The operator of the northern Victorian quarry recently applied to Resources Victoria to surrender its work authority and stop work on the site.
However, a site visit found that the rehabilitation stage was incomplete due to the quarry pit’s excessive slope, missing topsoil and vegetation, excessive weeds and erosion.
Quarry operators can only apply to surrender their work authority once extraction is complete, and this can only be approved once rehabilitation obligations have been met and the land is fully restored.
Victorian law states that rehabilitation must be the final stage of quarrying. The site between Shepparton and Yarrawonga will continue to be closely monitored to ensure it is appropriately restored before being allowed to leave.
Resources Victoria chief executive Matt Vincent said rehabilitation was a crucial part of the quarrying life cycle, and quarry operators were being held accountable to do the right thing.
“Once quarries are rehabilitated they can become community assets; lots of parks across the state were once used to extract rock or sand,” he said.
“Rehabilitation is an important part of the quarrying life-cycle. If it’s not done properly, then the costs can fall to the state, which is unacceptable.
“Staff from our earth resources regulator regularly visit quarries to ensure they are meeting their obligations and doing the right thing.”
Extensive planning is required to run a quarry, and operators must meet all of their obligations, including site rehabilitation before Resources Victoria allows them to stop work and leave the site.
For more information, visit resources.vic.gov.au
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