omya australia pty ltd supporting information 2016 · 2019. 9. 23. · 3.1.2. mining activities...

ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY AMENDMENT APPLICATION

SUPPORTING INFORMATION 2016

REV 0 11/08/2016 OMYA AUSTRALA PTY LTD

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OMYA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD





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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.! PURPOSE OF MAJOR AMENDMENT APPLICATION .......................................... 4!

2.! BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 5!2.1.! THE MINE ............................................................................................................... 5!2.2.! THE OPERATING COMPANY ..................................................................................... 5!2.3.! MINING TENEMENT LOCATIONS ............................................................................... 6!

3.! CURRENT MINING ACTIVITIES ............................................................................. 7!3.1.! ONSITE ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................. 7!3.1.1.! EXPLORATION DRILLING ....................................................................................... 7!3.1.2.! MINING ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................... 7!3.1.3.! WASTE ROCK EMPLACEMENT ............................................................................... 8!3.1.4.! ON-SITE PROCESSING .......................................................................................... 9!3.1.5.! ON-SITE INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................ 10!3.1.6.! STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ............................................................................. 10!3.1.7.! PRODUCT TRANSPORTATION .............................................................................. 10!

4.! PROPOSED CHANGES TO EXISTING OPERATION .......................................... 11!4.1.! WELLS WASTE ROCK EMPLACEMENT EXPANSION ................................................. 11!4.2.! SEDIMENT DAM UPGRADE ..................................................................................... 12!

5.! SCALE OF OPERATION ....................................................................................... 14!5.1.! CURRENT MINING AND PROCESSING RATES .......................................................... 14!5.2.! HOURS OF OPERATION .......................................................................................... 14!

6.! SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................... 15!6.1.! TOPOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 15!6.1.! CULTURAL AND HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE .............................................................. 15!6.2.! SURROUNDING WATERWAYS ................................................................................. 16!6.3.! CONTAMINATED LAND ........................................................................................... 17!

7.! ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSETS ............................................................................. 18!

8.! EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS AND PLANS ................................. 19!8.1.! ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ............................................................ 19!8.2.! SITE REHABILITATION PLAN .................................................................................. 19!8.3.! WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................................... 20!8.4.! CYCAS RECOVERY PLAN ...................................................................................... 20!

9.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ............ 21!9.1.! AIR ...................................................................................................................... 21!9.1.1.! EMISSIONS / RELEASE POINTS ............................................................................ 21!9.1.2.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE: ............................................................................. 22!9.1.3.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES: ............................................................................... 22!




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9.2.! WATER ............................................................................................................... 25!9.2.1.! EMISSIONS / RELEASE POINTS ............................................................................ 25!9.2.2.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 26!9.2.3.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 26!9.3.! WETLANDS ........................................................................................................ 29!9.3.1.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 29!9.3.2.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 29!9.4.! GROUNDWATER ............................................................................................... 30!9.4.1.! EMISSIONS / RELEASE POINTS ............................................................................ 30!9.4.2.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 30!9.4.3.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 30!9.5.! NOISE ................................................................................................................. 33!9.5.1.! EMISSIONS / RELEASE POINTS ............................................................................ 33!9.5.2.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 33!9.5.3.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 33!9.6.! WASTE ............................................................................................................... 35!9.6.1.! EMISSIONS / RELEASE POINTS ............................................................................ 35!9.6.2.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 36!9.6.3.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 36!9.1.! LAND .................................................................................................................. 40!9.1.1.! ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 40!9.1.2.! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES ................................................................................ 40!

10.! ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY CONDITIONS ................................................ 44!10.1.! PROPOSED CONDITION AMENDMENTS ................................................................. 44!10.1.1.! ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ............................................................................... 44!10.1.2.! AGENCY INTEREST: GENERAL .......................................................................... 44!10.1.3.! AGENCY INTEREST: LAND ................................................................................ 45!10.1.4.! AGENCY INTEREST: NOISE ............................................................................... 45!10.1.5.! AGENCY INTEREST: SOCIAL .............................................................................. 46!10.1.6.! AGENCY INTEREST: WASTE .............................................................................. 46!10.1.7.! AGENCY INTEREST: WATER .............................................................................. 46!

11.! FIGURES ............................................................................................................. 47!FIGURE 1 BAJOOL CADASTRAL AND MINING LEASES ..................................................... 47!FIGURE 2 APPROVED AND PROPOSED ONSITE ACTIVITIES .............................................. 48!FIGURE 3 PROPOSED BAJOOL WREA ............................................................................ 49!FIGURE 4 BAJOOL WREA FOOTPRINT ........................................................................... 50!FIGURE 5 WELLS WASTE ROCK EMPLACEMENT CONSTRUCTION ................................... 51!

12.! ATTACHMENTS .................................................................................................. 52!ATTACHMENT 1 PLAN OF OPERATIONS 2014 TO 2019. .................................................. 52!ATTACHMENT 2 ACID MINE DRAINAGE AND CARBONATE BUFFERING ............................ 53!ATTACHMENT 3 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, POTENTIAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION ............. 55!ATTACHMENT 4 EPML00657813 WATER MONITORING RESULTS ................................. 56!




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1. PURPOSE OF MAJOR AMENDMENT APPLICATION Omya Australia Pty Ltd (“the Company”) currently holds Environmental Authority (MIN 102276310) under s226 and s228 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The Environmental Authority (EA) authorises it to operate Bajool Marble Mine (the Mine).

During long term planning for the mining operations, the Company has identified the need to extend its current operational rock waste area (Wells Rock Emplacement Area).

Mining Lease Application (MLA) 80167 has been lodged with the Department of Natural Recourses and Mines to cover the extended footprint of the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement. The proposed extension location will enable more effective use of the local topography and provide for a final profile that conforms with the surrounding landscape.

Through the submission of this Major Amendment Application, the Company wish to amend its existing Environmental Authority to include an additional Mining Lease (MLA80167) and extend the permitted dimensions of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area.

In line with the requirements of the s226 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 this document, Supporting Information 2016, has been provided to identify the existing onsite operations, the actual and potential environmental impacts likely to result from the proposed additional Wells Rock Emplacement Area (WREA), the controls already captured within the conditions of the Environmental Authority and the proposed additional mitigation measures.




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2. BACKGROUND

2.1. THE MINE Omya Australia Pty Ltd (the Company) has been operating the Mine since 1980, principally to produce white high purity crushed marble. The Mine is located 17km south of the village of Bajool, midway between Rockhampton and Gladstone in Central Queensland.

The mine produces white, high purity crushed marble which is used as a feedstock for the manufacture of high brightness industrial fillers at the company’s plants in Geelong, Victoria and Te Kuiti in New Zealand’s North Island. The specifications for industrial filler feedstock are very exact. The marble must be made of white calcite, with a minimum of impurities and be relatively inexpensive to mine and transport to industrial centers. The Bajool marble deposit is very large, but more significantly, parts of the deposit are very high quality.

The mine site consists of two mining areas (only one of which is currently active), haul roads, three waste rock emplacement areas, a crushing plant and a small stone dust mill, bagging plant, maintenance workshop and associated infrastructure.

Annual production has increased from around 15 000 tonnes in 1980 to 220 000 tonnes in 2015.

The Company intends to continue its existing mining operations, maximise the recovery of high white marble and continue the progressive rehabilitation of the disturbed areas on the mining tenements of the Mine.

2.2. THE OPERATING COMPANY Omya Australia Pty Ltd is the sole owner and operator of the Mine.

Omya Australia Pty Ltd (the Company), formerly Omya Southern Pty Ltd, was formed in Australia in 1979, principally to manufacture and market high quality calcium carbonate functional fillers for the paint, plastics, paper and general building industries. The Company is 100% owned by Omya AG of Switzerland (formerly Pluess-Staufer AG) and through Omya AG, has access to the world’s most advanced technology relating to the manufacture and marketing of calcite products.

Since commencing operations, the Company has made Australia virtually self-sufficient in these important processed manufacturing materials as well as establishing significant export sales into South East Asia and New Zealand. Following the integration with the production and marketing facilities of Southern Limestone Pty Limited in 1988 the company extended its product range into almost every facet of calcium carbonate application, including glass making, coal mine stone dusting and agriculture.

The Company currently operates four processing plants in Australia at Bajool; at Bathurst (NSW), Moss Vale (NSW), Boyer (Tasmania) and at Geelong in Victoria, and operates mines at Cow Flat / Ponsonby (NSW).




