Biochemist Dick Wettenhall is concerned that sand washing could imperil Western Port’s Ramsar-listed wetlands.
By Catherine Watson
DANDY Premix faces another hurdle in its massive sand mine expansion at Grantville with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to assess potential environmental risks to groundwater and waterways.
Last month Planning Minister Richard Wynne gave approval for the company to widen its current pit to 1.2kms and dig 20 metres below the water table subject to meeting certain conditions.
The company proposes to wash sand on site, with wastewaters and sludge to go into a 3500ML unlined dredge pond.
DANDY Premix faces another hurdle in its massive sand mine expansion at Grantville with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to assess potential environmental risks to groundwater and waterways.
Last month Planning Minister Richard Wynne gave approval for the company to widen its current pit to 1.2kms and dig 20 metres below the water table subject to meeting certain conditions.
The company proposes to wash sand on site, with wastewaters and sludge to go into a 3500ML unlined dredge pond.
The EPA has now advised that it will assess the project's risks to groundwater as part of the approvals required under the Environment Protection Act 2017.
It will consider a report by a leading biochemist that found chemicals used to wash sand and heavy metals extracted from sand could risk catastrophic damage to Western Port’s internationally significant wetlands.
The inaugural director of Victoria’s Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute,
which specialises in bio-medical, chemical and environmental biotechnology, Dr Richard Wettenhall examined the Dandy Premix application at the request of the Save Western Port Woodlands community group.
He warned the expert hydrogeology report submitted by the company to a planning panel had failed to consider the complex chemistries of potential toxic pollutants and the identifiable risks of damage to the Ramsar-Accredited wetlands on the eastern side of Western Port.
“This failure to adequately assess the risks contravenes State Government guidelines for ensuring the protection of sensitive natural environments against potentially toxic pollutants.”
Dr Wettenhall's report was submitted after the planning panel hearing but was referred to the Planning Minister and the Environment Protection Authority by Bass Coast Shire Council.
In its report to the planning panel, Southern Rural Water also expressed concerns about the disposal of filter cake below the water table in the quarry and the potential impact on downstream users and the environment. It required that a risk assessment should be undertaken prior to the works plan variation being signed off.
Dr Wettenhall told the Post he was particularly concerned that the Minister approved a permit before an independent comprehensive investigation of these risks.
It will consider a report by a leading biochemist that found chemicals used to wash sand and heavy metals extracted from sand could risk catastrophic damage to Western Port’s internationally significant wetlands.
The inaugural director of Victoria’s Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute,
which specialises in bio-medical, chemical and environmental biotechnology, Dr Richard Wettenhall examined the Dandy Premix application at the request of the Save Western Port Woodlands community group.
He warned the expert hydrogeology report submitted by the company to a planning panel had failed to consider the complex chemistries of potential toxic pollutants and the identifiable risks of damage to the Ramsar-Accredited wetlands on the eastern side of Western Port.
“This failure to adequately assess the risks contravenes State Government guidelines for ensuring the protection of sensitive natural environments against potentially toxic pollutants.”
Dr Wettenhall's report was submitted after the planning panel hearing but was referred to the Planning Minister and the Environment Protection Authority by Bass Coast Shire Council.
In its report to the planning panel, Southern Rural Water also expressed concerns about the disposal of filter cake below the water table in the quarry and the potential impact on downstream users and the environment. It required that a risk assessment should be undertaken prior to the works plan variation being signed off.
Dr Wettenhall told the Post he was particularly concerned that the Minister approved a permit before an independent comprehensive investigation of these risks.
The Dandy Premix Quarry at Grantville. The company proposes to widen the current pit
to 1.2kms and deepen it to 20 metres below the water table.
to 1.2kms and deepen it to 20 metres below the water table.
“As my report documents, it is indisputable that the further development of the Grantville mine's vast dredge pond will irreversibly damage subterranean aqua flows and release potentially toxic pollutants from the sand washing operations into impacted ground water. The impacted ground water flows directly into the Ramsar Wetlands mudflats.”
An environmental effects statement was not required for the Dandy Premix application, nor was it referred for assessment under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, despite the proximity to Western Port.
Dr Wettenhall called on the Victorian Government to at the very least tighten testing for potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals used in sand mine operations adjacent to Western Port or risk catastrophic damage to the bay’s Ramsar-listed wetlands.
“Out-dated guidelines for testing and the release of these chemical and heavy metal pollutants into waterways from sand mining in Australia are well behind those legislated in the US and the European Union.”
Ray McNamara, a civil engineer specialising in water infrastructure, said the size and location of the proposed Dandy Premix dredge pond was cause for concern given the environmental risks and potential for operational disasters.
“The tailings dam at the Ranger Uranium mine is only 1000ML and it has leaked millions of litres into the environment over its lifetime.”
He said the depth of water in the pond would exert very high pressures making it difficult to prevent the percolation and leeching of dredge pond liquids into the sub strata.
“The changes to our weather and climate mean the region has to expect more extreme wet events, which could cause flooding/overflow of the pond. This has indeed been experienced at Ranger with both cyclones and wet season events.
“What is to prevent the same catastrophe at Grantville, especially as the quarry is in a natural gully?”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.
An environmental effects statement was not required for the Dandy Premix application, nor was it referred for assessment under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, despite the proximity to Western Port.
Dr Wettenhall called on the Victorian Government to at the very least tighten testing for potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals used in sand mine operations adjacent to Western Port or risk catastrophic damage to the bay’s Ramsar-listed wetlands.
“Out-dated guidelines for testing and the release of these chemical and heavy metal pollutants into waterways from sand mining in Australia are well behind those legislated in the US and the European Union.”
Ray McNamara, a civil engineer specialising in water infrastructure, said the size and location of the proposed Dandy Premix dredge pond was cause for concern given the environmental risks and potential for operational disasters.
“The tailings dam at the Ranger Uranium mine is only 1000ML and it has leaked millions of litres into the environment over its lifetime.”
He said the depth of water in the pond would exert very high pressures making it difficult to prevent the percolation and leeching of dredge pond liquids into the sub strata.
“The changes to our weather and climate mean the region has to expect more extreme wet events, which could cause flooding/overflow of the pond. This has indeed been experienced at Ranger with both cyclones and wet season events.
“What is to prevent the same catastrophe at Grantville, especially as the quarry is in a natural gully?”
Catherine Watson is a member of Save Western Port Woodlands.