" BASIN CREEK ROAD" QUARRY ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORT " APPLICATION TO INCREASE ACTIVITIES FROM LEVEL 1 TO LEVEL 2

PROPONENT : NORTHEAST EXCAVATIONS ( Tas ) PTY LTD

ACN 081 523 579

DIRECTOR : Mr ANDREW GRIFFITHS P O BOX 386 St HELENS TAS

January 2009

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CONTENTS PART A PROPONENT INFORMATION PART B PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1 : DESCRIPTION 2 : THE PROJECT AREA 3 : MAP AND SITE PLAN PART C POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 1 ; FLORA AND FAUNA 2 : RIVERS , CREEKS , WETLANDS AND ESTUARIES 3 : SIGNIFICANT AREAS AND LAND FEATURES 4 : AIR EMISSIONS 5 : LIQUID EFFLUENT 6 : SOLID WASTES 7 : NOISE EMISSIONS 8 : TRANSPORT IMPACTS 9 : OTHER OFF SITE IMPACTS 10 : DANGEROUS GOODS AND CHEMICALS 11 : SITE CONTAMINATION

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12 : CULTURAL HERITAGE 13 : SITES OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST

14 : RE-HABILITATION

PART D MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS PART E PUBLIC CONSULTATION PART F FIRE PLAN REFERENCES ATTACHMENTS

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BASIN CREEK ROAD QUARRY

PART A - PROPONENT INFORMATION

The proponent is : North East Excavations ( tas ) Pty Ltd ACN 018 523 579 P.O. Box 386 St Helens Tas. 7216 Director Mr Andrew Griffiths phone 63 762655 mobile 0418 555646 North East Excavations ( tas ) Pty Ltd conducts extractive activities on a number of sites and holds leases at : Golden Fleece Rivulet - 21m/1992 - renewal pending Priory - 8m/2001 - renewal pending

Tower Hill Rd - 3M/2006 - granted George River - 1840 P/M - granted Medeas Cove - 1869 P/M - application The Director , Mr Andrew Griffiths has been involved in quarry activities for the past 18 years both as a member of the Griffiths family business and as a director of North East Excavations ( tas ) Pty Ltd during previous years .

PART B - PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1 : DESCRIPTION The North East Excavations P/L quarry site at Basin Creek Road is covered by Mining Lease 22M / 2003 which is 10Ha in area and the northern boundary adjoins another mining lease which is held by Break O`Day Council , Mining Lease 1589 P/M . Both of these leases are currently operating at Level 1 . There have been previous quarrying operations conducted in this area , the earliest being over 25 years ago and North East Excavations P/L current operation has improved the site by adding cross drains and settling ponds in the previously stripped area to the NW of the current works .

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Diagram 1 – Lease plan .

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Diagram 2 - showing the general location , closest residence and access routes .

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The North East Excavations P/L quarry is operated on a single floor with a variable face height , typically +/- 8 m . It is the intention of the proponent to continue northwest on the current floor level by drilling , blasting and crushing to

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various sizes . A significant component of the current operation is producing boulder size material for sea wall works in the St Helens area and this product is derived directly from the shot rock . The machinery configuration varies with the activity being undertaken but typically the drilling and shot firing operation is followed by a crushing , stockpiling and truck loading cycle . In order to achieve the projected 20k m3 maximum production limit 3 to 4 quarry shots p.a. are anticipated . Subsequently loading of trucks is intermittent according to product demand . Generally this part of the operation involves a wheeled loader and one or two trucks . Diagram 3 – general lay-out and working direction .

View towards the NW from the quarry floor . Workings will continue in the generally NW direction with the floor sloping towards the SE as currently shown , this will direct run off towards the sump in the SE area of the workings .

The proposed level 2 quarry operation is intended to operate for at least two 5 year lease periods . Operations will always vary according to demand for the

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products and the maximum production level under this proposal is 20k m3 p.a. . In order to increase production to level 2 volumes no further stripping will be required as the operation will continue in a northwesterly direction into the previously stripped area .

Diagram 4 - showing the main floor and exit road - view towards the SW .

