A proposed aeolian sand mine in Waterhouse has been deemed environmentally sustainable by the Environment Protection Authority.
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The Manuka Park sand mine proposes to extract a maximum of 20,000 cubic metres per year from mobile dunes encroaching on wetlands and agricultural land.
Excavation of the sand will be conducted using a front-end loader, while screening to remove vegetative matter, it will be stockpiled in a storage area and loaded onto trucks before it's transported from the property.
EPA director Wes Ford said the proposed development could be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions.
"Various environmental issues were considered in the assessment, particularly management of extraction near conservation significant wetland areas," he said.
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"Permit conditions requiring wetland buffer areas and sediment management have been imposed to limit the potential for impact to wetlands.
"Vehicles on site will be limited to 20km/h to ensure that noise and dust do not pose an environmental nuisance and vehicles exiting the site will require load covering or load dampening."
The EPA conducted an environmental effects report and an environmental assessment before handing down its decision this month.
A development application for the site at 963 Waterhouse Road was lodged with the Dorset Council last year, before the application was referred to the EPA Board for assessment.
The council received no representations to the permit application from December 4 to 18.