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2.3. MINING TENEMENT LOCATIONS The Mine incorporates five (5) granted mining leases covering a total area of 232.94ha. Details of the individual mining leases, including real property descriptions are presented in Table 1.0 and shown on Figure 1 Bajool Cadastral and Mining Leases.

TABLE 1.0 MINING TENEMENTS & REAL PROPERTY DETAILS

Mining Lease No.

Area (ha)

Expiry Date Purpose Prior Titles

Real Property Details

ML3638 22.59 28/2/2024 Mining for Limestone ML750 Lot 22, DS 142;

Lot 50, USL34948

ML3662 12.67 31/5/2032 Mining for limestone and dolomite and for all purposes to effectively carry out that operation

ML815 Lot 430, OL168;

Lot 50, USL34948

ML3663 79.49 30/11/2032 Mining for Lime

(Limestone & Marble)

ML816 Lot 22, DS 142;

Lot 119, DS 545;

Lot 430, OL168;

Lot 50, USL34948

ML3666 3.45 31/7/2032 Mining for limestone and dolomite and for all purposes to effectively carry out that operation

ML819 Lot 22, DS 142;

Lot 430, OL168;

Lot 50, USL34948

ML80028* 114.74

30/9/2026 Mining for limestone and dolomite and for all purposes to effectively carry out that operation

ML5810

ML5811

ML5812

ML5814

ML5825

ML5827

ML5884

ML5885

Lot 22, DS 142;

Lot 119, DS 545;

Lot 40,DT40133;

Lot 102, DS56;

Lot 114 DS82

MLA80167# 19.25 Mine waste / Spoils Dump

Lot 37, DT40128

Note *: ML 80028 represents a consolidation of mining leases 5810, 5811, 5812, 5814, 5825, 5827, 5884 and 5885.

Note # MLA80167 is the subject of this EA Amendment Application




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3. CURRENT MINING ACTIVITIES

3.1. ONSITE ACTIVITIES Omya proposes to continue its mining and processing operations with the existing mining equipment and fixed crushing and processing plants in compliance with its current Plan of Operations (2014 to 2019), refer Attachment 1.

Seven main activities are undertaken on the mining tenements, namely:

• Exploration drilling (see Section 3.1.1); • Development of the mine and selective open cut mining of marble (see

Section 3.1.2); • removal and management of waste rock (see Section 3.1.3); • on-site processing of the mined marble (see Section 3.1.4); • maintaining on-site infrastructure (see section 3.1.5); • road transportation of marble products from the mine (see Section 3.1.6); and • Progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas of the mine (see Section 3.3).

Figure 2 Approved and Proposed Onsite Activities illustrates the location of the approved activities. The following sections provide a description of each of these activities, along with the current and proposed scale of each.

3.1.1. Exploration Drilling

Limited exploration activities are undertaken within the Company’s leases to delineate the extent of the resource, assess resource quality and assist mine planning. Depending on the purpose of the exploration, activities undertaken comprise limited amounts of clearing for drill rig access and drilling.

The Geological Resources at Bajool are large, but the proven reserves are small - they are confined to the area below the floor of the current pit.

The drilling data will be used to make an informed decision about further the pit expansion. In line with the site Plan of Operations 2014 to 2019.

3.1.2. Mining Activities

Extraction activities are confined to Wells Mine and involves the following activities:

Removal of topsoil - stripped vegetation and topsoil, are directly placed on available rehabilitation areas where possible. If such areas are not available, the vegetation and topsoil are pushed up into windrows and temporarily stockpiled at the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement.

Cap rock blasting within the pre-striped area of the pit and inside the perimeter haul road removes the material overlaying the high quality marble (generally the upper 2m). Approximately 12,000m3 will be blasted each year. All cap rock waste will be hauled to the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement.

Production blasting continued from ten metre benches in 2014 and has been developed down to the 110 AHD level in the centre of the pit.

Blast Size Between 10,000m3 and 15,000m3

Blast Frequency Between 8 and 12 blasts per annum




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Future production marble extraction: an average of approximately 300,000 tpa of production rock will be mined each year and future blast frequencies will increase in line with modified mine techniques.

Of this, approximately:

• 170,000tpa will be high grade white product, • 70,000tpa will be low grade product processed on-site into stone dust, • 25,000tpa will constitute reject material from the crusher and photo-sorter used

onsite for road sheeting, maintenance or ramp construction, • 10,000tpa for landscape sales’ and • 25,000tpa will constitute quarry waste visually selected by the excavator

operator for placement in the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement.

3.1.3. Waste Rock Emplacement

Waste rock generated by cap rock blasting or selective mining within the Wells Mine comprises weathered and discoloured marble, calcite amphibole gneiss, black mafic dykes and limited amounts of clay and alluvium are deposited at the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement Area, refer Plate 1.0. Blasted waste rock ranges in size from clay particles to boulder size, with a significant proportion less than 30mm that is suitable substrate for the propagation of local flora. Other waste materials include stone rejected by the photo sorter following crushing and screening.

No tailings waste is produced at the Mine. The waste rock is chemically stable. The rock types do not become a source of salt or acid mine drainage upon weathering, refer to Attachment 2.

Plate 1.0 Wells Rock Emplacement Area

The current operational Wells Rock Emplacement Area, has the following design parameters, which are not expected to change with the approved expansion.

• 1:3 (V:H) external batters, i.e 18o; • 4m wide bench with contour bank at 10m vertical intervals; and • A final height similar to the surrounding ridge lines.




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Rock drainage has been installed along the drainage lines at the base of the waste rock emplacement disturbance area prior to waste placement to facilitate the drainage of surface water infiltration into the porous stored materials. The current and proposed design utilises the existing terrain to maximize storage volume and minims impacts on air, water, noise and visual amenity of the area, refer to Plate 1.0b.

Plate 1.0b Wells Rock Emplacement Area Aerial View (2015)

The Wells Rock Emplacement Area has been rehabilitated between the toe at 110m AHD and 125m AHD.

3.1.4. On-site Processing

In 1999, the Company commissioned a crushing, screening and optical sorting plant, located on the 132m AHD floor of the now disused Northern Mine. A comparatively smaller and rebuilt plant located near the site office is used to mill marble to a nominal particle size of 40 microns. The milled product is sold locally for coal mine stone dusting and agriculture.

The mined Run-Of-Mine (ROM) marble is transported from the Wells Mine either directly to the primary crusher or to a ROM stockpile. Stockpiled ROM marble is eventually loaded to the primary crusher by front-end-loader. The ROM marble passes through a primary and secondary crusher and then screened into three size fractions. The >20mm fraction reports to a photosorter. The <20 mm fraction is not amenable (with current technology) to optical sorting.

If the <8mm fraction has unacceptable colour, but is free of impurities, it is transferred to the stone dust plant for milling, as the stone dust market is not sensitive to colour. Generally, the 8-20mm fraction contains excessive amounts of black mafic rock and cannot be used to make a marketable marble product.

Packaged processed marble products are stored in the small shed adjacent to the processing plant prior to dispatch from the mill. Bulk products are blown through a 100mm pipe to the silo above the weighbridge. About 45% of the stone dust mill

Sediment Dam 7




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output is dispatched in one tonne bulk bags, 25% in 20 kg paper sacks, and 30% in bulk tankers.

3.1.5. On-Site Infrastructure

With a combined length of approximately 4.0 km, haul roads are the biggest infrastructure item on-site. Each road typically has a running width of around 15 m, or three times the width of the quarry trucks and has a perimeter safety bund that extends a further 1m either side. Haul Roads area watered regularly, to ensure they do not become a source of dust.

Portable buildings are used as site offices, lunch rooms a small laboratory and washroom facilities.

3.1.6. Stormwater Management

Water is collected from stormwater run-off and groundwater pit seepage in the disused Northern Mine and the floor of Wells Mine. The only existing uses for the water is dust suppression for the haul roads, crusher / ore sorter processing plant and rehabilitation areas. It is estimated that 4 megalitres (ML) of water is used per annum on the haul roads and 3ML at the processing plant. There is estimated to be about 30ML of water in the Northern Mine, i.e. well in excess of current requirements.

The Company maintains a range of water management controls within the site to:

• minimise erosion; • monitor the quality of any water discharging from the mining leases is of an

acceptable quality and does not affect downstream water resources; and • monitor that the water management structures are consistent with

rehabilitation and long-term land use objectives.

