On 23 December 2020 Hanson Construction Materials Ltd (Hanson) submitted a revised mine operation plan (MOP) for the White Rock Quarry.

The MOP document is currently under preliminary assessment to determine whether the content of the MOP meets the minimum requirements for assessment which are prescribed by the Mining Regulations 2011. The preliminary assessment is expected to be completed by Friday 15 January 2021.

The government will then commence the detailed assessment of the submitted MOP involving technical specialists from Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) and other relevant government agencies.

The detailed assessment will focus on the proposed environmental objectives and measurement criteria including whether:

• potential environmental impacts have been identified and whether the expected level of impact described broadly in the objective is appropriate
• the proposed control and management strategies are likely to achieve the proposed objective
• the measurement criteria are appropriate to demonstrate achievement of the objective.

Detailed assessment timeframes are commensurate with the complexity of the MOP submission and require thorough review of technical information.

At the conclusion of the assessment a recommendation is prepared, detailing whether the MOP can be approved or if alterations are required by the company. The recommendation is based on the evidence contained in the MOP and other relevant technical information. The statutory duty of the Director of Mines to approve or require alterations to a MOP is delegated to DEM.

More information

Further information about concerns relating to respirable crystalline silicosis (RCS) can be found in the information sheet Silicosis in mining and quarrying in South Australia (PDF 624.1 KB), developed by the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in collaboration with Environment Protection Authority (EPA), SA Health, Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MAQOHSC) and SafeWork SA.