East Quarry Extension Project – Product Introduction Letter
Wild Quarries is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and seeking planning consent from NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (NSW DPHI) to expand its existing hard rock East Quarry in Hebden NSW, in the Singleton Local Government Area. As part of the EIS, Social Aspect Consulting Pty Ltd has been commissioned to assess the proposed Project’s potential social impacts (positive and negative). We are seeking your opinions about the Project, so please review the information below and on the Project website www.wildquarriesandcivil.com.au, and provide your feedback.
1. The proposed project
The proposed Project would involve the extension of the existing East Quarry at 87A Scrumlo Road, Hebden NSW, into a new 40 hectare area to the south of the existing site (see the proposed site location in Figure 1).
The proposed extraction rate is 500,000 tpa over 25 years. The extension would require similar extraction, processing and haulage operations to the current operation. It would continue to utilise the existing access road, site office, workshop, weighbridge, crushers, screens, and stockpile area. It would however require new internal roads, surface water management infrastructure, up to approximately 48 additional trucks per day, and 8 extra staff. Details of the Project are provided overleaf.
The quarry material would have a variety of uses including road base material, construction aggregate, concrete aggregate, drainage works, drainage fill, and various other construction uses.
2. Project details (proposed)
- Site address: 87A Scrumlo Road, Hebden NSW
- Property titles: Lot 354 DP853217 (part of the lot is already being used as a quarry) and Part Lot 34 DP6842 (lot not yet used as a quarry)
- Haulage: The existing internal haul road and quarry entrance, located approximately 900 meters north of the Scrumlo Road and Hebden Road intersection, would continue to be used as the site access. Products from the quarry would be transported via Hebden Road to the New England Highway and Hunter Expressway.
- Quarry footprint: The quarry would have a disturbance area of 40 hectares
- Resource quantity and life of quarry: 500,000 tonnes per annum over 25 years
- Extraction and processing: Drilling and blasting, with blasting on average being one blast per month. Crushing and screening machinery would be used to process the extracted rock
- Operational workforce requirement: 8 additional staff (12 full-time personnel in total) plus local contractors and suppliers
- Operating hours:
- 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday (construction)
- 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 1pm Saturday (truck loading and dispatch, and maintenance activities)
- 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday (drilling and blasting activities, with an average of one blast per month)
- No work on Sunday or Public Holidays
3. Planning application process
The proposed Project is classified as a State Significant Development (SSD) according to the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It requires the preparation of an EIS and an application for planning consent from NSW DPHI.
A range of technical assessments are being undertaken for the EIS including road and traffic, air-quality, social, noise and vibration, Aboriginal heritage, and visual amenity.
When it is finalised, the EIS including the technical assessment reports will be submitted to NSW DPHI for assessment and made available for public viewing. Details about planning application and its status are available at the following webpage: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/east-quarry-extension-project
4. Community engagement
The Project team is committed to effective consultation with the community and key stakeholders throughout the EIS period. Wild Quarries acknowledges that consideration of the community and the environment is critical to its business.
5. We invite your feedback
Please share your opinions about the Project via an online survey. The survey would take about 5 minutes to complete. Your opinions will assist the evaluation of the Project’s potential social impacts. Access the survey by visiting the website address below or scanning the QR code with a camera on your mobile device.
6. More information
For more information about the social impact assessment or the survey, please contact Jamie Seaton via email (jamie@socialaspect.com.au) or telephone (0466 413 645). Alternatively, contact the Project team via email to admin@wildgroup.com.au.