Upload
others
View
6
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-41
2.6 MINING OPERATIONS
2.6.1 Introduction
Mining would be undertaken using conventional open cut mining methods, albeit adjusted to
reflect the dipping nature of the coal seams across the Mine Area. Mining would involve a
series of activities including marking out, vegetation clearing (where required), soil removal,
overburden/interburden management and coal recovery. This section provides a description of
each component activity.
2.6.2 Mining Operations
2.6.2.1 Mark Out
The boundaries of the areas to be disturbed beyond those marked out prior to the
commencement of the site establishment and construction phase would be marked out in the
field prior to the commencement of soil stripping in those respective areas.
2.6.2.2 Vegetation Clearing
The bulk of the proposed areas of disturbance comprise cleared grazing land with isolated trees
and would not require any substantial tree clearing. Throughout the life of the Proposal,
clearing of vegetation within three native vegetation communities would be undertaken over an
area of 51.8ha causing the effective removal of 41.1ha of trees and shrubs. The 41.1ha would
comprise approximately 35.7ha of effective clearing of low, moderate and good condition Dry
sclerophyll forest, 4.3ha of remnant rainforest and 1.1ha of riparian forest. The clearing would
be required principally along the southern section of McKinleys Lane within and adjacent to the
Weismantel Pit, within the footprint of the Bowen Road 2, Avon and Main Pits, and within the
footprint of the out-of-pit overburden emplacement.
Any trees suitable for agricultural purposes would be felled and removed prior to
commencement of each clearing campaign. Clearing of the remainder of the larger vegetation
would be undertaken by chainsaw and/or a bulldozer operating with the blade positioned just
above the ground in a manner to minimise soil disturbance. Once felled, the trees and branches
would be managed using one or a combination of the following methods.
Cut or broken and placed on the reprofiled and topsoiled surfaces within the Mine
Area, particularly the areas designated as flora and fauna corridors, or stockpiled
for subsequent placement in Mine Area.
Placed within the Biodiversity Offset Area.
Mulched and subsequently incorporated into the topsoil to provide biomass.
Large stumps would be stockpiled and subsequently placed within exhausted open cut pits.
Hollow-bearing trees would not be broken or mulched but rather, retained to provide fauna
habitat within the Biodiversity Offset Area or the appropriate areas of the post mining
landform.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-42
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
The smaller vegetation, i.e. pasture and/or shrubs, would be retained and collected with the
topsoil during the topsoil stripping activities to ensure the retention of the seed bank and
nutrients, as well as minimise opportunities for erosion and dust generation between clearing
and soil stripping.
Use of vegetation by each of the above methods would assist in reducing erosion, aid vegetation
establishment and/or encourage the use of the areas by fauna through the provision of habitat.
Following the initial site preparation/construction phase, clearing of the vegetation within the
Site would be preferentially undertaken using a progressive annual campaign approach, with
the extent of clearing undertaken in any campaign being just sufficient for the subsequent year
of planned mining and related activities.
The limited areas carrying a cover of predominantly native grasses would be identified and,
subject to seed presence at the time of topsoil removal and equipment limitations, would be
stripped and the seed-bearing mulch applied to areas being rehabilitated.
Where practicable, the clearing campaigns, particularly the removal of trees, would be
scheduled for the late summer to autumn period in order to minimise potential impacts on fauna
that might be nesting, roosting or otherwise utilising the areas scheduled for disturbance and to
maximise the opportunity for the collection of viable seed. Additionally, a visual inspection of
trees to be removed would be undertaken and any threatened fauna appropriately re-located.
The inspection for fauna would be undertaken immediately prior to the clearing operations or,
alternatively, procedures would be adopted to ensure any hollows are not occupied between the
time of the visual inspection and commencement of tree clearing operations.
When appropriate, and where environmental weeds are sufficiently dense in areas to be cleared,
weed spraying or other appropriate measures would be undertaken prior to the topsoil stripping
activities to avoid their proliferation on stockpiles or in subsequently rehabilitated areas.
In order to prevent erosion and sedimentation, where warranted, the following activities would
be undertaken prior to any major clearing or surface disturbance activities.
Construction of an interim diversion bank on the upslope boundary of the area to
be disturbed/cleared. The diversion bank would divert clean water from upslope
areas into natural drainage lines or to designated storages within the Site.
Construction of one or more catch drains or banks on the downslope boundary of
the area to be disturbed/cleared. Runoff collected by the catch drains or banks
would be directed to sediment dams and released off site once of a suitable
quality, i.e. unless it is required for dust suppression purposes during the site
establishment and construction phase.
The size and location of these structures would vary depending on the surface area and location
of the planned disturbance but would be based on the structure designs and construction notes
in DECC (2008). Greater detail on surface water management is presented in Section 4.7.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-43
2.6.2.3 Soil Removal
Topsoil and subsoil would be separately stripped in accordance with the recommendations of
GCNRC (2013a) and stockpiled in key strategic areas within the Mine Area until the sequence
of mining allows the direct transfer of topsoil and subsoil onto the final landform. Direct
replacement of topsoil and subsoil would be preferentially employed, wherever possible.
All topsoil, irrespective of thickness, would be recovered from all components within the Mine
Area to be disturbed, including the western and northern visibility barrier and haul roads.
Nominally, between 10cm and 20cm of topsoil would be stripped from within each identified
soil mapping unit (SMU) (see Table 2.5) although, where topsoil thickness is greater, all
topsoil would be recovered. Each soil mapping unit is described in detail in Section 4.8.3.
During the site establishment and construction phase, topsoil would be stockpiled in the
locations shown indicatively on Figure 2.15. Subsequent topsoil stockpile locations would be
selected to minimise any future requirement for double handling prior to its placement on the
reshaped landform, avoid drainage lines or areas of concentrated runoff or other areas where the
stockpiles may be subject to unacceptable levels of erosion, and would likely include some
areas on the constructed final landform. Topsoil stockpiles would generally be limited to a
maximum height of approximately 2m to retain the viability of the soil until it is used for
rehabilitation purposes.
Table 2.5
Indicative Soil Stripping Depths
Soil Mapping Unit (SMU)
Topsoil* (cm)
Subsoil (cm)
1 10 10-70
2 15 Nil
3 15 15-100
4 20 20-50
5 20 20-100
* Localised areas may contain thicker topsoil.
Source: GCNRC (2013a) – Section 8
Subsoil stripping and stockpiling (if necessary) would generally be limited to the footprint of
the open cut pits and out-of-pit overburden emplacements, including the eastern and central
visibility barriers, and subsequently replaced onto the reshaped final landform to re-establish a
soil profile suited to pasture growth suitable for ongoing grazing. The indicative thicknesses of
subsoil to be recovered in the various SMUs are also set out in Table 2.5. GCNRC (2013a)
recommends no salvage and stockpiling of subsoils from SMU 2 unit because of their salinity
potential. Subsoil stockpiles would generally be limited to a height of approximately 4m.
In order to minimise excessive soil deterioration during stripping, transportation and
stockpiling, the following procedures would be adopted.
Materials would be stripped strictly in accordance with the stripping depth
recommendations for individual soil mapping units presented in GCNRC (2013a)
and identified in Table 2.5.
Topsoil would be maintained in a slightly moist condition during stripping and
would not be stripped when in an excessively wet or dry condition.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-44
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.15 Soil Stockpile Areas
A4/colour
Inserted 22/2/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-45
Less aggressive soil handling systems such as open bowl scrapers or pushing into
windrows for subsequent collection by trucks and front-end loaders would be
undertaken wherever practicable to minimise damage to the soil structure.
The surface of stockpiles would be left in as coarsely textured condition as
possible in order to promote water and air penetration, minimise erosion prior to
vegetation establishment and to prevent anaerobic zones forming.
In the event that stockpiles are to be retained for in excess of 3 months, they
would be seeded with seasonally appropriate cover crop species and fertilised to
provide stability and minimise erosion losses.
Prior to respreading previously stockpiled topsoil materials onto the reshaped
landform, particularly those areas where native vegetation establishment is a
priority, an assessment of weed infestation on the stockpiles would be undertaken
to determine if individual stockpiles require herbicide application and/or scalping
of weed species prior to spreading.
An inventory would be retained identifying the volume of topsoil and subsoil stripped and
located in each stockpile, together with a record of the source soil mapping unit to ensure
adequate materials are available for planned rehabilitation activities as mining nears
completion. The inventory would be progressively updated to reflect materials removed and re-
spread throughout the life of the Proposal. Stockpile locations and details would also identified
on operational plans.
2.6.2.4 Overburden/Interburden Management
Overburden and interburden (hereafter simply referred to collectively as “overburden”) is
required to be removed to gain access to the targeted coal seams within the individual open cut
pits. The overburden principally comprises sandstones, siltstones and occasional conglomerates,
the majority of which has been confirmed by geochemical testing to be non-acid forming and
containing excess neutralising capacity. The testing has established that in the few overburden
samples with an elevated total sulphur content, a significant proportion of the sulphur is non-
pyritic, thereby reducing the risk of acid generation from these stratigraphic units and the
overburden as a whole.
The Applicant intends to use overburden comprising principally weathered materials to
construct the western and northern visibility barrier. Any unweathered materials would be
tested to ensure they are not potentially acid forming. The use of weathered materials and non-
acid forming materials would ensure there is no potential for any leachates generated from the
barrier to flow into Waukivory Creek and/or the Avon River.
RGS Environmental (2013) recommends not to selectively handle bulk overburden or CHPP
rejects and to emplace them randomly (and blended) in the in-pit and out-of-pit overburden
emplacements. However, as a precautionary measure, all uneconomic coal seams, coal seam
roof or floor materials and/or CHPP rejects would be emplaced a minimum 10m away from all
final batters or upper surfaces.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-46
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Blasting of overburden would involve the drilling of 229mm diameter holes (or similar) with
nominally 80 to 160 holes per blast and hole depths of either 15m or 30m. It is proposed that
the maximum instantaneous charge would generally vary from 414kg to 828kg (or larger in
more distant areas where application of larger MICs could readily satisfy the blasting amenity
criteria) and all blasts would be initiated with either an electronic or a non-electric (NONEL)
system. All blasts would be designed to ensure the airblast or ground vibration criteria are not
exceeded. Whenever necessary, MICs would be reduced by, for example decking the
individual blast holes (see Section 4.3). Each 30m blast would result in up to approximately
260 000bcm being fragmented while each 15m blast would fragment up to approximately
130 000bcm of overburden. As discussed in Section 2.3.4, the south to north direction of
mining in each open cut pit would result in most blasts being directed southwards with the blast
envelope also focussed in that direction.
The number of blasts would vary from approximately 20 to 100 in any one year with up to a
likely maximum of four blasts per week.
During the site establishment and construction phase, overburden would be removed from both
the pre-strip area within the Main Pit, Bowen Road 2 Pit and the Weismantel Pit. Figure 2.16
displays the areas to be disturbed during the site establishment and construction phase and in
subsequent years. The overburden recovered during the site establishment and construction
phase would be placed within the western and northern visibility barrier which extends north,
south and west of the CHPP with the excess overburden, together with that generated from the
initial development of the Weismantel Pit, being used to create the visibility barrier along the
western margin of the Weismantel Pit (the central visibility barrier). A similar barrier would be
progressively developed along the western margin of the Year 2 out-of-pit overburden
emplacement area prior to bulk overburden emplacement to its east. This latter barrier (the
eastern visibility barrier), the majority of which would be enveloped in about Year 5, would
screen the bulk overburden placement activities to its east. Figure 2.17 schematically displays
the construction and final shaping of the central visibility barrier. A similar approach would be
adopted for the construction and final shaping of the eastern visibility barrier.
Overburden would be placed within the proposed footprint of disturbance either beyond the
open cut pits (out-of-pit emplacement) or within the open cut pits (in-pit emplacement). The
overburden would be placed in a manner that would ultimately create a single landform within
the footprint of disturbance. The out-of-pit overburden emplacement would comprise two
sections, namely an interim overburden emplacement and a permanent overburden
emplacement (see Figure 2.5).
