​OVERVIEW

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The White Rock Quarry is currently regulated under a Mine Operations Plan (MOP) which is authorised by what is known as the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM).

 

A review of the MOP is currently under assessment by DEM and a copy of the Mine Operations Plan (MOP) submitted to DEM for review can be viewed below. Due to the large overall file size, the MOP is in parts for easy download.

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White Rock Quarry MOP Review V1 (1.7MB)

Drawings (143.3MB)

Attachments 1 - 2 /  pages 1 - 514 (82MB)

Attachments 3 - 17 / pages 515 - 796 (22.7MB)

Attachments 18 - 29 / pages 797 - 1118 (38.1MB)

Attachments 30 - 31 / pages 1119 - 1402 (94.5MB)

 Attachments 32 - 47 / pages 1403 - 1721 (56.9MB) 

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The quarry supports local residential, commercial and infrastructure development in Adelaide and surrounding areas.

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We are a proud contributor to the local community. The quarry has supplied materials for the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) building, the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit trail restoration, Kangaroo Creek water reservoir upgrade and Adelaide University upgrades, as well as local age care facilities, schools and local sporting clubs.

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Hanson have recently undertaken a review of the current operation that has informed future development allowing for continued supply to support the ongoing future development of Adelaide.

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The White Rock Quarry project is necessary to meet demand from local industry and to secure and create jobs for the Adelaide region.

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This project presents the opportunity to provide long-term, building materials required for major projects and general construction.

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ENGAGEMENT

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The site is an integral part of the Adelaide region. We believe it is our responsibility to continue to support all the communities we help build. We value engaging with local residents to better understand the community views in relation to the future development of the site.

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In 2020, Hanson undertook an initial consultation process for its original White Rock Quarry Mine Operation Plan (MOP) Review submission to the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM).

Hanson have taken further steps to improve the Community understanding of this process and to make information easily accessible. Communication channels have been established to create a better relationship between parties.

 

The key outcomes of this consultation process have been the modification to our initial stage development proposal, changing visual amenity impacts and further heritage, fauna and Flora, air quality and groundwater further studies.

 

The Bachelor Pad has been included as a significant geological feature in the updated MOP review as a direct result of the community consultation process.

 

Hanson have been committed to listening to neighbours’ concerns and engaging diverse stakeholders, including Traditional Owners, regulatory bodies, community, interest groups, Council, MPs, and others.

 

Independent consultants have also been engaged to undertake site specific assessment and effectively address community consultation feedback and outstanding matters highlighted from different stakeholders prior to the December 2020 submission and in the time since to the point of the resubmission in 2023.

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Heritage

Future proposed development of the White Rock Quarry, as outlined in our MOP Review, will not encroach further on or otherwise affect the area identified in the State Heritage places database as ‘Natural Feature – Wellington Rock (or Pizey’s Knob) adjacent to Old Norton Summit Road.

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Hanson have engaged and will continue to work with traditional owners the Kaurna people. We acknowledge the support and information provided by the Traditional Owners through consultation and field work undertaken during the development of the MOP Review.

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Stakeholder feedback and MOP Review changes

As a result of consultation to date, and in tandem with our continuing review, we have already implemented a number of additional mitigation strategies to ensure that residents’ feedback has been considered, including:

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1. Limiting the available ‘disturbance area’ per stage of the quarry life by committing to progressive rehabilitation planting earlier in the quarry development, to reduce the overall ‘disturbance area’ per stage, and

2. Substantially reducing the overall quarry footprint that was initially proposed as part of the 2020 MOP Review.

3. Further scientific studies and reports have provided Hanson with further technical information to be considered and included in the proposed site planning, management, and operation.​

 

Hanson acknowledge the environmental, cultural and economic values in the area surrounding White Rock Quarry. Hanson respect the rights held by private and public landowners. Hanson is committed to engaging with the community, continue listening to community concerns and responding appropriately to community feedback. Hanson is seeking to be recognised as a valuable contributor to the community and State development.

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Visual amenity

As an outcome of the engagement process, Hanson have excluded stages 4 and 5 from the initial proposal and redefined the proposed quarry development and rehabilitation plans, retaining the westward facing hill to provide a visual barrier to the quarry for residents of Skye.

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Progressive rehabilitation

Following community and stakeholder engagement, and a further review of the Quarry Development and Rehabilitation Plans, we have committed to rehabilitation planting earlier in the quarry’s development in order to minimise surface disturbance throughout the proposed stages. We will ensure species lists are well understood and used in rehabilitation through consultation with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and interest groups.

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Hanson has a strong track record in rehabilitation. In 2018, the company was awarded the South Australian Premier’s Award for Excellence in Innovation: Environmental Management, for progressively rehabilitating our Rowland Flat Quarry using similar techniques to those planned for the White Rock Quarry.

