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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-08-25 Daily Xml
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Motions

White Rock Quarry

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.A. Simms:

That this council—

1. Notes with concern the proposed expansion of the White Rock Quarry in Horsnell Gully and the impact that this will have on health, the environment and air quality for residents in the Adelaide Hills.

2. Notes the risks posed by the toxic respirable crystalline silica dust that is lifted into the air by blasting.

3. Further notes that the South Australian Environment Protection Agency (EPA) does not specify separation distances in their guidelines for the operation of quarries containing silicates, and where the activity includes blasting.

4. Calls on the Minister for Energy and Mining and the Minister for Environment and Water to heed the concerns of the Residents Against White Rock Quarry, and

(a) reject Hanson Australia’s revised mine operations plan for the expansion of White Rock Quarry; and

(b) amend the current EPA guidelines to ensure minimum separation distances from residential properties.

(Continued from 23 June 2021.)

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (17:42): I move to amend the motion as follows:

After 'Quarry' in paragraph 4(a) insert:

until it can assure local residents, the Department of Energy and Mining and the EPA that there will be no impact on the nearby natural environment and community amenity;

I rise to indicate the opposition's support for the motion and to speak to the amendment that has been filed to amend paragraph 4(a). The effect of our amendment is to insert the words 'until it can assure local residents, the Department for Energy and Mining and the EPA that there will be no impact on the nearby natural environment and community amenity' at the end of that paragraph. I move this amendment to the motion on the understanding that it has the support of the mover of the motion.

Labor supports the residents in their efforts to ensure proper process and a good outcome for the environment and the local community. I understand that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the member for Port Adelaide in the other place, met with locals to discuss their concerns and understood that there was some possibility that an agreement could be reached that would satisfy both Hanson Australia and locals. This is the reason for the amendment I have presented.

We live in a world with increasing conflict between residential, environmental and industrial land. The shrinking availability of land untouched by human activity, increasing populations and ever expanding mineral extractions means that we are more often facing situations like the one residents in Horsnell Gully and its surrounds now face. I would also like to congratulate the mover of the motion for putting this to the chamber.

Labor is certainly not anti-mining and most certainly not anti-jobs but, in an increasingly complex world and with the threat of climate change and biodiversity loss across the planet, we need to be more deliberate about what activities are suitable and where.

We need look no further north than northern Adelaide to see what can happen when mistakes are made or regulatory settings are not able to avert environmental disaster. The death of large tracts of incredibly important mangrove forest near St Kilda should never have occurred. If it were not for locals—in particular, a local scientist—we might not have known about the event until much later and after much more destruction.

Local communities know their area. They care about the native wildlife and the unspoiled beauty of their neighbourhood. For those who live in the Adelaide Hills especially, this is often what drives them to move there. We should heed their calls, listen to their concerns and ensure that we have the best possible regulatory settings in place when making decisions on the appropriateness or otherwise of these types of activities. With that, I reiterate our support for the amended motion.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (17:45): I rise to speak very briefly in support of the motion moved by my colleague, the Hon. Robert Simms. I have spoken previously about the Greens' concerns regarding the proposed expansion of the White Rock Quarry in Horsnell Gully, but I think it is worth reiterating today just why it is so important that we ensure that this proposed expansion, if it is to go ahead, is safe for the environment and for the local community.

Let's remember that White Rock Quarry is not just a quarry. The site is used to manufacture concrete and recycle construction and demolition waste as well. There are all sorts of materials and pollutants and dust being processed incredibly close to residential areas. Let's also not forget that this company is already in breach of its current licence due to the pollution of Third Creek. If Hanson Heidelberg Cement Group cannot avoid this scale of pollution while the quarry is at its current size, how will they manage pollutants following a 400 per cent expansion? A 400 per cent expansion is just not viable if they cannot manage the quarry at its current size.

Particularly following the winter rains, the difference in the water coming from the quarry was incredibly distinct and visibly different from the water entering the creek from other sources. The water from the quarry resembled thick yellowish sludge as it was deposited in Third Creek, from which it is flushed directly into the Torrens. Horsnell Gully, which White Rock Quarry is situated in, is also nestled in between Morialta Conservation Park, Horsnell Gully Conservation Park and Giles Conservation Park, serving as a critical wildlife corridor for local species. The expansion of this mine threatens to significantly narrow this wildlife corridor, and of course that is just one of the key concerns.

Another concern is the impact that the expansion of the quarry could have on health, as it produces respirable crystalline silica, known as RCS. This is a substance known to cause silicosis, the new asbestosis. There are 17 properties already within that 500-metre range of the White Rock Quarry activity boundary. The proposed expansion would push that out to 50 homes. Let's consider this in the face of the fact that, according to the Cancer Council, there are no known safe levels of RCS inhalation.