The interim overburden emplacement, covering approximately 68ha and containing
approximately 13 million loose m3 of overburden, is located on the northern end of the
overburden emplacement and would be removed following the completion of all coal extraction
activities and placed into the void remaining within the Main Pit. The permanent out-of-pit and
in-pit overburden emplacements would cover approximately 350ha and contain approximately
140 million loose m3 prior to backfilling the Main Pit final void.
Based on the drilling results, it is anticipated that the upper weathered section of the profile
within each open cut pit would be amenable to free-digging or removal by scrapers, with the
underlying consolidated material requiring blasting prior to its removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-47
Figure 2.16 Indicative Annual Sequence of Surface Disturbance
A4/Colour
Inserted 22/2/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-48
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.17 Schematic Central Visibility Barrier Construction
A4/Colour
Inserted 22/2/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-49
With the progressive northerly extension of the out-of-pit emplacement in association with the
sequential development of the Weismantel Pit, the Avon Pit and the sub-pits within the Main
Pit (Years 2 to 4), and the subsequent westerly extensions of the overburden emplacement
(Years 5 to 7), a similar approach, i.e. creation of an initial westerly facing barrier with active
overburden disposal to the east, would be adopted for the management of overburden produced
which is in excess of the void space available in-pit for emplacement. During the latter stages
of the development of the Main Pit, overburden materials from the pit would also be stockpiled
adjacent to and over the southern end of the pit and on the eastern side of the pit for subsequent
emplacement in the remaining void at the cessation of coal extraction. Overburden from the
northern extent of the out-of-pit overburden emplacement adjacent to the retained Mine Area
access road would similarly be reclaimed and emplaced within the remaining void.
The western section of the western and northern visibility barrier, which would remain in place
for the duration of coal extraction activities, would be constructed with outer slopes generally
of 1:5 (V:H) to 1:4 (V:H). The northern section of the western and northern visibility barrier,
which, to some extent, would similarly remain in place for the duration of coal extraction,
would be constructed with outer slopes generally of 1:4 (V:H) to 1:3 (V:H).
The inner slopes of both sections of the barrier would be approximately 1:1.5 (V:H) to
2:1 (V:H), depending on the method of construction. The external slopes would be
progressively revegetated with a mixture of grasses, shrubs and small trees. Immediately prior
to the final years of coal extraction in the Main Pit, the bulk of the northern section of the
western and northern visibility barrier would be removed to expose the final area to be mined.
An 8m high section of the barrier would be retained adjacent to the northern boundary of the
Mine Area to continue to provide both visual and noise protection for earthmoving equipment
operating at or near ground level in the northern end of the Main Pit. The bulk of materials
forming the western section of the western and northern visibility barrier and the remainder of
the northern section of the barrier would be placed into the Main Pit void on cessation of coal
extraction activities.
The central and eastern visibility barriers would be constructed with outer slopes to the west of
1:3(V:H) and, depending on their effective life, would be temporarily vegetated with a range of
grasses, shrubs and trees to reduce the barriers’ visibility and enhance the screening of activities
to the east.
The final surface of the out-of-pit overburden emplacement would be constructed with slopes
and form similar to those of the existing landform, i.e. slopes of 5º to 14º and a landform
comprising ridges and valleys (see Section 2.15.5)
2.6.2.5 Coal Recovery
The coal exposed in each open cut pit would be removed by excavator and transported by haul
truck to the ROM coal stockpile adjacent to the CHPP. Some coal may be dozed off in areas
where the dip of the seams permits the safe operation of a bulldozer. Given the steep dip of the
coal seams, limited low energy blasting may also be undertaken to fracture the coal exposed in
the pit floor once the main floor level is achieved, thereby potentially enabling the excavator to
remove up to a further 15m of coal down the dip of the seam without any substantial additional
overburden removal.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-50
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2.6.3 Mining Sequence
Figure 2.16 displays the proposed annual sequence of disturbance and open cut pit
development throughout the life of the Proposal.
Figure 2.18 displays the stage of development at the end of the site establishment and
construction phase and each of Years 2 to 4 while Figure 2.19 displays the development status
at the end of Years 5 to 8, Year 14 and approximately 2 years beyond the cessation of coal
extraction when the final landform is completed.
Plate 2.1 presents a set of isometric views showing to the development status of the Mine Area
at Years 0.5, 2.5, 4.25, 7.75, 10.5, 13 and following the cessation of all rehabilitation activities.
2.6.4 Overburden Removal and Coal Extraction Rates
Table 2.6 presents the forecast annual ROM coal and overburden production quantities. This
forecast is based upon the production of approximately 23 million tonnes of ROM coal in a
13½ year period, i.e. from the commencement of the site establishment and construction phase
to the end of coal extraction. As outlined in Section 2.2.3, up to 25 million tonnes of coal may
be potentially recoverable within the Mine Area, although a range of operational and economic
issues could restrict coal production to the nominated 23 million tonnes. In the event all or a
proportion of the additional 2 million tonnes of coal can be economically recovered through, for
example, the extraction of additional coal from the pit floor or the identification of further seam
duplications, the projected period of coal extraction, based on the schedule in Table 2.6, would
extend for up to a further year.
Table 2.6
Estimated Annual Overburden and ROM Coal Production
Year
Totals
Overburden (bcm) Coal (t)
1* 6 321 000 600 000
2 7 384 000 1 033 000
3 9 751 000 1 320 000
4 9 166 000 1 775 000
5 13 508 000 1 758 000
6 13 197 000 2 000 000
7 11 577 000 2 000 000
8 11 577 000 2 000 000
9 8 841 000 2 000 000
10 8 841 000 2 000 000
11 8 841 000 2 000 000
12 8 841 000 2 000 000
13 8 841 000 2 000 000
14 3 042 000 509 000
Totals 129 723 000 22 995 000
* Year 1 equates to the site establishment and construction phase as described in Section 2.5
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-51
Plate 2.1 Development Sequence Isometric Views
Inserted 15/4/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-52
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.18 Mine Development Sequence – Years 1 - 4
A4/Colour
Inserted 12/03/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-53
Figure 2.19 Mine Development Sequence – Years 5 - Final
A3/Colour
Inserted 12/03/13
This page has intentionally been left blank
This page has intentionally been left blank
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-55
Based on the current planning, the Applicant expects to extract up to 2.0 million tonnes of
ROM coal per year, commencing at a rate of approximately 0.6 million tonnes in the fourth
quarter of Year 1 and subsequently ramping up to full production over subsequent years. A
production rate of 2.0Mtpa equates to approximately 7 200t of ROM coal per day based on the
proposed six day work roster. Table 2.6 shows that the rate of overburden removal would vary
throughout the life of the Proposal from approximately 6.3 million bcm during the site
establishment and construction phase to approximately 13.5 million bcm in Year 5.
Notwithstanding the above, approval is sought for a mining rate of up to 2.5Mtpa ROM coal
production to reflect, for example, variations in the schedule for the Proposal which may result
in less coal production in one year but the exposure or availability of more coal in the
subsequent year or years; the occurrence of further seam duplications such as have been
identified by drilling in the area of the planned Bowen Road 2 Pit, or the ability to extract coal
down the dip of the seams from the floor of the pits without any substantial additional
overburden removal. In the event a maximum production level of 2.5Mt of ROM coal is
achieved in any year, the increased coal production would be offset by a reduced quantity of
overburden removed.
2.6.5 Mobile Equipment
Table 2.7 presents an indicative list of the proposed mobile equipment the Applicant intends to
use for its mining and CHPP operations. The type and size of equipment has been selected to
be sufficient for the material movement requirements in any year and sufficiently flexible to
enable the mining of steeply dipping coal seams in constrained areas. The nominated
equipment manufacturer is also indicative although the equipment models nominated are those
used for the noise assessment (see Section 4.2.7). The Applicant recognises that the combined
noise level of the entire fleet on site is the important factor in achieving compliance with noise
criteria. Consequently, adjustments to the number of items or equipment models may be
implemented from time to time to reflect production requirements or improvements in
equipment noise attenuation, provided the combined noise level of the fleet still satisfies the
relevant noise criteria at individual receptors as presented in Section 4.2.
Table 2.7
Indicative Mobile Equipment List
Page 1 of 2
Year 1 Years 2 – 4 Years 5 – 8 Years 9 – 14
Overburden Moved (Annual bcm)
6 554 000 7 848 000 – 8 466 000
12 353 000 – 13 424 000
9 367 000
Coal Extracted (Annual t) 600 000 1 330 000 – 1 700 000
1 983 000 – 2 000 000
2 000 000
Type Model Year 1 Year 2 – 4 Year 5 – 8 Year 9 – 14
D E D E N D E N D E N
Drill Rotary SKF12 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0-1 2 2 2
Excavator 40t (345D) 1 0 1 0 0 1 0-1 0-1 1 1 0
120t (PC1250) 1 0 1 0-1 0 1 1 0-1 1 1 1
200t (994-200) 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0-1 1 1 0-1
350t (EX3600) 1 1 1 1 0-1 1-2 1-2 0-2 2 2 0-2
Haul truck Cat 789XQ and Haulmax
8 6-8 9-12 6-12 3-4 12-14 12-14 8-13 15-16 15-16 4-6
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-56
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Table 2.7 (Cont’d)
Indicative Mobile Equipment List
Page 2 of 2
Year 1 Years 2 – 4 Years 5 – 8 Years 9 – 14
Overburden Moved (Annual bcm)
6 554 000 7 848 000 – 8 466 000
12 353 000 – 13 424 000
9 367 000
Coal Extracted (Annual t) 600 000 1 330 000 – 1 700 000
1 983 000 – 2 000 000
2 000 000
Type Model Year 1 Year 2 – 4 Year 5 – 8 Year 9 – 14
D E D E N D E N D E N
Scraper 657G 3 0 3 0 0 1-3 0 0 1 0 0
Grader 14M 1 1 1 1 1 1-2 1-2 1 1-2 1-2 1
Front end Loader
Cat 988 0 0 1 0-1 0 1 1 0-1 1 1 0
Bulldozer D10/D11 2 1 3 1-2 0-1 3 3 2 3 3 1-2
Rubber Tyred 844RTD
1 1 1 1 0 1-2 1-2 0 2 2 0-1
Water Cart Road Truck and Cat 777C
2 1-2 2 1-2 1-2 2 2 2 2 2 1-2
Bobcat 0 0 1 0-1 0 1 1 0-1 1 1 0
D = Day E = Evening N = Night
The use of mobile earthmoving equipment nominated in Table 2.7 during the night-time period
(10:00pm to 4:00am) would only occur following confirmation through monitoring that the
night-time noise criteria can be satisfied and validation of the predicted noise levels during the
evening period.
2.7 PROCESSING OPERATIONS, STOCKPILES AND PRODUCTS
2.7.1 CHPP Design and Layout
Figure 2.7 displays the general layout of the 12ha pad incorporating CHPP buildings,
workshop and associated facilities, and ROM and product coal stockpiles. The pad would be on
the western side of the Mine Area, east of and adjacent to the western and northern visibility
barrier. The pad would be constructed to an elevation of approximately 115m AHD,
i.e. approximately 25m to 40m below the top of the western and northern visibility barrier,
using cut and fill methods to maximise the visual and acoustic benefits of the adjacent barrier.
2.7.2 ROM Coal Stockpiling
All ROM coal from the active open cut pit(s) would be delivered to the ROM coal stockpile
(Figure 2.7), a 2ha area adjacent to the CHPP building which would provide sufficient storage
for approximately 100 000t of ROM coal.
