5:00pm five days a week to

coincide with planned harvesting and road construction and maintenance activities.

Access to the site is via Chatlee Road all weather class 3 roads which provides access to the

Salmon River forest block and associated coupes in the area.

The photos show the approximate outline of the current level 1 boundary. Stockpiles are

currently located on and around the quarry floor.

Figure 1: Chatlee Road Quarry - quarry floor, current face.

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Figure 2: Chatlee Road Quarry - quarry floor, current face.

Evaluation of Potential Site Impacts

Any potential of site impacts are managed by Forestry Tasmania’s Forest Management

System, the Forest Practices Code (2000), the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice (1999)

and the Forest Safety Code (2000) The potential site impacts are listed with comments;

Rivers, Creeks, Wetlands and Estuaries- Drainage and soil water movement from the

quarry area is controlled as per normal practices by the use of culverts, silt traps and

silt fences and ripraps where needed.

Significant areas- No significant areas are located close or near the proposed quarry

site.

Air Emissions-No potential air emissions are expected from this quarry by increasing

the capacity and production levels

Liquid Effluent - No discharge of effluents are expected from the site during

operations. Any accidental spills of fuel & lubricants are managed by adequate

procedures required by Forestry Tasmania and their contractors FMS and safety

Management Systems.

Noise Emissions- Due to the quarries isolated location and the industrial nature of

the area; there is unlikely to be any noise emissions outside acceptable levels from

this operation.

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Transport Impacts- Transport is an integral feature of the area in which this quarry is

operating. Forestry activities, including log carting, road building and maintenance is

an everyday occurrences with increases in activity during the summer months.

Dangerous Goods & Substances- All dangerous goods including Explosives, fuel &

lubricants are all managed around these operations in accordance with Tasmanian

legislation, regulations, and the required codes of practices in which we operate.

Cultural Heritage- The site has been assessed as per the requirements under the

Forest Practices Code (2000) in accordance with the Aboriginal relics Act(1975)

Access and Sites of Public Interest- The site is located near forestry roads (Salmon

River road) and Chatlee Road. Salmon River and Chatlee Roads roads are a part of

the Forestry Tasmania’s road network and are boom gated for security reasons.

As part of the FPP process all forest quarries are assessed through the Forest Practices

Code, Quarry Code of Practice and Forest Safety Code framework and as such do not have a

significant impact on surrounding or adjoining land uses. This is because they are mostly

located in areas that are used for forestry and are isolated from sensitive areas or

residences. The attached FPP and special Values information adequately addresses the EPA

requirements for the application to lift this site from level 1 to a level 2 Quarry.

By increasing capacity of this quarry, there is little potential for serious, material or

environment harm and impact. Any likely impacts would be local and of a minor nature,

where any consequence can easily be avoided or mitigated under our current management

systems. In addition the quarry is of small commercial scale and the remote location is

unlikely to generate any public interest.

The proposal is unlikely to require assessment under the Commonwealth Environment

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, as the quarry is covered by a certified

Forest Practices Plan under the Forest Practices Act (1985)

As the Plan is developed under the Forest Practices Act (1985) the application for an

existing Level 1 Forest Quarry will not require assessment by the Commonwealth on

application for a level 2 activity.

Attachments;

Cover Letter

Notice of Intent

Cover Report

Forest Practice Plan DRT0207

Location Map

Special Values Assessment information.

Quarry P.C and Weed Report