About The Industry › For Schools ›› Secondary Teachers Resources

Secondary Teacher Resources

CAREERS

PDF file click here ...
with thanks to www.coaleducation.org/ (site funded by the Kentucky Coal Association)

ROCK FAMILIES

PDF file click here ...
with thanks to www.coaleducation.org/ (site funded by the Kentucky Coal Association)

CASE STUDY: WHERE SHOULD NEW QUARRY MATERIALS COME FROM?

One of the very real challenges facing our communities is where should quarry materials come from? Our best estimates are that recycling in Australia might supply on average about 10% of our aggregate needs within 10 to 15 years. The remaining 90% must come from quarries. But as quarries become depleted it is increasingly difficult to open new ones. Within local communities there is growing activism against new quarries. We want and need the products and services that quarries and aggregates provide, but most people don’t want a new quarry in their backyard.

So what is the solution? If we live in city areas is it fair to expect rural areas to become the satellite mines and quarries for city people? And even assuming people in rural areas don’t mind, as we push quarries further and further away we increase the distance that trucks must drive to deliver the aggregates to where they are used. This increases fuel usage. It increases greenhouse gas emissions. It can also compromise road safety especially if there is a major increase of large trucks on rural roads.

Many Local Government Councils around Australia are struggling to find solutions to these issues. Some Councils proudly announce that they wont allow new quarries to establish in their Shire, even though their towns or cities can’t exist without aggregates. Other Councils recognise that local needs should wherever possible, be satisfied from local quarries — the so called ‘proximity’ principle, but are criticised by people for doing so.

The following case study presents Suntown, a (hypothetical) fast growing city and its need for aggregates. Suntown could be any one of a number of Australian cities and towns.

You are the mayor of Suntown, a fast growing city on the coast of Australia. People want to live in Suntown. It doesn’t rain that often (as you might expect!), the beaches are great and it offers a more relaxed lifestyle than that of a large city.

The growing population of Suntown has meant that the existing community facilities and infrastructure will soon not be adequate. New schools, new roads and new sports facilities need to be built. The beautiful beach needs erosion protection along parts of the beachfront and a new railway line and airport extension will be required within 10 years.

Suntown’s only quarry will soon be exhausted. If Suntown is to provide the homes and infrastructure that the people need then a new quarry has to be established. But where?

--[top]--