The Environmental Protection Authority has cleared the way for the Western Junction Quarry to increase its mining to 500,000 tonnes of rock a year and open a new mine lease.
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Even though the EPA has cleared the proposed development on its end, the Northern Midlands Council will still need to approve the permit.
It proposes increasing the quarry's maximum extraction and processing limit from 197,000 cubic meters to 312,500 cubic meters a year and expanding into a new pit.
The Evandale Road quarry will continue to be mined by drilling, one or two days a month, and blasting, once a month, before being processed at the site's existing crushing and screening plant.
In other news:
A mining lease for a new pit near the Launceston Airport was sought as resources in the remaining two active pits were found to likely be depleted in two-three years.
The main concerns, raised by four representations, were noise emissions, blasting impacts and air emissions.
However, EPA board chairperson Warren Jones said it found the proposed development could be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions.
He said the EPA required those conditions to be included in any permit granted by the council.
"Various environmental issues were considered by the board in its assessment, particularly noise emissions, blasting impacts and air emissions," he said.
"The EPA requires that a noise survey be conducted once operations commence in the new pit to confirm the noise assessment predictions. In addition, a suite of conditions are imposed relating to blasting to ensure that Launceston Airport and other sensitive receptors are notified of blasting, and that appropriate blast design and monitoring occurs.
"The proponent will also be required to control dust emissions from drilling, blasting, transport of materials and during processing of materials."
As part of the conditions the airport and residents within a one-kilometre radius are to be notified 24-hours in advance before any blasting activity.
The EPA found future noise emissions estimates would comply, except for the drill rig in the early stages of the new pit development. Therefore if required, additional measures will be implemented in the initial years of the extension.
Day time noise will be limited to 50 A-weighted decibels because of the industrial, commercial and aviation related activities nearby and the site will continue to operate from 6am to 5.30pm on weekdays and from 7am to 3pm on Saturday.
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