Horticulture Impact Assessment Fin ge r b oa rd s M in e ral S a n - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Horticulture Impact Assessment Fin ge r b oa rd s M in e ral S a n - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Horticulture Impact Assessment Fin ge r b oa rd s M in e ral S a n d s Proj e c t C ommu n ity infor mation s e s s ion 29 Oc tob e r, 2019 Who is RMCG? Environmental and agricultural consultancy Operating since 1989 Provide

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Horticulture Impact Assessment

Fin ge r b oa rd s M in e ral S a n d s Proj e c t C ommu n ity infor mation s e s s ion – 29 Oc tob e r, 2019

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2 25 October 2019

Who is RMCG?

  • Environmental and agricultural consultancy
  • Operating since 1989
  • Provide advice to range of clients, including:
  • Government agencies, water authorities, industry associations, private sector,

individual landholders

  • Team of more than 45 consultants with offices in Bendigo, Melbourne, Warragul,

Torquay, Penguin (Tas) and Hobart (Tas)

  • Project Team: Adrian Kennelly, Karl McIntosh, Dr Doris Blaesing and Clinton Muller

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

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SLIDE 3

3 25 October 2019

Objectives of this study

  • Describe the study methods.
  • Characterise horticultural activities near the Project (Lindenow Valley).
  • Consult with landholder in the Lindenow Valley.
  • Describe any relevant environmental and/or product quality standards which may be

affected by external environmental influences.

  • Identify key potential issues/impacts of the project related to horticulture in the

surrounding area, both during construction and operations and management measures to control these.

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Assess the potential impact of the project on horticultural enterprises in the Lindenow Valley

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SLIDE 4

4 25 October 2019

Study method

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Identify horticulture values and issues (Consultation, desktop review) Assess impact and mitigation measures

  • f project

(Desktop review) Describe risk to production image (Comparative analysis) Horticultural Impact Assessment (Reporting)

Listen to growers concerns of as to what the risk is. Validate the extent to which the risks will be realized through EES technical reports. Assess the likelihood of risk, including comparative site assessment. Synthesis of landholder concerns, production issues and findings from EES reports as to inform recommendation of additional mitigation.

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SLIDE 5

5 25 October 2019

Study area

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Fernbank Lindenow South The Fingerboards Coongulmerang Woodglen Glenaladale Melwood Flaggy Creek Calulu Hillside Lindenow Wuk Wuk Walpa Fingerboards Mining Area Main Road Minor Road Land use Seasonal vegetables and herbs Water Other land use

1.5 3 Kilometers

±

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SLIDE 6

6 25 October 2019

Snapshot of horticulture production

  • Approximately ~4,700 hectares of vegetable production – conventional and organic.
  • Markets:
  • ~80% Sydney
  • ~20% Victoria
  • ~1% Exported
  • Food chain value addition a key feature of the region:
  • Bagged, ready-to-east, washed salad – 6 of the top 10 have footprint in East

Gippsland.

  • Regional food initiatives including Food & Fibre Gippsland, Gippsland Food Plan

Vision and Strategic Framework.

  • Established food processors – e.g. Vegco / One Harvest, Patties Food.

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

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SLIDE 7

7 25 October 2019

Horticulture in the Lindenow Valley

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

COMMODITY JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE Asparagus Beans Broccoli/Baby Broccoli Cabbage Capsicum Carrots Cauliflower Celery Lettuce Onions Pumpkin Spinach/Kale Sweet Corn

High production level Medium production level Low production level No production

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SLIDE 8

8 25 October 2019

Factors influencing sustainable production

  • Access to labour – skills, qualifications, sufficient availability of the ‘right’ people,

maintaining labour.

  • Access to quality ‘resources’ and sound environmental conditions for production, including:
  • Reliable and quality water supply from the Mitchell River irrigation supply
  • Adequate and productive soils, free of contaminants
  • Clean air free of dust (including from their own activities)
  • Suitable climatic conditions
  • Biodiversity values conducive to the area wide management of pest and diseases.
  • Good market demand and return for quality produce and value added products.

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Triple bottom line aspects of people, plant & profit providing social, environmental and economic sustainability

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9 25 October 2019

Potential issues to horticulture

  • 1. Dust generation and deposition on the surface of produce.
  • 2. Potential contaminants in dust particles causing food safety issues.
  • 3. Water quality i.e. the potential for water run-off from the site and or contaminated

mine water reaching irrigation and process water supplies.

  • 4. Irrigation water availability, i.e. the impact of the mine’s proposed use of 3 GL per

annum of water.

  • 5. The impact of increased truck movements on traffic, road safety and road conditions in

the area.

  • 6. The mine’s competition for labour.
  • 7. Whether climate change may worsen the project’s impacts on horticulture.
  • 8. Potential impact on the landscape amenity and the ‘clean’ image of the horticulture

industry and its produce in the market place.

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

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10 25 October 2019

  • 1. Dust generation and deposition

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Dust will be blown from the Project onto horticultural crops.