The ROM coal would be stockpiled to a height of up to 15m above the floor of the ROM pad,
or a minimum 10m below the top of the adjacent western and northern visibility barrier, and in
the vicinity of the ROM feeder to the CHPP.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-57
2.7.3 Processing Operations
The CHPP would be PLC controlled and fully instrumented and incorporate the following (or
similar) equipment for coal handling, pre-treatment, coarse and fine coal cleaning, washed coal
handling and coarse and fine reject management.
Plant feeder/reclaimer.
Crushing station.
Feed conveyors to the plant.
Desliming screen.
Dense media cyclone circuits
and spirals.
Jamieson flotation cell.
Horizontal belt filter.
30m diameter thickener.
Banks of dewatering units for the fine reject.
Sumps, pumps, pipelines.
Above–ground conveyors from the plant (to
product stockpiles) incorporating slingers.
Underground conveyor (from product
stockpiles).
Reject conveyor from the Plant.
Rejects stockpile and/or bin.
The CHPP would be supported by its own offices and amenities area located adjacent to the
maintenance workshop.
With the exception of the feeder/reclaimer, sizing station, rejects stockpile or bin, ROM and
product coal conveyors and thickener, the major plant components would be enclosed within
two buildings with a combined floor area of approximately 1 500m2. The main building would
have an overall height of approximately 21m, with the smaller building which contains the belt
filters, having a height of approximately 6m.
Although the main building would generally be shielded visually to the north, west and
southwest by the western and northern visibility barrier, as a minimum, the upper decks would
be clad with a colorbond material of a colour selected to blend with the background in order to
minimise any potential visual impact from more elevated vantage points, e.g. from the Bucketts
walking track, and to further reduce noise.
Figure 2.20 displays the indicative coal processing flowsheet and a description of the process is
provided as follows.
ROM coal delivered from the active open cut pit(s) would be loaded by front-end loader into an
above ground feeder which would supply the CHPP by conveyor.
The ROM coal would initially pass to a two-stage crushing station where it would be reduced to
a top size of 50mm prior to being transferred to the dense medium cyclone (DMC) plant. The
DMC plant would comprise three modules within the main coal preparation plant building.
i) A fine coal module where the coal would be mixed with water before passing to
desliming screens to separate the coal into two size fractions namely, >1.5mm to
<50mm, and <1.5mm.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-58
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.20 CHPP Processing Schematic
A4/Colour
Inserted 22/2/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-59
ii) A primary medium cyclone module where the coal would be mixed with
magnetite to gain the correct specific gravity for processing and split into a low
ash (coking coal) product and a middlings ash stream. After draining and rinsing
both streams, the low ash product would be dewatered before being conveyed to
the coking coal product stockpile while the middlings ash stream would be passed
to the secondary medium cyclone module.
iii) In the secondary medium cyclone module, the middlings stream would be
separated into a high ash (steaming coal) product stream which would be
subsequently dewatered and conveyed to the steaming coal product stockpile and
a reject (waste) stream.
Fine material passing through the de-sliming screen in the fine coal module would be pumped
to a number of desliming cyclones that split the feedstock into a coarser sized particle stream
and a superfine particle stream. The coarser particle stream would then be separated into a
saleable product quality stream and a reject stream that would eventually be discarded from
the plant, while the superfine stream discharge would be fed to flotation cells where the
feedstock particles would be divided into a product quality stream and a fine rejects stream.
In order to ensure the plant operates on a closed-water circuit basis to minimise water losses,
each product stream exiting from the plant would be dewatered using belt vacuum filters or
similar equipment located in the elongated annex adjacent to the main CHPP building.
2.7.4 Product Coal Stockpiling
The coal products produced within the CHPP would be transferred to and stockpiled in a
designated product stockpile area covering approximately 3ha adjacent to the CHPP building
using a slinger conveyor arrangement or similar load-out system. The coal product stockpile
area, which would also incorporate the overland conveyor load-out system, would have the
capacity to store a total of approximately 100 000t of product coal in separate stockpiles to cater
for the different products produced. The product coal stockpiles would be up to approximately
10m in height or approximately 15m below the top of the immediately adjacent section of the
western and northern visibility barrier.
2.7.5 Management of CHPP Rejects
The washing process in the CHPP would generate both coarse and fine rejects comprising
claystones, siltstones, fine grained sandstones and carbonaceous materials.
At maximum production, the CHPP would generate an estimated 0.75Mtpa to 1Mtpa of coarse
and fine rejects, with the coarse rejects anticipated to represent around 70% of the total rejects.
The quantity of rejects produced would depend upon customer product specifications and the
resultant yield.
The fine rejects discharged from the flotation cells would be pumped to a thickener from where
it would be conveyed to the belt filters press which would discharge their dewatered filter
cakes onto the plant’s common reject conveyor. The combined coarse and fine rejects, with a
total moisture content of approximately 20%, would be conveyed to either a rejects stockpile or
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-60
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
overhead bin from which it would be collected and hauled to the active overburden
emplacement area where it would be mixed with the overburden from the active open cut pits.
There would be no defined permanent rejects emplacement area.
The combined coarse and fine rejects would initially be placed into the out-of-pit emplacements
in a random manner and blended with the overburden. This approach would enable any
potentially acid forming CHPP coal rejects to be neutralised by the predominantly non acid
forming overburden.
As discussed in Section 2.3.3.3, some of the CHPP coal rejects would be potentially acid
forming and accordingly, the placement of the rejects would be undertaken in accordance with
the recommendation of RGS Environmental (2013), i.e. the rejects would be placed at least
10m away from the long term batters or surface of the permanent out-of-pit emplacement.
When exhausted open cut pits become available for backfilling, the CHPP coal rejects would be
similarly placed randomly (and blended) with overburden with no rejects placed within 10m of
the final land surface.
In the event the fine rejects dewatering system is not functional at any time, the fine rejects
would be either placed within:
the void developed during the limited pre-strip of the Main Pit and subsequently
recovered as part of Main Pit development;
within the southern end of the Bowen Road 2 Pit (for the first 4 to 5 years of
mining operations);
the available void space within previously exhausted open cut pits which are
being backfilled with overburden; or
in selected deposition areas within the active open cut pits.
2.7.6 Hours of Operation
During the early years of operation, the CHPP would likely operate on day shift only. In order
to process the coal at higher ROM coal production rates, the CHPP would operate on two shifts
from 7:00am to 10:00pm Monday to Saturday.
2.8 PRODUCT COAL DESPATCH
2.8.1 Introduction
All coal products would be destined to an export terminal at the Port of Newcastle. Orders for
coal to be delivered to the Port would be provided to the Applicant with advanced notice
(typically 4 to 7 days) for the required quantity of coal to be delivered to the stockpiles at the
export facility in readiness for a ship’s arrival. The Applicant anticipates individual shipments
from the Port of Newcastle would typically range from 20 000 to 30 000 tonnes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-61
The despatch of coal from the Site to the Port of Newcastle would involve a two-stage process
within the Site. Firstly, product coal would be conveyed via the overland conveyor to a surge
bin and train load-out (TLO) bin within the Rail Load-out Facility, and secondly, the loading of
coal from the TLO bin into trains to be transported from the Site to the Port of Newcastle. Both
activities would operate independently of each other given sufficient storage capacity would be
available in the surge bin and TLO bin to load one train.
2.8.2 Conveying Coal to Rail Load-out Facility
Loading of coal onto the overland conveyor would be undertaken by a bulldozer or front-end
loader pushing or loading the desired product or product mix from the product coal stockpile
into the below ground pan feeders or a similar recovery system and onto the overland conveyor.
The products would be conveyed to the Rail Load-out Facility using the overland conveyor at a
rate of approximately 1 500tph.
The coal products would initially be delivered to the surge bin after which they would be
conveyed to the train load-out (TLO) bin at a rate of 3 500tph. Overland conveyor operations
would cease once both the surge and TLO bins are full.
The conveying operation would typically take up to approximately 2.5 hours to load both the
surge bin and TLO bin. This activity would be undertaken during the day time, or possibly
evening period, unless a train is scheduled to arrive before 10:00am. In reality, the overland
conveyor would rarely operate concurrently, if at all, during periods when the Rail Load-out
Facility is operational with the likely extent of occurrence projected to be no more than 3 hours
in any month. Based on an average of approximately 11 trains per week, at maximum
production, the overland conveyor would operate for less than approximately 30 hours per
week.
2.8.3 Train Loading and Despatch
Based on the dimensions of the rail loop and current axle load limitations on the North Coast
Railway Line, trains with a nominal capacity of 3 000 tonnes would arrive at the train loop and,
after leaving the North Coast Railway Line, approach the TLO bin on the uphill grade, thereby
enabling loading to be carried out under tension and minimising shunt noise. The empty
wagons would be sequentially filled with the telescopic loading shute lowered to approximately
100mm above the first wagon prior to the commencement of filling.
During train loading, electronic systems on the TLO bin would be used to control and monitor
the supply of coal from the surge bin, the rate of recharge to the bin (from the surge bin), the
various aspects of train loading operations including shute height, the commencement and
cessation of loading each wagon and the train, train speed, load distribution and height and
occurrence of spillages, and initiate the necessary response mechanisms including stopping
loading.
Each train would be loaded within a period of approximately 1.5hrs. Once loaded, the train
would remain stationary, and idling, until its allocated time to leave the rail loop and return to
the Port of Newcastle.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-62
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
At maximum production, an average of less than two trains would be despatched daily, with
trains typically despatched between one and three times per day. It should be noted, however,
that the timetable for the arrival and departure of trains would be dictated by ARTC who
manage the rail paths to the Port of Newcastle in consultation with the Hunter Valley Coal
Chain Coordinator Limited (HVCCC). Based upon the above despatch rate, the Rail Load-out
Facility would operate for between 1.5 hours and 4.5 hours per day and typically approximately
17 hours per week based on an average of 11 trains per week.
2.9 SERVICES
2.9.1 Power
The Applicant estimates that the annual power consumption during those years when the ROM
coal processed is 2Mt would be approximately 13 000MW hours with the total power
consumption throughout the operational life of the Proposal approximating 136 000MW hours.
Discussions with electricity service providers have established that electrical power would be
provided to the Mine Area and Rail Load-out Facility from a new take-off point from the
132kV TransGrid high voltage power line from Stroud Road to Taree and an associated
Essential Energy-owned substation and 11kV aerial feed to on-site usage areas and associated
infrastructure (see Figure 2.21). Further discussion on the proposed power network and the
components of the Essential Energy-owned substation is provided in Section 4.15.2.2.
The existing 132kV power line that traverses the eastern side of the Mine Area (Figure 2.21)
would be re-located prior to any substantial disturbance within the existing power line
easement. Preliminary planning for re-location of the power line has commenced with an
indicative 100m wide corridor for the re-located 132kV feeder displayed on Figure 2.21.
TransGrid has indicated its satisfaction with the proposed corridor alignment, an alignment that
would also satisfy its requirements should it proceed with Option 1 of the 330kV Stroud-
Lansdowne Project as identified in the July 2012 Options Selection Report and discussed in
Section 4.15.1.
2.9.2 Water
Water for the mining operation would be obtained from the following sources listed
preferentially in order of use (with appropriate licences in place, where required).
1. Groundwater and surface water accumulating within the various open cut pits
throughout the life of the Proposal.
2. Surface water drawn from on-site environmental or sediment dams.
3. Waukivory Creek and/or the Avon River within the limitation of the Applicant’s
existing or purchased licences.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-63
Figure 2.21 Proposed Power Lines
A4/Colour
Inserted 06/03/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-64
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Potable quality water requirements would be sourced from MidCoast Water via the Gloucester
town water supply. The town water supply would be piped from the existing mains within the
Rail Load-out Facility and then onto the Mine Area via the overland conveyor.
Projected water usage on site would vary throughout the life of the Proposal depending on the
nature or mix of activities being undertaken, i.e. site establishment/construction or operations,
overburden production with ROM coal production level and CHPP throughput, employment
level, and the extent of area disturbed and not rehabilitated and therefore a potential source of
dust lift-off and dispersal.