3.1.7. Product Transportation

The marble products are loaded to road-registered trucks, super-dogs and semi-trailers capable of carrying 38 tonnes per load for dispatch from the mine.

Over 80% of the mine output is transported to the Company's plant in Geelong (Victoria) and Boyer (Tasmania). The product is transported by road to a stockpile at the Auckland Point wharf in Gladstone and then transported by sea to Geelong and Boyer. Contractors undertake all transportation with regular drivers. Typically, five trucks operate five days per week, with each truck completing four return trips per day from the wharf in Gladstone. On occasion, truck frequency may vary to comply with shipping schedules.

The remainder of the mine output is sold locally to coal mines in the Bowen Basin and agricultural suppliers. The product is transported in single and B-double semi-trailers along a variety of routes.




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4. PROPOSED CHANGES TO EXISTING OPERATION

4.1. WELLS WASTE ROCK EMPLACEMENT EXPANSION As previously stated, the proposed EA Amendment is to add an additional lease area, MLA80167 to the existing Environmental Authority (MIM102276310). The additional lease area will be to allow for the expansion of the currently operating Wells Rock Emplacement Area (WREA). Plate 2.0 and 3.0 show the current and proposed expansion of the WREA.

Plate 2.0

Existing approved WREA footprint

Plate 3.0

Proposed WREA Expansion final footprint (2040)




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The current Plan of Operations (2014 to 2019), identifies that not all of the Bajool marble deposit can be utilised by Omya as the specifications for our high and low grade products are very exact and the quality of the Bajool marble deposit is variable. Omya cannot utilise the internal waste rock or the overlying weathered marble / clay caprock. Currently, the Mine is utilising about 65% of what is mined and have internal KPI’s to reach 75% by 2017.

With the addition of MLA80167, Omya proposes to expand the footprint of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area from 7.3 ha to 12.5 ha. The storage volume of the Emplacement is estimated to increase the design storage capacity from 1.3 million cubic metres to a total of 2.3 million cubic metres providing the Mine with 1.7 million cubic meters of available capacity for the life of the mine.

Currently, the footprint of the existing emplacement is constrained by a tenement boundary. The current dump occupies the lower half of a small gully. It is proposed to extend the rock dump south to the head of the small gully. The final design of the expanded dump will be more conformable with the surrounding landscape than the existing final design.

Figure 3 Proposed Bajool WREA shows the following detail:

• current operational areas of the Wells Waste Rock Emplacement; • extent of the area already approved EPML00657813; • proposed Wells Rock Emplacement Area Extension; • the boundary of the catchment as indicated by the ridgeline; • drainage lines within the catchment and existing sediment dam; and • area of Wells Rock Emplacement already rehabilitated.

The strategy for the disposal of the waste rock is to build geotechnically stable, out-of-pit rock structures located off the marble deposit and within economic haulage distances from the mine. The waste rock emplacement structures are and will continue to be:

• profiled to minimise erosion; • designed to conform with the surrounding landscape; and • progressively revegetated with local flora.

Following assessment by Omya, the best location to construct the most stable, out of pit waste rock emplacement with minimum environmental impact is within the small gullies extending south of the current Wells Waste Rock Emplacement.

4.2. SEDIMENT DAM UPGRADE Stormwater and runoff from the Bajool Marble Mine site is managed via a series of Sediment Dams constructed on the natural drainage channels created by the existing topography of the site. The aim of the Sediment Dams on site is to reduce runoff velocities and to provide time for any entrained sediments from the operations to settle prior to discharge.

The dams are constructed using material Waste Rock and are densely vegetated to provide scour and erosion protection of the batters and promote settlementation.




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Discharge from the dams is via slow seepage through permeable walls rather than an outlet weir, again this provides the added filtration through the limestone rock to assist in water quality management.

Sediment Dam 7 is located at the toe of the WREA and captures the main channel from the catchment area of 18.6ha in total. The Dam currently has a volume of 1266m3 with a footprint area of 763m2 and has managed runoff of the area to date without visible offsite sediment release. To accommodate the WREA Expansion, it is proposed to increase the settling volume of Sediment Dam 7 to 4,100m3 by raising the dam walls by two metres (from 107.5 to 109.5m asl). The footprint (settling area) of the upgraded dam will be 2,400m2.




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5. SCALE OF OPERATION

5.1. CURRENT MINING AND PROCESSING RATES In 2015, mine production consisted of 226,000 tonnes of crusher feed and 58,000 tonnes of pit waste, from the crusher feed, 159862 tonnes of white marble was produced and dispatched to plants in Geelong (Victoria), Boyer (Tasmania) and Te Kuiti (New Zealand) by ship, via the Port of Gladstone and 32983 tonnes of marble was milled on-site to produce stone dust for central Queensland coal mines. Approximately 24,974 tonnes of the crushed output was segregated by the photo-sorter and downgraded to waste.

Due to the large size of the deposit and the small annual rate of production, the mine life is considered to be indefinite

The proposed EA Amendment will not result in any changes to mining and processing rates.

5.2. HOURS OF OPERATION The Company’s activities are currently undertaken within the following approved times:

Quarrying 6:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday to Sunday

Blasting 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Monday to Friday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Saturday

Crushing 24 hours Monday to Sunday

Milling 24 hours Monday to Sunday

Loading & Transport 24 hours Monday to Sunday

The proposed EA Amendment will not result in any changes to mining and processing hours of operation.




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6. SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT

6.1. TOPOGRAPHY The Bajool Mining Leases are located on the south facing timbered slopes of Mt McCamley and Mt Kelly; the elevation ranging between 92 m AHD and 319 m AHD. The gradients of the slopes are variable. In the north, they are steep and typically range between 23° and 33°, locally up to 40°. In the south, the gradient of the slopes range between 13° and 26°, the ridge lines around 7° and gullies around 4°. The Wells quarry and haul road are located in a broad valley with gentle gradients of 1° to 4°.

Mt McCamley and Mt Kelly form an isolated topographic high surrounded by grassed black-soil plains.

According to on the Bureau of Meteorology’s web site (www.bom.gov.au), the nearest meteorological station to Bajool with sufficient data is located at Rockhampton airport (about 50 km north of the quarry, but a similar distance from the coast).

Annual rainfall readings range between 517 mm and 1180 mm with an average of 800 mm, 80% of the annual rainfall is recorded in the summer months. Annual rainfall in recent decades has been below average and in the last three years there has been a severe deficiency. The highest recorded daily rainfall is 271 mm.

Highest mean monthly temperatures occur in January (31.8 C) and the lowest mean monthly temperatures occur in July (9.4 C).

6.1. CULTURAL AND HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE There are no known cultural heritage sites within the existing mining lease area. The Darumbal- Noolar Murree Aboriginal Corporation for Land and Culture and Dr Luke Godwin from Central Queensland Cultural Heritage Management Pty Ltd undertook a Cultural Heritage survey of the site in 2002 in which it concluded:

“It is our view that there is a low likelihood of further Aboriginal cultural material being encountered on the quarry site. This is due to the high degree of disturbance that the area has suffered from past development activity, as well as the interpretation that the area was probably not the focus of intense use leading to high levels of discard of cultural material.

The likelihood of encountering sub surface material, and notably human skeletal remains, is also seen as extremely low. There are few areas where there are substantial amounts of soil accumulation, and where cultural artifacts could therefore be buried. The area is not well suited for human interments, which are more usually encountered in places where there are significant alluvial deposits. As a precautionary measure, however, steps should be agreed between the parties in the unlikely event that such a discovery was made” (Goodwin 2002).

Marble has been intermittently quarried since 1917 at Bajool. Prior to 1974, several quarries within the Company’s Mining Leases were worked for monumental stone, interior cladding and terrazzo chips. Unfortunately, most of the marble was found to be too coarsely crystalline and soft for these products. Total production during 1917- 1974 only amounted to around 6700 tonnes. Bajool marble has been used in the




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construction of several buildings. The State and Commonwealth Governments, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were the major users.

The 2002 report by Dr Goodwin, also concluded:

“It is unlikely that this place, or any of the elements that comprise it, would meet any of the criteria under the Queensland Heritage Act, 1992 for inclusion on the Queensland Heritage Register - nor is it so listed.” (Goodwin 2002)

Although the previous reports have indicated a low likelihood of matters of Indigenous or European cultural heritage significance within the proposed new Mining Lease areas and the Cultural Heritage Duty of Care Guidelines are applied to new works undertaken on site in accordance with the sites Environmental Management System Manual (Rev 10).

