Disused Vale quarries could be used for inert waste disposal
TWO disused former quarries in Vale are to undergo a detailed study to assess whether they could be suitable for the disposing of inert construction and demolition waste.
It would be for materials such as stone, bricks, cement, rubble and soil, which are currently disposed of at the Longue Hougue land reclamation site in St Sampson’s.
That is expected to be full within the next five years, and States' Trading Assets is currently looking to identify where the next disposal site should be.
‘The States has already given the go ahead to investigate further land reclamation at Longue Hougue,’ a Trading Assets spokesman said.
‘This could extend the current site by around 500 metres to the south, and take between 11 and 15 years to fill. Once complete, it would provide an area of more than 105,000sq. m. for future development.
‘A detailed environmental impact assessment is being carried out, to identify the potential effects of such an extension and any possible mitigation measures.
‘In conjunction with this, similar in-depth studies will also now be carried out on two quarries located between Bordeaux Harbour and Beaucette Marina.’
L’Epine Quarry is owned by Guernsey Water, and is currently used as a reservoir, while Guillotin Quarry is privately owned.
‘Trading Assets has already carried out preliminary hydrographic surveys on both quarries, to determine their depth and contours, and therefore the likely capacity.
‘The EIA will now look at various potential environmental impacts if they were to be infilled, including flora and fauna, traffic, air quality, noise and vibration.
‘It is expected that the two sites in combination could provide capacity for around three years of filling. Although it is not considered a long-term solution, they could provide part of one. Because both quarries are outside the main centre, there would be limited potential to develop any land created by infilling them.’
The two quarries were among the long list of more than 50 options previously identified, the spokesman added.
‘That included raising land in some low lying, flood prone areas, such as a potential extension to the runway at Guernsey Airport.
‘Coastal land reclamation, such as the extension to Longue Hougue, or infilling certain disused quarries were subsequently identified as the most suitable options.’
In December, the States also considered a proposed new strategy for dealing with inert waste. It includes measures to reduce the overall amount of material produced, and to promote more of its re-use and recycling within construction projects.
The private sector currently uses a lot of inert waste, either by recycling on site within projects or producing aggregate for use elsewhere. However, it is also estimated that up to 20% of material currently used for land reclamation could still be used in building projects.
Other plans are also afoot to address the problem.
‘States' Trading Assets is therefore looking to award a contract for a local company to provide an aggregates recycling facility at Longue Hougue,’ the spokesman added.
‘This would divert some material that is suitable for use in other projects, and extend the life of the current land reclamation site.
‘The contract would be for an initial three years, after which it will be reviewed and either extended or offered for tender again.’
