7 minute read
Figure 7: Typical mine or quarry project life cycle
Mining and quarrying projects have clearly defined lifecycles with associated approval milestones and must abide by strict frameworks that provide guidance to operators, communities and government. The four key stages are documented in Figure 6.
Figure 7: Typical mine or quarry project life cycle54
Taking a whole-of-life cycle approach to planning for these activities will assist in providing greater certainty for landowners and the resource industry in relation to the nature, opportunities and challenges associated with each stage of these operations.
This can also help to make more effective use of land in Underground Resource Areas by allowing suitable interim land uses during the exploration, planning and production phases, and identifying the preferred environmental or economic development outcomes for the site once resource production has finished.
54 City Plan Development & Strategy
Outcome 1.2.1. Whole-of-life cycle planning for underground resources
a) Work with local industry operators to prepare a ‘Sequential Plan’ for underground resource areas that identifies policy considerations; adaptive land uses for each stage of production to enable locally appropriate outcomes; and a program of actions to ensure agreed outcomes for priority sites.
Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions
Identification of State extractive resources
DCP provisions
Provide consistent and locally appropriate benchmarks for the assessment of life-cycle management for local, regional and State extractive industry proposals, consistent with State and Regional Development SEPP provisions Provide objectives and controls to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for the life of the installation and rehabilitation of the site after cessation
Protect established extractive industries
Existing extractive industries in the MidCoast play an important role in supporting the economic development of the Hunter region and maintaining locally based employment opportunities. The underground resources contained within the MidCoast have the potential to supply construction, manufacturing and other industrial activities for generations to come.
Planning can better protect the operational viability of established extractive industries by applying land use buffers between these and other activities. Buffers can limit the extent to which incompatible uses encroach into the likely impact areas of extractive industry locations and in turn, reduce land use conflicts between new and existing activities.
This process will rely on the application of a local framework of objectives and development controls that enable assessment of any potential impacts from strategic land use change and development proposals upon extractive industries and enterprises. The framework will also need to recognise that the long-term lifespan of extractive operations may include periods of time, sometimes several years, where activities are temporarily dormant.
Outcome 1.2.2. Protect established extractive industries
a) Establish a method for identifying and monitoring the location and status of approved, operational, dormant, or concluded, extractive industries. b) Consult with existing operators to determine the likely remaining lifecycle of these activities. Engage with the operators to investigate transitional and long-term land uses for these sites. c) Apply a framework for assessing impacts to extractive industries and associated lands in line with local planning benchmarks and guidelines.
Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions
Establish ‘open’ rural zones to enable extractive industries either as stand-alone activities or complementary and secondary to agricultural land uses.
DCP provisions
Identify and prevent where appropriate, the sterilisation of significant mineral resources; and identify and manage land use conflicts between existing and future land users, through the establishment of buffers and/or environmental offset areas Provide objectives and controls to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for proposed subdivision and development adjoining the site of an extractive industry, noting periods of blasting and/or inactivity during different phases of the operation
The State-level policy and legislative frameworks for mining and quarrying have recently been updated, with the intention of allowing a greater balance of issues to be considered in the assessment process.
This will rely on the availability of locally relevant or site-specific information about potentially affected communities, the environment, infrastructure, services, resources.
Identifying and collecting baseline evidence for indicators associated with environmental, economic and social issues, and regularly monitoring these, will strengthen the local evidence base available to Council and communities when they participate in a local, regional or State assessment process.
In addition, understanding the cumulative impacts and benefits of mining and quarrying within a local, regional and State level will enable clear and consistent evidence-based assessment.
Establishing this evidence-based approach to information gathering and assessment processes will rely on collective input from various parties, including industry operators, local communities, Government-led programs (State or Council) and community-led initiatives.
Outcome 1.2.3. Strengthen evidence base for extractive industry proposals
a) Partner with communities in Underground Resource Areas to prepare locally relevant indicator frameworks that guide the long-term collection and monitoring of baseline information associated with extractive industries e.g. water quality and hydrology; blasting, noise, traffic and dust. b) Establish a process to collect and report on indicator frameworks, once prepared, utilising a partnership model to share Government, private-sector and community information, where possible. c) Prioritise water quality monitoring for Avondale Creek, Dog Trap Creek, Waukivory Creek, Oaky Creek and the Avon River.
Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions
Incorporate local clause to facilitate and assess extractive industry proposals that do not trigger State and Regional Development SEPP provisions Incorporate objectives and controls to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for the life of the installation and rehabilitation of the site after cessation.
DCP provisions
Identify and prevent where appropriate, the sterilisation of significant mineral resources; and identify and manage land use conflicts between existing and future land users, through the establishment of buffers and/or environmental offset areas Provide objectives and controls to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for proposed subdivision and development adjoining the site of an extractive industry, noting periods of blasting and/or inactivity during different phases of the operation
Like extractive industries, the emerging renewable energy production industries have evolving production and legislative frameworks. In comparison however, energy production has an increased capacity to operate in manner and location that is complementary to the residential, commercial and industrial users of the energy produced.
In this regard, many domestic-scaled renewable energies produced from solar and wind are permissible without Council’s involvement, through the Exempt and Complying Development SEPP (2008), or with limited Council input at a State-level, through the State and Regional Development SEPP provisions.
Therefore, Council should ensure the planning framework across the MidCoast is open to the establishment of existing and emerging renewable energy production industries, at the community-scale or in areas complementary to other agricultural, industrial or commercial activities.
This may require a collaborative approach with communities, land owners and business operators to determine a locally appropriate evidence-based approach to planning and development of renewable energy installations including but not limited to:
• Monitor and review emerging assessment matters for renewable energy production facilities to produce consistent and locally appropriate benchmarks for assessment of local, regional and State proposals. • Provide information on existing guidelines in State Environmental Planning Policies that allow for the installation of appropriate domestic-scale electricity generating works such as solar panels and wind turbines. • Identify and collaborate with owners of potential ‘game changer’ project sites, like the existing mining sites at Stratford and Duralie and the Stratford Industrial
Precinct, where renewable energy facilities may be established and provide direct benefits to rural communities in the MidCoast. • Encourage corporate investment and demonstrate leadership in renewable energy production, by the ongoing implementation of Council’s Climate Change Action
Policy.
Outcome 1.2.4. Establish evidence-base for energy production industries
a) Review the State Energy policy and guidelines for planning controls and initiatives relevant to the MidCoast. b) Identify strategic locations where renewable energy facilities may be established: • with minimal impact on agricultural activities, the rural landscape and residential uses; and • provide economic and social benefits for rural communities; • utilising State or Federal initiatives and funding; • as a potential game changer projects for rural communities in the MidCoast. c) Monitor and review emerging assessment matters for renewable energy production facilities to produce consistent and locally appropriate benchmarks for development assessment local, regional and State proposals to: • encourage corporate investment and demonstrate leadership in renewable energy production; • provide opportunities for the establishment of small or community-scale renewable energy production facilities • consistent with Council’s Climate Change Policy initiatives.
Local Plan Recommendations LEP provisions
Establish ‘open’ rural zones to enable energy production industries either as stand-alone activities or complementary and secondary to agricultural land uses. Incorporate local clause to facilitate and assess community-led energy production initiatives that do not trigger State and Regional Development SEPP provisions Incorporate objectives and controls to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for the life of the installation.
DCP provisions
Provide objectives and controls for energy production industries to ensure environmental, social and amenity impacts are identified, assessed and managed for the life of the installation. Identify potential buffers to renewable energy industries to minimise land use conflict that do not replicate or contradict industry regulations or codes of practice requirements.