6.2. SURROUNDING WATERWAYS Typical of most cattle grazing lands, crop cover varies with seasonal conditions, and stream turbidity is variable dependent on this cover, and intensity of rainfall events.

The Mine has two unmapped first order ephemeral streams which originate within the lease area, refer to Plate 4.0.

There are no naturally occurring springs onsite and no permanent surface water in the predominantly narrow drainage lines within the Mining Leases.

The Mile is located at the head of a localised watershed and the size of each catchment is between 10 and 50 ha. Surface run-off flows either west along drainage lines towards Eight Mile Creek or east, discharging onto broad alluvial flats.

Flows within Eight Mile Creek are ephemeral, but isolated waterholes remain in the water course for most months of the year. The creek flows north to the saline coastal flats of the Fitzroy River estuary.

Run-off from the areas of surface disturbance report to existing onsite sedimentation dams which provide sufficient area for settlement prior to seepage into existing vegetated discharge streams.




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PLATE 4.0

Bajool Marble Mine with EA Water Monitoring Locations

Offsite flows occur from the disused Northern Mine and the Wells Waste Emplacement areas and during high rainfall events discharge into onsite sediment ponds which capture any residual sediment from onsite activities prior to leaving the operational area to join Eight Mile Creek.

Water monitoring is undertaken in accordance with the existing EA conditions, refer to Attachment 4 for results.

6.3. CONTAMINATED LAND Given the nature of onsite activities, it is unlikely that they are listed on the Queensland Environmental Management Register or Contaminated Lands Register.

Eight Mile Creek




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7. ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSETS A report on State and Commonwealth Matters of Environmental Significance associated with MLA 80167 and the proposed expansion of the impact footprint within ML’s 3662 and 3663 has been undertaken by Central Queensland Envinmental Surveys in July/August 2016.

The report focused on quanitifying the existing Flora and Fauna within the propsoed 5.2ha impact zone of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area Extension and identifying the significant enfironmental matters affected by the expansion, refer to Attachemnt 2 for a copy of the full report.

The proposed WREA includes matters of State and Commonwealth Environmental Significance. These are habitat and individual plants of the endangered C. megacarpa, habitat for the vulnerable T. melanogaster, and the vulnerable P. cinereus.

The impacts cannot be avoided through planning – although the extent of the impacts can be mitigated through landform design, through land management practices, and revegetation of reconstructed lands.

The report has identified that there will be an impact on the Cycas population through the loss of 229 plants and 5 ha of habitat through the clearing of the direct impact area. However it is unlikely that this will have a significant impact to the regional population as Cycas habitat extents of much of the surrounding 1,300 ha of hills and ranges immediately surrounding the mine. However, there is likely to be decrease in the size of the local population.

The attached report outlines in detail the four options proposed by OMYA to address the potential impacts. These include:

• avoiding the potential impacts; • impact mitigation; • remediation; and • offsetting.

and the document concludes that if the project is approved then there will be a requirement for OMYA to:

• seek a permit to clear, and in support of that, undertake a protected plants flora survey in accordance with the Flora Survey Guidelines – Protected Plants under the Nature Conservation Act 1992;

• initiate negotiations around the establishment of a suitable offset for C. megacarpa in accordance with the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 and Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014.

Full details relating to the residual impact on each of prescribed environmental matters identified and measures proposed to avoid and minimise impact on each are detailed in Attachment 3.




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8. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS AND PLANS OMYA Australia Pty Ltd, owner/operator of the Bajool Marble Mine holds the following permits for the site:

• Registered Suitable Operator Number: 341494 • Non Standard Environmental Authority (Mining Activities): EPML00657813

(formerly MIM800074702)

The Environmental Authority outlines the current conditions by which all onsite mining related activities are managed. The Plan of Operations (2014 to 2019) is maintained up to date to manage the site long term operational strategies and controls.

The proposed Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion is not expected to increase the environmental risk of the current operation and will result in minimal changes to its existing conditions.

The Site does not currently have any active Environmental Protection Orders, Temporary Emissions Licences (TEL), Transitional Environmental Plans (TEP) or EHP required Site Management Plans under Division 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

8.1. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

OMYA Australia Pty Ltd maintain an operational Management system which is externally certified by Bureau Veritas to ISO14001:2004, ISO9001:2000 and AS4801:2004.

8.2. SITE REHABILITATION PLAN

The current Plan of Operations 2014 – 2019, refer to Attachment 1, outlines the sites Rehabilitation Management Plan. The Mines policy is for the progressive rehabilitation of mined or otherwise disturbed areas, where such activities can be undertaken in a cost-efficient manner and not jeopardise the future utilisation of the resource. The purpose of the rehabilitation is to ensure that as far as practicable, the areas of disturbance are returned to a land use and land use capability classification similar to that prior to the commencement of mining activities with a self- sustaining vegetative cover appropriate to the land use and land capability.

Rehabilitation consists of re-profiling the area to create a geotechnical stable structure that blends with the surrounding landscape and provides for appropriate drainage, followed by re-spreading of stored topsoil and forest litter and seeding or planting with local species.

Dr. Alistair Melzer of Central Queensland Environmental Surveys continues to monitor the rehabilitation and weed management program for the Mine

Ongoing monitoring of rehabilitation performance has been undertaken at the Mine and suggests current rehabilitation practices have been successful in recreating the elements of a functioning ecosystem.

The Rehabilitation Plan will be updated to include provision for the WREA Expansion area to ensure it is captured within the long term financial and resource planning for the site.




20

8.3. WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN The Mine currently maintains and implements a Weed Management Plan (BJ-WMP-001). The plan aims to provide a detailed methodology to mitigate and manage identified impacts associated with the establishment and spread of weed and pest species on site. The integral parts of the plan are:

• Control of weed transport through site management • Collective management of weed issues with neighbors • Control or eradication of priority weeds by an external contractor, and • Visual inspections of the site.

The Weed Management Plan will be updated to include the proposed WREA Expansion.

8.4. CYCAS RECOVERY PLAN Cycas megacarpa occurs throughout the lands owned and leased by Omya Australia at the Bajool Marble Mine. The species is listed as endangered under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA). A Commonwealth recovery plan was prepared by the Queensland Herbarium in 2007 (Queensland Herbarium 2007). Threats to the species are:

• Destruction due to land clearing, • Legal harvesting and commercial salvage, • Illegal harvesting, • Loss of genetic variation and insect pollinators, and • Land management practices.

Threats 1, 4 and 5 occur at Bajool as a consequence of routine quarry activities and land management practices. Threats 2 and 3 are highly unlikely as a consequence of access and visitor management at the quarry.

The Bajool Marble Mine Cycas Megacarpa Recovery Plan prepared by Dr A Melzer plan seeks to ensure that there is no net loss or reduction in distribution of Cycas megacarpa as a consequence of Omya’s quarrying activities or of the management of surrounding lands controlled by Omya.

It is consistent with and complements the national recovery plan. As implemented, the Bajool recovery plan will increase the knowledge of the local Cycas megacarpa population and result in a net benefit by increasing the understanding of this species.

The Cycas Recovery Plan will be updated to include the proposed WREA Expansion.




21

9. ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES Table 3 below summarises the compliance to the Environmental Objectives and Performance Outcomes outlined within Schedule 5, Part 3 Table 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 for the proposed EA Amendment activity, ie, the addition of MLA80167 for the Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion.

Table 3 Objectives and Performance Outcomes

Environmental Objectives and Performance Outcomes

Potential Environmental Risk from EA Amendment

OMYA Controls and Documentation

9.1. AIR

The Bajool Marble Mine is located within a rural setting largely surrounded by cleared grazing lands where the most common air contaminant is dust from agricultural activities, local traffic on sealed and un-sealed roads, also smoke and other particulates associated with seasonal burning by landholders.

No specific data is available for the background levels of dust in the atmosphere for the local region. The site has no recorded air or dust related complaints from neighbours.

Given the design of the facility, the current operational procedures onsite and the environmental performance history of the existing Wells Rock Emplacement, the Expansion project will not likely to result in significant change to offsite emissions or contravention of Omya’s existing Environmental Authority conditions relating to Air.