If the proposal is approved operations to generate a stockpiles of crushed material to various sizes would start within 3 months . These products would be placed in the general quarry floor area shown in the photo above where loading would take place . Operating hours will comply with the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 acceptable standards which is 0700 to 1900 hrs on weekdays and 0800 to 1600 hrs on Saturdays . The nearest residents will be advised prior to blasting and blasting operations will comply with the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 .

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2 : THE PROJECT AREA The quarry is located on the southern side of a ridge at elevation +/- 50m in an area of low rolling slopes running generally eastwards from the elevated Scamander Tier area . Because of this aspect the quarry is not visible from any viewpoint . Geologically the Scamander Tier area is predominantly Mathinna beds with some outcropping Devonian granite . The Mathinna beds extend downslope to the general elevation of the quarry site beyond which are mainly Tertiary sediments extending to the coast +/- 2.8 km to the east . The Mathinna series quartzwacke is the rock to be quarried . The soil at the quarry site is a thin sandy surface horizon overlaying a shallow clayey subsoil . The soil is typical of the Mathinna bed " Malahide " classification . These soils typically have low site productivity because of low moisture and nutrient availability ( P , N , Ca ) . Average annual rainfall is in the 800mm to 1000mm range with dominant winds from the west to northwest sector with occasional heavy rainfall from the east to southeast sector. The creek running through to SE and SW corners of the lease has its catchment to the west on Scamander Tier and runs into Basin Creek which ends at Diana`s Basin . The drainage pattern for this area is characterised by generally easterly running creeks heading towards Diana`s Basin . Surrounding land use is dominated to the south and west by forestry activities , plantations to the south and native forests to the northwest and west . Immediately to the north and adjoining this lease is another quarry operated by the Break O`Day Council . There are a number of private blocks to the northeast with the closest residence being +/- 650m from the quarry face . The area is zoned as part of the Environmental Protection Zone in the Break O`Day Planning Scheme 1996 . Under item 4.1 Resource Development p. 67 of the Planning Scheme point 4.1 ( a ) ( ii ) " Mining in areas identified under the Regional Forest Agreement … " is listed under " Acceptable Solution " for resource development in the Environment Protection Zone .

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3 : MAP AND SITE PLAN The exclusion zones are indicated by the red cross hashed areas and the current quarry floor in light blue . The darker blue arrows indicate the creeks . Diagram 5 – workings and creeks .

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Diagram 6 - location map – residence near Tasman Hwy.

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Diagram 7 - Map details for Informal Reserve no. 18283

The following List Map Report indicates that mining is available under the MRDA for the informal reserve that includes the North East Excavations quarry .

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Diagram 8 - List Map details .

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PART C - POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 1 : FLORA AND FAUNA A survey for threatened flora species has been conducted by a consultant botanist Mr Paul Frater of Pauls Horticultural Services and that report accompanies this document . Included in his recommendations is the exclusion of sloping sections in the SE and SW corners of the lease from development because of the abundance of flora including threatened species Pterostylis grandiflora and Hovea corrickea and Hierochloe rariflora a rare perennial grass . See attachments for scans of these plants . The exclusion of these sloping areas is listed as Management Commitment No. 3 at item " D " . Also noted in the report was a deposit of imported topsoil containing weeds . This topsoil has since been removed by the proponent. Weed control during operations and rehabilitation will follow the processes outlined in the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 . There will be consultation with the Weed Officer - North regarding control of the Spanish Heath infestation and implementation of the DPIW Spanish Heath Statutory Weed Management Plan . The Code of Practice - Spanish heath provisions will be followed in conjunction with the Tasmanian Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control – April 2004 . This consultation will be Management Commitment No. 11 at item " D ". For the capeweed and variegated thistle DPIW Control Guides will be followed . Where old overburden stockpiles are supporting significant regrowth they will be retained as a local seed source . Plant and machinery will be treated in accordance with Tasmanian Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control – April 2004 . This will be Management Commitment No. 10 at item " D " . A subsequent Fauna and Flora survey conducted during October did not indicate any further threatened or rare plant species on the lease area but indicated a further location approx . 500m from the operation where Hierochloe rariflora had been recorded . This subsequent survey was conducted by a Forest Practices Officer , Mr Ian Blades in accordance with Forest Practices Authority requirements . Details of this survey accompany this document . Fauna species considered but found to be without suitable habitat in the quarry site were the white bellied sea eagle , quolls , the Australian grayling , the giant velvet worm , the green and gold frog , the swift parrot , the eastern barred bandicoot , the masked owl and the New Holland mouse . The wedge tailed eagle is not considered to have suitable nesting areas within 500m of the quarry . Habitat for the velvet worm exists in the creek lines to the south of the lease consequently the areas where the creek crosses the lease in the SE and SW corners have been excluded from operations and this exclusion is Management Commitment No. 3 at item " D " .

