Westbridge Quarry

at a glance Approval: Gravel extraction DA 2008/377 Location: 23 Westbridge Lane, Uralba Environmental Protection Licence: EPL 20742

Westbridge quarry is located at  23 Westbridge Lane, off the Bruxner Highway at the foothills of the Alstonville Plateau. It is adjoined by cane farming land to the east, Chilcott’s Creek to the west, the Bruxner Highway to the south and sugarcane and vegetated plateau lands to the north. Stage 1 of the quarry footprint is located on the Western side of foothills within the property and generally protected from view by the surrounding hills and valley formed by Chilcott’s Creek.

On 21 July 2009, the Land Environment Court (LEC) of New South Wales granted consent for an extractive industry and associated vehicular access under DA 2008/377.  A modification was approved on the 24 June 2010 which sought to amend the approval by re-siting the rehabilitation works from the eastern side of the extraction area to the western side and to relocate the site office to the eastern side of the extraction area adjacent to the internal driveway from Westbridge Lane. The extraction is limited to an estimated amount of 1,300,000m³ over the quarry life of 20 years. The proponent must not transport more than 200,000 tonnes from the site in any one year. Extraction may take place for a period of 20 years from the date of issuing the construction certificate in 2012 and therefore lapses in April 2032. This quarry is not identified as being a major producer of road base gravels but rather a producer of a general fill material.

Environmental Constraints                                                                                                                     

The consent includes requirements for a quarry environmental management plan, stormwater management plan and revegetation, rehabilitation and weed control plan. A mobile crusher is permitted to operate onsite for no longer than 20 days per year. A maximum of 28 truck movements (14 laden) are permitted per hour over a 9-hour haulage period. The site also holds and must comply with an environmental protection licence - EPL 20742. The amount of extracted material is also to be validated by a volumetric survey annually which must be conducted by an independent accredited surveyor at the expense of the owner/operator. The Quarry Environmental Management Plan (QEMP) is not a static document and is required to undergo a review of all practices no later than at 5-year intervals or at commencement of Phase 2 and Phase 3, whichever occurs first. The process is to be via a documented review of each of the components contained within the QEMP and must provide an assessment grading of how well the QEMP objectives are being achieved and to correlate current industry work practices.

Rehabilitation Requirements                        

A detailed and comprehensive progressive quarry Rehabilitation Management Plan was submitted and approved by Council for the quarry which requires rehabilitation of the quarry excavation areas to a condition where there is a stable batter profile such that 70% of grass/ground cover and 80% of the tree species are in a healthy state. The Plan identifies batters 2:1 topsoiling and hydro mulching of the quarry footprint area. Once satisfied that the hydro mulch process has been successful via minimum 80% strike coverage over applied areas, plantings of tube stock within the 5m wide berm will then be commenced. It will be 5 years post quarry completion before all vegetation maintenance obligations of the quarry owner are fulfilled.

Drone Image 2023Quarry floor and sediment dam

Drone Image 2023Quarry face

Drone Image 2023 View to the South