Property Vegetation Management Plan Rowanlea Quarry… · Property Vegetation Management Plan...

© Biosis September 2012 – Leading ecology and heritage consultants 1

Property Vegetation Management Plan

Rowanlea Quarry, QLD. Prepared for Ausrocks Pty Ltd

9 October 2014

© Biosis 2014 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting 2

Biosis Pty Ltd

This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for the

purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for the

commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited.

Disclaimer:

Biosis Pty Ltd has completed this assessment in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local

legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss

incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report content or for any purpose other than that for which it

was intended.

Biosis offices

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Canberra

Unit 16 / 2 Yallourn Street

Fyshwick ACT 2609

Phone: (02) 6228 1599

Fax: (02) 6280 8752

Email: [email protected]

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney

18–20 Mandible Street

Alexandria NSW 2015

Phone: (02) 9690 2777

Fax: (02) 9690 2577


Wollongong

8 Tate Street

Wollongong NSW 2500

Phone: (02) 4229 5222

Fax: (02) 4229 5500


QUEENSLAND

Brisbane

72a Wickham Street

Fortitude Valley QLD 4006

Phone: (07) 3831 7400

Fax: (07) 3831 7411


VICTORIA

Ballarat

506 Macarthur Street

Ballarat VIC 3350

Phone: (03) 5331 7000

Fax: (03) 5331 7033


Melbourne (Head Office)

38 Bertie Street

Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Phone: (03) 9646 9499

Fax: (03) 9646 9242


Wangaratta

26a Reid Street (PO Box 943)

Wangaratta VIC 3677

Phone: (03) 5721 9453

Fax: (03) 5721 9454


Report to: Ausrocks Pty Ltd

Prepared by: Dr Monica Campbell

Biosis project no.: 18858

Version/date Internal review by Date sent to client

Draft 01

Final

Robert Speirs

Monica Campbell

08/10/2014

09/10/2014

File name: 18858.Rowanlea Quarry. PVMP.FINAL.20141009.docx

Citation: Biosis Pty Ltd (2014) Property Vegetation Management Plan,

Rowanlea Quarry, QLD. Draft report to Ausrocks Pty Ltd. Author: Campbell,

M.L. Biosis Pty Ltd, Brisbane. Project no. 18858

Acknowledgements

Biosis Pty Ltd acknowledges the contribution of the following people

and organisations in undertaking this study:

• Carl Morandy, Ausrocks

The following Biosis Pty Ltd staff were involved in this project:

• Robert Speirs for technical input and review

© Biosis 2014 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting III

Contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 4

2. Purpose and Extent of Assessable Vegetation Clearance ...................................................................... 6

2.1 Purpose of assessable vegetation clearance ...................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Extent of assessable vegetation clearance ......................................................................................................................... 6

3. State Development Assessment Provisions .............................................................................................. 9

List of Figures

Figure 1: Property locality ............................................................................................................................................... 4

Figure 2: Property cadastral information ...................................................................................................................... 5

Figure 3: Category B vegetation mapped within the property ................................................................................... 7

Figure 4: Boundary of Category B vegetation as mapped by Ausrocks using a DGPS. ........................................... 7

Figure 5: Vegetation Clearing Plan ................................................................................................................................. 8

Appendices

Appendix 1: Ausrocks Resource Advice

Appendix 2: Current RVM Map and VMS Map

Appendix 3: Vegetation Clearing Measures


1. Introduction

Biosis has been engaged by Ausrocks Pty Ltd (Ausrocks) to prepare a Property Vegetation Management Plan

(PVMP) in support of a Material Change of Use (MCU) application to establish extractive industry operations

across Lot 39 CAR3462 and Lot 23 CAR3425 (the property). The property is located approximately 28

kilometres north-west of Goondiwindi in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion and currently falls with the Goondiwindi

Local Government Area (LGA) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Property locality

The property encompasses approximately 785.73ha, however only approximately 27.85 ha (or 3.5%) of the

property (most of which is located in Lot 39), is being considered for establishment of extractive industry

operations (Figure 2). The majority of the property supports generally flat grazing and cropping land that

drains to Tooee Creek in the southern portion of the property. The central portion of Lot 39 also supports a

ridgeline of deposited sand running in a north-west to south-east trend. The property has been used for

grazing and cultivation for many years and as a result areas of remnant native woody vegetation are

restricted to the riparian zone associated with Tooee Creek and the sandy ridgeline in Lot 39.