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It is a requirement of the Biodiversity Program of the Forest Practices Authority to re-notify if any additional special values are identified during the course of future operations . The sloping areas towards the creek in the SW and SE corners will not be approached by the planned workings which are directed towards the NW . Diagram 9 - SE WORKS EXCLUSION AREA

Diagram 10 – species observations .

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The area planned for future quarry works has been previously stripped of topsoil and vegetation by a previous operator and contains mainly Euc. sieberi

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and Pinus radiata saplings on largely exposed ground . The current operator has installed cross drains in this previously stripped area to direct run off into settling ponds in order to reduce fines entering the northern slopes of the creek . Any future stripping will separately stockpile soils and overburden for use in future rehabilitation work . Overburden and soils will be placed to avoid downslope loss due to erosion and monitored for weed emergence . Diagram 11 – cross drains in future works area NW from current face .

Future quarry expansion will be directed into these previously stripped areas and these sections will be also be monitored for weed emergence prior to operations and weed infestations controlled . 2 : RIVERS , CREEKS , WETLANDS AND ESTUARIES

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The nearest creek runs through the SW and SE corners of the lease and operations will be excluded from the areas sloping towards the creek . Drainage off the quarry areas will be directed into settling ponds before being dispersed into the surrounding vegetation . Groundwater is unlikely to be affected because of the fractured nature of the in situ rock and consequent lack of potential to retain water in the layers worked by the quarry and the re-direction of water collected on the floor of the quarry into drainage lines via settling ponds . There are a number of un-monitored bores to the southeast along the coastal strip > 3 km distant . These bores are listed on the MRT groundwater database . Diagram 12 – winter flow in creek at access bridge

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3 : SIGNIFICANT AREAS AND LAND FEATURES The area is characterized by undulating low rolling topography sloping towards the coastal areas located approx. 2km towards the east . Drainage lines head generally eastwards towards Dianas Basin . There are extensive Forestry Tasmania plantations to the south . The rock type at the quarry is a Mathinna series light coloured quartzwacke and these Mathinna beds run into tertiary non marine sequences to the east with isolated outcropping dominantly granodiorite . Diagram 13 – NE corner of quarry showing stockpiled material supporting vegetation .

The previously established overburden bunds supporting significant re growth can be seen above . It is recommended by the consultant Botanist that these bunds be retained .

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The Tasveg vegetation community surrounding the quarry is classified as " Extra-urban miscellaneous " and outside this group it is classified as " Euc. amygdalena forest and woodland on mudstone " , the woodland covering mainly the western section of the lease . Diagram 14 – vegetation classification map .

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4 : AIR EMISSIONS Crushing operations and stockpiles will be located in the quarry floor which will give some protection from the prevailing winds from the northern sector thereby reducing dust transmission into the adjacent vegetation . 5 : LIQUID EFFLUENT No liquid effluents other than stormwater . No leaching of minerals from stockpiles is evident or recorded . 6 : SOLID WASTE Minimal solid wastes , possibly grease cartridges and rags will be stored in drums prior to removal to an authorized disposal site at the end of each operational cycle . 7 : NOISE EMISSIONS Noise from the proposed operation will be generated by drilling , blasting , crushing and mobile plant . A production level of 20k m3 would result in 4 to 5 shots p.a. depending on demand compared with the current 2 to 3 shots . Occasionally there would be a smaller shot required to adjust floor level or faces as is the current practice . On 18/08/08 noise and vibration measurements were recorded near the closest residence by Forze Explosives during a quarry shot . The Peak Overpressure reading was 103.6 dbl which is significantly lower than both the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 limit of 120 dbl and 115 dbl limit required for 95% of blasts . Blasting operations will be conducted in accordance with the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 . 8 : TRANSPORT IMPACTS The shortest route to the Tasman Highway is via Basin Creek Road which joins the highway near Basin Creek bridge . There is a residence approx. 85m