During the site establishment and construction phase, the Applicant would draw upon water in
the existing dams on site, new dams, the active open cut pits and if necessary, pump water from
Waukivory Creek or the Avon River.
At maximum production, the Applicant estimates the on-site water usage for operational
purposes would be as follows.
CHPP (make-up water) – up to 400MLpa.
Dust suppression (roads, stockpiles, crushing station, coal transfer points, etc.) –
350MLpa.
Offices and amenities area and Workshops 6MLpa (i.e. 0.04ML per person/year).
The water balance prepared for the Proposal has established that the water requirements for
both the CHPP and dust suppression could be satisfied through the use of the saline
water/surface water accumulating in the open cut pits. The water balance has established there
would be excess quantities of saline water from time to time throughout the life of the Proposal,
some of which could be used to reduce dust lift-off from the active overburden emplacements.
The Applicant would minimise the use of water sourced from Waukivory Creek or the Avon
River under licence by:
maximising the use of groundwater collecting in the open cut pits and sediment-
laden water collected in sediment dams;
maximising the recovery and re-use of water in the coal preparation process
through the use of fine rejects dewatering; and
where appropriate and warranted, the use of chemical dust suppressants in lieu of
water on the internal road network.
Up to 6ML per year of mains potable water would be used in the on-site amenities for the
workforce. All necessary approvals and/or certificates would be obtained from Gloucester
Shire Council and/or MidCoast Water to enable the mains potable water to be used on site.
This water would be drawn from the existing connections to the Gloucester Water Supply
System at the Rail Load-out Facility.
The management of any excess water pumped from the active open cut pits is addressed in
Sections 4.6.6 and 4.7.4.4.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-65
2.9.3 Fuel
The mining equipment fleet would be diesel-fuelled with bulk diesel stored adjacent to the
workshop in two bunded above-ground tanks with a total capacity of approximately 220kL.
The more mobile equipment such as the haul trucks would be refuelled adjacent to the on-site
tanks within a bunded refuelling pad while the less mobile equipment such as the bulldozers,
excavators and drills would be refuelled in pit or elsewhere within the Mine Area using a
mobile service truck.
Based on the production schedule presented in Table 2.6, annual diesel fuel usage is projected
to increase from approximately 4.8ML during the site establishment and construction phase to a
maximum of around 15ML in Years 5 and 6, the years of highest materials movement,
averaging around 10ML thereafter.
Fuel would be delivered in semi-trailer tankers at a rate ranging from approximately
three tanker loads per week during the site establishment and construction phase to
approximately 10 tanker loads per week in Years 5 and 6.
2.9.4 Communications
Underground cables would be laid to the site offices and amenities area, CHPP office and
workshop and Rail Load-out Facility for the telephone, internet and data transfer requirements
for the Proposal. Mobile phones and 2-way radio would also be used.
2.9.5 Explosives
ANFO-based bulk explosives would be used within the Mine Area to fracture the overburden
that cannot be removed economically by free digging, with NONEL or electronic detonators
used for blast initiation. The ammonium nitrate pril, emulsion, diesel and other blasting
requirements would be stored within an explosives compound containing an emulsion tank,
diesel tank, 1.2t pril bulka bags and one or more shipping containers.
Detonators and boosters, generally transported to the Mine Area within 24 hours of each blast,
would be stored in two licenced magazines, one designated for the storage of boosters and the
other for detonators.
All storage facilities for explosives components would be designed in accordance with the
relevant standards and guidelines, including AS 2187.2 – 2006 Explosives – Storage, Transport
and Use, Part 2 Explosives and, as required, covered by a relevant dangerous goods licence.
During the initial years of the Proposal, the explosives compound would be positioned within
the area assigned for interim overburden emplacement and located at a distance from the Site
boundary that satisfies the minimum proximity requirements identified in SEPP 33 (see
Appendix 4). Beyond that time, the compound would be re-located to the southern margin of
the rehabilitated out-of-pit overburden emplacement. Each location would be at least 750m
from the boundary of the Site.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-66
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2.9.6 Chemicals/Hazardous Materials
In addition to diesel and explosives, a range of other chemicals or products would be stored on
site at the workshop, CHPP or at the offices including:
batteries;
coolants;
grease;
oils (in 9 000L transtanks);
gases (including oxygen, acetylate,
nitrogen, butane-propane);
degreasers;
spray paints;
sealants and adhesive compounds;
magnetite;
flocculant;
collector (kerosene or fuel oil); and
frother (tetra-ethyl butyl).
The Applicant would develop a chemicals management system and utilise the Chemalert
system or similar, with Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) retained for all chemicals used on
the Site.
Transportation, storage and handling of all chemical products would be undertaken in
accordance with the relevant codes of practice such as Transport – Storage and Handling of
Dangerous Goods Code of Practice 2005 and National Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The
relevant procedures within the system would also address the planning required for the
management of any emergencies that may arise from the use of any chemicals or hazardous
materials used on site.
2.10 WASTE MANAGEMENT
2.10.1 Introduction
The non-production wastes that would be generated during the proposed operations throughout
the life of the Proposal would include the following.
General domestic type wastes from the site offices and amenities area, CHPP
office, ablution and first aid facilities.
Routine maintenance consumables and waste oil.
Sewage.
Scrap steel and other wastes remaining from equipment maintenance.
2.10.2 Domestic Type Waste
Wastes originating from the offices and amenities area, ablutions and firstaid facilities, together
with select waste from the workshop would be treated as general waste. Two collection streams
would be provided with recyclables separated and placed in skips for independent collection.
The principal recyclables collected would be steel, aluminium, glass, paper and cardboard.
Closed garbage bins would be located adjacent to buildings and would be collected on an as
needs basis by licensed waste contractors and the contents disposed of at the Gloucester Waste
Depot, west of Gloucester.
The Applicant estimates approximately 250m3 of domestic mixed solid waste and 125m
3 of
recyclables would be produced annually.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-67
2.10.3 Maintenance Waste
Routine maintenance of mobile mining and earthmoving equipment would be undertaken
within the on-site workshop or, in the case of any major refurbishment activities which cannot
be undertaken on site, at equipment maintenance facilities away from the Site.
Waste oil would be stored in a 9 000L self bunded transtank from which it would be collected
and removed from site for disposal/reuse by an appropriately licensed waste recycler. All other
waste hydrocarbons associated with equipment maintenance would be stored in an
appropriately designed concrete bunded area, with storage capacity 10% greater than the
volume being stored, to await collection.
All routine maintenance consumables would be treated as general mixed solid waste. Separate
collection skips would be maintained at the workshop for cardboard and metals.
2.10.4 Sewage
It is proposed to construct and operate a three tank sewage management system adjacent to the
site offices capable of managing sewage from up to 150 persons. The tanks would comprise
five zones, namely a balance zone, primary zone, extended aeration zone, clarification zone and
disinfection/irrigation chamber. All water treated through the system would be irrigated within
the site offices and amenities area or used in the coal preparation process. A scaled down
version of this system or similar would be constructed adjacent to the office near the CHPP.
All irrigation from the systems would be undertaken in compliance with the EPA’s guidelines
“The Use of Effluent by Irrigation”.
2.11 ROAD TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
2.11.1 Traffic During Site Establishment and Construction
Table 2.8 lists the total number of light and heavy vehicle movements that would be generated
during the site establishment and construction phase, together with an estimate of daily
movements. The traffic movements would occur principally to and from the Mine Area (off
Waukivory Road) and the Rail Load-out Facility (off The Bucketts Way). A small proportion
of the vehicle movements would occur on Fairbairns Road during the period of overland
conveyor construction.
Table 2.8
Traffic Movements* During Site Establishment and Construction Phase
Light Vehicles (No. per day) Heavy Vehicles (No. per day)
Mine Area (off Waukivory Road) 20 - 210 0 - 10
Rail Load-out Facility (off The Bucketts Way)
10 - 50 0 - 20
Fairbairns Road 0 - 10 0 - 8
* 1 return trip generates 2 movements.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-68
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Approximately 50 of the heavy vehicle movements would be low loaders, some of which would
carry over-sized loads, albeit with permits. Over-sized loads originating from the south would
be directed to travel either via Jacks Road or the Gloucester Heavy Vehicle Bypass and
Waukivory Road to avoid Gloucester’s central business district, with the selection of the
preferred route depending on the completion date for the construction of a new bridge on Jacks
Road crossing the Avon River. Over-sized loads originating from the east or north, and
delivering equipment or materials to the Mine Area, would be directed to travel along
Waukivory Road and not through Gloucester while those vehicles with loads originating from
the east or north and destined for the Rail Load-out Facility would travel via the Gloucester
Heavy Vehicle Bypass.
Section 4.9.4.2 reviews the potential changes in traffic levels across the local road network as a
result of the proposed traffic movements during the site establishment and construction phase.
2.11.2 Traffic Throughout Operations
Table 2.9 lists the anticipated total annual and daily number of light and heavy vehicle
movements per day travelling on the local road network throughout the life of the Proposal with
the range in daily traffic levels reflecting the likely variation on a daily basis. It is expected that
the bulk of the light vehicle movements would involve travel to and from Gloucester township
with 70% arriving and departing via Jacks Road and 30% arriving and departing via Waukivory
Road.
Table 2.9
Traffic Movements* Throughout the Life of the Operations
Light Vehicles (No. per Day)
Heavy Vehicles (No. per Day)
Mine Area (off Waukivory Road) 186 - 294 4 - 16
Rail Load-out Facility (off The Bucketts Way)
6 - 10 0 - 2
Fairbairns Road 2 - 8 0 - 2
* 1 return trip generates 2 movements.
The light vehicle traffic would be concentrated around shift start and finish times. Essentially,
light vehicles would enter the Mine Area during four 1-hour periods and leave the Mine Area
during four 1-hour periods and one ½ hour period. The indicative number of light vehicles
entering or leaving the Mine Area during each period would be as follows.
Arriving Departing
6:00am – 7:00am : 49 – 76 3:00pm – 4:00pm : 17 – 35
7:00am – 8:00am : 2 – 4 4:00pm – 5:00pm : 4 – 11
2:00pm – 3:00pm : 6 – 24 5:30pm – 6:30pm : 14 – 51
4:30pm – 5:30pm* : 17 – 36 10:00pm – 10:30pm : 6 – 24
4:00am – 4:30am* : 17 – 36
* Excluding the Site Establishment and Construction Phase.
A detailed breakdown of the number of light vehicles entering and leaving the Mine Area
throughout the life of the Proposal is presented in the Traffic Assessment in Volume 3 Part 9 of
the Specialist Consultant Studies Compendium.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-69
2.12 HOURS OF OPERATION AND LIFE OF THE PROPOSAL
2.12.1 Hours of Operation
Table 2.10 lists the proposed operational hours for the range of activities proposed within the
Site.
Table 2.10
Operational Hours
Activity Days* Hours Comments
Pre-start activities Monday – Saturday 6:00am – 7:00am
Mining Monday – Saturday 7:00am – 10:00pm
Monday – Saturday 10:00pm – 4:00am Subject to confirmation by modelling and real-time monitoring that night-time and sleep disturbance criteria are satisfied at privately-owned receptors, mining would continue from 10:00pm on each of Monday to Saturday and extend to 4:00am on the following day. There would be no mining activity between 4:00am and 7:00am on any day.
CHPP Monday – Saturday 7:00am – 10:00pm Hours and days worked to match production
Coal Product Despatch (overland conveyor / train loading
Monday – Sunday Any time As required to satisfy ARTC product despatch schedule.
Maintenance Monday – Saturday 7:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday 8:00am – 10:00pm
Monday – Sunday All other hours If activities are not audible at privately-owned receptors.
