Update on the Kanmantoo Bluestone Extension
On 24 November 2021 the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) formally accepted Hanson’s response document.
What happens next?
The next step in the process is that government undertakes a comprehensive technical assessment of the application, taking into account the public and government submissions, the response document and any other relevant information.
Government's final technical assessment typically takes a number of months to complete after acceptance of the response document, noting that this does not include the time required for subsequent decision-making processes.
Once a decision is reached, the decision will be published, and anyone who made a submission during the consultation period will be notified in writing.
The following diagram shows where we are in the regulatory decision-making process that the Government must follow in assessing the mining lease application.
About the proposed extension
Kanmantoo Bluestone Quarry is approximately 3 km west of Kanmantoo on Proctor Road, and is operated by Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd, part of the Heidelberg Cement Group. Hanson operate the quarry within an existing extractive minerals lease and associated miscellaneous purposes licence.
Hanson propose to expand the Kanmantoo Bluestone Quarry into land covered by retention lease 132 to increase production of the Kanmantoo Bluestone construction materials and aggregate.
Regulatory process
On 19 February 2020 Hanson submitted an application for an extractive minerals lease, supported by a mining proposal, to the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM). The mining proposal describes the existing environment, operations proposed, and an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed operations over the life of the quarry.
The application was made available for public comment on 4 June 2020 with a deadline for comments of 16 July 2020.
Legislative requirements
Under section 35 of the Mining Act 1971 a mining lease application must be accompanied by a mining proposal that complies with the Mining Act and the relevant Ministerial Determination under the Mining Regulations 2011. A mining proposal has been submitted to government as part of the mining lease application.
Section 35A(1) of the Mining Act requires the Minister for Energy and Mining to publish a notice in a newspaper inviting the public to make submissions in relation to the application. The Public Notice was posted on this website 4 June 2020.
Why have public consultation?
Whilst mining is an important contribution to the economic development of South Australia, it is also important that the potential impacts on the environment, local voices and the community are identified and considered in assessing whether or not to approve new applications.
The Government recognises that:
- It is essential to engage with people and communities who are directly affected by or have an interest in new proposals
- Communities have a wealth of knowledge about their local environment that may not otherwise be available to the proponent or government
- Benefits for both the local community and the proponent may be identified through two-way flow of information between the community and proponents
Submissions received
During the consultation period, fourteen submissions were received from members of the public. All submissions were redacted of private details where this was requested by the submitter and passed onto Hanson for consideration and response.
- Public submissions received
- Mark and Shirley Leske
- Kanmantoo Pastoral and Co - Alexander Wells
- APA Group Snyman Van Straaten
- Jody Mills
- Mount Barker Council
- Kanmantoo Callington Community Consultative Committee Working Group - Chair, Fiona Challen
- Harry Seager
- Kanmantoo Action Group - Hazel Hunter
- Tim and Emily Graham
- Kanmantoo Callington Community Consultative Committee - Chair, Karlene Maywald - incl. 3 submissions from Margi Dunn, Mandy Toczek and Lee McPeake, Helen Jenkins
- Paul Johnson and Rose Ashton
The mining proposal was also circulated to South Australian Government departments that were deemed relevant based on the information provided. A consolidated list of the matters raised by Government departments (including comments from DEM) during the statutory consultation period is presented in the request for response letter below. It also outlines what Hanson must submit to respond to these matters.
- DEM’s request for a response document (PDF 883 KB)
Assessment of the application
Hanson are required to submit a detailed response document. This will then initiate a comprehensive assessment of the information provided by the applicant. If matters are not sufficiently addressed, Hanson may be required to provide an additional revised response document.
Using technical experts drawn from South Australian government regulatory agencies, the department will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the mining proposal, public submissions received during the consultation process, and the response document prepared by Hanson.
DEM will assess the application and detail that assessment in a government assessment report. The assessment will consider the balance between the potential benefits and impacts of the project. The assessment will be detailed in the assessment report containing recommendations.
The decision
The Minister for Energy and Mining or delegate will consider the mining proposal, submissions received, response document and Government Assessment Report when making a decision. If the decision is to grant an extractive minerals lease, conditions will be attached to the lease. Often these conditions will include matters that have been raised by public submissions. The Government Assessment Report will be publicly released and made available on the DEM website.
In accordance with Section 35B of the Mining Act, any person who has made a written submission during the consultation period will be notified of the mining application decision in writing, including the terms and conditions of the extractive minerals lease if it has been granted.