Property


Figure 2: Property cadastral information

This PVMP provides in:

• Section 2.0, a detailed description of the purpose and extent of the proposed assessable vegetation

clearance.

• Section 3.0, an assessment of the proposed application against the criteria of the South East

Queensland Bioregion State Code within the State Development Assessment Provisions, version 1.4

20 June 2014.

Barwon Hwy

Gooray Rd

Quarry Site

Access


2. Purpose and Extent of Assessable Vegetation Clearance

2.1 Purpose of assessable vegetation clearance

The proposed assessable clearance of vegetation within the property is for the purpose of extracting resource

from the ridgeline of deposited sand in the central portion of the property. The Goondiwindi LGA is expected

have a significant increase in demand for various sand products if local gas pipeline construction work

commences and the proposed quarry has the potential to provide a valuable resource for these projects.

Ausrocks have prepared a letter of advice regarding the suitability and availability of the sand resource within

the property (refer Appendix 1).

The proposed Environmentally Relevant Activities (ERAs) for the site are as follows;

• ERA 16 2 (a) Extracting rock or other material (up to 100,000t per year)

• ERA 16 3 (a) Screening rock or other material (up to 100,000t per year)

It is noted that clearing native vegetation for extractive industry constitutes a relevant purpose pursuant to

Section 22A of the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act).

2.2 Extent of assessable vegetation clearance

A field inspection of the property by an ecologist has not been completed, as such for the purposes of this

PVMP the Regulated Vegetation Management Map (RVM Map) and Vegetation Management Supporting Map

(VMS Map) (refer Appendix 2) are being treated as an accurate representation of the on-ground vegetation

community types. However, based on a review of aerial photography and observations made in the field by

Ausrocks, there is a margin of error in the mapped boundary of RE 11.3.19 on the RVM Map compared to the

on-ground extent as illustrated in Figure 3 below. Ausrocks have marked the edge of RE 11.3.19 on the

ground using a Differential GPS and Figure 4 provides the accurate on-ground boundaries of this vegetation

community. It is noted that RVM Maps are created at a 1:100,000 scale, are only accurate to +/- 100 m and

require ground-truthing at the property scale. As such, for the purposes of this PVMP the mapped

boundaries provided by Ausrocks will be relied upon to assess the merits of the proposal.

Figure 5 illustrates the location and extent of the proposed clearing footprint within which all quarry and

associated infrastructure will be located in relation to the ground-truthed RVM Mapping for the property.

With reference to this figure, the quarry footprint is wholly located within mapped remnant Least Concern

vegetation consisting of Regional Ecosystem (RE) 11.3.19 which is briefly described as 'Callitris glaucophylla,

Corymbia spp. and/or Eucalyptus melanophloia open forest to woodland on Cainozoic alluvial plains'. The

proposal does not involve the clearance of any mapped areas of Category B vegetation containing Of Concern

or Endangered REs.

With reference to the above and the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, there are no exemptions for clearing native

vegetation that apply to the current proposal (refer Schedule 24 of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009

(SP Reg)). This PVMP will therefore address the assessable clearance of approximately 27.85 ha of Category B

vegetation containing a Least Concern RE (i.e. RE 11.3.9) that is assessable under the provisions of the

Vegetation Management Act 1999.


Figure 3: Category B vegetation mapped within the property

Figure 4: Boundary of Category B vegetation as mapped by Ausrocks using a DGPS.


3. State Development Assessment Provisions

The State Development Assessment Provisions, Version 1.4, 20 June 2014 (SDAP) are an outcome of the

introduction of the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), a key element of the reform of

Queensland’s planning system. The SDAP set out the matters of interest to the state for development

assessment, where the chief executive administering SPA, being the Director-General of Department of State

Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP), is responsible for assessing or deciding development

applications. The SDAP are prescribed in the SP Reg, and contains the matters the chief executive may have

regard to when assessing a development application as either an assessment manager or a referral agency.