9.1.1. Emissions / Release Points

The expansion of the WREA has the potential to increase Ambient Dust generated from Bajool Marble Mine through the increased area of disturbance of the mine. There will be no point source releases associated with this amendment. The existing and proposed air quality controls




22




are itemised in the following table.

9.1.2. Environmental Objective:

The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of air.

9.1.3. Performance Outcomes:

1 There is no discharge to air of contaminants that may cause an adverse effect on the environment from the operation of the activity.

✗ Not Applicable

2 All of the following—

a) fugitive emissions of contaminants from storage, handling and processing of materials and transporting materials within the site are prevented or minimised;

✓ Fugitive dust emissions from Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

1) Existing dust mitigation measures including:

• Permanent onsite water truck used as required during high wind / low rain periods on the WREA and routinely on haul roads on site;

• Permanent water sprayers within identified high risk area (Crusher);

• Vehicle speed restricted to less than

b) contingency measures will prevent or minimise adverse effects on the environment from unplanned emissions and shut down and start up emissions of contaminants to air;

✓

c) releases of contaminants to the atmosphere for dispersion will be managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on environmental values.

✓




23




25km/hr within the mine site to minimise dust generation;

• Access to the WREA is restricted to mine dumping equipment to minimise vehicular from traffic generating dust

• Progressive revegetation of disturbed areas of the Emplacement to reduce dust generating surfaces.

• Omya will maintain its 100m undisturbed vegetated buffer around the proposed Expansion area, refer to Figure 4;

• enforcing a covered load policy on all bulk product despatches

2) Typical fraction size of the material disposed of to the Wells Rock Emplacement Area is greater than 1mm, not fine material conducive to high dust loads.

3) Emplacement area design maintains the height of the stockpile and final profiles to below that of surrounding protective ridgelines to minimise wind velocities and provide protection from prevailing Easterly winds.




24




4) There will continue to be no odour generating activities at the Mine.

5) The release of greenhouse gasses from the Mine is limited to the burning of fuels in mobile plant, and gasses released from blasting. Fuel burn, and blasting powder factors are monitored routinely and mobile plant maintenance is closely monitored by Omya and the mining contractor. These are major cost factors in the Company’s mining operations and improved when technologies become available;

6) On cessation of operational activates at the Mine, the risk of adverse impacts on the local air quality over that of other agricultural activities is largely eliminated. The progressive rehabilitation of the mine site reduces the area of exposed surfaces to the generation of dust,

Omya Standard Operating Procedure:

• BJ-SOP-009 Dust Control




25




9.2. WATER

The Mine is surrounded largely by rural primary production areas consisting of cleared cattle grazing lands. Typical of most cattle grazing lands, crop cover varies with seasonal conditions, and stream turbidity is variable dependant on this cover, and intensity of rainfall events.

The course and gravely texture of the wastes within the Emplacement stockpile is highly porous, does not compact well, resulting in water infiltrating though the stockpile quickly. The site sees little surface runoff from the stockpile external walls during rain events and little erosion of waste materials.

The proposed Emplacement Area is within a small catchment area refer to Figure 3 and storm water from the Mine discharge into Eight Mile Creek via a series of natural, highly vegetated onsite draining channels and Sediment Dams.

The current Environmental Authority conditions require the sampling at designated locations during rainfall events greater than 50mm or over a 24 hour duration. However, due to changes in site personnel and record keeping difficulties, the site has only access to reliable data from 2010 and 2011. The water monitoring program has been reviewed and commitments made internally to ensure on-going compliance from August 2016.

Water Monitoring data available for the site is contained within Attachment 4, the waters sampled from BQW4, which represent water from the Wells Rock Emplacement Area are all within EA quality limits.


The expansion of the WREA has the potential to increase the volume of contaminated stormwater from the Bajool Marble Mine. The existing Sediment Pond 7 will continue to capture runoff from the WREA and will be upgraded to ensure sufficient volume to manage the increased




26




disturbed area. Existing Monitoring locations and regimes will continue to provide confidence that the surface water quality of the site and surrounding Eight Mile Creek is being maintained.

9.2.2. Environmental Objective

The activity will be operated in a way that protects environmental values of waters.

9.2.3. Performance Outcomes

1 There is no actual or potential discharge to waters of contaminants that may cause an adverse effect on an environmental value from the operation of the activity.

✗ Not Applicable


a) the storage and handling of contaminants will include effective means of secondary containment to prevent or minimise releases to the environment from spillage or leaks;

✓ Water Quality from Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

1) On-site water management practices include the use of natural drainage channels and a series of sediment ponds to capture initial runoff from disturbed areas.

2) Natural filtering properties of limestone assist in the reduction of sediment load within runoff

b) contingency measures will prevent or minimise adverse effects on the environment due to unplanned releases or discharges of contaminants to water;

✓

c) the activity will be managed so that stormwater contaminated by the activity that may cause an adverse effect on an environmental

✓




27




value will not leave the site without prior treatment; waters and sediment ponds within the mine.

Catchment.

3) Design and construction of the existing Wells Rock Emplacement Area and the proposed extension includes a series of gravel drains in the base of the facility to allow the existing drainage lines of the catchment to be followed by rainwaters captured within the surrounding catchment and seeping through the stockpile. This was the methodology used for the construction of the original Wells Rock Emplacement Area and there have been no observed drainage issues within the catchment.

4) Existing Operational measures on site to minimise potential impacts on water quality from site:

• Water collected in disused Northern Pit, and the active Wells Pit is reused on site for dust suppression.

• No Maintenance of plant or equipment within the Wells Rock Emplacement

d) the disturbance of any acid 27ulphate soil, or potential acid 27ulphate soil, will be managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on environmental values;

✗ Not Applicable

e) acid producing rock will be managed to ensure that the production and release of acidic waste is prevented or minimised, including impacts during operation and after the environmental authority has been surrendered;

✗ Not Applicable refer to Attachment 2 for further details.

f) any discharge to water or a watercourse or wetland will be managed so that there will be no adverse effects due to the altering of existing flow regimes for water or a watercourse or wetland;

✓

g) for a petroleum activity, the activity will be managed in a way that is consistent with the coal seam gas water management policy, including the prioritisation hierarchy for managing and using coal seam gas water and the prioritisation hierarchy for managing saline waste;

✗ Not Applicable

the activity will be managed so that adverse effects on environmental values are prevented or minimised. ✓




28




Area. • No storage of chemicals or oils within

the Wells Rock Emplacement Area. • All mine vehicles carry spill kits for

management of oil spills on site. • Prestart checks undertaken on all

vehicles each day prior to operation. • Construction activities will ensure

localised sediment controls (hay bales, sediment fencing and rock walls etc.) used to reduce sediment contaminated runoff.

• diverting clean surface water flows upslope of mining related disturbance away from disturbed areas.


• BJ-SOP-001 Water Sampling




29




9.3. WETLANDS

There are no mapped Wetland Protection Areas within the vicinity of the mine discharge points on Eight Mile Creek with the closest Wetland regional ecosystem approximately 25km down stream. Water Quality from the site to Eight Mile Creek is compliant with its Environmental Authority limits and it is not expected it would result in any adverse affect on wetland communities.


The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of wetlands.


1 There will be no potential or actual adverse effect on a wetland as part of carrying out the activity. ✓ 1) No potential for discharge waters from the

proposed Wells Rock Emplacement Area Extension project to have a actual or potential impact on wetlands.

2 The activity will be managed in a way that prevents or minimises adverse effects on wetlands.

✗ Not Applicable




30




9.4. GROUNDWATER

While there is no groundwater bores located on site the pit seepage waters, which fill the pit voids within the mine, demonstrate similar water quality characteristics to the surface waters discharged from site. Waters passing though the waste stockpiles do not undergo any change in chemical composition due to the inert nature of the marble. Onsite activities which have the potential to contaminate groundwater’s are managed as part of the mining activity and are not undertaken on the Wells Rock Emplacement Area or proposed extension.


The expansion of the WREA has the potential to increase the discharge of contaminants to groundwater through the increase in area of disturbance however through the controls listed below, and the pit water quality, the site does not believe it is impacting on the current groundwater systems.


The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of groundwater and any associated surface ecological systems.


1 Both of the following apply—

a) there will be no direct or indirect release of contaminants to groundwater from the operation of the activity;

✗ Not Applicable




31




b) there will be no actual or potential adverse effect on groundwater from the operation of the activity.

