The proposal involves a small extraction operation using dozers, excavators and trucks in an area which has been subject to similar, though smaller- scale, mining activity in the past. The gypsum occurs within old coastal ridges and the extraction operation would involve clearing the vegetation and topsoil, which would be stockpiled, and mining the gypsum before spreading the topsoil and vegetation back over the area.
The Department of Mines has proposed to place a range of conditions on the lease which cover all environmental aspects of concern such as protection of the flora reserve and coastline, operational controls and rehabilitation. A mining plan would have to be submitted for the approval of the District Mining Engineer prior to the commencement of any productive mining. Details of the operation woutd be assessed at that stage by the Department of Mines in consultation with the Environmental Protection Authority, and appropriate environmental conditions would be incorporated into the approval of the mining plan.