The proposal is assessable development pursuant to SPA and as such the Queensland Vegetation

Management State Code (the Code) provided within Module 8: Native vegetation clearing of the SDAP applies.

The purpose of the code is to regulate the clearing of native vegetation within Queensland to:

1) Conserve remnant vegetation that is—

a) An endangered regional ecosystem

b) An of concern regional ecosystem

c) A least concern regional ecosystem

2) Conserve vegetation in declared areas

3) Ensure clearing does not cause land degradation

4) Prevent loss of biodiversity

5) Maintain ecological processes

6) Manage environmental effects of the clearing to achieve (1) through (5)

7) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Code provides 'criteria for assessment' that direct an applicant to the relevant provisions of the Code.

Pursuant to Table 8.1.1 and Table 8.1.2 of the Code, the criteria for assessment that are relevant to the

current application are:

• Performance Outcome (PO) 1 – PO 2 of Table 8.1.3: General

• PO1- PO9 of Table 8.1.5: Extractive Industry.

An assessment of the proposal against the above specified elements of the Code are provided in Table 1 and

Table 2 below.


Table 1. Vegetation Management State Code Assessment – Table 8.1.3: General

Performance Outcome Acceptable Outcome Response Comment

Clearing to avoid and minimise impacts

PO1

Clearing only occurs where the

applicant has demonstrated that the

development has first avoided, and

then minimised the impacts of

development.

No acceptable outcome

(AO) prescribed

The proposal satisfies

PO1.

The proposed 27.85 ha of assessable vegetation clearance is for the

purposes of extracting resource from the bulk deposit of fine and coarse

sands in the central portion of the property. This sand ridgeline is a novel

geological feature in the landscape that was most likely deposited during

a historic flood or similar event. Similar resources are rare in the

Goondiwindi region.

Test pits have been taken to establish the extent of suitable resource

within the property and these tests have confirmed that the extent of the

sand deposits coincide with the mapped extent of the Category B

vegetation containing Least Concern RE. Furthermore, portions of the

property mapped as Category X vegetation do not support suitable sand

resources for extraction (refer Appendix 1). .

Given the above, the proposal is consistent with the purpose and intent of

PO1, as there is no suitable alternative site for the extension of the quarry

footprint.

Clearing on land where compliance notice, enforcement notice, exchange area or offsets exists

PO2

Clearing in an area that is subject to any

of the following:

(1) a restoration notice, or

(2) a compliance notice containing

conditions about the restoration

of vegetation, or

No acceptable outcome

(AO) prescribed

The proposal satisfies

PO2.

The proposed clearing within the property will not take place in areas

subject to any of the notices listed under PO2.


Performance Outcome Acceptable Outcome Response Comment

(3) a Land Act notice, or

(4) a trespass notice if the trespass

related act under the Land Act

1994 for the notice is the clearing

of vegetation on the relevant

land, or

(5) an enforcement notice under the

Sustainable Planning Act 2009

issued for a vegetation clearing

offence, or

(6) an exchange area, or

(7) an environmental offsets

(8) must not be inconsistent with

the notice or impact on the

exchange area, unless a better

environmental outcome can be

achieved, or inconsistent with

the environmental offsets or

another agreement related to

the environmental offsets.

Table 2. Vegetation Management State Code Assessment – Table 8.1.5: Extractive industry

Performance Requirement Acceptable Outcome Response Comment

Limits to clearing for an extractive industry

PO1 Clearing is limited to the

extent that is necessary for:

(1) dredging material from the

bed of any waters

No acceptable outcome is prescribed. The proposal

satisfies PO1.

The proposed assessable clearance of approximately 27.85 ha of

Category B vegetation is solely for the purposes of extracting resources

for the construction industry from the only sand deposit within the

property and immediate locality.



(2) extracting, from a pit or

quarry, rock, sand, clay,

gravel, loam or other

material

(3) screening, washing, grinding,

milling, sizing or separating

material extracted from a

pit or quarry

(4) carrying out work that is the

natural and ordinary

consequence of carrying out

work mentioned in

subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3)

above.

It is proposed to use semi-mobile (ATCO style) buildings for the site office

and staff amenities, which will be placed within the extraction footprint

illustrated in Figure 5.

