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Issues (Issue 34)

By on August 5, 2007

Work Plan Expectations by Community

One of our Members is in the process of applying for a Work Authority. This has ended up at VCAT and it is interesting to see what sort of things the community (that is the local government and objectors) expect of the business.

Rehabilitation Plan including:

  • Landscape plan
  • Planting plan
  • Management and maintenance schedule
  • Identification and details of trees and vegetation to be retained/removed
  • Schedule of all proposed trees, shrubs and ground cover including botanical names
  • Watering plan
  • Plan to manage erosion
  • Mulching plan
  • Fencing areas to secure, identify and protect flora and fauna
  • Plan to manage weeds must be approved by the DPI
  • Management plan for any contaminants on land
  • Identification of end use of access roads, dams, shoveling and hard stands
  • Detailed plans of how area will be used at end of quarry life

Final end use of site

A definitive proposal in end use of site should be declared where practical in the Work Plan submission with reasonable detail.

Water

  • Ground water and surface water interaction
  • Measures to manage sediments being discharged
  • Emergency response plan to manage accelerated spillage into adjacent flood ways
  • Management of grey water
  • Drainage to be to the satisfaction of the responsible authority
  • Drainage must be diverted away from storage of materials
  • Documentation must be provided demonstrating approval from the relevant authority for the point of discharge
  • Water taken from the dam to be metered
  • Water authority to have licence to ‘take and use’ the required water (water allocation must be sourced during winter whilst summer flows should be passed down stream)
  • ‘Works on waterways’ permit must be sought before working on the creek
  • Sediment control must meet Construction Techniques for Sediment Pollution Control (EPA, 1991); specifically:
    • Grading, excavation and construction must not proceed periods of heavy rainfall
    • Sediment traps must be designed installed and maintained to maximise the volume of sediment trapped from site during excavation
    • Disturbed areas must be stabilised and re-vegetated following the completion of works
  • Water levels should be licensed as surface water, rather than ground water or a combination
  • Surfactant chemicals must not be added to carry water for dust suppression
  • Information on rain fall must be evident
  • Ability of dam to handle storm surge
  • Evidence of dealing with potential groundwater contamination
  • Effluent must be clearly identified and addressed

Dust

  • A plan on how dust suppression is to be controlled
  • Air Quality Management Plan to be produced and approved

Hydrocarbon Management

  • Storage and distribution of fuels to prevent spillage

Offsets

Must submit offset plan to the satisfaction of the DSE and approved by the responsible authority. When approved, they will endorse and form part of the permit:

  • Include means of calculating offsets
  • Location of where offsets to be purchased
  • Type of offsets to be purchased
  • Re-vegetation program including number of trees and shrubs etc
  • Means of interim protection for newly established areas
  • Persons responsible for implementation and monitoring
  • Time frames for implementation the offset plans
  • Details of any earthworks, drainage or other works

Cultural Heritage

If any material are exposed while doing earth work of cultural heritage value, it is necessary to cease work in that location and contact AAV.

Article to be continued in Issue 35 of the CMPA News

Disputing Infringement Notices

The CMPA is aware that a considerable number of Work Authority holders have been issued Infringement Notices in relation to their lack of submitting a statistical return.

If you feel that this is in error or if you had a ‘nil‘ return, we suggest you undertake the following:

Any person who has received an Infringement Notice and believes that the decision was wrong in law or the decision involved mistaken identity or special circumstances apply, may apply to have the notice internally reviewed.

Information on the back of the Infringement explains in detail the grounds for internal review and how to apply. Any application for internal review must be made in writing to Civic Compliance using the form on the back of the Infringement Notice.

For any further enquiries on this issue, Members should contact Cengiz Altinors from the Department of Primary Industries on 03 9658 4431.

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