Hanson is a leader in building and construction materials, supplying a range of high-quality concrete, aggregates, and sand, and producing road base, asphalt and recycled construction materials for civil construction and infrastructure projects.
Hanson operates a hard rock quarry in Lysterfield, which has been in operation for over 40 years. The Lysterfield quarry is approximately 35 km south-east of Melbourne and founded on private land, beyond which residential development has been established to within 400m of its rock extraction operations. The total area of the work authority is over 75 ha and annual production of rock and aggregate from the quarry generally exceeds 1 million tonnes per annum.
Hanson is proposing to extend the limit of extraction at the quarrying operation and has engaged Golder’s environmental specialists to undertake a range of services supporting it obtaining the necessary statutory approvals. This has included liaison with the relevant statutory authorities, completing air quality, surface water and groundwater impact assessments, and the preparation of the various applications and supporting assessments to obtain statutory approvals for the extension.
A multidisciplinary Golder team, including planning specialists, environmental consultants, air quality scientists, and civil and geotechnical engineers, has advised Hanson through all components of the planning and permitting processes. Our previous extensive experience with the Victorian regulators was beneficial, enabling us to advise our client on the potential issues that these agencies and planning authorities may expect to be addressed. Our multidisciplinary team integrated the various facets of the project to prepare the streamlined and risk-based approvals packages.
Key risks to be assessed and managed through the approvals processes were the potential air quality and associated amenity impacts that may be posed by extension of the quarry. To understand and assess these risks, an air quality impact assessment was undertaken, applying methodologies accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). This gave credibility to the quality of the data used for the air quality impact assessment. Reliable and robust data is paramount when putting forward proposals such as this, and allows regulators, planning authorities and other stakeholders to have confidence that assessments have been conducted in accordance with accredited practices.
The processes for statutory approvals of the quarry extension are ongoing; however, Golder and Hanson are confident that the integrated assessment and proposed management of associated risks that we have undertaken to date will meet the expectations of regulators and planning authorities.
Extension of the Lysterfield quarrying operation would supply more local materials to meet Melbourne’s growing demand, reducing the emissions and costs associated with long-distance haulage.