I commend my colleague for bringing this motion before the council and I welcome the support of the Labor opposition because it is absurd that private mines are now still somehow allowed in this state of ours to operate right up to the boundary of private homes. Residents are rightly concerned about the impacts of the dangerous dust produced by these mines and the impact they could have on them and their families. We know that exposure to silica dust in particular can lead to the development of lung cancer, silicosis, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Why are we needlessly exposing people to this? Why are we allowing miners to endanger residents' health?

As I have highlighted before, there is very little data or information available on the health impacts of exposure to particles if you are living near a quarry. I urge the government to listen to the concerns of local residents and to reject Hanson Australia's revised plan for the expansion of White Rock Quarry. This plan goes deeply against the community's interests. I commend the motion.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (17:49): I rise on behalf of the government to respond to the motion. The government will not be supporting the motion, because the motion misunderstands the Mining Act and prejudges the assessment process, which is already underway. The motion and the associated bill to amend the Mining Act 1971 fail to acknowledge the requirements that are already in force under existing legislation and processes.

Potential environmental impacts of proposals need to be addressed for all quarries and mines in South Australia, whether regulated as a private mine or an extractive mining lease. Impacts on people and communities, including health and safety, are required to be addressed. Science and evidence-based assessments of potential impacts are considered in determining separation distances.

The motion and the Hon. Robert Simms' private member's bill have been brought in response to the proposal to expand the White Rock Quarry. Many quarries in Adelaide, including the White Rock Quarry, predate the residential areas that now surround them. The Department for Energy and Mining is legally required to assess applications proposing to expand quarrying operations, and the Environment Protection Authority is legally required to consider the evaluation distances for effective air quality and noise management.

Recommended evaluation distances between certain activities and sensitive receivers (such as houses) may trigger the need for a more detailed assessment, different design and management measures to reduce air quality impacts. The characteristics of different sites, such as topography, design, scale of quarrying operations and management measures, mean the level of impact can vary significantly, making it inappropriate to impose a minimum one-size-fits-all separation distance. Instead, regulators need to undertake individual assessment of environmental impacts based on site-specific details using science and evidence-based decision-making.

Many issues have been raised by the community, including concerns about dust (especially respirable crystalline silica), noise, vibration, light pollution, water contamination, decreases in property values, biodiversity, truck movements and public safety, loss of Hills Face Zone and the loss of a cave that may have cultural significance.

The government is listening to the community. All these specific concerns raised by community members are established components of the government assessment process. The government is getting on with the process. The Department for Energy and Mining has issued a request for further information from Hanson. That was issued on 27 July 2021 and is publicly available on the Department for Energy and Mining website.

Hanson must clarify the scope of their proposed operations and provide risk analysis and evidence relevant to that scope. Hanson must submit a revised mine operation plan for reassessment before any extension of the current operations will be considered. Any revised mine operation plan submitted by Hanson will be subject to technical review by the Department for Energy and Mining, the Environment Protection Authority, the Department for Environment and Water, SA Health and SafeWork SA.

The government is not inclined to support the amendment, in particular because it narrows the range of factors that should be considered or the number of agencies that should be engaged in the process. The opposition amendment would discount any input from the Department for Environment and Water, SA Health and SafeWork SA. The government believes that would make it a less robust process and we oppose that move.

The government is addressing the concerns of the community. The government considers the established regulatory framework works to ensure robust assessment of proposals, and if this proposal proceeds will ensure that it is subject to fit-for-purpose management of impacts that protect the environment, health and safety of the community.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (17:53): I welcome the support of the Labor Party for this motion and, as the Hon. Russell Wortley indicated, I am supportive of the amendment that has been circulated by the Labor Party.

I welcome the fact that the Department for Energy and Mining is currently in the process of considering the application regarding White Rock Quarry and has sent that back for resubmission within six months and advised that the MOP will need to undergo another comprehensive assessment. That is welcome, but it really is just a stay of execution in terms of this project.

We need to knock this on the head, and that is what this motion does. It sends a very clear message to the government and also to the Hanson mine that they cannot proceed with a project that is going to have such a deleterious impact on our environment and on community health and wellbeing.

Make no mistake: if this mine expansion is able to proceed, then these kinds of expansions will be much more commonplace within metropolitan South Australia. They will be coming to a neighbourhood near you. Any resident who is concerned about community health and wellbeing will have reason to be concerned about the White Rock Quarry expansion, because really it is setting a precedent for what happens with private mines that are backing up against housing and impacting on community amenity. With that, I commend the motion to the chamber.

Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.

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