Gosford Quarries Leading Civil Supplier For VENM Material Supply
Civil Partners are constantly seeking Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) for Civil and Public Works projects. Sandstone is the perfect natural alternative to tunnel spoil as a natural civil material, 100% recyclable, sustainable, and, most importantly, environmentally friendly, making sandstone a perfect virgin excavated natural material of choice.
Simply, sandstone does not go in and out of fashion as a civil landscaping material and because of Gosford Quarries’ quality control and adherence to civil specification is highly prized and sought in the Civil Industry across NSW. Sandstone also gives a softer, more pleasing overall visual look when compared to basalt or man-made concrete civil landscaping materials.
Sandstone Is A Perfect Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) For Civil Projects
Gosford Quarries have dimension raw quarry stone to suit and meet Civil Engineer specifications and have the capacity to supply larger quantities in faster turnaround times than our industry competitors.
What Is Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM)?
VENM is actually an acronym to describe a natural material as defined in the “The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act)”.
The definition and requirements to be met for classing VENM are mandated and communicated via an “EPA Gazettal notice” from the NSW Environment Protection Authority. ‘Government Gazette’ can be used as a search term to find these Gazettes on their website.
The EPA’s latest EPA Gazette online Magazines can be found here relating to VENM and other NSW council legislation, etc.
Even though a ‘pure’ material in environmental and sustainable regards, VENM is also classified as waste being “pre-classified as general solid waste (non-putrescible)”. See an official waste classification reference here.
Why Use Sandstone As A Virgin Excavated Natural Material Instead Of Tunnel Spoil For A Natural Civil Material?
When large mining and tunnelling civil contractors excavate large holes the excavated material (“Tunnel Spoil”) is mostly sold to supply civil and public projects. The result can be a significantly varied product with consequential large variances in quality.
In a 1000 tonne tunnel spoil mix, you may have metal needle pins and filings, shale, soft and hard sandstone, wet sandstone with varied properties, etc.
This would not pass the definition of sought after VENM for Civil Projects as well, as tunnel spoil (it is in the name; spoil) is actually a contaminated material by the inclusion of contaminant materials intermarried by the actual excavation process and byproducts ensuing from mechanical extraction.
Sandstone As VENM Material For Civil Works
Civil Designers seek natural materials with new environmental and sustainable mandates through government controls and directives.
We are often asked by civil engineers, our of concern, the suitability of sandstone as a material sedimentary porous rock if its nature is suitable for use in civil waterway projects, where there is exposure to moisture and direct water contact, especially in marine installations where large boulders have significant physically wave attack, etc.
Sandstone, in fact, is more suitable and stronger than other materials and man-made blocks (concrete materials, etc).
In regards to MPA density (recent studies reveal an MPA of 70, better than some other hard stones) revealing that the strength of sandstone is GREATER than that of concrete.
For Civil Designers, it is crucial to have a natural filtration material in projects involving national parks, creeks, rivers and waterways. Sandstone, again, is a perfect, purely functional filtration and sediment retention natural stone material.
Apart from government environmental mandates, functional and civil engineering concerns, sandstone also grants the benefit of aesthetics to the Civil Designer. Natural Sandstone affords a visual ‘hand in glove’ blending of application to the environment.
Gosford Quarries Compliances In Civil Law, Business Practice, Corporate Citizenship and Environmental Sustainability
Gosford Quarries’ compliance is an overall consideration for the environment and sustainability.
We source the majority of our Civil Products from our quarries at Wondabyne, Cattai and East Kurrajong, located North West of Sydney.
We are compliant with all associated Authorities with regards to our extraction processes and these compliances are also accompanied by quarterly mandatory testing for both the extracted material and its surrounding environment.
With our dedication to meet the requirements of our Mine Safety Management System and in accordance with our Environmental Impact Statement, we continue to re-habilitate the environment as we produce the natural resource of Australian Sandstone which is classified as, Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM).
We have and continue to supply our materials to many projects across NSW to both Government and Non-Government sectors.
All Gosford Quarries sandstone civil sandstone products are tested and RMS compliant, and meet “Blacktown Specifications”, etc.
Unlike most quarries targeted for aggregate and ripped concrete product, we quarry to target the high value, high-end sandstone product for all sectors, and this is especially true in our Civil Sandstone product range.
Our Wondabyne Quarry is nearly 100 years old, besides all testing regimes, it has a history of performance unparalleled in the industry for civil sandstone VENM supply.
Our other quarries are between 40-50 years old with arguably as much testing data and quality assurance proved over time and consistency of supply to the civil sector in NSW and other states.
Gosford Quarries Commitment To Environmental Management, Sustainable And Landcare
All Gosford Quarries quarry sites have an end-use management system in place.
For example, one of our quarries has been earmarked for commercial use post quarrying (when the quarry is deemed exhausted from excavation and no remaining high-quality sandstone product to be extracted). At this time the site can become an industrial area.
Other ‘Gosford Quarries’ quarries have an end-use agreement with Council and Crown Land to be restored to exactly as they were before quarrying took place. This program is also overseen by Council and Crown Land alike. This involves replanting and revegetation sites back to a completely natural environment where you would never know mining or extraction took place.
As we quarry we also seed bank topsoils and use this for our rehabilitation of the site. This also ensures microbial life and entire insect ecosystems continue to renew organically and the soil returned is endemic to the land and environment, fully suitable, unlike soil that would be shipped in from another site for landfill, etc.
Gosford Quarries Expert Consultation and Advice For Civil Construction, Civil Engineering and Public Works
The expert sandstone team at Gosford Quarries are here to speak about your Civil Construction and Engineering Projects and Public Works Projects at any scale.
Gosford Quarries can work with you from conception to construction and support the realisation of your design and architectural vision for any civil or public construction project.
Peace of Mind When you Choose Gosford Quarries as your Civil Sandstone Supplier
Gosford Quarries are local to supply for Sydney Council’s and this is one of our greatest strengths as a sandstone supplier in the Australian market. Sandstone council landscaping projects are particularly interested in incorporating quality Australian sandstone into their designs and public spaces.
Gosford Quarries are not just known for the quality of our products, our adherence to Standards, our quality controls, our expert knowledge, our robust supply capabilities to scale and our technical capabilities with the latest technological advances.
Gosford Quarries are also known for their word. They do what they say and constantly look for ways to improve their customer service and ensure their customers are confident and can trust the Gosford Quarries name.
Gosford Quarries are the go-to for all things sandstone across four sectors; residential, commercial, civil and heritage sandstone projects. This is particularly true in Civil Sandstone Supply.