The main access for the quarrying operation will be from Gooray Road

along an existing track through Lot 23 CAR3425 on the western boundary

of Lot 39 CAR3462. There will be no clearance of Category B vegetation for

the purposes of widening this existing track and facilitating access to the

proposed quarry.

The proposal therefore satisfies PO1.

Clearing is staged

PO2 Clearing:

(1) is staged in line with

operational needs that

restrict clearing to the

current operational area

(2) is limited to the area from

which material will be

extracted, and any

reasonably associated

infrastructure, within the

term of the development

approval

(3) cannot occur until all

required permits are

obtained.

No acceptable outcome is prescribed. The proposal

satisfies PO2.

The proposed assessable clearance of Category B vegetation will take

place in a staged and orderly manner. It is intended to conduct extractive

industry operations in three stages, moving from the north-western end

of the proposed quarry pit to the south-east. Vegetation clearance will

take place in line with operational staging and broad-sale clearance of the

proposed quarry footprint will not be permitted.

Vegetation clearing protection measures have been prepared to reduce

the risk of damage to areas of retained remnant vegetation within the

property. These measures are provided in Appendix 3 for DNRM's review

and approval.

The proponent is currently seeking all of the relevant approvals required

to lawfully undertake extractive industry activities on the property. There

is no intention to undertake any assessable vegetation clearance within



the property until all relevant permits have been acquired.

The proposal is therefore consistent with PO2.

Wetlands

PO3

Maintain the current extent of

vegetation associated with any

natural wetland to protect:

(1) water quality by filtering

sediments, nutrients and

other pollutants

(2) aquatic habitat

(3) terrestrial habitat.

AO3.1

Clearing does not occur in, or within 100

metres of any natural wetland.

The proposal

complies with

AO3.1 and

therefore

satisfies PO3.

The proposed assessable clearance of 27.85 ha of Category B vegetation

will not occur in or within 100 m of vegetation that supports plants or is

associated with plants that are adapted to and dependent on living in wet

conditions for at least part of their lifecycle, and that is a mapped wetland

on the vegetation management wetlands map (refer Appendix 2).

The proposal therefore satisfies PO3 through achieving compliance with

AO3.1.

AO3.2

(1) Clearing only occurs within 100

metres of any natural wetland

where:

(2) the clearing does not occur within

50 metres of the of the natural

wetland, or

(3) the widths stipulated by Table 1

are not exceeded.

N/A

The proposal satisfies PO3 through achieving compliance with AO3.1.

AO3.3

Where it can be demonstrated that

clearing cannot be avoided, and the

extent of clearing has been minimised,

an environmental offset is provided for

any significant residual impact from

N/A

The proposal satisfies PO3 through achieving compliance with AO3.1.



clearing of vegetation associated with a

natural wetland.1

Watercourses

PO4


vegetation associated with any

watercourse to protect:

(1) bank stability by protecting

against bank erosion

(2) water quality by filtering

sediments, nutrients and

other pollutants

(3) aquatic habitat

(4) terrestrial habitat.

AO4.1

Clearing does not occur:

(1) in any watercourse

(2) within the relevant distance

stipulated in Table 2 of the

defining bank of any watercourse.

OR

The proposal

complies with

AO4.1.

With reference to Figure 5, the proposed assessable clearance of Category

B vegetation will take place at a minimum distance of 248 m from the

mapped stream order 1 watercourses in the southern portion of the

property. This is well outside the minimum distance of 25 m from the

high bank stipulated in Table 2 of the Code for a stream order 2

watercourse in a non-coastal bioregion.

The proposal therefore satisfies PO4 through achieving compliance with

AO4.1.

AO4.2

Clearing only occurs within any

watercourse or within the relevant

distance stipulated by Table 2 of the

defining bank of any watercourse where:

(1) the clearing does not occur within

5 metres of the defining bank, or

(2) the widths stipulated by Table 1 is

not exceeded.

OR

N/A The proposal therefore satisfies PO4 through achieving compliance with

AO4.1.

AO4.3





N/A The proposal therefore satisfies PO4 through achieving compliance with

AO4.1.



any significant residual impact from

clearing of vegetation associated with

any watercourse.