✗ Not Applicable

2 The activity will be managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on groundwater or any associated surface ecological systems.

✓

1) Existing Operational measures on site to minimise potential impacts on water quality (see above) from site also ensure groundwater’s are protected.

2) In addition Groundwater Quality from Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

• Water collected in disused Northern Pit, reused on site for dust suppression.

• No Maintenance of plant or equipment within the Wells Rock Emplacement Area.

• No storage of chemicals or oils within the Wells Rock Emplacement Area.

• All mine vehicles carry spill kits for management of oil spills on site.

• Prestart checks undertaken on all vehicles each day prior to operation.

3) There are designated fuel storage areas on




32




site within the operational area of the mine and storages are compliant with the current Environmental Authority conditions.

4) There is no underground storages of fuels, oils or chemicals on the mine site.




33




9.5. NOISE

The operation of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area is not historically a high noise generating activity on the Mine and the proposed extension would not create additional new sources for the site. The location of the expanded emplacement is within a small valley and the final profiles will be below surrounding ridgelines, which will further shield the surrounding properties and sensitive locations from potential noise impact.

The site operates under the conditions of its current Environmental Authority and it is expected that the Wells Rock Emplacement Area project will not violate any noise schedule conditions.


While the construction phase of the WREA expansion will result in a minor increase in vehicle activity on the WREA site during standard mine operational hours (6am-6pm), the ongoing operation of the WREA will be consistent with the existing use of the area. Based on the controls listed below, the WREA Expansion is not identified as a potential new noise emission source on site.


The activity will be operated in a way that protects the environmental values of the acoustic environment.


1 Sound from the activity is not audible at a sensitive receptor. ✗ Not Applicable




34




2 The release of sound to the environment from the activity is managed so that adverse effects on environmental values including health and wellbeing and sensitive ecosystems are prevented or minimised.

✓

Noise Emissions from Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

1) Noise generated from the Bajool Limestone mine is managed in accordance with its existing EA conditions.

2) No Noise complaints have been received by the Mine from neighbouring residences.

3) Onsite operating methods to minimise impact of noise include:

• Blasting within allowable timeframes and during favourable metrological conditions

• Conducting mining operations (drilling, secondary rock breakage etc) in accordance with EA conditions (6am to 6pm)

• Equipment and vehicle maintenance to minimise additional noise emissions.


• BJ-SOP-008 Noise Control




35




9.6. WASTE

The expansion of the Wells Rock Waste Emplacement is to facilitate the waste disposal of out of specification marble and mine products generated from mining, crushing and sorting activities on site. Omya are investing resources into each of these processes to ensure they are undertaken more efficiently to minimise wastage and maximise yield from mining operations.

The Current volume of waste rock sent to the WREA is approximately 60,000m3 per annum, with the implementation of its current upgrade plans, the Mine aims to reduce the waste rock to between 25,000m3 and 40,000m3 per year.

The plan and program to achieve these reductions include:

• Installing the new optical sorter, (scheduled to be commissioned in December 2016). • Replacing the on-site ball mill with a roller mill. (The existing ball mill only has the capacity to mill the softest, whitest stone. The new

roller mill has the capacity to mill the harder, grey marble which is currently hauled to the dump. (Scheduled to be commissioned in December 2016).

• Better, selective blasting and mining practices, thereby minimising contamination of ore with waste rock. • Rescreening campaigns to recover some of the quarry rock already on the WREA. • Finding alternative markets for the quarry rock not suitable for Omya’s mills (and currently being hauled to the WREA)


The expansion of the WREA has the potential to increase the storage volume of waste rock on site however, the projects and controls listed within this table outline the methods adopted by OMYA to minimise the waste generation on site and minimise the volume of waste to be sent




36




to the WREA.


Any waste generated, transported, or received as part of carrying out the activity is managed in a way that protects all environmental values.


1 Both of the following apply—

a) waste generated, transported or received is managed in accordance with the waste and resource management hierarchy in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011;

✓ Waste from the Mine and Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

1) In line with the Waste and Resource Management Hierarchy, the mine operates its activities to ensure the following management options are adopted on site:

AVOID - unnecessary resource consumption through:

Selective mining, drilling and blasting to avoid contaminated seams within the pit;

REDUCE waste generation and disposal through:

b) if waste is disposed of, it is disposed of in a way that prevents or minimises adverse effects on environmental values. ✓




37




Upgrading sorting equipment to minimise contamination of the waste streams with good quality stone to reduce the volume of waste to the WREA.

RE-USE waste resources without further manufacturing through:

Out of spec material is used onsite for road and batter construction and in the establishment of rehabilitation areas.

RECYCLE waste resources to make the same or different products:

Creation of new markets through the segregation of large ornamental or dark reject stone which do not meet the specification for current customers and would have traditionally been disposed of to Wells Rock Waste Emplacement, however have value in the landscape architecture industry.

RECOVER waste resources, including the recovery of energy;




38




With the installation of the new photo sorter, Omya plan to undertake the selective recovery and re sorting of material on the Wells Rock Waste Emplacement which had been historically disposed of to extract viable product;

TREAT waste before disposal, including reducing the hazardous nature of waste;

No treatment of waste required prior to disposal.

DISPOSE of waste only if there is no viable alternative through:

It is in the companies best financial interest to minimise the volume of wastes to the Emplacement area and internal targets are set to reduce the volume of waste to Wells Rock Waste Emplacement by 10% by 2017.

2) Wells Rock Emplacement Area has been designed and operated for 12 years in its current location and has not caused any adverse environmental impacts on the surrounding




39




environmental values.

3) The proposed expansion is to be constructed to a consistent design methodology and will comply with all current EA conditions.


• BJ-SOP-007 Waste Management




40




9.1. LAND

The expansion of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area will require the disturbance of an estimated 5.2ha of land within Omya’s mining lease holdings. Investigations have been undertaken to initially select the site to minimise impacts to the flora and fauna within the disturbance area and to identify the likely losses to be incurred. Omya has a mature site rehabilitation program on site and a long term commitment to the deposit to ensure the management of the site and its restoration will be ongoing. Omya will ensure all required permits and approvals will be obtained prior to undertaken any works on the WREA and offset requirements will be met.


The activity is operated in a way that protects the environmental values of land including soils, subsoils, landforms and associated flora and fauna.


1 There is no actual or potential disturbance or adverse effect to the environmental values of land as part of carrying out the activity.

✗ Not Applicable


a) activities that disturb land, soils, subsoils, landforms and associated flora and fauna will be managed in a way that prevents or

✓ Land impacts from the Wells Rock Emplacement




41




minimises adverse effects on the environmental values of land; Area Expansion will be managed onsite via:

1) While an area of 5.2 ha is to be cleared for the construction of the expansion the following strategies are planned to minimise impacts of the clearing:

• The clearing is restricted to the disposal area only with all associated infrastructure, haul roads, sediment dams expansion etc to be undertaken within the disturbed area;

• Clearing of this area is to be progressive as the additional area is required rather than clearing the entire surface in one project to minimise exposure of soils and sub soils, disruption of fauna and risk of sediment runoff;

• Topsoil from the area is to be stored within the area in wind rows until required as part of the sites Rehabilitation Strategy;

2) Bajool Marble Mine operate under a Plan of Operations which outlines the rehabilitation

b) areas disturbed will be rehabilitated or restored to achieve sites that are—

✓

- safe to humans and wildlife; and

- non-polluting; and

- stable; and

- able to sustain an appropriate land use after rehabilitation or restoration;

the activity will be managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on the environmental values of land due to unplanned releases or discharges, including spills and leaks of contaminants;

✓

the application of water or waste to the land is sustainable and is managed to prevent or minimise adverse effects on the composition or structure of soils and subsoils.

✓




42




strategies for the site. The extension of the Wells Rock Waste Emplacement area will be progressively rehabilitated in line with the existing facility.

3) Flora Surveys undertaken in July/August 2016 will be used to update these strategies to ensure sufficient Offset Areas are identified, rehabilitation targets set and the Weed Management Plans are updated, Refer to Attachment 3.

4) Construction Methodology is in line with Figure 5 Wells Waste Rock Emplacement Construction which will create a stable land form with will facilitate the drainage of surface waters, access for tipping and contouring to be conducive to rehabilitation.

