Sandmining on our Plateau-

A Social Injustice.

August 2010LEP 2009- Review of LEP 2001 on the Somersby,

Peats Ridge, Mangrove Mountain Plateau.

LEP2001Major agricultural production

Schools

Villages

Kariong Population: 6500

900 Primary SchoolMajor Tourist Attractions

Schools

Villages

Schools

Villages

Major Agricultural Production

Villages

Major Tourist Attraction;Glenworth ValleyWalkabout Wildlife Park

Major Agricultural Production

Villages

Schools

The Social Injustice:

• Violation of Basic land owners rights- loss of water supply without any mitigation:

The Social Injustice:

• Impacts on health, out of the control of the individual.

The Social Injustice:

• Local business forced to close.

The Social Injustice:

• Laws regarding Water licences applied to everyone except the mines.

• Rocla have been operating for 5 years with a 6ML water licence.

• Requirement - for current operation 400ML/Y• In January 2010 acquired a 46ML/year licence. for their new proposal.• Requirement - for this is 1300ML/Y

We have letters, obtained through FOI, from New South Wales Office of Water to Rocla,

stating their concerns regarding the lack of a water licences, for their current and future operations, and the sustainability of their

excessive water requirements.

The Social Injustice:

• Traffic will exceed road network and community tolerance..

The Social Injustice:

• The proposed Calga quarry extension encroaches on two National Parks and recent searches have uncovered unrecorded Aboriginal heritage sites on the proposed mine site.

The Social Injustice:

• The NSW Labour Government Departments’ attitude to their responsibilities.

There are other ways to obtain sand, which are less destructive, than destroying the aquifers, the environment and creating a serious health hazard.

Recommendation of the CPR Community Group:

1. We propose that sensitive receptors be removed from the areas hatched for mining together with a 5km buffer zone surrounding all sensitive receptors.

2. Recommend that there is no open cut mining below the standing water level.

3. That Water licences be obtained for every ML required by the mines, as per the WSP legislation.

If the Water Licences were being monitored, as they should be, there could not be any further mining developments in the area, we would not be here tonight, wasting our time, and rate- and taxpayers money.

We are advised that it is GCC who must

take the initiative to implement a review

and that any review will need to be in conjunction with NSW Planning.

Appendix:Facts and Figures- using Rocla’s own figures: They have recently acquired a 6ML and later 42ML license—both dated- 14/1/10.

Here are the figures and the references for the amount of water removed:

2004 EA page 3-10 Table 3.1Stage 3.1 completed in July 2008 - area and volume shown in table285,000 m3 excavated friable sandstone x .15 (15% moisture content as stated 2009 Compendium pg 2-23) = 42.75ML of aquifer removed plus the stated inflow of 49ml/yr. (Conditions of consent 28th October 2005 – Assessment of application against clauses 36 and 39 of the WSP page 4)So at completion of stage 3.1. WAL required would have been 42.75ML + 49 ML = 91.75 ML

2009 EA page 2-37Stage 3.2 - In the 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report page A4-7Item 3 Current Operation of the Quarry it is stated that they are about half way through Stage 3/2As the table shows total friable sandstone in this stage is 310,000m3. As they are about halfway through the figures are as follows:310,000 divided by 2 = 155,000m3 excavated friable sandstone x .15% = 23.75ML of aquifer removed plus that already removed in stage 3.1 as above calculated at 42.75ML = 66.5 ML plus the yearly inflow of 49ML = 115.5ML WAL would now be required.

It is stated in 2009 EA page 3-9 that all water accessed by the quarry i.e.; through seepage or removal within the extracted sand must be accounted for. Rocla is well aware of their obligation re WAL’s. We have a letter obtained through FOI where Fergus Hancock has stated this to Rocla in a letter dated 19/9/2007, and again 12/2/2010.

Thank You

Calga – Peats Ridge(CPR) Community Group Inc