Connectivity

PO5

In consideration of vegetation on

the subject lot(s) and in the

landscape adjacent to the subject

lot(s), vegetation is retained that:

(1) is of sufficient size and

configured in a way that

maintains ecosystem

functioning

(2) remains in the landscape

despite threatening

processes.

AO5.1

Clearing occurs in accordance with

Table 3.

For non-coastal Bioregions and

subregions -

Clearing does not:

1) occur in areas of vegetation that are

less than 50 hectares

2) reduce the extent of vegetation to

less than 50 hectares

3) occur in areas of vegetation less

than 200 metres wide

4) reduce the width of vegetation to

less than 200 metres

5) occur where the extent of

vegetation on the subject lot(s) is

reduced to or less than 30 per cent

of the total area of the lot(s).

The proposal

is unable to

achieve

compliance

with AO5.1.

The property supports approximately 185.93 ha of Category B

vegetation, which covers approximately 23.6% of the total property area.

The proposal will necessitate the clearance of approximately 27.85 ha

(or 15%) of Category B vegetation for the purposes of extracting

available resources. With reference to Figure 5, it is noted that:

• The property is located within the Brigalow Belt Bioregion that is

identified by the Code as being a non-coastal bioregion.

• The proposed assessable clearance of Category B vegetation will not

occur in an area of Category B vegetation that is currently less than 50

ha in area.

• The proposal will not reduce the extent of mapped Category B

Vegetation within the property to less than 50 ha (i.e. 158.08 ha of

Category B vegetation will be retained).

• The proposal will not reduce the total extent of Category B vegetation

within the property to less than 30% of its current extent (i.e. 85% of

Category B vegetation will be retained).

However, the proposal will result in an area of Category B vegetation along

the western boundary of the proposed quarry being reduced to

approximately 100 m in width. As such, the proposal does not strictly

comply with AO5.1 and must satisfy PO5 through alternative measures. In

this regard, the proposal does maintain connectivity and ecosystem

functioning of retained Category B vegetation through the following



measures.

• The proposed clearance of Category B vegetation has purposefully

been configured as a linear strip within the mapped polygon of RE

11.3.19 to avoid fragmenting or isolating areas of retained Category

B vegetation.

• The proposed clearance of Category B vegetation will not result in

reduced connectivity between the remnant vegetation within the

vicinity of the proposed quarry pit and Category B vegetation

associated with Tooee Creek. It is noted that Category B vegetation

that will impacted upon by the proposal does not directly adjoin any

mapped areas of Category B vegetation along the northern, western

or eastern boundaries of the polygon.

• The Site Based Management Plan that has been prepared for the

proposal includes a number of measures to control vegetation

clearance, weed invasion and erosion. As such, areas of retained

Category B vegetation adjacent to the quarry footprint will not be

exposed to the same degree of degrading processes that are

currently in operation across the property.

• The width of retained mapped Category B vegetation will not be

reduced to less than 100 m in width. It is noted that there are

currently other mapped areas of Category B vegetation within the

property that are currently less than 100 m and are still persisting in

the landscape.

• Following rehabilitation of appropriate areas within the quarry

footprint, the retained stretch of remnant vegetation will have a

minimum width of 135 m along the southern portion of the

ridgeline.



• Retained remnant Category B vegetation will still have the attributes

of a mappable feature pursuant to the Queensland Herbarium's

methodology for mapping remnant vegetation.

Given the above facts and circumstances, the proposal is consistent with

the purpose and intent of PO5.

Salinity

PO6

Clearing does not contribute to

land degradation through:

(1) waterlogging, or

(2) the salinisation of

groundwater, surface water

or soil.

AO6.1

Clearing does not occur in or within 200

metres of a discharge area or recharge

area.

OR

The proposal

complies with

AO6.1 and

therefore

satisfies PO6.

