1. Why are some houses close to the mine site not included in the noise assessment report?
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To measure the level of noise allowable under the Regulations, assessment of compliance at the closest noise sensitive premises is tested.
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The principle of this testing is that if the Regulations are not exceeded at the closest residence, they will not be exceeded at residences that are further away.
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No – mining at night will occur only where noise modelling and continuous wind monitoring during operations shows that noise will not impact nearby homes. Operations will move away from houses if wind speed and direction indicate that regulated noise levels will be exceeded, or altered to daytime only near the residences.
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The noise modelling shows areas of the site where;
• mining operations are unconstrained (independent of wind speed or direction) for particular times of the day,
• mining operations are constrained (if winds are blowing at particular speeds and direction), for particular times of the day, or
• mining operations are unacceptable (irrespective of wind speed and direction) for particular times of the day. -
Olympia is planning a number of modifications to its operations to make sure that noise regulations are met at all times.
3. How does a conservation covenant work to protect a bushland area and guarantee that it will be preserved for perpetuity?
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A conservation covenant is a binding agreement between a landowner and the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation, under the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945. The Commissioner’s office is part of the Department of Agriculture and Food.
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The landowner enters into a voluntary written agreement to manage the vegetation in such a way as to retain and promote its growth. Covenants typically limit clearing and grazing of the native vegetation, but may allow uses such as removal of selected timber and seed collection. Fencing may be required to ensure livestock do not intrude into the covenanted area.
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A Conservation Covenant is expressed to be irrevocable. The term of these covenants are usually in perpetuity, or may be specified for a period of time.
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Conservation covenants bind each person who has consented in writing to the covenant. Covenants will be registered as a Memorial over the property's Certificate of Title. If a Memorial is registered, successive landowners will also be bound by the covenant.
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Leederville aquifer: The Department of Water controls extraction from the Leederville aquifer to ensure that the amount being drawn is sustainable, so extraction will not deplete the aquifer.
In the Groundwater Allocation Plan for the area, the Leederville Formation is divided into Upper and Lower segments, with separate resource allocations. Olympia will draw from the lower segment of the Leederville aquifer, to minimise impact on neighbouring bores drawing from the Upper Leederville. -
Peel-Harvey Estuary: Olympia’s proposed Keysbrook project will not have any impact on the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
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No toxic chemicals are used in mineral sands mining. A non-toxic flocculent, which is commonly used in metropolitan water supplies is used to settle clay. Fuel storage will be isolated from the soil. Potential pollutants will not be introduced to affect the water. Sampling programs have found retained nutrient levels in the soil to be very low, so nutrients are not present to be re-mobilized into waterways.
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88% of the water used on site will be recycled, and there will be no uncontrolled discharge of water from the site.
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The EPA are satisfied that on-site monitoring and modeling conducted by Olympia indicated that groundwater drawdown associated with the proposal will not adversely affect the aquifers and surrounding bore users.
- 30 people will be employed locally
- Local roads will be upgraded where they are used by the company’s trucks
- Construction value of the plant is $20million. South West contractors & suppliers will be used wherever possible
- The export value of the minerals is $317million
- South West ‘Buy Local’ policy: Local contractors will be used for mining, engineering, transport and maintenance; fuel, accommodation, supplies, takeaways wherever possible.
- Payment of government taxes
- Olympia will support local groups and community organisations. $25,000 per year has been allocated to support community groups and charities in the immediate region.
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Will you be able to build on the site after mining?
Yes – The mining operation at Keysbrook will be similar to the standard cut-and-fill earthworks at a land subdivision. -
Property values: Mineral sands mining has been operating in the South West of WA for over 50 years without any lasting impact on property values. Short-term impacts are possible during mining close to property boundaries. However, the land will be rehabilitated within two years of the start of mining.
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The re-combination of clay into sandy soils on the former mine site will increase water and nutrient retention, improving pasture quality and land values.
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The term ’grade’ refers to the concentration of mineral contained in the sand of a mineral sands deposit. In the Keysbrook deposit, this averages 2.7%, which is considered to be relatively ’low grade’.
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However, this does not mean that the deposit is not valuable.
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Although in low CONCENTRATION, the minerals at Keysbrook are of very high VALUE, with high world demand for the Zircon and Titanium minerals from the deposit.
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The EPA considered that the control of airborne dust is manageable.
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The majority of site activity will take place in a damp or wet environment, which will reduce dust generation.
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For example, urban subdivisions need to import large quantities of dry sand, while the movement of sand in a mineral sands mine is as a piped slurry (sand mixed with water). Sand is also returned to the pit void as a wet slurry after the mineral has been separated.
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During winter, the water table is above the pit floor, meaning that the sides and floor of the mine pit will be damp or wet.
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During summer, the water table is just below the pit floor, so the pit floor will therefore be damp.
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In addition, the bottom of the mine pit is the top of the Guildford Formation, which is heavy clay soil, rather than sand. This damp clay soil will have extremely low dust generation capacity.
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During topsoil clearing, mining operations and transport movements, water carts will be used to suppress possible dust generation.
