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Summary
- Coca-Cola Amatil has made a submission to the NSW Department of Planning, expressing its concern over possible groundwater pollution by the mining-related activities.
- Coca-Cola Amatil manufactures drink-Mount Franklin at its Amatil site, which has been operational since June 2004.
- Coca-Cola Amatil fears that the backfill material required to pack the voids of the mine will pollute the regional aquifer making the groundwater unfit for drinking or agricultural purposes.
Sand mining gives rise to environmental issues like flora and fauna damages as well as depletion of the groundwater supplies. It involves digging deep pits in the ground, which can cause surface effluents to mix with the groundwater making it unfit for drinking as well as agricultural activities. Also, mine-related activities are water-centric and require a vast supply of water.
The governments around the world are coming with stricter laws and regulation to protect the environment from mining-related activities. One regulation includes Landscape and Rehabilitation Management Plan to be submitted by the mining company in order to obtain necessary approvals for mining operations.
Coca-Cola’s Amatil Limited in danger
One such incident of mining activity, which has the potential to cause water pollution and may shut down one of Coca-Cola’s plants, has come into the light. Coca-Cola’s Amatil Limited (ASX: CCL) is a well-renowned manufacturer and distributers of bottled beverages in alcoholic and non-alcoholic segments. The company is operating its Amatil plant since 2004, and setting up of a sand quarry within close proximity of the plant endangers its future operations.
The manufacturer is opposing the application submitted by Sutton Forest Quarries Pty Ltd in which the applicant has asked approval for mining the quarry which lies in close proximity of the Amatil Plant. The plant draws water from the bores which are near to the proposed site of the quarry.
Coca-Cola Amatil, in its submission, has informed that quarry will operate at a depth between 700m and 660 m AHD. The plant has deeper boreholes and will not get directly affected but fears the long- term effects of the backfilling materials which will be used as a replacement of the sand may cause groundwater pollution and affect the quality of its products.
Coca-Cola carried on its own Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and has submitted the report to the regulatory authorities. Major issues pertaining to the reports were hydrogeological impacts and removal of native vegetation from the quarry area.
Sutton Forest Quarries, in their response, said that quarry’s operation is crucial for the construction businesses of Sydney and will provide direct employment to 20 people in the quarry. They also said that there is no direct evidence to support the claims of groundwater pollution, and the company would employ strict monitoring policy to safeguard the environment and aquifer.
Sutton Forest Quarries are planning to mine nearly one million tonnes of sand every year for the next 30 years. For their operational purposes, they need to clear around 63.2 hectares of land of their native vegetation. Sutton Forest could use up to 12 blasts per year for its sand extraction purposes.
The proposed Rehabilitation Management Plan includes:
- Progressive profiling and growing of native vegetation of Fines Storage Area 1.
- Site restoration and complete removal of plant machinery and equipment after completion of all mining-related activities.
- Import of one million cubic metres of Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) or Excavated Natural Material (ENM) together with other backfilling materials, will be used to fill the voids created due to sand mining.
Coca-Cola, in its EIS report, has expressed its discontent on the proposed rehabilitation program of the quarry by Sutton Forest. Coca-Cola fears that Sutton Forest will bring this 9.7 million cubic meters of materials from different sites which may affect the native fauna adversely.
The EIS report states that the mining activity will require dewatering. This may deplete the groundwater levels and impact the farmers and their irrigation works. Coca-Cola has recommended that more observation wells be installed in the vicinity of the mine. The wells should be carefully monitored by competent professionals all the time.
