Rodney Stevens
A proposal for Telluric Sands to develop a huge sand quarry and processing plant at Dilkoon, north of Grafton, has been received by Clarence Valley Council and placed on public exhibition.
Council received the development application DA for Designated Development and Nominated Integrated Development for the sand quarry and ancillary processing plant from Telluric Sands for lots off the Summerland Way at Dilkoon and are seeking public feedback on the proposal.
The site, including the extraction area, associated plant and haul roads, and a 30-metre buffer around the extraction area, covers approx. 37.37ha.
“Development consent is sought for the extraction of sand from the bed of Dilkoon Creek,” says the Environmental Impact Statement.
“The quarry will produce good quality sand for use in the development and building industries.
“The material will be extracted via mechanical means using an excavator or similar.
“The operation will involve extraction of the sand, screening, stockpiling and loading into haulage trucks for dispatch to market.”
Excavators, dozers, front end loaders, the screening plant and haulage trucks plan to operate from 6am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 6am to 3pm on Saturday’s, with no work on Sundays or public holidays, if the DA is approved.
“Consent is sought to extract up to 200,000 tonnes per annum with a total extractable resource amount of 2,000,000 tonnes,” says the Environmental Impact Statement.
“Consent is sought to operate the quarry for a maximum 20-year period or until a total of 2,000,000 tonnes has been removed.”
Telluric Sands have completed several studies submitted with the DA including Koala management, an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage assessment, noise, traffic and agricultural assessments, a bushfire threat assessment, geomorphological assessment and water supply strategy, and a restoration and rehabilitation plan.
The Biodiversity Development Assessment Report by Ardill Payne and Partners identified 16 species of flora and fauna on the site, including Koalas, Barking Owls, the Wallum Froglet, Little Lorikeet, and the Little Bent-winged Bat, which will require Telluric Sands to pay Biodiversity Credits to the NSW government to offset the impacts of the development, if approved.
The development application will be determined by the Northern Regional Planning Panel, a NSW Government body comprising three experienced planning representative and two Clarence Valley councillors.
Due to the nature of the development, council have advised the proposed development requires approval from the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Department of Primary Industry – Fisheries and the Department of Planning and Environment – Water.
Submissions from the public and industry stakeholders are welcomed by council to help with informed and transparent decision making.
Anyone who makes a submission objecting to the development can appeal to the Land and Environment Court if consent is granted for the development and they are dissatisfied with the decision.
People wanting to make a submission about the proposed development are advised they are not confidential and submissions can be made at https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Advertised-DAs/DA20230402-Summerland-Way-Dilkoon