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ENVIRONMENT​

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Environmental protection is a priority for Hanson, and we are committed to ensuring we act responsibly.

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Hanson consider that the sustainability and success of the business are closely linked and achieved through active environmental management and innovation.

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Sustainable business practices are an integral component of our long-term business success and a clear priority for our management teams. We focus on reducing the impact of our operations on the environment and use our core competencies to contribute positively to the construction needs of society.

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Hanson continue to significantly invest in identifying and delivering recycled alternatives to currently accepted construction materials. We will continue to promote sustainable building practices across the construction industry and are members of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia and Green Building Council Australia.

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We have helped establish several clean energy projects across Australia, such as wind farms and solar farms for electricity generation. Clean energy projects include:

·     Ararat wind farm

·     Bulgana wind farm

·     Murra Warra wind farm

·     Granville Harbour wind farm

·     Agnew wind farm

·     Yandin wind farm

·     Biala wind farm

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Responsible environmental practices are a priority for the White Rock Quarry project.

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Surface water

Hanson have been implementing continuous improvement in water quality management. This includes appropriate management of the two surface water sources relevant to the site - the upstream catchment to the quarry and rainwater landing on the quarry.

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Hanson have been investing in the construction of the sediment basins and their maintenance to assist the treatment and settling of sediment. This water will be recycled onsite for dust suppression, used in the manufacture of concrete, or released into the Third Creek catchment.

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The construction of the sediment basin 1 (SB1)was the first key stage in a multi-staged proposal to ensure continuous improvement in water quality management.

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​The stormwater management measures implemented in 2022 resulted in a 67% reduction in daily threshold exceedances (turbidity guideline trigger value) compared to 2021. Even though 2022 was the wettest year on record since 2011.

 

The construction of Sediment Basin SB2A is progressing, and we are continuing to implement measures to improve stormwater management and minimise any sediment leaving the site during high rainfall events.

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Groundwater

In March 2022, further groundwater assessment was undertaken to provide additional information for the MOP Review pit designs. The assessment combined previous information collected during groundwater studies in 2020, and data collected from fieldwork in September and November 2021 which included the drilling of observation wells, groundwater monitoring and sampling.

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The pit floors have been designed in accordance with the recommendations of a buffer distance of four (4) m above the groundwater contour map and five (5) m above in areas of increased uncertainty due to site topography. An ongoing groundwater monitoring program will allow data validation to reduce any uncertainties in the recommended buffer.​

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Dust & noise

Hanson is committed to keeping our people, our neighbours, and the community safe.

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We work closely with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in identifying and implementing mitigation strategies to control fugitive dust (air quality) and noise.

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We have also undertaken and committed to environmental modelling methodologies for air quality and noise. Additional modelling was conducted to inform the MOP Review including surface and ground water, and visual amenity investigations.

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We are continually working to minimise dust impacts and have undertaken detailed Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) modelling as part of the MOP Review process. Assessment of this modelling predicts that RCS concentrations for current and future operations will be below the national best practice criteria.

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A copy of the RCS Assessment can be viewed in the attachments.

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Monthly reports provided to the EPA and DEM have demonstrated that the quarry complies with the SA EPA Air Quality Policy. Data and laboratory analysis collected have been well below the Air Quality Criteria adopted by the SA EPA.

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Native vegetation

The quarry site sits adjacent Horsnell Gully Conservation Park and Giles Conservation Park.

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Hanson have been working with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and interest groups to ensure species lists are well understood and used in rehabilitation.

 

A Bushland Native Vegetation Assessment informed the location and condition (quality) of native vegetation within the proposed development area. Based upon the outcomes, the condition of native vegetation within the Site varies from poor within the previously disturbed areas to moderate to good within undisturbed areas of the Site. Better quality vegetation is recorded in areas adjacent to the conservation parks. Regionally, the vegetation associations are moderately represented, with high levels of fragmentation.

 

There were no Nationally listed flora species observed during the survey or known to occur within the Site.

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Rehabilitation

Proposed staged rehabilitation is presented within the Mining Operations Plan Review document.

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Visual modelling has informed the rehabilitation strategy and importance is given to reaching a terminal boundary as early as possible to enable the staged rehabilitation of the site.

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Soil and overburden analysis has informed the batter angles (the slope of the pit walls) to be used for the best chance of rehabilitation success rates post-vegetation planting.

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OPERATIONAL

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Traffic

Modelling indicates that production levels are forecast to remain consistent with current levels. Therefore, we anticipate traffic volumes on the local road network providing entry and exit to the quarry will remain relatively static.

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Operating hours

The Site is currently authorised to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Technical assessments were completed to refine the operational hours to: