GERROA SAND MINE EXTENSION – SCREENING AND REHABILITATION
This new sand mine will locate a large industrial enterprise in a rural landscape. The location is a scenic, tourist area so visual impacts will detract from the landscape values, particularly from the north and west of the mine site. The visual Viewshed Analysis indicates high public and private visibility from the direction of Toolijooa Road; very high visibility from the elevated Dooley Road, and partial visibility from Beach Road. In addition, the mine will be visible from the neighbouring property to the north of the Northern Paddock, which is omitted on the Viewshed Analysis. Visual impacts from the north,west and southwest could easily be offset by screen planting as proposed in the vegetation screening map (appendix 5 – click to see).
Consideration should be given to effective visual screen as soon as possible before the commencement of the project.
A Rehabilitation Plan and map for this modification proposal has not been included with the Main Report. An Outdated Quarry Environmental Management Plan and old Landscape and Rehabilitation Plan for the original 2008 proposal has been provided. The details of rehabilitation proposals are brief in the Main Report. It is very difficult to comment on the rehabilitation proposed without sufficient information.
We support the rehabilitation of the dredge pond to replicate a freshwater wetland. Wetlands are shallow waterbodies so consideration of appropriate depth of the water body and vegetation would be crucial to replicate viable wetland.