DPI Update (Issue 60)

IAN MCLEOD, Manager Minerals and Extractive Operations, Melbourne District, reports on current projects.

APPROVED WORK PLANS

Approved Work Plans and Work Plan variations are an essential part of Work Authorities (WAs) and provide a handy reference to quarry managers of the approved quarry design details, permissible site activities and how the site is to be operated. Work Plans and Work Plan variations must contain the information prescribed in Schedule 1 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Extractive Industries) Regulations 2010 to gain approval by DPI.

DPI inspectors review the adequacy of approved Work Plans whilst conducting site audits, bond reviews and or prior to transferring a WA from one holder to another. When necessary, DPI inspectors can require approved Work Plans to be updated to meet the current legislative requirements. WA holders and or applicants are encouraged to review Work Plans to:

Ensure Compliance

If not detected at an early stage, non-compliance of site operations with the approved Work Plan can result in DPI taking enforcement action which can result in significant cost to operators;

Gain approval to develop additional resources on WA

There are some WAs with approved Work Plans that only enable extraction from a portion (and not all) of the site. Most of these sites have been in operation for many years. It is assumed these old Work Plans did not show the full development of the site due to limited knowledge of the resource at the time. WA holders of these sites are finding they now have an increasing number of legislative challenges when they try to obtain Work Plan variations to gain access to additional reserves. The main requirements are compliance with the Victoria’s Native Vegetation Framework (under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 [State]) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act [Federal]) and meeting planning requirements due to recent residential development nearby. (Note: There is no formal requirement for a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Work Plan variations for these sites regardless of the existence of cultural sensitivity. However, the sites are required to comply with the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 if artifacts are encountered); and

Gain approval to extract from sites that already hold planning permission but do not have an approved Work Plan

There are some historical WA applications which already have planning permission but do not have approved Work Plans. The WA applicants gained planning permission for these sites when the land use zonings were changed from “Extractive Industry” to “Special Use” in the late 1990s. The WAs have not been granted for these sites as they do not have approved Work Plans. The applicants for these WAs will also find an increasing number of legislative challenges when they try to obtain Work Plan approval.

The following requirements now apply; compliance with the Native Vegetation Framework (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 [State]) and the EPBC Act [Federal] plus there is a formal requirement for a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to be approved prior to gaining work plan approval if cultural sensitivity exists on these sites.

These WA holders and or applicants are strongly encouraged to progress these Work Plans or Work Plan variations without any further delay.

AUDIT PROGRAM

DPI’s six-monthly targeted auditing program is about to end. A total of ten targeted audits (comprising pest animal & plant and hydrocarbon storage) were planned to be undertaken at extractive industry and mining sites in each of the five districts before the end of December this year. The results of the audit will be available for publication in the next issue of Sand & Stone.

STAFF NEWS

John Mitas continues to manage the Department’s involvement with the future remedial works at Morwell as well as his normal duties.

Lionel Woodford commenced work as an Inspector of Mines in the Melbourne District on 14 December 2011. Lionel was formerly a Biosecurity Officer with DPI at Ballarat.

Mark Ritch joined DPI as Program Manager Community Engagement on 19 December 2011. Mark was formerly the Community Engagement Co-ordinator at Bayside Council.

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