New sand mine set for reveal
The exploration licence area which contains within it a proposed site of the new multi-million dollar sand mine project. (Image: www.thelist.tas.gov.au)
By Rachel Williams
A new $50-60 million sand mine project at Rushy Lagoon incorporating a jetty off Boobyalla Beach in the far North East is set to be officially revealed next month.
Proponents North Scottsdale Resources have been working on developing the mine since being awarded an exploration licence over a 713ha site in 2015.
No details have ever been publicly released about the project, other than the initial intention by Mineral Resources Tasmania to grant the exploration licence over an original 15sq.km area of land, which is set midway between Petal Point and the mouth of the Boobyalla River.
Company director Tony Ellis has confirmed to the North-Eastern Advertiser that a permit application is imminent for a mining lease to dredge and process between 70-100 million tonnes of fine sand for concrete production over a 35-40 year lifespan.
Mr Ellis said the project would involve construction of a new 700m jetty built for a transfer vessel to carry loads of material further out to a larger cargo ship for transport out of Ringarooma Bay.
He said the new mine would fill demand in the construction sector given there was a significant shortage of sand globally, including both interstate and in Hobart.
“Up to 25 jobs, including the 13 transfer vessel crew required by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, would be created on site at the mine in the initial stage, with a further 12-14 jobs needed if an evening shift was introduced, bringing the total employment to around 40,” Mr Ellis said.
“Our philosophy would be to involve the local community as much as we can.”
The Environmental Protection Authority will be charged with assessing the development proposal, with Dorset Council and Mineral Resources Tasmania to be involved in the process.
Dorset Mayor Rhys Beattie said Council was yet to be briefed on the proposed mine.
Mr Ellis said a meeting between all parties was expected to be held on site in mid-November.
He said a lot of investigation had been undertaken to formulate their application, with flora and fauna assessments, aboriginal heritage assessments, hydrology and wind testing.
“This project has taken a long time to get to this stage where an application is reasonably imminent,” Mr Ellis said.
The project has raised the ire of local Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana Aborignal Corporation chief excecutive officer Nick Cameron, who is also chair of the combined Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance (TRACA).
“Mining on this scale will cause permanent damage to Country and threaten important cultural heritage. Despite what is at stake, affected Aboriginal communities have not been meaningfully consulted,” Mr Cameron said.
“Once Country is disturbed, it can’t just be put back.
“MTWAC will lead a coordinated regional Aboriginal community response opposing the proposed mine.”
Mr Ellis confirmed two Aboriginal heritage sites had been located within the exploration licence area footprint but would not be part of the proposed new mining area.
“We are not looking at affecting that at all,” Mr Ellis said, adding part of the affected area would be transformed into a wetlands.”
“The area to be mined is currently abandoned cattle grazing country and much of it is weed infested.”
The Rushy Lagoon property has been in the national spotlight after being sold to the Tasmanian Natural Asset Trust in July – in a partnership between the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and UK based investors Gresham House and Aviva Investments.
Gresham House is now managing the property, which will have around 9000ha planted with pines starting next year.
Gresham House said it was aware of the proposed sand mine and had factored potential mining royalties into its strategies, as it had done with the proposed ACEN wind farm project that aims to lease land at Rushy for its $4b wind farm project.
Spokesperson Jonathan Craven said TNAT has had preliminary discussions with the proponent about the proposed sand mine.
"We are yet to see detail about the financial, environmental, and cultural impacts of the project on Rushy Lagoon and the surrounding region,” Mr Craven said.
Part of ACEN’s windfarm plan was for a new jetty to ship in the massive wind turbine elements as part of their 210 turbine development, which would generate capacity of up to 1,260 megawatts.
“The preliminary jetty design has the capacity to be expanded to carry their wind farm components if their project proceeds,” Mr Ellis said.
Mr Ellis said he hoped that the sand mine project would be underway in late 2028.
The proposal comes as another sand mine at Pioneer bites the dust.
The EPA Board has been notified of Sanbar’s intent to withdraw from the EPA assessment.
A spokesman said the Dorset Council was advised that the development application was withdrawn on June 17, but despite the project’s controversial nature within the Pioneer community, the withdrawal was not made public.
Sanbar Pty Ltd was seeking discretionary approval for sand extraction of up to 50,000m3 per annum and sand processing of up to 50,000m3 per annum at a site off Racecourse Rd.
It had also said the project was to fill a shortage of sand in the construction sector but has not responded to calls to explain why it had withdrawn.