Whymere Sand Extraction Project
ABOUT THE PROJECT
LOCATION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Bundaberg Sugar is proposing to extract approximately 10 million tonnes of sand resources from three areas (A, B and D) totaling 221 ha on land at Fairymead Road, Fairymead in Bundaberg, Queensland.
This quantity is estimated to be sufficient to supply the regional demand for approximately 40 years and is also the nearest major sand resource to service the Bundaberg and Wide Bay market areas.
Extraction will be limited to a maximum of approximately 10ha at any one time.
Staging of extraction activities across the subject site will ensure the long-term availability of this resource for the region.
SITE LOCATION AND LAYOUT
Site location and layout map.
BACKGROUND
Bundaberg Sugar’s origins date from more than 130 years ago when sugar cane was first planted in Queensland.
With such a long history, many landholdings and properties were acquired along the journey. These included not only sugar cane growing lands, but also railway lines, loading facilities of all types and storage depots among others.
Bundaberg Sugar is continuing to review its landholdings and seeks alternative uses on landholdings that are no longer productive for agricultural purposes.
The alternative land uses will contribute towards regional development. Bundaberg Sugar’s land at Whymere is one such case in point.
The proposed sand extraction project at Whymere is capable of identifying and making available additional sand resources to meet demand in and around Bundaberg.
It is also the nearest major sand resource to service the Bundaberg and Wide Bay market areas.
The project will provide an approximate 40 year supply of sand to support regional housing, industrial and community infrastructure and will generate approximately 12 direct and 60 indirect full time equivalent jobs over the life of the project.
TENTATIVE TIMELINES
Development Approval from the Bundaberg Regional Council is anticipated within the first half of 2010. Subject to this timing, it is Bundaberg Sugar’s intent to commence extraction soon after the approval.
Initial extraction will be modest and will increase over time to accommodate regional growth and demand.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
FAQ's
Q. What is Bundaberg Sugar’s motivation for the Whymere project?
Bundaberg sugar is continually reviewing its landholdings and seeking alternative uses for land that is no longer productive for agricultural purposes. The alternative land uses will provide regional development and an economic return for Bundaberg Sugar that can be re-invested into the company’s core business of sugar.
Bundaberg Sugar is proposing to extract sand resources from three areas (shown as A, B and D on the map on its site, totaling 221 ha at Fairymead Road, Fairymead.
Staging of extraction activities across the site will ensure the long-term availability of this resource for the fast growing region.
Extraction will be limited to a maximum of approximately 10ha at any one time.
Q. How will this project benefit the wider Bundaberg region?
The proposal will provide economic benefits to the Bundaberg region through the creation of employment opportunities and the development of an emerging regional industry.
There is increasing recognition that sand resources in south east Queensland are becoming depleted, and there will be a requirement to import sand and sand products into the region.
Sand and associated products are needed for the construction of homes, by industry and for community infrastructure.
The application is to extract approximately 6 million tonnes of sand from Fairymead, which is estimated to be sufficient to supply the regional demand for approximately 25 years. It is the nearest major sand resource to service the Bundaberg and Wide Bay market areas.
Q. What are the timelines for this project?
Development Approval from the Bundaberg Regional Council for the proposal is anticipated around mid - 2010. Subject to this timing, it is Bundaberg Sugar’s intent to commence extraction soon after approval.
Extraction will increase over time to accommodate growth and meet demand.
Q. How will this project be taken forward?
(Information updated 31 March 2010)
A community information session was organised on 14 November 2009 to provide information to the community about the proposal and to respond to issues raised by the Council, State Agencies and the community.
A response to the Request for Information from State Government Agencies and Bundaberg Regional Council was lodged by Bundaberg Sugar in March 2010.
Public notification will be undertaken in June 2010.
Development Approval from Bundaberg Regional Council is anticipated around mid - 2010.
Q. What is the long-term economic impact of this project?
Bundaberg Sugar’s site areas A, B and D contain in excess of 6 million tones of sand which is capable of supplying regional demand for approximately 25 years.
It will also support regional growth in Bundaberg by generating employment opportunities.
The project will generate approximately 12 direct and 60 indirect full time jobs over its life.
Q. How will Bundaberg Sugar engage with local community?
Bundaberg Sugar is committed to transparent community and stakeholder engagement program.
A community information session was organised on 14 November 2009 to provide information to the community about the proposal.
At this session, the Bundaberg Sugar project team responded to queries and recorded community feedback.