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west of Basin Creek Road near the highway that could be subject to road dust in some conditions and Mr Andrew Griffiths has had discussions with this resident . Truck speeds will be reduced in the vicinity of the house during cartage and operating hours will be in accordance with the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 . It is recognized that during dry conditions some form of dust suppression such as road watering may be required . The road linking the quarry to Basin Creek Road has recently been upgraded and the bridge rebuilt by the lease holder at their cost . This access also serves the neighbouring Break O`Day council quarry and provides fire suppression access to State Forest and some private land . There are other routes to the Tasman Highway through State Forest to the south and the product destination would determine which route was used . At the maximum production level of 20k m3 p.a. 1000 20 m3 trucks would be required to transport the material produced . Taken over a 40 week period this represents 5 loads per week day . It is unlikely that these levels of production would be maintained but rather that shorter periods of cartage would occur according to product demand . 9 : OTHER OFF-SITE IMPACTS There are no expected off-site impacts because of the distance to other properties . On 18/08/08 ground vibration measurements were recorded at the nearest residence by Forze Explosives during a quarry shot . The Peak Vector Sum Velocity result was 0.33 mm/s which is considerably below the maximum allowable under the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 of 5 mm/s . 10 : DANGEROUS GOODS AND CHEMICALS Generally only daily quantities of fuel will be stored on site , this is unlikely to exceed 200 litres . An area will be set up in the quarry floor where vehicles carrying fuel tanks will be parked , this area will be located away from the lower edge of any current workings and consist of a bunded depression that would localise any inadvertent spill . A spill kit will be located with the mobile plant on site . On site plant will be serviced in the quarry floor and grease will be in cartridges contained in a box on service vehicles , typically of EL-3 lithium base . Explosives will be transported to the site for shots and any remaining products removed the same day . 11 : CONTAMINATION There are no indications of previous contaminations .

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12 : CULTURAL HERITAGE A detailed Aboriginal Archaeological ( Heritage ) Survey has been conducted over the proposed operations by Mr Vernon Graham , Senior Aboriginal Heritage Officer of Palawa Heritage Services P/L and his report accompanies this document . In summary no Aboriginal Heritage material was observed in the subject area however it was indicated that there was a possibility of objects or materials being present in subsoils in the surrounding area . Because of this possibility of Aboriginal Archaeology ( Heritage ) values being present in subsoils caution should be taken if any expansion takes place outside the existing stripped areas . This caution would take the form of monitoring stripped topsoils for any shells or shell fragments , human remains and rock fragments generally different to the in-situ rock types such as chert , cherty hornfels , quartz or quartzite . Any findings to be treated in accordance with Mr Grahams report recommendations and the requirements of the Aboriginal Relics Act 1975 . Reporting of any future findings is part of Management Commitment No 1 at item " D " . It is critical that confidentiality conditions be observed regarding any future findings . 13 ; SITES OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST The coastal strip is of high public interest in this area and is approx. 2.5 km to the east of the quarry site and separated from the quarry by forested and plantation areas and the Tasman Highway . A search of the Australian Government list of heritage places indicated no listings in the vicinity of Basin Creek . 14 . REHABILITATION The conditions of the mining lease require progressive rehabilitation of the site and a bond is lodged with MRT to guarantee rehabilitation . The worked areas of the lease will have previously stripped overburden and stockpiled topsoil re-spread over the re-profiled surface . The aim on completion of operations is to re-spread topsoil and return the sites to native vegetation .

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The site will be monitored for weed emergence during the rehabilitation process and any weed treatment will follow guidelines and prescriptions contained in the DPIW - Weeds , Pests and Diseases information site . Any metal or other material relating to the quarry operation will be removed prior to final rehabilitation works . PART D - MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTS The management commitments generated by this EER are :-

1. During the course of operations and periodic rehabilitation works the recommendations detailed at point 6 of the Aboriginal Archaeological ( Heritage ) Survey will be complied with , in particular the requirement to contact the Aboriginal Heritage Officer Consultant if artefacts or relics of the type described in the Recommendations are located . If items relating to European heritage are located the land manager should be consulted regarding the items and future works .

