A bauxite quarry in Reedy Marsh has received approval from environmental regulators, despite strong local opposition over potential impacts on the rural area.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) this week completed its assessment of ABx4 Pty Ltd’s proposal to extract up to 50,000 cubic metres of bauxite annually from the site in the Meander Valley.
Ahead of the environmental sign-off, locals presented the Meander Valley Council with a petition signed by 681 people, including 70 Reedy Marsh residents.
“The community of Meander Valley are concerned about our health. The dust, potentially toxic, from this mine can travel kilometres,” the council was told.
“Deloraine and Westbury are not mining towns. This venture would not benefit the local community and mining would ruin the tourism potential for the Meander Valley.”
The decision follows 86 formal objections lodged during a two-week consultation period in June last year.
EPA Board Chair Andrew Paul said the approval comes with strict conditions, which must be incorporated into any permit granted by the Meander Valley Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly dust emissions, water quality and natural values,” he said.
“In addition to standard quarry conditions, the proponent is required to submit a revised dust management plan and a dust monitoring program to the director for approval, ensuring that the management measures will be effective in controlling dust emissions.”
“Furthermore, to ensure any potential impacts to identified native and threatened vegetation communities and species are minimised, the proponent is required to protect these areas to prevent accidental disturbance.”
Among the requirements are pre-clearance surveys for Tasmanian devil and spotted-tailed quoll dens before any land clearing, as well as a fresh survey for Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle nests within a kilometre of the site.
The company must also implement a stormwater management plan with ongoing monitoring to prevent contaminated runoff from affecting nearby waterways.