Additional feedback and enquiries can be directed to the Project Information Line on 1800 613 303 or by sending an email to info@bundysugar.com.au
Q. Are there any sites of cultural heritage significance?
South Sea Islander cultural heritage sites will be preserved and are well away from the proposed extraction areas.
Extractive activities will be undertaken in accordance with a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
Should artefacts be found, they will be dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Heritage Act 2003 Duty of Care Guidelines and will be fully investigated.
Q. Is Bundaberg Sugar clearing vegetation for this project?
The proposed extraction area has been significantly reduced and will result in minimal clearing.
No vegetation clearing will be undertaken within Areas B and D. The only clearing as a result of Development will be restricted to Area A.
Area A is subject to existing extraction and the Key Resource Area designation and is partially cleared and significantly degraded as a result of past disturbance.
Internal haulage routes will utilize existing tracts to minimise vegetation clearing.
Q. What impact will this sand extraction activity have on our environment?
Extensive work has been undertaken to determine and mitigate the potential impacts of the proposal on the environment and on nearby residents.
The Whymere sand extraction development activity will facilitate a high standard of amenity, safety, equitable and practical access and minimise adverse impacts on the environment and people.
Extraction will not occur below the water table and will have no impact on existing bores.
No vegetation clearing will be undertaken within Areas B and D. The only clearing as a result of Development will be restricted to Area A.
Area A is subject to existing extraction and the Key Resource Area designation and is partially cleared and significantly degraded as a result of past disturbance.
Exhausted extraction areas will be rehabilitated and/or returned to agricultural land uses.
A 10m buffer will also be created to the Welcome Creek diversion drain.
The development will comply with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management Air Quality Standards.
Q. What will be done to compensate for vegetation loss?
Vegetation loss will be minimal and limited to degraded and Not of Concern areas and does not require offsetting.
No vegetation clearing will be undertaken within Areas B and D. The only clearing as a result of Development will be restricted to Area A, which is subject to Key Resource Area designation.
A staged rehabilitation plan will allow for rehabilitation of specific areas to provide connections between existing vegetation communities.
Q. What is the plan for the rehabilitation of the project site?
Following the cessation of operations in each works area, the resulting extraction pit will be rehabilitated.
The soil, clay and vegetation material that is removed from the sand will be retained on site and used for rehabilitation.
Extraction depth will be limited to ensure that groundwater is not impacted and rehabilitated areas will be above groundwater levels.
The rehabilitation strategy will vary across the site, depending on post-extraction conditions and proximity to existing vegetated areas.
Q. Is good quality agricultural land being used for this sand extraction project?
Excavation Area A and the investigation area (C) are within an identified Key Resource Area.
The Regional Plan seeks to ensure the ongoing productive use of good quality agricultural land and important mineral and extractive resources are protected.
While excavation areas B and D are identified on Council’s Soil Resources Overlay Map as containing good quality agricultural land, these areas do not currently contain cane and are not considered to be productive agricultural land. The areas have also been identified as containing grey and brown sand.
There are limited sites available for the extraction of brown and grey sand and therefore there is considered to be an overriding need for the proposed extraction within areas B and D.
After excavation, there is potential for the site to be used for agricultural activities.
Q. During storm season and rain, will the extraction process contaminate the surface and groundwater?(Information updated 28 April 2010)
To ensure that the impacts of the sand extraction activity on groundwater are limited, the following water management arrangements will be put in place:
• Sand extraction has been limited to areas above the water table to ensure the project does not impact upon the groundwater source;
• Extraction areas will have a maximum of 5ha area and maximum depth of 3m
• Water from the washing and screening process will be directed to settlement ponds on the site;
• Existing bore infrastructure will be retained, with a minimum buffer distance of 50m
• No extraction will take place within 1.5km from the coastline
Groundwater modelling has been undertaken based on historic data to establish an upper limit of groundwater levels.
These groundwater levels have been used to limit the depth of extraction. Consequently the proposal will not impact upon the Groundwater source.
Q. What will be the impact of the sand extraction project on sensitive ecosystems like wetlands, water table, local waterways and bore water? (Information updated 28 April 2010)
• Extraction areas are at least 1.5 km from the coastline;
• Extraction activity will not occur below the water table and will have no impact on existing bores;
• Water from the washing and screening process will be directed to settlement ponds on the site;
• Minimum separation of 130m will be maintained to the nearest residence.