2. Both nearby residents and the land manager will be advised in writing if level 2 works commence .

3. A buffer zone will be established and marked clearly to protect flora on the sloping areas near the creek line in the SE and SE corners of the lease . These areas will be marked off with high visibility bunting flag and rope in a fluoro red or orange colour . Reflective delineators will be attached to trees near the marked line and the line will be maintained in a clearly visible condition .

4. Operations will comply with the Quarry Code of Practice 1999 . 5. Site drainage will be directed into settling ponds . 6. Solid wastes will be removed to an approved disposal site. 7. There will be regular communication with the Break O` Day Council and

neighbours concerning operations and overall progress of development . 8. Site rehabilitation will be in accordance with the provisions of the mining

lease . 9. Plant will be maintained so that the risk of leaks is minimised and washed

down prior to entering the site in accordance with Tasmanian Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control April 2004 .

10. There will be consultation with the Weeds Officer North regarding the development of a weed management plan for the quarry site .

PART E - PUBLIC CONSULTATION The director of North East Excavations , Mr Andrew Griffiths , has consulted with the nearest residents living approx. 650m to the northeast of the quarry. Blast noise and ground vibration measurements were recorded near the closest

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house with the owners permission and there have also been discussions regarding the flora and Aboriginal Heritage reports . There has also been consultation with the resident living closest to the main cartage route , this house is approx. 85m west of Basin Road . During dry weather periods truck speeds will be reduced to < 30 kph in the vicinity of this house to reduce dust generation . PART F - FIRE PLAN The intention of North East Excavations is to prevent any fire from spreading from the quarry into the adjacent native vegetation and to have an evacuation plan in place for personnel in the event of bushfire threatening the site . In order to achieve these objectives the following procedures will be observed . Tasmania Fire Service fire permit conditions will be complied with . Break O`Day Council - Control of Outside Burning - by-law No. 4 of 2001 conditions will be observed at the quarry site . Consultation with the local TFS brigade will take place annually and access through the boom gate will be facilitated as required for training or fire suppression purposes . When Fire Weather Warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology the local TFS brigade should be consulted prior to any blasting operations . Consultation with Forestry Tasmania Bass District will take place annually and a key to the boom gate made available . The condition of tracks exiting to the north of the quarry will be obtained from Bass District to assess their viability as escape routes in the event of a fire approaching from the southerly sector . Any fires on the quarry site should be restricted to areas near the face and no materials listed in Break O`Day Council by-law no. 4 item 7 " materials not to be burned " will be burned . Each item of plant operating in the quarry will have a dry powder extinguisher on at least 1.5 kg capacity . There will be a knapsack pump of at least 9 litres capacity or one charged airwater extinguisher on site during operations . During high fire danger periods a 200 litre drum of water will be maintained on site . Operators on site will be familiarized with emergency escape routes and Emergency Meeting Point No. 26 located at the junction of Skyline Road and the Tasman Highway .

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ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 -Map of Mining Lease 22/M 2003 Attachment 2 -Noise and vibration measurement results . Attachments 3,4,5 - Scans – Hierochloe rariflora – Pterostylis grandiflora – Hovea corrickea Attachment 6 -Code of Practice – Spanish Heath REFERENCES DPIW Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control – Edition 1 DPIW Weeds , Pests & Diseases Tasmanian Geological Atlas - sheet SK55-4 Forest Practices Authority – Threatened Fauna Manual Tasmanian forest soil fact sheets Australian Heritage Places Inventory – Australian Government Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Mineral Resources Tasmania Break O`Day Planning Scheme 1996 incl. 01/03 ammendment Tasmania Fire Service SIGNED ……………………………………………. DIRECTOR : North East Excavations ( tas ) Pty Ltd .

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Attachment 1 – Mining Lease 22m / 2003 .

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Attachment 2 – Noise and vibration measurement results .

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Attachment 3 - Hierochloe rariflora

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Attachment 4 – Pterostylis grandiflora

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Attachment 5 - Hovea corrickea

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Attachment 6 - Code of Practice - Spanish Heath.

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