The proposed assessable clearance of 27.85 ha of Category B vegetation

within the property will not occur in or within 200 m any of the discharge

areas described in the Salinity Management Handbook, Second edition,

Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management,

2011 (‘the Handbook’). The Handbook describes discharge areas as ‘areas

where the net movement of water is out of the groundwater. They generally

occur where there is some hydrologic restriction to downslope water

transmission causing water to flow toward the soil surface where it discharges

from the groundwater.’ The following geomorphological features are

identified by the Handbook as being typical discharge areas:

• Toeslopes

• Permanent streams

• Permanent waterholes, lakes and swamps;

• Playa lakes; and

• Areas of poorly incised drainage.

The proposal therefore satisfies PO6 through complying with AO6.1.

AO6.2 N/A The proposal satisfies PO6 through complying with AO6.1.



Clearing is less than:

(1) 2 hectares, or

(2) 10 metres wide

Conserving remnant vegetation that are endangered regional ecosystems and of concern regional ecosystems

PO7


endangered regional ecosystems

and of concern regional

ecosystems.

AO7.1

Clearing does not occur in

(1) an endangered regional

ecosystem, or

(2) an of concern regional ecosystem.

The proposal

complies with

AO7.1.

The proposal will necessitate the clearance of approximately 27.85 ha of

Category B vegetation containing the Least Concern RE 11.3.19. There

will be no clearance within mapped category B vegetation containing an

Of Concern or Endangered RE.


AO7.2

Clearing in an endangered regional

ecosystem or an of concern regional

ecosystem does not exceed the width or

area prescribed in Table 1.

OR

N/A The proposal satisfies PO7 through complying with AO7.1.

AO7.3





any significant residual impact from the

clearing of endangered regional

ecosystems and of concern regional

ecosystems.1




Essential habitat

PO8


vegetation in essential habitat.

AO8.1

Clearing does not occur in an area of

essential habitat.

OR

The proposal

complies with

AO8.1.

The property does not contain any vegetation identified as supporting

Essential Habitat on the RVM and VMS Maps (refer Figure 5 and Appendix

2). As such, the proposal does not involve and clearance of vegetation

within an area of Essential Habitat.


AO8.2

Clearing in essential habitat does not

exceed the width or area prescribed in

Table 1.

OR


AO8.3

Clearing only occurs where an area of

essential habitat is isolated and small in

size and at risk from threatening

processes, for the prescribed species.


AO8.4





any significant residual impact from the

clearing of essential habitat1




Acid sulfate soils

PO9

Clearing activities do not result

in the disturbance of acid sulfate

soils or changes to the hydrology

of the location that will either:

(1) aerate horizons containing

iron sulfides, or

(2) mobilise acid or metals.

AO9.1

Clearing does not occur in land zone

1, land zone 2 or land zone 3.

OR

The proposal

does not

comply with

AO9.1.

The proposal does involve the assessable clearance of Category B

vegetation within land zone 3 (i.e. RE 11.3.19).

The proposal does not comply with AO9.1.

AO9.2

Clearing in land zone 1, land zone 2 or

land zone 3 in areas below the 5 metre

Australian Height Datum only occurs

where:

(1) it does not involve mechanical

clearing

(2) the acid sulfate soils are managed

consistent with the State Planning

Policy, and with the Soil

Management Guidelines in the

Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil

Technical Manual, Department of

Natural Resources and Mines,

2002.

OR

The proposal

complies with

AO9.2.

The proposed assessable clearance of Category B vegetation will occur

within land zone 3, but given the location of the property there will be no

mechanical clearing or excavation below 5 m AHD.

The proposal satisfies AO9 through complying with AO 9.2.

AO9.3

The application is a development

application where a local government

is the assessment manager.

N/A Goondiwindi Regional Council is the assessment managers for the MCU

application.

The proposal satisfies PO9 through complying with AO9.3.

1 Applications for development should identify whether there is likely to be a significant residual impact and a need for an environmental offset having regard to the relevant Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy.


