The Environmental Protection Authority has today released public advice for a new sand mine in Karnup, 48 kilometres south of Perth.
Urban Resources Pty Ltd proposes to develop the sand quarry, with 1.5 million cubic metres expected to be extracted over the five-year life of the project.
The proposal will span 41.96 hectares and include the mining area, stockpiles and a haul road and site compound.
EPA Chairman Dr Tom Hatton said following careful examination of the referral, preliminary investigations and inquiries and taking into account nine public comments received during the public comment period, he had determined the proposal did not require formal assessment.
“The EPA scrutinised the proposal against several environmental factors including potential impacts on hydrological processes, flora and vegetation, terrestrial fauna, dust and noise, heritage and rehabilitation and decommissioning of the mine,” Dr Hatton said.
“The EPA considers that the proposal is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment and does not warrant formal assessment because the proposal will mostly be undertaken on a previously harvested pine plantation, avoid impacts to wetlands and result in the clearing of a relatively small area of black cockatoo feeding habitat.
“The EPA also notes this proposal can be regulated by requirements under the Environmental Protection Act and Mining Act with impacts managed by the proponent’s mitigation and best-practice management measures in accordance with the public advice we have issued today.”
A mine closure plan including backfilling the mine pit to a safe and stable landform, removing all buildings and infrastructure and rehabilitating all remaining open spaces will also occur.
The EPA’s public advice can be found here
The Chairman’s determination to not formally assess the proposal is open to a two-week public appeal period, closing July 18, 2016. Appeals are administered independently by the Appeals Convenor and can be made at www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au Appellants may ask the Minister for Environment to consider directing the EPA to reconsider this decision or conduct a formal assessment.
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