Information Response MCU12/0216

RESPONSE:
A comparison between the past operations that have been conducted under the current approved Environment
Authority for the mining lease and the proposed operations on-site are as follows:

(a) Extraction rates:

     The proposed rehabilitation of Neales Quarry and White Pit Quarry will involve the extraction of up to 900,000
     tonnes over a 2 year period (Le.450,000 tonnes per annum).


     The total extraction volumes conducted under past operations (under the existing approved Environment
     Authority for all of the CSR mining lease operations in Cooroy) was 178,000 tonnes per annum. The
     extraction rate for the Westridge Quarry site was 65,000 tonnes per annum.


     Although the proposal involves increasing the extraction rates from the Westridge Quarry, our representations
     below demonstrate that.the increase will result in negligible environmental impacts on the surrounding
     environment and Council’s road network.


(b) Internal and external vehicle movements:

     External Vehicle Movements and Vehicle Movements at the Brickworks Factory Site


     The Traffic Impact Assessment Report prepared                  by TIM Consulting (SC) Pty LTD (’TIM"), included as
     Attachment 7 of the Planning Assessment Report submitted to Council, identifies that a total of 60,000 vehicle
     movements over the life of the project (Le. 2 years) for the proposed operations will be required to enter and
     exit the Site in order to haul the extracted material to the re iving sites (Le. Neales Quarry and White Pit
     Quarry). This represents 30,000 movements per year x 2 years.

     CSR have advised that this is less than the vehicle traffic movements for the past mining lease operations
     associated with the former brickworks operation.


     CSR have advised that approximately 32,400 vehicle movements were generated by the brickworks operation
     over a 1 year period (for the past operations) for haulage of material into the brickworks factory site and

     delivery of brick products to the market.

     As such, the traffic volumes for the proposed operations are less than the traffic volumes for the past
     operations associated with the brickworks factory.

     It should also be noted that the former brickworks operation, owned by CSSR and located on Lot 2 on
     SP108094 will not be operational during the life of the proposed operations.


     Internal Vehicle Movements


     The internal vehicle movements will increase from approximately 4,433 vehicle movements per year to 30,000
     vehicle movements per year however this will be limited to a 2 year extraction period. The internal vehicle
     movements on-site will be managed appropriately by the approved Site Based Management Plan ("SBMP")
     which outlines measures for the following:


     .     managing driver behaviour;
           maintaining internal haulage roads in a safe and convenient standard; and
           managing noise and dust impacts to approved environmental standards.

     The SBMP includes provisions to address any non compliance issues in the event they arise.


     It is also relevant to note that the Site is located in a rural setting adjacent to other primary industry activities
     and the nearest sensitive receivers are located a substantial distance from the proposed internal haulage
     areas (approximately 300 m) and extraction pit (approximately 550 m). The house located closest to the

     Brickworks factory at Lot 1 RP127728 is owned            by CSR. Therefore, it is expected that the proposed
     development     can   comply with the relevant environmental standards without the need for mitigation measures.


1271_da1_320_001_130402_ltro_council_response to info request.doc                                                       2