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Where rehabilitation cannot take place immediately because of seasonal conditions, any exposed areas will be stabilized by the use of:
• Quick-growing binding stubble crops
• Spraying on of a layer of clay
• Hydro-mulch
• Polymer mulch
• Water cart spraying -
When seasonal conditions are right, these areas will then be rehabilitated to pasture or native vegetation.
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Dust monitors will be places near homes in the area being mined and continual monitoring carried out. Contact will be kept with all residents in the vicinity of the mine to make sure they are experiencing no problems.
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Olympia is confident that the issue of dust can be successfully managed.
- Every company starts somewhere.
- Olympia has engaged staff with extensive experience in mineral sands mining in Western Australia and has a Board of Directors with extensive knowledge of the industry.
- Samples taken across the mine site were analysed for the major nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K).
- The results indicate an extremely low nutrient bank on the site
- 88% of the water used on site will be recycled. There is no reason for nutrients to be mobilised off-site.
- The Law in this case decrees that because the land titles in this area can be traced back to before 1899, minerals other than the ‘royal minerals’ (gold & silver) are owned by the landowner. This requires that Olympia negotiate with individual landowners regarding royalty and compensation payments.
- The operations of the mine are regulated under the Mines Regulation Act and must strictly comply with all its regulations.
- This is correct, see point 3 above.
- Royalties are paid to the land (and mineral) owners.
- Your property and other KNAG members’ land have the same title as those on which it is proposed to mine.
- Landowners may well choose to spend their royalties locally on improving their properties, thus improving farm productivity and increasing property values in the area.
- The maximum area to be mined is 1,234 hectares, not the 4,500 hectares indicated above.
- The average depth of mine will be 2 metres. Less across lower areas, ranging up to 5 metres on raised sand mounds.
- The open mine area at any one time will be approx 30 hectares
- Yes, the mineral deposit is geologically different from that at Capel, being generally shallower.
- Olympia Resources, as with other primary producers such as farmers, is entitled to receive the Federal diesel fuel rebate.
- See also point 3.
- The research on these issues is covered comprehensively in the Public Environmental Review.
- The maximum area to be mined will be 1,234 hectares. Of this, 60 ha is remnant vegetation in good condition, 244 ha is remnant vegetation, parkland cleared and 930 ha is cleared paddocks.
- Olympia will conserve, by not including in the mine plan, the best 49 ha of remnant vegetation that contains approx half the mature trees with suitable hollows for cockatoos. This is the only area with any intact native under-story.
- While suitable stag trees exist in this area, no evidence of Cockatoo nesting has been found.
- The maximum mine area is 1,234 hectares.
- 930 hectares of this is cleared paddocks.
- Mining will occur progressively over a period of up to 8 years, not all at once.
- Rehabilitation follows as soon as possible after mining.
- 100% of the land is owned freehold by private owners. These owners are involved in planning the rehabilitation of their properties, along with various government regulators.
- Mining will occur above the water table in summer and within the water table in winter.
- All water from pit de-watering will be used in the plant and recycled.
- During summer, with less water available from pit de-watering, more water will be supplied from two bores into the Leederville Aquifer.
- See point 2.
- See point 2
- The issue of the strong winds in the area is not being underestimated by Olympia.
- Previous mineral sands mines along the Darling Scarp have experienced the same wind conditions and have developed effective methods to control dust and erosion. Olympia will implement similar controls.
- Thorough studies are being conducted as well as many discussions with local people with hands-on experience with the effects of the wind.
- Management plans have been developed to manage the impact of wind on noise, dust, and erosion, including clay shielding, mulching, binding grass crops, watering, etc.
- The rail option is still being assessed, however at this stage trucking is the preferred option.
- The use of rail transport would require the same truck movements on local roads, to transport the mineral concentrate from the mine to the rail siding.
- Truck movements are estimated to be 6 - 7 return trips per day, ie 12 -14 movements.
- Road traffic count data obtained from Main Roads shows the Long Vehicles and Road Trains category use on the South Western Highway averages 200 - 240 per day.
- The preferred route on public roadways is from the SE corner of Lot 300 (Murray Shire) onto Atkins Road and South to Readheads Rd, east to the Southwest Highway then south to Picton.
- Olympia will work with the Shires to upgrade roads as required and with Main Roads to construct a safe access onto South-West Highway.
- The mine will operate 24 hours per day.
- Mining timetables will be determined according to the research conducted to determine the potential for noise to impact on nearby residences.
- Operating times will be limited in some areas.
- Vegetation on landholdings which have not signed mining agreements with Olympia will not be disturbed.
- No compensation is required if no disturbance occurs.
- Mineral separation will require 1.5 to 2 gigalitres per year
- An extraction licence will be applied for before operations begin, consistent with regulations.
- Extraction has been designed to minimise any impact on neighbouring bores.
- 88% of water used will be recycled.
- The company’s research methodology, including into the factors listed above, has been approved by the EPA and the various expert agencies it uses to assess specialised research.
- Olympia’s detailed financial assessments of the Keysbrook project are not publicly available.
- The Keysbrook deposit, while at a low mineral concentration, is viable and valuable because of the high demand worldwide for the minerals on the site, zircon and titanium.
- Export value is approx. $317 million
Last updated: 25-Mar-08