5) Omya have make long term commitments to the Bajool Marble Mine and have identified resource with the deposit to facilitate the next 30+ years.

This long term commitment will ensure also the environmental management of site.




43





• BJ-SOP-001 Weed Management Plan




44

10. ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY CONDITIONS

10.1. PROPOSED CONDITION AMENDMENTS The following section identifies the current conditions within EPML00657813 which will require revision with the approval of the Wells Rock Emplacement Area Expansion project. It is understood that the amendment process will result in the review of relevant EA Conditions currently held be the Mine.

10.1.1. Administrative Matters

Proposed Amendment:

Permit Details:

Tenure Type Tenure Number

ML 3638

ML 3662

ML 3663

ML 3666

ML 80028

ML 80167

Comment: Amend Table to include new mining lease area.

10.1.2. Agency Interest: General

G1 No Proposed Amendment








Comment: No proposed changes to current General conditions with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.




45

10.1.3. Agency Interest: Land

L1 No Proposed Amendment




L5 Delete

L6 Delete


L8 Delete


Comment: Proposed changes to Land conditions reflect the completion and submission of reports requested via condition. Inclusion of Offset conditions would be required with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.

Table L1 and L2 are updated to include amend the Wells Waste Rock (Proposed) row with the following:

Table L1 – Final land use and rehabilitation approval schedule

Disturbance type Disturbance area (ha)

Pre-mine land description

Post-mine land

description

Post-mine suitability

classification

Post-mine land

classification

Analogue site

identification

Wells Waste Rock

Emplacement 12.5

Ironbark/bloodwood

ecosystem with semi-evergreen

vine thicket.

(11.11.15/11.11.5)

Self Sustaining Ecosystem on a stable and benign landform

4

Sustainable plant

assemblages and habitat for fauna

BAJOM3

Table L2 – Landform design

Landform Area Slope Range

Max vertical distance between 4 – 8m wide

bench/erosion control structures (m)

Wells Waste Rock Emplacement

12.5 ha 33 10

10.1.4. Agency Interest: Noise

N1 No Proposed Amendment





46








Comment: No proposed changes to Noise conditions with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.

10.1.5. Agency Interest: Social

S1 No Proposed Amendment

Comment: No proposed changes to Social conditions with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.

10.1.6. Agency Interest: Waste

W1 No Proposed Amendment

W2 No Proposed Amendment

Comment: No proposed changes to Waste conditions with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.

10.1.7. Agency Interest: Water

WA1 No Proposed Amendment



Comment: No proposed changes to Water conditions with the inclusion of ML80167 and extension of the WREA.




47

11. FIGURES

FIGURE 1 BAJOOL CADASTRAL AND MINING LEASES

MLA80167

ML80014

ML3638

ML3666

ML80028

ML3663

ML3662

Lot 37

Hollier

Lot 40V

176

Lot 102

Lot 114 Lot 430

Lot 22

Lot 50

Omya

Lot 119

Lot 2

7363500N

7364000N

7364500N

7365000N

7365500N

7363500N

7364000N

7364500N

7365000N

7365500N

260000E

260000E

260500E

260500E

261000E

261000E

261500E

261500E

² 500m0

BajoolCadastral &

Mining leases

1:10000

LegendOmya Mining Lease (ML)CadastreCompany Owned LandDisturbance (40.7 Ha, Dec '15)Proposed Waste Rock Extension(5.2 Ha)




48

FIGURE 2 APPROVED AND PROPOSED ONSITE ACTIVITIES




49

FIGURE 3 PROPOSED BAJOOL WREA

{

{

{

³³

³³³

³

³³

³

³

³ ³ ³

³

³³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³³

³³

³

³

³

³

³

³³

³

³

³

³

³

³

³ ³

³

³

³

³³³³

³³

³

³³

³³

³³

³³³³³³

³³³

³³

³³

³³³³³³³

³

³ ³³

³

³

³³

³

³³

³

³

³³

³³³

³³

³³

³

³

³³

³

MLA80167

ML3638

ML3666

ML3662

BAJOM4

BAJOM5

BAJOM6

125130135140145150

140145150

155

110115120

125

110 115 120 125

130

135140

105

110

115 120125

120125

130

135

140

145

165

170

175165

170

160165

170175

180185190 195

125130135140145150155130

135140145150155

160165170175180185190195200205210215220225

170175180185190195200205

220

170155

160165

135

140

145

150

155160

165

170

145150155160165

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

sed dam6

sed dam7

150

165

160

135

Wells Quarry

Wells Waste RockRehab

5.2 Ha

1.5 Ha 4.0 Ha

MLA80167

ML80014

ML3638

ML3666

ML3662

Lot 37

Hollier

Lot 430

Lot 50

ridgelin

e

Proposed Extension

7363400N

7363600N

7363800N

7364000N

7364200N

7364400N

7363400N

7363600N

7363800N

7364000N

7364200N

7364400N

261000E

261000E

261500E

261500E

² 250m0

BajoolProposed

Waste RockEmplacement

1:3500

Legend

Omya Mining Lease (ML)CadastreCompany Owned LandDisturbance (40.7 Ha, Dec '15)Proposed Waste Rock Extension(5.2 Ha)5m Contourdrainagedrainge under WREARidgelineApproved Waste Rock Outline

{ EA Monitoring Location




50

FIGURE 4 BAJOOL WREA FOOTPRINT

buffer_ML

proposed_WREA_ML

WREA_Approved

proposed_WREA_MLA

buffer_MLA

MLA80167

Sed Dam

ML3638

ML3666

ML80014

Wells Quarry

7363400N

7363600N

7363800N

7364000N

7364200N

7364400N

7363400N

7363600N

7363800N

7364000N

7364200N

7364400N

261000E

261000E

261500E

261500E

250m0

BajoolML80167

WREA FootprintJuly 2016

1:5000

WREA ApprovedWREA Proposed in MLWREA Proposed in MLA100m buffer in MLA100m buffer in MLDrainage internalExternal DrainageRoadsMGA94 zone 56




51

FIGURE 5 WELLS WASTE ROCK EMPLACEMENT CONSTRUCTION




52

12. ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT 1 PLAN OF OPERATIONS 2014 TO 2019.




53

ATTACHMENT 2 ACID MINE DRAINAGE AND CARBONATE BUFFERING

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

AMD occurs due to the oxidation of Fe sulfides (most common being pyrite), in silicate-rich rocks. The acid is produced via the oxidation of the ferrous Fe (Fe2+) to ferric Fe (Fe3+) and S from S- to S6+. This results in the formation of ferric hydroxides (such as goethite) and sulfuric acid. Goethite is very stable at the earth’s surface while the sulfuric acid is very corrosive and toxic. The silicate-rich rocks that ordinarily host the Fe sulfides are very inert in even extremely acidic conditions and as such have little to no role in buffering the acidity produced via the Fe sulfide oxidation. This acidity results in a more oxidising environment that causes the Fe sulfides to oxidise even more quickly, developing a chain reaction that results in the extreme acidification of the ground and surface waters commonly observed at sites of AMD.

Carbonate Buffering

Carbonate buffering via minerals such as calcite prevent AMD on two fronts. Carbonates are readily soluble in ground and surface waters (Equation 1) and create reducing conditions in these waters, significantly slowing (if not completely preventing) the oxidation of Fe sulfides to begin with. The second front on which carbonates prevent AMD is that any acid that may be produced via Fe sulfide oxidation are quickly neutralised by the reactive carbonates as shown in Equations 2 and 3. Figure 1 shows a table to determine the quantities of calcite required to neutralise pyrite oxidation within a waste dump which shows that a 3:5 ration of pyrite:calcite is required, (Omya waste dumps being as much as ~1% pyrite and possibly up to 97% calcite giving close to a 1:100 ratio, greatly exceeding this requirement).

CaCO3 + H2O ⇨ Ca2+ + 2OH-

+ CO2 (1)

(2)

(3)

FIGURE 1: CALCULATIONS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE CACO3 REQUIRED TO PREVENT 2% PYRITE IN 30 MT WASTE DUMP WITH EQUATIONS TO DEMONSTRATE MOLAR RATIOS AND HARMLESS BY-PRODUCTS OF GOETHITE AND GYPSUM. OMYA WASTE DUMPS BEING AS MUCH AS TO ~1% PYRITE AND COMMONLY UP TO 97% CALCITE GIVING CLOSE TO A 1:100, PYRITE:CALCITE RATIO.




