A NEW quarry in Maydena has been approved by the Environment Protection Authority.

Located on Sunshine Rd, the proposal is for the establishment and operation of a sandstone quarry and crushing and screening.

The quarry is located six kilometres north-west of Maydena on land managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania and private freehold land.

The quarry is proposing to extract and process up to 90,000 cubic metres of rock a year.

Blasting will be undertaken approximately three to four times a year.

EPA Tasmania Deputy Director Cindy Ong, who made the determination under delegation from the EPA Board, said the proposed development could be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions.

“The board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by Derwent Valley Council,’’ Ms Ong said.
“Various environmental issues were considered by the board in its assessment, particularly the potential for impacts on natural values and on nearby geo-conservation areas, potential impacts on waterways, and impacts of noise and dust from quarrying operations and drilling and blasting.’’

In relation to natural values, specific conditions have been imposed requiring pre-clearance surveys for Tasmanian devil and spotted-tailed quoll presence or habitat, as well as conditions requiring works to cease should nests or nesting trees of the wedge-tailed eagle, grey goshawk, or masked owl be detected on site.

Specific limits have been placed on blasting at the quarry to ensure that nearby geo-conservation areas are not impacted by ground vibration, and to ensure residents are not impacted by blasting noise and vibration.

She said the operating hours of the quarry would be restricted.

“Standard quarry operating conditions have been imposed for management of dust and water from the quarry, to ensure that impacts beyond the boundary of the mining lease do not occur,’’ Ms Ong said.

No public representations were received in relation to the permit application during the formal public consultation period.

This is despite an online petition of more than 3000 signatures, many presumed to be international or national respondents.