Appendix 1: Ausrocks Resource Advice

Alan Robertson

Director

0402 445 418

[email protected]

Adebayo Bayooke

Senior Mining Engineer

0450 320 600

[email protected]

Carl Morandy

Mining Engineer

0404 778 394

[email protected]

Nick Virisheff

Technical Officer

0430 125 801

[email protected]

Ausrocks Pty Ltd ABN 64 056 939 014

All Correspondence to:

PO Box 1007, Toowong BC QLD 4066

Telephone (07) 3376 6839

Email [email protected]

www.ausrocks.com.au

Office:

Unit 17, 71 Jijaws Street

Sumner Park QLD 4074

07 October 2014

RE: Quarry Material Suitability - Rowanlea Quarry

To Whom it may concern,

The Extractive Industry proposed on Lot 39 CAR3462 requires the clearance of remnant vegetation to access the sand resource. This letter outlines the process that was undertaken to determine the designated extraction area within the site. Ausrocks personnel are experienced in identifying material suitable for quarrying and determining its quality and quantity. In mid 2014 a site visit was undertaken to determine, by visual inspection and surface samples, areas that were likely to contain extractive material suitable for quarrying. It was identified that there is a significant quantity of sand material within the central ridgeline which also contains remnant vegetation. It was also identified that there was a distinct change in geology at the base of the ridgeline which determined the boundary of the resource. The surrounding non-remnant land is identified as good quality cropping land with no sand present as shown in the photos below;

A test pit was carried out prior to the site visit and a quantity of material was used for trial blending with roadbase and as a thermal sand. The material was identified as being suitable for both these uses and that there is minimal supply of this type of material in the region. During the site visit a sample was collected and later submitted for petrographic analysis. The ‘Rowanlea Sand’ was identified as being “physically suitable for use in concrete” and would qualify “for engineering purposes as a fine to medium quartz sand” (Geochempet 2014).

Based on Differential GPS survey results and site observations the sand resource is heavily biased to the northern part of the ridgeline. Therefore the extraction area has been designed along the northern part of the ridgeline leaving a 100m wide section of remnant vegetation to provide connectivity. Once rehabilitated the minimum width will be approximately 135m along the southern part of the ridgeline.

Ausrocks have been involved with the Rowanlea Quarry Project since its inception and have liaised with Justin Sutton and Monica Campbell (Ecologist) to determine the Extraction Area boundaries. Ausrocks have completed more than 25 quarry development applications in the last 4 years with each requiring varying degrees of resource assessment

Sand Resource Area

(Remnant) Surrounding Cropping Land

(Non - Remnant)

Alan Robertson

Director

0402 445 418

[email protected]

Adebayo Bayooke

Senior Mining Engineer

0450 320 600

[email protected]

Carl Morandy

Mining Engineer

0404 778 394

[email protected]

Nick Virisheff

Technical Officer

0430 125 801

[email protected]

prior to submission. Generally, quarry projects do not require a formalised resource assessment process (such as JORC for mining projects) and for smaller projects the capital outlay required to prepare a formal resource report is prohibitive. Due to Ausrocks’ experience with quarry projects of this scale, it can be summarised that all efforts have been made to identify available quarry resources on the subject site and it can be concluded that no alternative sites outside of remnant vegetation are available on the property.

Kind Regards

Carl Morandy Mining Engineer


Appendix 2: Current RVM and VMS Maps

29/07/2014 14:34:45Lot: '39' Plan: 'CAR3462'

29/07/2014 14:34:46Lot: '39' Plan: 'CAR3462'

29/07/2014 14:34:48Lot: '39' Plan: 'CAR3462'

Vegetation Management Act 1999 - Extract from the essential habitat database

Essential habitat is required for assessment under the:

• State Development Assessment Provisions - Module 8: Native vegetation clearing which sets out the matters of interest to the state for development assessment under the Sustainable PlanningAct 2009; and

• Self-assessable vegetation clearing codes made under the Vegetation Management Act 1999

Essential habitat for one or more of the following species is found on and within 1.1 km of the identified subject lot/s or on and within 2.2 km of an identified coordinate on the accompanying essential habitatmap.

This report identifies essential habitat in Category A, B and Category C areas.

The numeric labels on the essential habitat map can be cross referenced with the database below to determine which essential habitat factors might exist for a particular species.

Essential habitat is compiled from a combination of species habitat models and buffered species records.

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines website (http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au) has more information on how the layer is applied under the State Development Assessment Provisions - Module 8:Native vegetation clearing and the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Regional ecosystem is a mandatory essential habitat factor, unless otherwise stated.

