Dowes Quarry

We understand the importance of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our workers, local communities, and the natural surroundings. Extraction and processing quartzose quarry material involves handling silica dust, which can pose health risks if not properly managed. Our comprehensive dust control strategies are designed to minimise exposure and ensure compliance with all regulatory standards.

Engineering controls:

We utilise advanced engineering controls to minimise the generation and spread of silica dust. This includes:

• Water sprays: Strategically placed water sprays are used throughout the crushing and processing areas to suppress dust at its source.
• Dust filtration systems: High-efficiency HEPA dust filtration systems capture airborne dust and protect personnel in sealed plant.
• Enclosed processing areas: Key areas of our operations, such as belts and transfer points, are enclosed to contain dust and prevent it from escaping into the wider environment.

Operational controls:

Integral to dust management, our operational controls include:

• Regular maintenance: Routine maintenance of equipment ensures that dust control systems operate at peak efficiency.
• Material handling: We implement careful handling and transfer procedures to minimize dust generation during material movement.
• Vehicle speed limits: By enforcing speed limits on haul roads, we reduce the amount of dust stirred up by vehicle movements.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

The safety of our workers is paramount. We provide appropriate PPE, including:

• Respiratory protection: High-quality respirators are supplied to all employees working in dust-prone areas.
• Protective clothing: Dust-resistant clothing helps prevent dust from adhering to skin and being carried away from the site.
• Decontamination: We operate a state-of-the-art decontamination ‘bat booth’ to ensure any dust trapped in clothing is safely removed.

Air quality monitoring:

We monitor air quality to ensure that silica dust levels remain within safe and acceptable limits. This involves

• Real-time monitoring: Utilising state-of-the-art air quality monitoring equipment, we can detect and respond to dust levels in real-time.
• Regular testing: Scheduled testing and analysis of dust samples are conducted to verify compliance with regulatory standards.

Regulatory compliance:

Our quarry operations strictly adhere to the guidelines set forth by:

• SafeWork NSW: Compliance with SafeWork NSW regulations ensures that our dust management practices meet or exceed the required safety standards.
• Environmental Protection Authority (EPA): We work closely with the NSW EPA to ensure our operations are environmentally responsible and sustainable.

Community Engagement:

We are committed to maintaining open lines of communication with our local communities. This includes:

• Notification: Potentially affected receivers and the NSW EPA are notified 24-hours ahead Scheduled blasting activities.
• Engagement: We record and close out any concerns raised by the surrounding community.
• Transparency: We publish reports on our website detailing our dust control efforts and recent monitoring results.

Environmental stewardship:

Our dedication to environmental stewardship includes:

• Vegetation buffers: Planting and maintaining vegetation buffers around our site helps to naturally trap and reduce airborne dust.
• Rehabilitation projects: Ongoing land rehabilitation projects are designed to restore and enhance the local environment, further minimizing dust dispersion.

ISO Certified Integrated Management System

Managing silica dust is a critical component of our commitment to safety, health, and environmental responsibility which is executed through our third-party ISO certified Integrated Management System. Through robust control measures, continuous monitoring, and community engagement, we ensure that our operations are safe and sustainable for all stakeholders.

Dowes quartzose quarry is situated on the Mount Lindesay Highway, just outside of Tenterfield. This central location allows us to serve clients across New South Wales and Queensland efficiently.

As a leading quartzose quarry, we produce a unique high-quality white quartzite silica rock that is crushed into a variety of structural quality.

These products are suitable for a wide range of applications across the construction and industrial sectors.

Dowes Quarry has been operational since 1987, proudly servicing clients and providing reliable, high-quality products from our quartzose quarry to customers throughout the region.

In line with our commitment to environmental responsibility, we collect and publish pollution monitoring data as required by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). This is done in compliance with section 66(6) of the POEO Act, ensuring that our white rock quarries meet strict environmental standards.

A PIRMP is a comprehensive document that outlines the procedures in place to minimise the risk of pollution incidents at our quartzose quarry. It ensures effective notification, action, and communication with all relevant authorities and stakeholders in the event of an incident.

Yes, Dowes Quarry adheres to all required environmental protection licences and regulations, including maintaining a Pollution Incident Response Management Plan as mandated by the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). We are committed to ensuring our operations as a white rock quarry are sustainable and environmentally responsible.