The proposal is to commence sand mining operations. It is estimated that the area contains 7000 - 8000 tonnes of sand, and all extraction will be confined to the eastern slope or leeward side of the dune.
The proposed method of operation is to remove the top one metre of the dune surface and stockpile this separately for future use. The remainder of the dune will be worked, using a front end loader, to ground level. The sand would be loaded directly on to a truck.
No equipment of any kind would be stored on-site at any time.
It is anticipated that the annual rate of removal of sand would be about 1000-1500 tonnes, with about 200 tonnes removed every two months. The total extraction of sand will take an estimated five to seven years. Each two monthiy minlng operation is expected to take from a few hours to one day. When extraction is complete the slopes of the dune would be battered and spread with the top layer of material that was stockpiled separately.
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