Issue for horticulture

  • Excessive dust loads can cause market defects.
  • Dust is inherit challenge within horticulture production systems.
  • Dust is an issue for in-field packed produce (cauliflowers).
  • Due to washing and sanitation, less of an issue for bagged leafy salads.
  • Irrigation and washing common management practice to control dust.

EES report

  • Dust levels expected to be low due to operating processes.
  • Emission modelling demonstrated compliance with all sensitive receptors

within the vicinity of horticulture production. Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Low - management of dust at the site in accordance with recommended

mitigation techniques.

  • Recommend – monitoring data available to landholders.
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11 25 October 2019

  • 2. Potential contaminants in dust particles

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Movement of contaminated dust particles onto:
  • production land and waterways
  • risk to regional image.

Issue for horticulture

  • Transmission pathways of contaminants from soil to plant are minimal.
  • Difficult to determine source of contaminants between natural exposure

and anthropogenic sources. EES report

  • Concentration levels of radionuclides at the surface are consistent with the

core. Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Low - monitoring regime and adherence to dust mitigation protocols.
  • Recommend – monitoring data available to landholders.
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SLIDE 12

12 25 October 2019

  • 3. Quality of run-off water

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Erosion and runoff from the Project may be difficult to contain within the

site. Issue for horticulture

  • Poor water quality (turbidity and contaminants) can impact:
  • irrigation water infrastructure
  • leave residues
  • transport contaminants.
  • Current practice – post-harvest sanitation to remove organic matter.

EES report

  • Water management system developed to manage the risk of off-site water

movement and contaminants. Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Low - storm water management plan and abatement measures to

minimize the downstream risk.

  • Recommend – monitoring data available to landholders.
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SLIDE 13

13 25 October 2019

  • 4. Irrigation water availability

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Future security of irrigation water due to increased risk of competition.

Issue for horticulture

  • The project seeks up to 3 GL allocation.
  • Investment in off-river private storage by some producers.
  • Access to additional water is necessary to support expanded production.

EES report

  • The Mitchell River Basin is not fully allocated, 6 GL winter fill entitlements

available.

  • Amount of water available to be managed by the regulator (SRW).

Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Availability and security of water supply is key for current and potential

expansion of horticulture production in the region.

  • Note – on-site water storage of Project reduces competition for seasonal

water demand.

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14 25 October 2019

  • 5. Traffic, road safety and road conditions

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Increased movement of heavy vehicles and additional traffic loads on

roads causing damage to existing road infrastructure, safety and congestion. Issue for horticulture

  • Horticulture uses of roads includes workforce movement, farm inputs and

distribution of produce to market. EES report

  • Road upgrades have been identified to facilitate the main transport routes.

Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Low - Road upgrades can have an indirect benefit for any other heavy

vehicles using the roads.

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15 25 October 2019

  • 6. Competition for labour

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Increased competition for labour with the Project, particularly in relation

to base wage and full time employment (rather than seasonal). Issue for horticulture

  • Horticultural industries face a skills and labour shortages.
  • Comparative assessment of award rates indicates a horticultural employee

is paid $5-7K (Full-time) or $6-9K (Part-time) less than the mining award. Remaining impact for horticulture

  • The Project is likely to attract some workforce in the region away from

horticulture due to higher wages and job security.

  • Competitive employment environment will be determined by the market.

Partnerships with the Project could address this through infrastructure and services.

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SLIDE 16

16 25 October 2019

  • 7. Climate change

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Future ability of the horticulture industry to operate with the Project under

changed climatic conditions. Issue for horticulture

  • Specific modelled climate change risks to horticulture in Gippsland region

include:

  • Reduced water security
  • Changed distribution of pests and diseases
  • Farm business affected by bushfire.

Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Primary climate change potential risks include:
  • Water security
  • Reduced availability of irrigation water.
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SLIDE 17

17 25 October 2019

  • 8. Impact on landscape amenity & ‘clean-green’

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project

Concern

  • Biophysical aspects of the landscape (how it looks).
  • Economic impacts:
  • Tourist visitation decline
  • Loss of market for horticulture products, leading to loss of employment in

horticulture sector. Issue for horticulture

  • Lindenow Valley reputation for salad vegetable production and innovation.
  • If a significant contamination event were to occur, in spite of precautions,

concern it would impact horticulture market.

  • Fresh vegetables not commonly sold by geographic location.

Remaining impact for horticulture

  • Potential financial losses based on ‘image’ cannot be predicted – due to

complexity of supply chains and markets, and volatility of costs and prices.

  • Comparable cases studies (Wemen, Vic and Busselton, WA) do no report a

loss of regional reputation or impact on sales.

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18 25 October 2019

Summary

  • The Horticulture Impact Assessment was commissioned to scope the remaining

impact on surrounding horticulture production, provided the recommended mitigation measures within the EES were adopted.

  • The Horticulture Impact Assessment concludes an overall low risk to surrounding

horticulture production, provided additional mitigation measures are adopted.

  • The Horticulture Impact Assessment recommends of the importance of the Project

to continue to engage with industry.

Horticulture Impact Assessment – Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project