Q. How will the project impact residents, their property and lifestyle?
Extensive work has been undertaken to determine and mitigate the potential impacts of the proposal on the environment and on nearby residents. To ensure that the project does not impact local residents:
• Extractive industry operations will occur across the site in a staged manner, and will be limited to a maximum extraction area of 10ha at any one time
• Extraction will be limited to areas above the water table to ensure there is no impact to existing bores
• Following the cessation of operations in each works area, the extraction area will be rehabilitated
• Acoustic mounding will be constructed where required
• Extraction areas will be surrounded by vegetation buffers to ensure visual amenity is maintained
• A sand and dust management plan will be implemented. This will include:
- development and maintenance of significant environmental buffers, bunding and vegetation screens
- a water cart will be used to wet roads, sand prior to extraction and rehabilitation areas
- trucks will be covered while transporting material.
• The development will comply with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management Air Quality Standards.
Q. Will the sand extraction process cause silicosis?
Exposure to respirable crystalline silica occurs through cutting, chipping, drilling or grinding objects containing crystalline silica.
These activities are not proposed to occur on site.
The sand extraction process will therefore not pose any health issues, such as silicosis resulting from silica dust.
A sand and dust management plan will be implemented which will include:
• Limiting the extraction area at any one time, combined with staged and progressive land rehabilitation;
• Development and maintenance of significant environmental buffers, bunding and vegetation screens;
• The use of a water cart to wet roads, sand prior to extraction and rehabilitation areas and
• Trucks will be covered when transporting material.
Q. Will the transportation of sand cause dust impacts on surrounding areas?
A site-based dust management plan will be implemented. Some of the measures under this plan will include:
• By screening and washing sand on site - as is standard practice for similar operations - no waste material will be exported from the site, thereby improving efficiency and reducing potential dust and road impacts;
• Trucks will be covered when transporting material
• Water carts will be used to wet roads, sand prior to extraction and rehabilitation of areas
• Extraction area will be limited to one area at a time, combined with staged and progressive land rehabilitation
• Significant environmental buffers, bunding and vegetation screens will be developed and maintained.
Q. How will noise be managed?
Bundaberg Sugar is undertaking an Environment Noise Impact Assessment study in relation to the sand extraction project site.
Although work on this study is continuing, Bundaberg Sugar is committed to ensuring the acoustic amenity of the region is maintained.
Acoustic mounding will be constructed where required.
A minimum separation of 130m will be maintained to the nearest residence.
Activities will be undertaken in accordance with a Noise Management Plan which will mitigate the impact of noise to ensure compliance with ERA and DERM policy requirements.
Q. What will be the route followed by trucks transporting sand?
Truck movements from the site on to Goomburrum Road are currently no more than four trucks per day and this will not change as a result of this development application.
Approximately 90% of the trucks will exit the extraction site on to the B-Double route on Fairymead Road, to ensure no impact on surrounding residents.
The proposed haulage routes for the extracted resources will utilise existing access roads on the site and will haul the majority of sand to the Fairymead Road heavy truck haul route to the east of the site.
To minimise the impact of vehicles, where possible the haulage network will be located within the subject site.
In the period prior to the closure of Fairymead Mill, the 14-year annual average of 270,000 tonnes carried (sugar, molasses, filter mud and dunder) on the Fairymead Road B-Double route exceeded this application’s sand extraction level of 250,000 tonnes. Since the closure of the mill, Fairymead Road has continued to handle 50,000 tonnes annually of goods transported.
Q. Would the local residential roads need upgrading for this project?
Truck movements from the site on to Goomburrum Road are currently no more than four trucks per day and this will not change as a result of this development application.
Approximately 90% of the trucks will exit the extraction site on to the B-Double route on Fairymead Road, to ensure no impact on surrounding residents.
Existing infrastructure is considered to be sufficient to cater for the development as the proposed routes are heavy road haulage routes.
Q. How will the project impact property values in the area?
Approximately 563ha of the 731ha subject site has been identified by the State as a Key Resource Area (KRA) under the State Planning Policy 2/07: Protection of Extractive Resources and requires the limitation of conflicting land uses within proximity to the resource.
A minimum separation of 130m will be maintained to the nearest residence.
Extraction areas will be surrounded by vegetation buffers to ensure visual amenity is retained.
Extractive industry operations will occur across the site in a staged manner, and will be limited to a maximum extraction area of 10ha at any one time.
Following the cessation of operations in each works area, the extraction area will be rehabilitated.
