A new sand mine is being proposed for Anna Bay, seeking to extract 50,000 cubic metres a year over 30 years and expecting to add 40 truck movements a day along Nelson Bay Road.
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Details of the mine were revealed by consultants Tattersall Lander for owner Regusa Pty Ltd for the first time at a public meeting held last Wednesday night.
Regusa has its address listed in Soldiers Point at the same premises of Dalcorp, operator of the Soldiers Point Marina.
The proposal is for a sand quarrying development and caretaker’s residence on land at 4226 Nelson Bay Road (behind the Baylife Church) at Anna Bay. There are three existing sand mines within close proximity of the new proposal.
Project manager Bob Lander told around 20 residents who attended the meeting at Birubi Community Hall on September 12 that the need to extract sand stemmed from a build up of sand over time which had the potential to cause interference with Ausgrid’s transition lines.
“In some areas the sand dunes are higher than the existing nine-metre high power cables,” Mr Lander told the gathering.
An Ausgrid spokesperson said that Ausgrid was not aware of the development application and was not in a position to make a comment because it “had not been approached regarding the EIS [environment impact statement]”.
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Mr Lander said it was proposed that the Bobs Farm-based civil works and demolition firm Hay Enterprises would provide the earthworks for the project.
Faced with questions over the impact on the underground water table, Mr Lander assured residents that sand would only be extracted from above ground level.
He also responded to the concerns expressed by residents over the proposed increase in the number of truck movements along busy Nelson Bay Road and access to the site.
“There will be a maximum of 40 truck movements a day for five-and-a-half days a week, and a left-turn only lane will be added subject to the normal Roads and Maritime Services conditions,” he said.
Mr Lander said that an environmental impact statement addressing noise, air quality, groundwater, ecology, visual, traffic, social, economic, bushfire, waste management and Aboriginal heritage was being prepared before lodgement with the Department of Planning could take place.
He said that the development application process was expected to take at least nine months and the final decision rested with the state-based Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP).
Port Stephens Council would also be expected to comment on the merits of the proposal.