* Public Holidays excluded
Operations within the Mine Area
Operations within the Mine Area and related activities would initially be undertaken between
7:00am and 10:00pm Monday to Saturday, public holidays excluded with preparatory activities
including pre-start checks and administration activities (limited personnel) to be undertaken
between 6:00am to 7:00am. Limited drilling and other activities would be undertaken between
10:00pm and 4:00am, Monday to Saturday once the open cut pits have reached a depth below
either the natural ground surface and/or behind constructed barriers at which the noise
modelling and real-time monitoring confirm night-time and sleep disturbance criteria would be
satisfied.
Operations within the Mine Area would be undertaken adopting a range of shifts throughout the
week. Most shifts would be either 8 hours or 10.5 hours depending on the year of operation and
the likely opportunity(ies) to operate equipment during the evening and night-time periods. The
8 hour shifts would typically occur between 7:00am to 3:00pm and 2:00pm to 10:00pm. The
10.5 hour shifts would typically occur between 7:00am to 5:30pm and 5:30pm to 4:00am.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-70
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
During the early years of operation, the CHPP would likely operate on day shift only, with the
number of days and duration of operations increasing with the increase in ROM coal
production. In order to process the ROM coal at maximum production, the CHPP would
ultimately operate on two shifts from 7:00am to 10:00pm, Monday to Saturday.
It is proposed that equipment maintenance is undertaken, when required, 24 hours per day,
7 days per week provided maintenance activities “during the night-time period” are not audible
at any privately-owned receptor.
Operation of the Overland Conveyor
The overland conveyor would operate for a period of approximately 2.5 hours at a time to
deliver the coal from the product stockpile adjacent to the CHPP to the surge bin and TLO bin
within the Rail Load-out Facility. The use of the overland conveyor would be scheduled
whenever possible to occur between 7:00am and 6:00pm, or if required between 6:00pm and
10:00pm. Only in the event that train loading is undertaken between 10:00pm and 7:00am and
another train is scheduled for arrival prior to 10:00am on the following day would operation of
the overland conveyor and loading of the bins occur during the night-time period.
In the event that the overland conveyor is operated between 4:00am and 7:00am, the only
mobile equipment operating within the Mine Area would be a rubber-tyred bulldozer or front-
end loader within the product coal stockpile area, and the conveyors.
Operation of the Rail Load-out Facility
The hours of operation for product despatch from the Rail Load-out Facility would be dictated
by the timetable nominated by the coal carrier on advice from ARTC (in conjunction with the
HVCCC) regarding the available train paths to the Port of Newcastle to satisfy shipping
schedules.
Loading of the TLO bin during train loading operations would be controlled by the TLO
operator.
2.12.2 Life of the Proposal
With the recoverable coal resource of up to 25Mt, the projected ramp-up in production to
2.0Mtpa and continuing favourable economic conditions, coal production would continue for a
period of approximately 14 years, i.e. from the commencement of the site establishment and
construction phase. A further 2 years would be required at the completion of coal production to
backfill the Main Pit and establish/revegetate the final landform in that area. However, as noted
in Section 2.1.4, a 21 year development consent is being sought to accommodate any
circumstance(s) that may slow down the mining of coal and to allow for both the site
establishment and construction phase and completion of all rehabilitation activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-71
2.13 EMPLOYMENT
2.13.1 Site Establishment and Construction
The workforce would peak at approximately 100 persons during the site establishment and
construction phase.
The Applicant anticipates that the site establishment and construction workforce would be
drawn from both local and regional centres with some specialist tradespersons drawn from
elsewhere in NSW or interstate. The Applicant has committed to employing local people
preferentially, wherever possible.
The contractors from outside the local area would reside in hotels, motels, caravan parks or
rental accommodation in the local area for the duration of their activities. There is no intention
to establish camp accommodation for the construction workforce.
2.13.2 Operations
At full production, the Proposal would employ up to 150 persons in operational and
management roles.
The operational workforce would be preferentially sourced from the local district. The
Applicant has already received considerable interest from persons in the Gloucester area and
the local region from Taree to Maitland for employment should the Proposal be approved.
However, it is likely that some contractors/employees would be based or reside in Newcastle or
elsewhere in the Hunter Valley and either commute to and from the Site daily or reside in
hotels, motels, caravan parks or rental accommodation in the local area for the duration of their
activities. It is envisaged that the majority of operational employees sourced from the outside
the Gloucester area would ultimately move to the local area permanently. The Applicant has
committed to employing local people preferentially, wherever possible and has set a target for
local employment of 75% by the end of the third year of operations.
2.13.3 Final Rehabilitation Activities
The Applicant expects to employ approximately 50 persons during the 2 year period following
the cessation of coal extraction and product coal despatch to complete the final rehabilitation of
the Mine Area and decommission the on-site infrastructure.
2.14 SAFETY/SECURITY MANAGEMENT
The Applicant proposes to prepare a Health and Safety Management System (H&SMS) for the
Proposal incorporating a Health, Safety & Environmental (HS&E) Plan. The system would
include identification of roles and responsibilities, procedures for investigation of near misses
and safety incidents, and requirement for a regular and trigger-related review and audit of the
system.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-72
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
The HS&E Plan would incorporate the following to maintain a level of safety and security
appropriate for the proposed activities.
i) Establishment and maintenance of fencing around the perimeter of the Site and
other fencing as required to isolate grazing stock and unauthorised individuals
from site activities.
ii) Use of locked gates to exclude access when site personnel are not working in
component areas.
iii) Installation of and maintenance of safety signage around the Site and perimeter
fencing, where necessary.
iv) Security when there are no authorised personnel on site.
v) A requirement that all visitors entering and departing the Site report to the offices
and amenities area or other nominated locations for registration including time of
arrival and departure, and an induction, if required.
vi) Appropriate controls to ensure that the stability of the highwalls within the open
cut pits and other landforms is maintained.
2.15 REHABILITATION, FINAL LANDFORM AND LAND USES
2.15.1 Introduction
Rehabilitation of all areas to be disturbed throughout the life of the Proposal would be an
integral part of the Proposal. Emphasis would be placed upon progressively creating the final
landform and re-establishing soil profiles and vegetation essential to achieving the preferred
land use(s) during or following site closure.
Rehabilitation activities would be planned and undertaken in accordance with the Mining
Operations Plan (MOP) to be submitted to the DRE and approved following the issue of
development consent and prior to the commencement of on-site activities. The MOP would also
address any rehabilitation-related requirements nominated in the development consent for the
Proposal.
In addition to the rehabilitation commitments in the EIS, rehabilitation would be planned and
undertaken with reference to the following documentation.
Mine Rehabilitation – Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the
Mining Industry (Commonwealth Government, 2006).
Mine Closure and Completion – Leading Practice Sustainable Development
Program for the Mining Industry (Commonwealth Government, 2006).
Strategic Framework for Mine Closure (ANZMEC, 2000).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-73
2.15.2 Rehabilitation Objectives
In the short to medium term, the Applicant’s objectives would be to stabilise all earthworks,
visibility barriers, drainage lines, and disturbed areas no longer required for Proposal-related
activities in order to minimise visibility, dust generation and erosion/sedimentation over the
period prior to the establishment of the final landform and its vegetation, and during which the
land is not used for agricultural purposes.
The Applicant’s longer term rehabilitation objectives are as follows.
Rehabilitation is undertaken in an economically sustainable manner.
The rehabilitated landform is safe, stable and sustainable, and suitable for long
term agricultural pursuits in the nominated areas.
Components of the final landform are re-instated with native vegetation to
specifically provide fauna habitat and corridors.
The rehabilitated landform requires low levels of maintenance.
The mining lease(s) over the rehabilitated landform can be relinquished and the
security returned within a reasonable time after the completion of all mining and
rehabilitation activities.
The Applicant would identify rehabilitation objectives for each of the rehabilitation domains on
site (see Section 2.15.4).
2.15.3 Rehabilitation Completion Criteria
The individual rehabilitated areas would be monitored against the following broad criteria
throughout the life of the Proposal, i.e. both during and following the period of mining
operations, with the performance against each considered by the DRE when assessing any
subsequent application for the relinquishment of the mining lease(s) applicable to the Site.
The rehabilitated landform is clean and tidy, and free of rubbish, metal and
derelict equipment/structures.
Nominated areas of the rehabilitated landform are progressively returned to
agricultural production (principally grazing) as soon as practicable.
The rehabilitated landform is suitable for the proposed subsequent agricultural
land use(s) and is compatible (as far as possible) with the surrounding land fabric
and land use requirements.
The uses of the rehabilitated landform are consistent with the capability of that
landform.
The rehabilitated landform is sustainable in terms of the intended land use(s) i.e. is
stable and the maintenance needs are no greater than those of similar surrounding
lands unaffected by mining activities.
Site specific criteria would be outlined in the Mining Operations Plan.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-74
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
The rehabilitated landform integrates areas of re-established native vegetation and
undisturbed native vegetation specifically to maintain or improve wildlife
corridors.
The rehabilitated landform provides for fauna habitat in nominated areas.
The rehabilitated landform does not cause unacceptable air and water pollution, or
other environmental effects.
2.15.4 Rehabilitation Domains
Figure 2.22 illustrates the conceptual rehabilitation domains based on the proposed Site layout.
The domains and the general approach to rehabilitation in each domain are as follows.
Domain 1 – Open Cut Pits and Permanent Out-of-Pit Emplacement
It is proposed that the landform above the open cut pits and the permanent out-of-
pit emplacement would be formed as a single, generally elevated landform
reflecting the form/fabric of the existing landform.
Domain 2 – Interim Out-of-Pit Emplacement
It is proposed that the overburden emplaced to the east of the retained section of
McKinleys Lane would be removed and placed into the completed Main Pit
following the completion of coal extraction. This area would be returned to a
landform generally comparable to the pre-mining landform in that area.
Domain 3 – Western and Northern Visibility Barrier and CHPP
The area comprising the footprint of the western and northern visibility barrier
and CHPP would be returned to a landform comparable to the existing landform
in that area, i.e. following the removal of the bulk of the barrier to backfill the
Main Pit.
Domain 4 – Mine Area Infrastructure
The key infrastructure within the Mine Area would be removed and rehabilitated
including transportable offices and amenities area and specific drainage structures.
The existing structures and associated buildings within the offices and amenities
area would be retained. Part or all of the 11kV power line installed for the
Proposal would be removed after power is no longer required, with the extent of
removal of the line based on an assessment at that time as to whether there would
be any benefit in its retention.
Domain 5 – Overland Conveyor
The overland conveyor would be removed in its entirety and the disturbed areas of
land fully re-instated, i.e. except for the Fairbairns Road underpass which would
be retained for stock access. The access road adjacent to the overland conveyor
may be retained.
Domain 6 – Rail Load-out Facility
The key components of the Rail Load-out Facility would be dismantled and
removed while the rail loop would remain.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-75
Figure 2.22 Rehabilitation Domains
A4/Colour
Inserted 22/2/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-76
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2.15.5 Final Landform
Figure 2.23 displays the indicative final landform within the Mine Area at the end of coal
extraction and Figure 2.24 displays the indicative final landform within the Mine Area at the
end of the life of the Proposal, i.e. after the completion of the nominated rehabilitation
activities. The specific details of the final landform would be determined on the basis of
operational experience to reflect, for example, actual as opposed to expected overburden
volumes and bulking effects, but would be consistent with the concepts presented in
Figures 2.23 and 2.24.
The completed landforms within each of the rehabilitation domains areas are as follows.
Domain 1 – Open Cut Pits and Permanent Out-of-Pit Emplacement
The final landform within this domain would be comparable in form and drainage
patterns to the existing landform, albeit approximately up to 45m higher within
the footprint of the permanent out-of-pit emplacement. Figure 2.25 displays a
comparison of the existing and proposed landforms within the Mine Area at the
end of mining, noting the extent of elevation change.
The final landform displayed on Figure 2.24 would retain the internal topographic
ridges and drainage lines directing runoff towards adjacent creeks. A series of
farm dams would also be constructed on these drainage lines to initially serve as
sediment control structures and subsequently as long term water supply structures
for the ongoing grazing activities.
