Client: Boral
Location: Dookie, Victoria

Key Services Provided:

• GIS Mapping
• Offset area selection
• Net Gain targets
• Vegetation Management Plan
• Flora and fauna surveys

Water Technology was commissioned by Boral Country Quarries to undertake a Net Gain assessment at their hard rock quarry in northern Victoria. This was part of the requirement for their application to revise the existing Work Authority to expand the extraction area, allowing access to higher grade material and to extend the viable life of the quarry.

A survey of the vegetation surrounding the existing extraction boundary was undertaken to determine the conservation significance of native vegetation. The proposed new extraction limit was then altered where possible to avoid and minimise native vegetation losses while still allowing the quarry to operate efficiently and economically into the future. Considerable negotiation occurred between our ecologists, Boral, quarry engineers / designers and regional Native Vegetation Officers.

Once it was agreed that naive vegetation losses had been minimised, the losses were quantified, a ‘Net Gain’ target calculated and a suitable offset area identified. A vegetation offset management plan was then produced to ensure the Net Gain targets could be met

Contact:

Jamie Kaye (jamie.kaye@watech.com.au)
Senior Ecologist
PO Box 792, Wangaratta VIC 3676
Ph (03) 5721 2650