Major Sand Export Proposal for Rushy Lagoon Includes 700-Metre Jetty, Raises Aboriginal Concerns

A substantial proposal to establish a sand mine at Rushy Lagoon, Tasmania’s largest farm in the north-east, is set to be formally revealed next month, including plans for a 700-metre jetty for export operations. The project, put forward by North Scottsdale Resources, aims to dredge and process up to 100 million tonnes of sand over 30 to 40 years, primarily for concrete production in interstate and South-East Asian markets, the ABC reported.

The company’s director, Tony Ellis, confirmed to the North-Eastern Advertiser that a permit application for a mining lease is imminent. The project, estimated to cost between $50-60 million, would involve constructing a 700-metre jetty south of Petal Point. This jetty would facilitate the loading of sand onto transfer vessels, which would then transport the material to larger cargo ships in Ringarooma Bay for export, according to the ABC. Mr Ellis highlighted a significant global shortage of sand for construction, including in Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart, which the mine aims to address.

North Scottsdale Resources anticipates creating up to 25 jobs initially, with the potential for around 40 positions if an evening shift is introduced, the North-Eastern Advertiser reported. Mr Ellis stated that the proposed mining area would be entirely contained within the Rushy Lagoon property, situated approximately 150 metres inland from coastal dunes. He assured that the dunes themselves would not be impacted, with mining activity focused on old, degraded agricultural grazing land. The company is also exploring options such as aquaculture or solar panels for the lake that would be formed after mining concludes.

However, the proposal has triggered considerable concern from Aboriginal groups. Both the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) and the Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation (MTWAC) have voiced environmental and cultural heritage worries, the ABC reported. Andry Sculthorpe, TAC’s country and culture manager, emphasised that the sandy north-east coastlines are rich in history, containing sites where ancestors lived and were buried.

MTWAC co-chair Mark Harriss expressed concerns about the project’s sheer scale, the potential impacts from the jetty and associated vessel traffic, and risks to the Boobyalla sand dunes. He also raised questions about the plan to convert the mined land into a man-made lake, the Tasmanian Country Newspaper reported. Mr Harriss further stated that Aboriginal communities had not been adequately consulted about the project’s potential impacts. In response, Mr Ellis noted that North Scottsdale Resources has completed Aboriginal heritage studies, alongside flora and fauna assessments and drilling.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will be responsible for assessing the development proposal, with the Dorset Council and Mineral Resources Tasmania also involved in the process, the North-Eastern Advertiser confirmed. Dorset Mayor Rhys Beattie, while not yet having spoken directly with North Scottsdale Resources, indicated to the Tasmanian Country Newspaper that if the project is conducted sustainably and meets market demand, it could be a valuable resource for the community. He stressed the importance of protecting Aboriginal Heritage sites and ensuring environmental work is properly carried out.

The 700-metre jetty could also potentially serve other purposes, such as handling container freight or large wind-turbine components, the ABC reported. While an ACEN Australia spokesperson stated the jetty was not critical for their North East Wind project, Mr Ellis suggested the preliminary design could be expanded to accommodate wind farm components if that project proceeds.

The Rushy Lagoon property itself was recently sold in July to the Tasmanian Natural Asset Trust, a partnership involving the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation and UK-based investors Gresham House and Aviva Investments, as reported by the North-Eastern Advertiser. Gresham House, now managing the property, has factored potential mining royalties into its strategies. North Scottsdale Resources hopes to commence the sand mine project in late 2028, the North-Eastern Advertiser added.

Readers seeking further details are encouraged to consult the original reporting by ABC News (Tasmania), Tasmanian Country Newspaper, and the North-Eastern Advertiser.