Elevations across Domain 1 would vary from 115m AHD near Waukivory Creek
to 200m AHD on the eastern uphill side of the domain. Slopes on the final
landform would typically vary from <2° to 14°. The changes in elevation arising
from the creation of the final landform displayed on Figure 2.24 would result in
marginally shallower slopes on the eastern side of the domain and marginally
steeper slopes on the western side of domain adjacent to the backfilled Main Pit.
The final landform displayed on Figure 2.24 reflects the proposed landform at the
end of the life of the Proposal. It is likely some settlement would occur
particularly above the Main Pit that would result in the long term landform being
marginally lower than that shown on Figure 2.24. However, the final landform as
displayed in Figure 2.24 has been designed to remain self-draining even after
some settlement.
Domain 2 – Interim Out-of-Pit Emplacement
The materials within the out-of-pit emplacement positioned on the eastern side of
the retained section of McKinleys Lane would be recovered on completion of
mining and used to partly backfill the Main Pit and in the creation of the final
landform in that section of the Mine Area.
The landform created following the removal of this material would be comparable
to the existing landform i.e. with comparable elevations, slopes and drainage lines.
As with Domain 1, a series of farm dams would be constructed to initially control
sediment on the rehabilitated landform and, subsequently, for use by for grazing
stock.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-77
Figure 2.23 Indicative Landform at End of Mining
A4/colour
Inserted 22/2/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-78
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.24 Indicative Final Landform
A4/colour
Inserted 22/2/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-79
Figure 2.25 Landform Elevation Comparison
A4/colour
Inserted 12/08/13
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-80
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Domain 3 – Western and Northern Visibility Barrier and CHPP
Following the removal of the materials in Domain 2, the materials within the
western and northern visibility barrier would be recovered and also used to re-
profile the CHPP pad area and backfill the Main Pit to create the final landform in
that area. The landform created following the removal of this material would be
comparable to the existing landform with gentle slopes towards Waukivory Creek
and the Avon River. The dams adjacent to the footprint of the former visibility
barrier would be retained to control any sediment-laden runoff during the final
rehabilitation phase and to provide a source of stock water following the return of
the land to a grazing land use.
Domain 4 – Mine Area Infrastructure
The Mine Area access road would be retained to provide long term access to the
buildings within the former offices and amenities area. Accordingly, the final
landform in the area of the Mine Area access road would be slightly modified
from the existing landform, albeit comparable with and married into the landform
in the area of the former interim overburden emplacement area to the east of
McKinleys Lane.
The internal road network around the margins of the operational areas would be
retained generally at the same elevation and with comparable drainage, albeit
reduced in width from that used throughout the life of the Proposal. A number of
the water management structures remaining at the completion of mining would be
retained within the final landform (see Figure 2.24) although selected dams may
be backfilled once their role to control sediment-laden water is redundant.
The eastern clean water diversion channels would be decommissioned although
most dams along the channels would be retained to support ongoing grazing
activities. The decommissioning would involve the installation of barriers across
the channel to isolate catchments and re-instate natural flows, and/or the
installation of spillways on or adjacent to the various dams to allow water to
overflow into the drainage lines below the dams. The stabilised entries of the
clean water diversion channels to Waukivory and Oaky Creeks constructed for the
Proposal would remain. Figure 2.24 displays the indicative drainage
configuration on the final landform and the proposed dams to be retained.
Domain 5 – Overland Conveyor
The final landform at the end of the life of the Proposal following the
decommissioning of the conveyor would be comparable to the existing landform.
The areas overlying the former footings would be returned to the original levels
using subsoil and topsoil reclaimed from stockpiles within the Mine Area and/or
Rail Load-out Facility, and any local elevation changes created during the
construction of the conveyor would be re-instated to pre-disturbance levels. The
landform adjacent to and within the alignment of Fairbairns Road, including the
box culvert sections, would be retained.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-81
Domain 6 – Rail Load-out Facility
It is proposed that the landform constructed within the Rail Load-out Facility
would be retained beyond the end of the life of the Proposal i.e. both the rail loop
and cutting and central knoll would remain. The retention of the rail loop would
provide an excellent asset for any subsequent land use/industry that could benefit
from the access to the North Coast Railway Line.
2.15.6 Rehabilitation Procedures
2.15.6.1 Introduction
A range of rehabilitation procedures would be adopted throughout the life of the Proposal to
achieve the objectives set out in Section 2.15.2. These procedures relate to:
short-term stabilisation/temporary rehabilitation of interim landforms,
e.g. visibility barriers and the interim out-of-pit emplacement;
long-term stabilisation of final landforms to be returned to grazing or passive
nature conservation; and
re-establishment of native vegetation for habitat and corridor purposes.
2.15.6.2 Short-term Stabilisation
Short-term stabilisation/temporary rehabilitation is proposed for those components within the
Mine Area that would not form part of the final vegetated landform, i.e. the external faces of
western and northern, central and eastern visibility barriers and the interim out-of-pit
emplacement, where the emphasis would be upon the rehabilitation of these structures so as to
provide stable vegetated external slopes to limit the visibility of those structures. The
stabilisation would also serve to control sediment-laden runoff and dust generation from the
outer surfaces of those structures.
The rehabilitation procedures for each structure would differ marginally, the details of which
are outlined as follows.
Western and Northern Visibility Barrier
The outer western slope of the barrier would be progressively shaped, typically to
approximately 1:5 (V:H) or 10° to 1:4 (V:H) or 14°, but with the upper 20m of the barrier south
of the CHPP constructed with slopes of 1:2(V:H). The outer northern slope would be
constructed with slopes of 1:4 (V:H) or 14° to 1:3 (V:H) or 18°. Shaping of the outer slopes of
the barriers would typically be completed in sections approximately 200m in length,
progressing from south to north (western section) and west to east (northern section). To the
south of the CHPP, where the barrier would be constructed to its final height from the outset,
the rehabilitation would be undertaken in a single pass, whereas to the north of the CHPP the
barrier would be completed and rehabilitated in two lifts.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-82
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Once shaping of the overburden material is completed in each 200m section, approximately
0.25m of subsoil and 0.15m of topsoil would be spread on the outer surface. Once in place, the
surface would be harrowed and/or ripped parallel to the contour immediately prior to seeding
with a pasture mix and fertilizer. Seeds and/or seedlings of selected shrubs and small trees
would also be spread and/or planted across the outer slopes of the barrier and the areas mulched
with hay and/or slashed grass. The pasture sown would be drawn from the seed mix listed in
Table 2.11.
Table 2.11
Pasture Species for Short-term Stabilisation
Species Rate (kg/ha) Fertiliser
Solander Setaria 2
Starter 15 or Grower 11 (or equivalent) - 400kg/ha
Paspalum 2
Fescue 8
K.V. Rye 9
S.S. Haifa Clover 2
S.S. Osa Red Clover 2
Note: Legumes would be inoculated with their appropriate rhizobia immediately prior to sowing.
Source: Wrightson Seeds Australia Pty Ltd.
The fertiliser that would be used is also listed in Table 2.11. Where safety considerations
permit, both the seed and fertiliser would be applied with conventional farming equipment.
The key shrubs and small trees to be planted on the western slope of the western and northern
visibility barrier would include all / or a selection of the following species.
Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa).
Green Wattle (Acacia irrorata).
Mock Olive (Notelaea longifolia).
Falcate Wattle (Acacia falcata).
Coffee Bush (Breynia oblongifolia).
Narrow-leaved Geebung (Persoonia linearis).
Common Hop Bush (Dodonaea triquetra).
Sticky Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa susbsp. angustifolia).
Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea).
Spreading Flax Lily (Dianella revoluta).
All trees and shrubs planted across the Site using tubestock would be planted with a water-
saving product to encourage the rapid growth as has been achieved to date with the road-side
planting program (see Plates 2.2 and 2.3).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-83
Plate 2.2 Tree Screen Plantings adjacent to The Bucketts Way (12 month growth) (Ref: E806P_001)
Plate 2.3 Tree Screen Plantings adjacent to Fairbairns Road (12 month growth) (Ref: E806P_002)
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-84
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Central and Eastern Visibility Barriers
Both the central visibility barrier and the southern component of the eastern visibility barrier,
i.e. south of the offices and amenities area, are intended to be short-term structures designed to
visually shield the overburden placement activities to the east of each barrier from areas to the
west. As they would subsequently be incorporated into the long-term final landform (see
Figure 2.24), the emphasis in the revegetation of the outer western slopes of these barriers
would be upon the establishment of a quick growing pasture grass cover.
In order to maximise the retention of topsoil for the long-term revegetation of the final
landform, the Applicant proposes to construct the central visibility barrier and southern
component of the eastern visibility barrier in a manner that positions weathered materials and
suitable subsoil on the outer slopes to provide the substrate for the vegetation. The outer slopes
of these barriers would approximate 18° or 1:3(V:H). In these areas, the Applicant proposes to
use a pasture mix similar to that listed in Table 2.11 but apply it with higher rates of fertiliser
and a soil ameliorant such as lime, as recommended by GCNRC (2013a), together with a hay
mulch or slashed grass sourced elsewhere from the Applicant’s property which would be placed
or sprayed onto the surface.
The northern section of the eastern visibility barrier, though serving the same function with
respect to visibility, would be in place for a period of in excess of 10 years. Accordingly,
rehabilitation methods and vegetation would be similar to those employed on the western and
northern visibility barrier.
As with the western and northern visibility barrier, the construction and revegetation of the
central and eastern visibility barriers would be undertaken progressively with approximately
200m long sections of the barriers completed and revegetated one section at a time. Where
safety considerations permit, conventional farm equipment would be used for the application of
seed and fertiliser.
Interim Out-of-Pit Emplacement
The interim out-of-pit emplacement would be progressively constructed to the elevations
reflected by the contours displayed on Figure 2.23. As an area of the emplacement is shaped, it
would be completed in a similar manner to the central visibility barrier and southern component
of the eastern visibility barrier whereby only subsoil would be placed on the final surface.
After ripping and/or scarifying, the pasture seed mix (and a substantial rate of fertiliser and
lime) would be applied using conventional farm equipment, along with hay mulch.
Rail Loop Spoil
The excess spoil from the excavation of the cuttings for the rail loop would be positioned on the
inside and southern side of the loop as displayed on Figure 2.11. Once shaped, the emplaced
spoil would be covered with the available subsoil and topsoil stripped from the footprint of the
rail loop cutting and central knoll prior to being sown with the pasture mix listed in Table 2.11.
Seedlings of locally occurring tree and shrub species would be planted to create an open
woodland. Given that approximately 60% of the area underlying the central knoll would be
unlikely to yield any topsoil and subsoil, the applied topsoil and subsoil would approximate
0.1m and 0.4m thick respectively.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-85
2.15.6.3 Long-term Pasture Establishment
The establishment of pasture on the nominated sections of the Mine Area would be undertaken
progressively following the shaping of the final landform as displayed on Figure 2.24 and the
respreading of the subsoil and topsoil. The pasture mix (Table 2.11) would be applied with a
fertiliser using conventional farm equipment.
2.15.6.4 Native Vegetation Establishment
Native vegetation would be established with three areas on the final landform (Figure 2.24), i.e.
within:
i) the areas nominated as open woodland;
ii) fenced tree lots scattered across the pasture areas on the final landform, typically
on the lower slopes within the Mine Area; and
iii) fenced fauna corridors.
Table 2.12 lists the range of native trees and shrub species, a selection of which would be used
in each of these areas. The native vegetation would be grown by direct seeding and/or using
tubestock. Seed used in direct seeding programs or for seedling propagation would preferably
be collected within the Site or nearby. A sterile cover crop would be sown within the corridor
areas to be re-established with native vegetation to stabilise the surface while the native
seedlings/seed mix propagates and flourishes, but generally without the application of fertiliser.
