By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast Shire Council will seek a full review of all sand mines operating in the Grantville corridor to determine whether they are leaching toxic chemicals into Western Port.
It follows the release of a report by Professor Dick Wettenhall, a former professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Melbourne University, that found chemicals used in sand processing could pose a risk to Western Port’s extremely sensitive tidal mudflats.
Councillors voted unanimously at last week’s in support of a motion directing the mayor Cr Brett Tessari to send the Wettenhall report to the Earth Resources Regulator and the Environment Protection Authority and ask them to carry out a full review of sand mines.
BASS Coast Shire Council will seek a full review of all sand mines operating in the Grantville corridor to determine whether they are leaching toxic chemicals into Western Port.
It follows the release of a report by Professor Dick Wettenhall, a former professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Melbourne University, that found chemicals used in sand processing could pose a risk to Western Port’s extremely sensitive tidal mudflats.
Councillors voted unanimously at last week’s in support of a motion directing the mayor Cr Brett Tessari to send the Wettenhall report to the Earth Resources Regulator and the Environment Protection Authority and ask them to carry out a full review of sand mines.
Professor Wettenhall found there was a risk that dredge pond water carrying potentially toxic wastes would seep into the sub terrarium ground water, which in turn will be discharged into local creeks downstream of their intersection with ground water systems.
“This failure to adequately assess the risks contravenes State Government Guidelines for ensuring the protection of sensitive natural environments against potentially toxic pollutants.”
While his report related specifically to an application by Dandy Premix Quarries to extend and deepen its current Grantville pit and to dig a new one, it has implications for all mines processing sand in the corridor. Several of the mines are less than 500 metres from the Western Port foreshore.
“This failure to adequately assess the risks contravenes State Government Guidelines for ensuring the protection of sensitive natural environments against potentially toxic pollutants.”
While his report related specifically to an application by Dandy Premix Quarries to extend and deepen its current Grantville pit and to dig a new one, it has implications for all mines processing sand in the corridor. Several of the mines are less than 500 metres from the Western Port foreshore.
The Dandy Premix application received 76 objections before the company asked the Planning Minister to transfer the hearing from the council to an independent planning panel. The planning panel completed its hearing in May and has given its report and recommendation to the Minister, who is yet to announce his decision.
Moving the notice of motion, Cr Michael Whelan said it was unfortunate the report was not available for the hearing but it was important that the Minister was aware of its concerns and
implications for all sand processing plants in the vicinity of Western Port.
“Similar mining operations in Wisconsin require their settling ponds to be lined because of the settling of dangerous chemicals such as acrylamide and antimony.
“When the owner of the sand mines presented to us he assured us there were no chemicals used in the leaching ponds. In fact those very chemicals are the subject of Professor Wettenhall’s comprehensive report.
“Because those settling ponds aren’t lined they’re directly interacting with the water table and Western Port. The fact that the extension of the works includes breaching the water table makes this a very pertinent consideration. We’re urging the minister to take account of the report.
Cr Tessari wrote to Mr Wynne earlier this month asking him to consider the Wettenhall report before deciding on the Dandy Premix application.
The letter stated: “Council is of the view that this report may suggest similar grounds to those considered in your rejection of the AGL proposal for a Floating Storage Regasification Plant on Westernport. The findings were that the marine discharges from the proposed AGL and APA project would have unacceptable effects on the environment in Western Port, which is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international significance.”
Cr Tessari will now write to the Earth Resources Regulator and the EPA to request a full review to determine whether toxic chemicals at sand mines could contaminate groundwater feeding into Western Port.
Local sand miners are unlikely to be too troubled by the council’s referral since they are largely self-regulating. According to the Earth Resource Register website, “licence holders are responsible for conducting sampling and monitoring to assess if they comply with the mining licence conditions and work plan.
“On rare occasions, we may conduct confirmation sampling to verify the findings of the licence holder.”
A recent report by the Victorian Auditor General found ERR was a little too close to the industry it is supposed to regulate. “There is also a clear conflict of interest with the mining regulator, ERR, residing within Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, which fosters and develops the mining industry,” the report stated.
Moving the notice of motion, Cr Michael Whelan said it was unfortunate the report was not available for the hearing but it was important that the Minister was aware of its concerns and
implications for all sand processing plants in the vicinity of Western Port.
“Similar mining operations in Wisconsin require their settling ponds to be lined because of the settling of dangerous chemicals such as acrylamide and antimony.
“When the owner of the sand mines presented to us he assured us there were no chemicals used in the leaching ponds. In fact those very chemicals are the subject of Professor Wettenhall’s comprehensive report.
“Because those settling ponds aren’t lined they’re directly interacting with the water table and Western Port. The fact that the extension of the works includes breaching the water table makes this a very pertinent consideration. We’re urging the minister to take account of the report.
Cr Tessari wrote to Mr Wynne earlier this month asking him to consider the Wettenhall report before deciding on the Dandy Premix application.
The letter stated: “Council is of the view that this report may suggest similar grounds to those considered in your rejection of the AGL proposal for a Floating Storage Regasification Plant on Westernport. The findings were that the marine discharges from the proposed AGL and APA project would have unacceptable effects on the environment in Western Port, which is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international significance.”
Cr Tessari will now write to the Earth Resources Regulator and the EPA to request a full review to determine whether toxic chemicals at sand mines could contaminate groundwater feeding into Western Port.
Local sand miners are unlikely to be too troubled by the council’s referral since they are largely self-regulating. According to the Earth Resource Register website, “licence holders are responsible for conducting sampling and monitoring to assess if they comply with the mining licence conditions and work plan.
“On rare occasions, we may conduct confirmation sampling to verify the findings of the licence holder.”
A recent report by the Victorian Auditor General found ERR was a little too close to the industry it is supposed to regulate. “There is also a clear conflict of interest with the mining regulator, ERR, residing within Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, which fosters and develops the mining industry,” the report stated.