Golden Plains Wind Farm QUARRY FAQ S Golden Plains Wind Farm Management Pty Ltd (GPWFM) have committed to sourcing locally quarried material where practical. Local sourcing provides an opportunity to support as many local businesses as possible and to share the financial benefits of the Golden Plains Wind Farm (the Project) with the neighbouring community. . A local quarry will minimise the Projects carbon footprint during construction and reduce impacts on local roads by decreasing the distance material needs to travel. This list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is provided to help answer questions relating to the Quarry. If you would like further information or have specific questions, please call our local Community Engagement Officer, Lyall Grey, on 0419 720 041 or email us at info@goldenplainswindfarm.com.au.
Why does the project need a The Project will require in excess of 1 million tons of hard rock construction materials including: Quarry? • • • •
Crushed rock for hardstand and access tracks Aggregate for concrete production Crushed rock for repair and remediation of local roads Bulk fill for use during the construction of hardstands and access tracks
Why has this particular site been selected?
The proposed quarry site was selected as it resides within the Project boundary, and delivers the high quality material required for construction. The Quarry site has undergone extensive resource investigations, and has been surveyed for environmental, heritage and traffic impacts. The quarry pit has been designed to stay above the groundwater table to ensure there is no interaction with groundwater. A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) has been prepared in consultation with the local Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) for the site. The quarry site is located within the sparsely populated south eastern section of the Project site, to minimise traffic, dust and visual impacts on the surrounding communities.
What sorts of activities will occur at the Quarry?
The key activities of the proposed Quarry will include stripping of overburden, extraction of rock via blasting, crushing and processing of rock, stockpile storage of processed material and transportation of products across the Project site.
Will there be alot of trucks on the roads, coming in and out of the Quarry?
Yes, there will truck movements, but it is expected that the proposed truck movements will cause minimal disruption to surrounding or nearby landowners and communities. Where possible, the Quarry site will use internal access tracks within the Project site. The existing local roads will also be used to assist with the movement of vehicles around the Project site. All movements from the proposed Quarry will be captured under the Projects Traffic Management Plan (TMP) currently under development.
Golden Plains Wind Farm QUARRY FAQ S Will it create dust?
Quarrying activities can create dust from time to time. This is commonly suppressed with water to minimise the impact and will be managed via the Quarry Work Plan. The location of the quarry means that dust is unlikely to be an issue for members of the general community.
When will it be operational? It is likely to commence early works in the first half of 2021 and will operate for approximately 4 - 6 years, for the duration of Project construction.
What will it look like?
The quarry will not be very visible to most of the surrounding community. The proposed site is located approximately 1km from nearby roads and there are existing mature trees that screen part of the site. In the early stages, you may see some machinery at the site, but as the quarry operation gets underway, It will become less visible when driving by the site.
Will I be likely to hear it?
If you are close by, on Geggie’s Road, you may hear some rock crushing during operation. Due to the proposed location of the Quarry, it is unlikely to be heard further away. There are strict rules around noise from Quarry operations that the operator must adhere to.
What kind of planning approval does it require?
Quarrying activities are tightly controlled and require government approval in the form of a Work Authority and Planning Permit. The Work Authority is only granted after a Work Plan is endorsed by Earth Resources and planning approval is granted by the Golden Plains Shire Council. A Work Plan for the proposed Quarry has been lodged with Earth Resources, a division of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. The approvals process also requires consultation with referral authorities including the relevant water Catchment Management Authorities, Department of Transport and the Golden Plains Shire Council.
What happens when the quarry is decommissioned?
A rehabilitation plan is a requirement of the Quarry Work Authority The primary objective of the rehabilitation plan for the site is to leave it in a safe, stable and sustainable manner, in a form which will blend with the surrounding land uses and not be hazardous to users at the completion of quarrying activities.
Who will manage the quarry?
The day-to-day operation of the quarry is likely to be contracted to a specialist quarry operator.
Who do I speak to if I have a Ask the team at GPWFM. You are welcome to call us on (03) 5421 9999 or email us at info@goldenplainswindfarm.com.au at any time, with further questions. If question? you would like to meet face to face to discuss any concerns, our local Community Engagement Officer, Lyall Grey, is available on 0419 720 041.