Table 2.12
Native Species for Revegetation of the Final Landform
Tree Species Shrub Species
Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name
Northern Grey Ironbark Eucalyptus siderophloia Blackthorn Bursaria spinosa
Red Ironbark Eucalyptus fibrosa Prickly Moses Acacia ulicifolia
Grey Gum Eucalyptus punctata Green wattle Acacia irrorata
White Mahogany Eucalyptus acmenoides Prickly shaggy pea Podolobium ilicifolium
Grey Box Eucalyptus moluccana Mock olive Notelaea longifolia
Cabbage Gum Eucalyptus amplifolia Narrow-leaved orange bark Maytenus silvestris
White stringybark Eucalyptus globoidea Prickly beard heath Leucopogon juniperinus
Broad-leaved Apple Angophora subvelutina Falcate Wattle Acacia falcata
Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata Hairy Clerodendrum Clerodendrum tomentosum
Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon Coffee Bush Breynia oblongifolia
Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera Narrow-leaved geebung Persoonia linearis
Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa Common hop bush Dodonaea triquetra
Sticky hop bush Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia
Blue flax lily Dianella caerulea
Spreading flax lily Dianella revoluta
Source: Ecotone – Pers Comm.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-86
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
The tree lots and open woodland vegetation would ultimately provide shade for grazing stock,
i.e. similar to the existing landscape within the Mine Area. The principal shade trees would be
as follows.
Northern Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia).
Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata).
White Mahogany (Eucalyptus acmenoides).
White Stringybark (Eucalyptus globoidea).
Broad-leaved Apple (Angophora subvelutina).
The corridors would be permanently fenced and tree lots temporarily fenced to limit/prevent
grazing by native animals and stock. In the longer term, i.e. once the trees are greater than
approximately 3m in height, the tree lots could be grazed. The areas of open woodland would
be grazed for short duration programs during their growth to promote growth of the grasses
until the trees are sufficiently advanced for sustained longer term grazing.
2.15.6.5 Conveyor Corridor
Following the decommissioning of the overland conveyor, all metal components would be
removed and the concrete footings broken up and removed. The voids remaining following the
removal of the concrete footings would be filled using subsoil and topsoil sourced from
stockpiles within the Mine Area and/or Rail Load-out Facility. The service road adjacent to the
overland conveyor may be retained for much of its length to provide ongoing access through
the respective properties.
2.15.6.6 Rail Load-out Facility
The rehabilitation of the Rail Load-out Facility would principally involve the decommissioning
and removal of the on-site conveyors and the dismantling and removal of the surge bin and train
load-out bin. With the exception of backfilling or covering any footings and other similar
activities, no specific earthworks would be required for the final rehabilitation of the Rail Load-
out Facility.
2.15.6.7 On-site Infrastructure
The bulk of the internal roads around the operational areas would be removed or narrowed
substantially to leave single lane width tracks across the final landform for property
management purposes. All unwanted roads or parts thereof would be deep-ripped to break up
the compacted surface and materials used in the formation of the trafficable surface would be
removed and used in the reprofiling and rehabilitation of the Main Pit. The sections of the
roads to be rehabilitated would then be covered with topsoil recovered from retained stockpiles.
All other site infrastructure including buildings and structures not required for the post-mining
land uses would be removed from the Site.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-87
2.15.7 Rehabilitation Monitoring and Maintenance
Rehabilitation monitoring and, if necessary, related research, would be conducted in accordance
with the relevant section of the MOP relating to monitoring. Monitoring would focus on the
presence and magnitude of erosion, vegetation cover, weed propagation, strike rate and plant
growth (for native vegetation). The performance indicators to be monitored and the frequency
of monitoring would be specified in the MOP and Visibility Management Plan.
The Applicant’s commitment to effective rehabilitation would involve an ongoing maintenance
program arising from the results of the monitoring program. This would include, for example,
re-seeding and re-topsoiling and/or the application of mulch if monitoring identifies
deficiencies in rehabilitated areas. Drainage controls would also be maintained. Appropriate
weed eradication methods and programs would be undertaken, as required.
2.15.8 Interim and Final Uses
The Applicant intends to maximise the use of the land within its ownership for agricultural
purposes throughout the life of the Proposal and after the Site is rehabilitated. This would be
achieved through the following practices.
1. All land owned by the Applicant and its related companies beyond the boundary
of the Site would continue to be used for agricultural activities. The Applicant has
negotiated a range of agreements with the former landowners and others to allow
cattle grazing, fodder production and, in the case of the adjacent Speldon
Partnership dairy, an extension of dairying operations etc. to continue throughout
the life of the Proposal.
2. All manageable parcels of land within the Site beyond the proposed areas of
disturbance during the first 2 years of operations would continue to be used for
grazing purposes. Beyond the end of the first 2 years, the land used for grazing
would be progressively reduced until about the end of the fourth year. The extent
of the land within the Site used for grazing throughout the life of the Proposal is
discussed in Section 4.17.
3. The rehabilitated land within the Mine Area would be allowed to regenerate for a
period of at least 3 years before cattle would be re-introduced onto that land. The
re-introduction of cattle would invariably be limited in the first instance to high
intensity, short duration programs which would avoid selective grazing which
may affect the botanical composition of the sward, prevent the formation of rank,
stemmy growth and assist in the maintenance of a diverse and extensive ground
cover.
The native tree areas to be established would serve both as habitat and corridors for native
fauna while the scattered individual or groups of trees across the final landform would provide
habitat for native fauna, shade for stock and enhance the aesthetics of the area through the
expansion of the open woodland formation.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-88
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2.15.9 Biodiversity Offset Strategy
2.15.9.1 Introduction
The DGRs issued on 24 April 2012 require that the Applicant provide:
“a comprehensive offset strategy to ensure the development maintains or improves the
terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity values of the region in the medium to long term.”
Ecotone (2013) determined there would be some residual impacts on native vegetation as a
result of the Proposal and, consequently, adopted the BioBanking Assessment Methodology
(BBAM) and BioBanking Credit Calculator (Version 2) to calculate the credits required and the
credits available within a proposed Biodiversity Offset Area located to the east of the proposed
area of disturbance within the Mine Area (see Section 2.15.9.3).
The following subsections provide a summary of:
residual impacts on native vegetation as a result of the Proposal and the credits
required to offset the impact;
the proposed Biodiversity Offset Area and credits available within that area;
credit calculation results; and
proposed strategies.
The biodiversity offset for the Proposal is drawn solely from Ecotone (2013) as the terrestrial
biodiversity assessment addresses the River Oak Riparian Woodland vegetation adjacent to
both Waukivory Creek and the Avon River and within the Rail Load-out Facility. No further
consideration of biodiversity offsets are required for aquatic ecological communities.
Following receipt of development consent, the Applicant would prepare a detailed Biodiversity
Management Plan in consultation with OEH, DP&I, Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment
Management Authority and other relevant government agencies that would provide further
details on the implementation of the Plan. It is proposed that the Plan would be prepared within
12 months of receipt of development consent.
2.15.9.2 Residual Impacts on Native Vegetation
As is discussed in Section 4.12.3, three communities that comprise native vegetation have been
identified within the area to be disturbed. The BBAM was applied to these communities to
objectively quantify the ecosystem credits required due to the Proposal.
Table 2.13 provides a summary of the communities and the BBAM results.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-89
Table 2.13
Summary Table - Existing Vegetation Ecosystem Credits
Vegetation Community Equivalent Biometric Vegetation
Type and Map Unit Number Impacted Area (ha)
Ecosystem Credits
Required
Minimum Offset Area
Required (ha)
2. Dry sclerophyll forest Spotted Gum – Grey Ironbark dry open forest (HU630)
35.7 1 245 141
3. Riparian River Oak Riparian Woodland (HU598)
1.1 28 2.6
4. Rainforest Fig – Whalebone Tree – Stinging Tree dry rainforest of the southern North Coast (HU541)
4.3 291 35
Total 41.1 1 564 178.6
Source: Ecotone (2013) – Modified after Table 26
Both the Grey-crowned babbler and the Squirrel glider were recorded near the proposed
disturbance area during the fauna surveys and anecdotal sightings of the Brush-tailed
phascogale were reported by a local resident. However, these records were not entered into the
credit calculator since the potential impacts on these species were assessed and accounted for
separately. Species credits are not being sought for particular threatened species occurring
within the proposed Biodiversity Offset Area.
2.15.9.3 Proposed Biodiversity Offset Area
During the development of the Proposal and following the initial flora field survey to ascertain
the nature of the vegetation communities likely to be disturbed by the Proposal, an area within
and extending beyond the eastern side of the Mine Area was identified as a possible
Biodiversity Offset Area. The Study Area was subsequently expanded to include this area and,
in March 2011, more intensive investigations commenced to define the suitability of the area
for use as an offset. The investigations were undertaken in accordance with the BBAM.
Figure 2.26 shows the location of the proposed Biodiversity Offset Area. The entire area is
located on land owned by the Applicant with the eastern boundary of the area coinciding with
the eastern boundary of the Applicant’s land and the western boundary generally coinciding
with the eastern boundary of the proposed 132kV Power Line diversion corridor. This
boundary has been positioned such that the corridor is confined primarily to areas of grassland
with occasional paddock trees and small areas of rainforest within gullies that would require
limited, if any, clearing for the overhead power line. Waukivory Road and Waukivory Creek
mark the northern and southern boundaries respectively of the Biodiversity Offset Area.
The proposed Biodiversity Offset Area is underlain by a suite of volcanics and sedimentary
rocks belonging to the Carboniferous Booral Formation (see Figure 4.33). These rocks form
the eastern margin of the Gloucester Valley within the Mograni Range. As such, no coal
resources are located beneath the Biodiversity Offset Area. The absence of coal beneath the
Biodiversity Offset Area was a factor in the Minister for Minerals and Energy allowing the
Applicant to apply for a mining lease for mining purposes within the eastern side of the Mine
Area (see Figure 1.3). The topography of the Biodiversity Offset Area is comparatively steep
and with the bulk of the area assigned a soil and land capability class of 7, i.e. a land class with
extremely severe limitations. It is noted that one of the land uses recommended for this class of
land is biodiversity habitat.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-90
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Figure 2.26 Biodiversity Offset Area
A4/Colour
Inserted 22/2/13
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-91
The proposed Biodiversity Offset Area covers a total of 267ha, of which approximately 195ha
would consist of managed native vegetation. Approximately 45ha of this vegetation currently
consists of low condition Dry sclerophyll forest which the Applicant would actively revegetate.
Once the investigations were undertaken (and a management strategy developed as described in
Section 2.15.9.4), the BBAM was applied to the communities within the proposed Biodiversity
Offset Area to objectively quantify the ecosystem credits acquired. Table 2.14 provides a
summary of the communities and the BBAM results.
Table 2.14
Summary Table - Biodiversity Offset Area Ecosystem Credits
Vegetation Community Equivalent Biometric Vegetation Type and Map Unit Number
Maximum Available Area (ha)
Ecosystem Credits
Generated
2. Dry sclerophyll forest Spotted Gum – Grey Ironbark dry open forest (HU630)
141.9 1 251
3. Riparian River Oak Riparian Woodland (HU598) 2.9 31
4. Dry Rainforest Fig – Whalebone tree – Stinging Tree dry rainforest of the southern North Coast (HU541)
50.6 418
Total 195.4 1 700
Source: Ecotone (2013) – Modified after Table 26
2.15.9.4 Proposed Strategy
For the defined Biodiversity Offset Area, a Biodiversity Management Plan would be prepared
and address, as a minimum, the standard and additional management actions specified by the
BBAM (DECC 2009a; DECC 2009b) for each vegetation community. The standard
management actions would be as follows.
Management of grazing for conservation.
Weed control.
Management of fire for conservation.
Management of human disturbance.
Retention of regrowth and remnant native vegetation.
Replanting or supplementary planting where natural regeneration would not be
sufficient.
Retention of dead timber, particularly hollow logs.
Erosion control.
Retention of rocks.