The project’s sensitive design and vegetation buffers will avoid and minimise impact on visual amenity.
A Traffic Management Plan will be implemented.
Sand and Dust and Noise Management plans will be implemented.
Extraction will be limited to areas above the water table to ensure there is no impact to existing bores.
(Section added on 28 April 2010)
Q. What changes have Bundaberg Sugar made to its Development Application since it was first lodged in November 2009?
Bundaberg Sugar had revised the development proposal and had significantly reduced the footprint and impact of the proposed development. Changes were made to the Development Application in response to both Council and State Agency Information Requests and in response to information obtained from community meetings and consultation.
Changes include:
• A significant reduction in the overall area of extraction from 733ha to 221ha;
• Extent of ‘Investigation area’ has been limited to Area C reducing the area from 925ha to 512ha;
• A significant reduction in vegetation clearing as a result of the proposal;
• A redirection of truck movements which will ensure trucks exiting the site on Gooburrum Road are not increased as a result of the proposal;
• The use of Fairymead Road as the primary road corridor to the site. This road is a designated B-Double route and traditionally carried significant traffic loads during the operation of the mill;
• Limiting the extraction of sand to areas above the water table to ensure the project will not impact upon the groundwater source.
Bundaberg Sugar has also modified the Development Application to include washing and screening of sand on site.
At the time of the lodgement of the Development Application, and during the Community Engagement program in November 2009, a proposal to wash and screen sand on site was not included. As a result of further reviews of the proposed operations, and in discussions with sand extraction operators, it has become apparent that washing and screening will improve the quality of the sand leaving the site, improve the viability of the project and ensure extracted materials meet Australian standards.
By screening and washing sand on site (as in standard practice for similar operations), no waste material will be exported from the site, thereby improving efficiency and reducing road impacts. The soil, clay and vegetation material that is removed from the sand will be retained on site and used for rehabilitation.
While the company proposes to extract, wash and screen the material on site, activities that generate silica dust (cutting, chipping, drilling and grinding) will not be undertaken on site.
Bundaberg Sugar has also modified the Development Application to incorporate an additional landholding in the application site.
The additional 75 hectare land parcel added to the Development Application is part on the south eastern corner of Fairymead Farm, Fairymead and formally described as Lot 26 on RP805461. No works or activities are proposed within this allotment which has been added to the application for the purpose of completeness of the land parcel.
While Bundaberg Sugar proposes to extract, wash and screen the material on site, activities such as cutting, chipping, drilling or grinding that generate silica dust will not be undertaken on site.
Therefore the development will not pose health issues from silica dust
Dust will also be minimised by:
• Limiting the extraction area at any one time, combined with staged and progressive land rehabilitation;
• Development and maintenance of significant environmental buffers, bunding and vegetation screens;
• The use of a water cart to wet roads, sand prior to extraction and rehabilitation areas and
• Trucks will be covered when transporting material.
Bundaberg Sugar will ensure that the sand material is either wet or damp when it is screened.
The sand material will also remain damp until it has passed through the washing and screening process and is stockpiled, mitigating dust being produced from the process.
Water used in the washing process will be provided via water harvesting devices to be installed as part of the sand extraction process. The project will be self-sustaining with no impact on groundwater expected.
The noise emitted from the washing and screening plant will comply with the Environment Protection Act and other associated policies and regulations.
OUTLINE OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
Community and Stakeholder engagement specialists, Three Plus has been contracted to assist Bundaberg Sugar in undertaking stakeholder briefings and community information session for the Whymere Sand Extraction project.
A community Information session has been scheduled for 14 November 2009 at the Bundaberg North State High School Hall, Marks Street, Bundaberg from 10 am to 2 pm.
The purpose the Community Information Session is to:
• Inform the local community of the details of the proposed Whymere Sand Extraction Project
• Identify any community issues relating to the proposal.
Following the Community Information session, Bundaberg Sugar will:
• Report back to residents on its responses to any issues
• Provide a Community Engagement Report to Bundaberg Regional Council.
Stakeholder briefing meetings have also been sought with respective local, State and Federal MPs, Department of Environment Resources Management (DERM), Bundaberg Regional Council and Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP)
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSION INFORMATION
Bundaberg Sugar organised a Community Information Day on 14th November 2009 for the local community and other interested parties to meet with the company and its project team about plans for sand extraction at Whymere on the Fairymead Farm.
The following communication materials were used to promote the Whymere Community Information Session.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSION POSTERS
FEEDBACK FORM
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