54

Further References:

Harries, J. (1997) “Acid Mine Drainage in Australia, Its extent and Potential Future Liabilities” Supervising Scientist Report 125, Supervising Scientist, Canberra.

Adam, K., Kourtis, B, Gazea, B. and Kontopoulos, A (1997) “Evaluation of Static Tests used to Predict Potential for Acid Drainage Generation at Sulphide Mine Sites”, Trans. Instn. Min. Metal. (Sect. A) 106, January-April.

“The Science of Acid Mine Drainage & Passive Treatment” Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation: www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bamr/amd/science_of_AMD




55

ATTACHMENT 3 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, POTENTIAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION

MLA 80617. Omya Australia Bajool Marble Quarry




56

ATTACHMENT 4 EPML00657813 WATER MONITORING RESULTS

Receiving Water monitoring locations:

BQW-1 Eight Mile Creek Upstream of Mine Works (downstream of Wells Mine/WREA)

BQW-2 Eight Mile Creek Downstream of Mine Works and Wells Mine/WREA

End of Pipe monitoring locations:

BQW-3 Onsite Sediment Dam Runoff (Mine Works)

BQW-4 Onsite Sediment Dam Runoff (Wells Mine/WREA)

Monitoring Location: BQW - 1

Date EA Location pH Conductivity

(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

EA Limit: N/A N/A N/A

13.12.10 BQW1 7.82 222 30

12.01.11 BQW1 7.82 240 18

25.01.11 BQW1 7.82 222 30

Average 7.82 228 26

Max 7.82 240 30

Min 7.82 222 18




57

Monitoring Location: BQW – 2


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

EA Limit: N/A 250** N/A

15.02.10 BQW2 7.6 N.A. 58

15.02.10 BQW2 8.2 N.A. 18

22.02.10 BQW2 7.6 N.A. 20

22.02.10 BQW2 8 N.A. 8

22.03.10 BQW2 7.4 120 34

13.12.10 BQW2 7.67 400 20

12.01.11 BQW2 7.67 400 19.6

25.01.11 BQW2 7.67 400 19.6

26.01.11 BQW2 7.67 400 17

22.02.11 BQW2 7.67 400 19.5

Average 7.72 353 23.4

Max 8.2 400 58

Min 7.4 120 8

**If BQW-1<250uS/cm then BQW-2 = 250uS/cm;

If BQW-1>250uS/cm then BQW-2 not more than 10% of 250uS/cm;



(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

EA Limit: 6.5 - 8.5 250 N/A

15.02.10 BQW3 7.6 N.A. 35

22.02.10 BQW3 N.A.

22.03.10 BQW3 8.2 480 10.3




58


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

EA Limit: 6.5 - 8.5 250 N/A

13.12.10 BQW3 7.72 591 11.6

12.01.11 BQW3 7.72 475 14.8

25.01.11 BQW3 7.72 591 11.6

27.01.11 BQW3 7.72 490 9.5

22.02.11 BQW3 7.72 490 11

Average 7.77 481 14.8

Max 8.2 591 35

Min 7.6 250 9.5



(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

EA Limit: 6.5 - 8.5 1000 N/A

22.02.10 BQW4 7.6 N.A. 15

22.03.10 BQW4 7.2 100 33

13.12.10 BQW4 7.86 421 12.5

12.01.11 BQW4 7.86 420 12

28.01.11 BQW4 7.86 390 9.5

22.02.11 BQW4 7.86 390 9.5

Average 7.71 344 15.3

Max 7.86 421 33

Min 7.2 100 9.5




59

Monitoring Location: Wells Pit Monitoring (non EA point)


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)

Internal Limit: 6.5 - 8.5 1000 N/A

02.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 16

03/02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 14

04.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 18

05.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 14

08.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 12

09.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 14

10.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 17

11.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 13

12.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 14

15.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 17

15.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 14

16.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 12

17.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 13

18.02.10 BQW5 7.6 N.A. 17

19.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 10

22.02.10 BQW5 7.8 N.A. 18

22.02.10 BQW4 7.6 N.A. 15

24.02.10 BQW5 7.8 380 7.6

25.02.10 BQW5 7.8 410 9.6

26.02.10 BQW5 7.8 400 10.2

01.03.10 BQW5 7.8 350 7.6

02.03.10 BQW5 7.8 350 7.6

03.03.10 BQW5 7.8 360 7.6




60


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


04.03.10 BQW5 7.8 380 9.6

05.03.10 BQW5 7.6 390 11.5

08.03.10 BQW5 7.6 390 12.8

09.03.10 BQW5 7.8 430 3

10.03.10 BQW5 7.8 420 7.6

12.03.10 BQW5 7.8 410 14.1

15.03.10 BQW5 7.8 400 10.9

16.03.10 BQW5 7.8 380 9.7

17.03.10 BQW5 7.8 410 13.3

18.03.10 BQW5 7.8 410 12

22.03.10 BQW4 7.2 100 33

25.03.10 BQW5 8.2 280 15.5

26.03.10 BQW5 8.2 370 8.6

29.03.10 BQW5 7.8 390 10.2

30.03.10 BQW5 7.8 370 8.6

31.03.10 BQW5 7.8 370 11.4

06.04.10 BQW5 7.8 390 11

07.04.10 BQW5 8.2 390 2.2

09.04.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.5

12.04.10 BQW5 8.2 430 3.4

13.04.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

14.04.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.2

15.04.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

16.04.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5




61


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


10.05.10 BQW5 7.6 420 3.4

11.05.10 BQW5 7.6 430 3

12.05.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.8

13.05.10 BQW5 7.6 400 3

14.05.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

15.05.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

16.05.10 BQW5 7.8 400 3

11.08.10 BQW5 7.6 390 3

12.08.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.8

13.08.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

12.10.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

13.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.2

14.10.10 BQW5 7.6 400 2.7

15.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

19.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.8

20.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

21.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

27.10.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

28.10.10 BQW5 7.8 400 2.7

29.10.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

02.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

03.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

04.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

06.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7




62


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


08.11.10 BQW5 7.8 390 2.7

12.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

13.11.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

22.11.10 BQW5 7.8 400 2.8

23.11.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.5

24.11.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.5

25.11.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.5

03.12.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

04.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

05.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

06.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

07.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

08.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

09.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

10.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

11.12.10 BQW5 7.8 400 2.8

12.12.10 BQW5 7.8 400 2.8

13.12.10 BQW5 7.9 400 9.4

13.12.10 BQW5 7.9 400 9.4

13.12.10 BQW4 7.86 421 12.5

14.12.10 BQW5 7.8 380 2.7

15.12.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

16.12.10 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

17.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5




63


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


18.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

20.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

21.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

22.12.10 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

12.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

12.01.11 BQW4 7.86 420 12

14.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

15.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

16.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

13.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

17.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

18.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

19.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

20.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

21.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

22.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

23.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

24.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

25.01.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

25.01.11 BQW5 7.8 380 2.7

28.01.11 BQW4 7.86 390 9.5

29.01.11 BQW5 7.8 380 2.7

01.02.11 BQW5 7.8 400 3

02.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7




64


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


03.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

04.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

05.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

06.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

07.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

08.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

09.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

10.02.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

11.02.11 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

12.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

13.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

14.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

15.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

16.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

17.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

18.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

19.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

20.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

21.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

22.02.11 BQW4 7.86 390 9.5

22.02.11 BQW5 7.8 380 3

22.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

23.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

24.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5




65


(uS/cm) Turbidity

(NTU)


25.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

26.02.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

01.03.11 BQW5 7.6 290 2.7

09.03.11 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

15.03.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

20.03.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

23.03.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

28.03.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

31.03.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

01.04.11 BQW5 7.6 380 2.7

06.04.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

14.04.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.5

30.04.11 BQW5 7.6 390 2.7

10.05.11 BQW5 7.8 400 2.4

27.05.11 BQW5 7.8 569 1.9

01.06.11 BQW5 7.6 450 2.2

20.06.11 BQW5 7.6 450 2

30.06.11 BQW5 7.6 420 2.5

04.06.11 BQW5 7.6 430 2.7

13.06.11 BQW5 7.6 400 2.7

Average 7.68 374 5.4

Max 8.2 569 33

Min 7.2 100 1.9

omya australia pty ltd supporting information 2016 · 2019. 9. 23. · 3.1.2. mining activities...

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