Additional management actions specific to particular vegetation types as specified in the
BioBanking Credit Report are as follows.
Cat and/or fox control (all vegetation types).
Exclusion of miscellaneous feral species (all vegetation types).
Feral pigs control (Riparian community only).
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-92
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
Feral and/or native herbivore control/exclusion (e.g. rabbits, goats, deer etc.) (all
vegetation types).
Maintenance or re-introduction of flow regimes (aquatic flora) (all vegetation
types). It is not proposed to modify the existing natural drainage within
Biodiversity Offset Area. However, if required, maintenance would be
undertaken.
Additional management actions to obtain extra credits in the more degraded parts of the
Biodiversity Offset Area would also be incorporated into the Plan depending on the
management zone, as follows.
Strategic replanting of a diverse range of species to boost species richness.
Site preparation and planting of local provenance species in all of the overstorey,
mid-storey, shrub and ground layers.
Preparation of an integrated weed management strategy.
Introduction of hollow logs from the adjoining disturbance areas.
One of the key components of the proposed strategy to manage biodiversity within the
Biodiversity Offset Area would be the progressive rehabilitation of the 45ha of low condition
Dry sclerophyll forest (see Figure 2.26).
The assessment has also not considered the extensive corridor plantings undertaken by the
Applicant within its properties adjacent to the public road network. A total of in excess of
9 000 seedlings of locally occurring native species have been planted in the roadside corridors
totalling more than 6km. Though primarily to reduce visibility towards the proposed
operational areas from public roads, these corridors would also contribute to local biodiversity
improvements through the redevelopment of corridors or the establishment of linkages between
isolated patches of remnant native vegetation.
2.15.9.5 Credit Calculation Results
A summary of results from the BioBanking Assessment Methodology for both the proposed
disturbance area within the Site and the Biodiversity Offset Area is presented in Table 2.15.
Table 2.15
Summary Table – Balance of Ecosystem Credits
Vegetation Community
Equivalent Biometric Vegetation Type and Map Unit Number
Ecosystem Credits
Required
Ecosystem Credits Generated by Offset Area
2. Dry sclerophyll forest
Spotted Gum – Grey Ironbark dry open forest (HU630)
1 245 1 251 (100.5%)
3. Riparian River Oak Riparian Woodland (HU598) 28 31 (110.7%)
4. Dry Rainforest Fig – Whalebone tree – Stinging Tree dry rainforest of the southern North Coast (HU541)
291 418 (143.6%)
Total 1 564 1 700
Source: Ecotone (2013) – Modified after Table 26.
The Biodiversity Offset Area provides all of the credits required for each of the vegetation
communities to be disturbed within the Site.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-93
2.15.9.6 Long Term Security
The Applicant proposes to secure the Biodiversity Offset Area through a Voluntary
Conservation Agreement prepared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The
agreement would be prepared following the receipt of development consent in consultation with
the Office of Environment and Heritage and DP&I. The agreement would outline the proposed
management regime for the Biodiversity Offset Area and the funding mechanisms to ensure the
management is undertaken in perpetuity.
2.16 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
During the design of the Proposal, the Applicant examined a range of alternatives before
deciding upon the proposed components as presented within this document. This subsection
outlines the alternatives considered and the reasons for proceeding with the preferred options.
For many components, the Applicant firstly assembled all relevant information so as to enable a
design which avoided or minimised environmental impacts. For such components, e.g. the
Mine Area entrance, CHPP design and rail loop, no alternatives were considered.
Mine Area
The area in which the extraction of coal is proposed has been defined following an extensive
evaluation of the geological, geotechnical, environmental and mine safety considerations. As a
consequence, there were no feasible alternatives to its location. Although the development of a
fifth, more easterly open cut pit targeting the Clareval Seam was initially proposed, the
geological evaluation established that the recovery of coal from the Clareval Seam was not
economical – see Section 2.3 for further details. Further, seams identified intersecting or
underlying alluvials and river systems were also precluded on environmental grounds.
Mining Methods
Given the steeply dipping nature and multiple coal seams within the Mine Area, open cut
methods were determined to be the only feasible means of extracting the identified resource.
Underground mining of multiple steeply dipping seams is not currently, nor is likely to be,
technically or safety practicable in the foreseeable future.
Overburden Disposal
In terms of areas potentially available for overburden disposal, the Mine Area is physically
constrained by:
the presence of Waukivory Creek and the Avon River and their associated
floodplains to the west;
the steep nature of the landform to the east;
the existence of multiple seams which subcrop across the Mine Area;
the potential to sterilise coal resources;
the visual sensitivities of the area; and
a desire to minimise impacts on existing surrounding land uses and the local
environment.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-94
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
As a result, the conceptual configuration of the out-of-pit overburden emplacement and the final
landform was the result of numerous iterations which progressed from the conventional plateau
type landform to that presented in Figure 2.24. In terms of the visual exposure of the Proposal
from the west and southwest in particular, the visual constraints assessment undertaken for the
Proposal identified the desirability of a strategy which would use the out-of-pit overburden
emplacement as a beneficial resource and one which would differ from the more traditional
approach i.e. one where the residual landform was generally flat and featureless, had little
relationship with its former character and permanently conflicted with the line, form, colour and
texture of the surrounds. As a consequence, the traditional approach to the out-of-pit
overburden emplacement design was discounted in favour of one which incorporated valleys,
ridges and slopes similar in location and form to those naturally occurring in the same area prior
to mining. The interim out-of-pit emplacement has been designed to minimise short term visual
impacts whilst the permanent overburden emplacement has been designed to ensure the re-
constructed long-term landform is indiscernible from those areas unaffected by the Proposal.
Final Void
The Applicant identified a range of approaches to manage the final void in the Main Pit
following the cessation of coal extraction. Most of the alternatives focussed upon the retention
of the void with various side slopes and depths of water. The Applicant ultimately decided to
backfill the void to a level above the projected final groundwater level so as to establish a final
landform which would reflect the landscape’s intrinsic quality and enable it to be returned to its
former grazing land use, as well as avoiding any adverse impacts arising from the long-term
exposure of groundwater to the atmosphere, i.e. evaporation and concentration of salts.
CHPP Location
During the early stages of planning for the Proposal, a number of potential locations for the
CHPP were examined to the southwest and west of the Mine Area, with each subsequently
discounted because the results of the drilling program showed a CHPP constructed in those
locations would sterilise a proportion of the open cut resource. The coal underlying the
proposed CHPP site is at a depth of greater than 300m and as such is not amenable to mining by
open cut methods.
Disposal of Fine Rejects
The potential development of one or more tailing dams to contain the fine rejects from the coal
preparation process was considered but discounted due to the physical and environmental
constraints of the Mine Area and its surrounds and the time required to achieve the
consolidation necessary for successful rehabilitation. Direct disposal to the mine voids as a
slurry, though practically feasible due to the development of multiple pits, was similarly
discounted due to the problems associated with consolidation, and the associated delays to the
rehabilitation process and the use of the area for the proposed post mining land uses.
The Applicant has selected a method of co-disposal of the fine and coarse CHPP rejects and
overburden into the active waste rock emplacement and/or exhausted open cut pits in order to
avoid the problems involved with the separate disposal of fine rejects.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED
Section 2 – Description of the Proposal Rocky Hill Coal Project
Report No. 806/03
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
2-95
Product Despatch to the Rail Load-out Facility
Use of trucks as a means of transporting product coal to the train loader in lieu of a conveyor
was considered but discounted for the following reasons.
Use of a local road network which currently primarily services rural-residential
areas and agricultural enterprises, or is a “tourist route”, by several hundred trucks
per day would represent a major and unacceptable change in the nature of the
traffic and be contrary to the State Government’s objective to minimise or
eliminate coal transportation on the public road network, where possible.
Construction of a dedicated haul road on private property would necessitate the
crossing of Waukivory Creek and/or the Avon River and their associated
floodplains. Such a route, if constructed at natural ground level, would result in
periods when transportation of coal to the Rail Load-out Facility was not feasible
due to elevated flows (thereby potentially necessitating the maintenance of
substantial coal stockpiles at the load-out facility or interference to train loading
schedules) or, if constructed on an elevated formation, interference to flood flows
and increased flooding impacts in upstream areas. A dedicated haul road to the
Rail Load-out Facility was also assessed to be more visually intrusive than the
selected method, i.e. an overland conveyor and not consistent with the character of
the area and across the Avon River floodplain.
Overland Conveyor Design and Location
The Applicant considered a range of designs and locations for the overland conveyor. The
variables considered in the design of the conveyor related principally to its alignment,
i.e. curved or straight with variable heights and profiles. The Applicant ultimately selected a
low profiled curved conveyor that would limit its visibility and avoid the need for transfer
points between straight sections of the conveyor, thereby avoiding a range of noise, dust and
power issues.
The overland conveyor was ultimately located in an area that minimises the extent of riparian
vegetation trimming adjacent to Waukivory Creek and the Avon River, is positioned on land
owned by the Applicant or other resource companies and is set back from surrounding
residences as much as practicable.
The Applicant also considered the alternatives of placing the overland conveyor either over or
under Fairbairns Road. The use of an underpass beneath Fairbairns Road was selected as it
would be visually less intrusive than a structure positioned 5m to 7m above the road and with
elevated sections on both sides of the road.
Power Supply
The Applicant considered a range of options for the source of power to operate the range of
components on site. These options included mains power from a range of sources and the
proposed AGL gas generation facility.
The Applicant, in conjunction with Essential Energy, has decided to obtain its power
requirements from a new substation to be connected to the TransGrid 132kV power line at a
location nominally placed approximately 0.8km north of the Mine Area.
The Applicant has chosen not to proceed with the AGL option due to project timetables and
issues relating to reliability of supply.
GLOUCESTER RESOURCES LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Rocky Hill Coal Project Section 2 – Description of the Proposal
Report No. 806/03
2-96
R. W. CORKERY & CO. PTY. LIMITED
No Development Option
The alternative not to develop the Rocky Hill Coal Project was an alternative for the Applicant
until early 2012 at which time it was assessed that the Proposal was both economically and
environmentally feasible. In the event the Proposal does not proceed in the manner proposed,
the following consequences would occur.
i) The employment opportunities for the numerous Gloucester and district residents
who have registered their interest in employment with the Applicant would not
eventuate with the consequence of reduced spending in Gloucester and anxiety
issues related to lost employment opportunities. Similarly, an opportunity for
inward migration of mine and support workers and their families, new businesses
and a diversity in the local employment base and associated flow-ons would be
foregone.
ii) Direct expenditure in the local economy totalling more than $250 million and for
the NSW economy totalling more than $1 250 million would not eventuate.
Similarly, the multiplier effects of those expenditures of more than $485 million
in the local areas and $2.7 billion in the NSW economy would not eventuate nor
would the total value to the Australian economy of more than $3.58 billion.
iii) The additional rates revenue to Council of more than $3 million over the life of
the Proposal associated with mining land would not eventuate, nor would the
direct injection of an additional $7-8 million to the community though the
production-related grant (at an average of approximately $500 000 annually); the
education scholarships, employment and skills training and development
opportunities nor the enhancement of local medical services.
iv) The additional beneficial environmental and related outcomes from the Proposal
would not eventuate, i.e. with respect to the Biodiversity Offset Area and the
replacement of the Jacks Road bridge across the Avon River and local road
upgrades at no further cost to the rate payer.
v) The various impacts predicted to occur as a result of the Proposal would not
eventuate albeit at levels considered acceptable, i.e. with respect to noise, air
quality, visibility, groundwater and surface water.
Other likely outcomes from the no development option, based on the demographic projections
for Gloucester would include:
a small and decreasing population growth;
low levels of population growth-generated employment;
a continued exodus of people in primary working years;
an increase in the percentage of the population over 55 years of age and the ratio
of people not working relying on those that are working;
inadequate jobs ratio growth to meet demand;
outmigration to neighbouring employment centres; and
a real reduction in rates earnings by Council.