Essential habitat, for protected wildlife, means a category A area, a category B area or category C area shown on the regulated vegetation management map-

1) (a) that has at least 3 essential habitat factors for the protected wildlife that must include any essential habitat factors that are stated as mandatory for the protected wildlife in the essential habitatdatabase; or

2) (b) in which the protected wildlife, at any stage of its life cycle, is located.

Essential habitat identifies endangered or vulnerable native wildlife prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1994.

Essential habitat in Category A and B (Remnant vegetation species record) areas:1100m Species Information

(no results)

Essential habitat in Category A and B (Remnant vegetation species record) areas:1100m Regional Ecosystems Information

(no results)

Essential habitat in Category A and B (Remnant vegetation) areas:1100m Species Information

(no results)

Essential habitat in Category A and B (Remnant vegetation) areas:1100m Regional Ecosystems Information

(no results)

Essential habitat in Category C (High value regrowth vegetation) areas:1100m Species Information

(no results)

Essential habitat in Category C (High value regrowth vegetation) areas:1100m Regional Ecosystems Information

(no results)


Appendix 5: Vegetation Clearing Measures

Vegetation clearance within areas mapped as supporting remnant Of Concern vegetation (i.e. RE 11.3.19) is

prohibited until a permit under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act) has been secured and all vegetation

clearance must be undertaken in accordance with the terms and conditions of this permit.

A copy of the permit to clear native vegetation and relevant application details shall be kept on site during clearing

activities. Copies of the application and Permit will be provided to site personnel once received.

Clearance of native wooded vegetation not included within the Referral Agency Response (Vegetation) Plan

attached to the permit to clear under the VM Act is strictly prohibited.

The full extent of the approved clearance zone is to be clearly marked on drawings and in the field using highly

visible flagging tape, fencing or similar, prior to any works taking place. Areas of retained remnant Least Concern

vegetation are to be identified as "No-Go Zones".

The following measures to prevent damage to trees within areas of retained remnant Least Concern vegetation at

the interface of the clearance zone shall be implemented.

1. Identification of Tree Protection Zones (TPZ) and installation of 1.8 m fencing and signage.

2. Where works are required within the TPZ installation of trunk and branch girdles.

3. Tying back branches.

All of the above measures shall be undertaken in accordance with AS 4970-2009_Protection of trees on development

sites#.

Where the above measures are not practicable, a spotter should be nominated and should be present to ensure

that clearance works do not intrude into adjacent areas.

To minimise disturbance to adjoining areas, overstorey vegetation shall be cleared towards the centre of the

approved clearance zone.

Erosion and sedimentation control measures shall be implemented in accordance with site-based stormwater

management plans.

The following activities are prohibited in identified No Go Zones and TPZs:

• storage and mixing of materials;

• vehicle parking;

• liquid disposal;

• machinery repairs and/or refuelling;

• construction property office or sheds;

• combustion of any materials;

• stockpiling of soil, rubble or debris; and

• unauthorised pesticide, herbicide or chemical applications.

Vehicle and equipment movement shall be restricted to established roads, tracks and pathways.

Stockpiling of mulch, weeds or soil outside designated lay-down areas is not permitted.


Vegetative material and debris must not be pushed into gullies, watercourses, other drainage lines or waterlogged

areas.

A fauna spotter catcher must be engaged prior to clearance to ensure that:

• no Koalas are present within the clearance zone;

• any vegetation occupied by native fauna is not cleared until the fauna moves out of the vegetation; and

• any native fauna situated within areas to be cleared are relocated to a secure area of similar habitat prior to

the commencement of vegetation clearance works.

Clearance of vegetation will be conducted in a manner (i.e. staged) to ensure that any native fauna living near the

clearance zone have time to move out of the areas of disturbance without human intervention.

#The radius of the TPZ is calculated for each tree by multiplying its DBH × 12.

TPZ = DBH × 12

where

DBH = trunk diameter measured at 1.4 m above ground

Radius is measured from the centre of the stem at ground level. A TPZ should not be less than 2 m nor greater than 15 m

(except where crown protection is required)

Property Vegetation Management Plan Rowanlea Quarry… · Property Vegetation Management Plan...

Documents

Transcript of Property Vegetation Management Plan Rowanlea Quarry… · Property Vegetation Management Plan...