RESERVES at Les Vardes Quarry could be worked out by 2015. A decade ago, when the States considered the Review of Strategy on Waste, Water and Stone, it was resolved that the then Advisory and Finance Committee should instigate a further report on the requirements at least 10 years before exhaustion of the quarry.

Ronez fully supported the 2003 review, which was ongoing and would have to go back before the States.

‘The indications are that reserves at Les Vardes Quarry could be worked by 2015 at anticipated rates of extraction and it is therefore appropriate for the review to take place,’ Peter de Garis, director of Ronez Ltd, told a planning inquiry yesterday.

Ronez said it was important that, pending States decisions being taken on the basis of the review, known reserves of stone were protected from any development that would compromise extraction.

Les Vardes was the only operational hard-rock quarry in the island and provided an important source of construction materials.

It also contributed significantly to the overall economy of the island, said Mr de Garis.

A detailed study needed to be undertaken to fully understand the best environmental option for the overall supply of aggregates to Guernsey, the company claimed.

Ronez wanted the planning inquiry into the draft Rural Area Plan to recognise the presence of further mineral reserves at the quarry.

It supported the designation of the area adjoining the quarry as ‘white land’ and believed that any options to extend the quarry [subject to a formal planning application] should be kept open until the stone, waste and water review was undertaken.

Advocate Julia White said that the company’s representation wanted certain land nearby designated as a mineral resources safeguard area.

This was not an application for quarrying to be carried out in that area but to prevent further development there, she said.

‘This is a case of keeping options open and not necessarily a case of working this area now. This area needs to be protected until a review is complete and the needs of the island have been ascertained.’

She said that it was not an area of high landscape value.

A report by Michel Hughes, an associate of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, claimed that the land should not be designated as a ‘conservation area’.

A further report by Richard Payne, a member of the Landscape Institute, concluded that the land should not be designated an ‘area of high landscape value’.

Ronez viewed Les Vardes as an important resource, both short- and long-term, and believed the ability to develop the quarry should not be prejudiced and should be safeguarded.

It was understood that Les Vardes was the only remaining potential site for water storage available in the island and had been recognised as such by Guernsey Water, the inquiry heard.

It heard that the Environment Department had given considerable attention to the area and believed retaining the area maintained the status quo.

‘Any expansion of activities [at Les Vardes] is likely to require a States decision,’ said Damon Hackley, one of the department’s forward-planning officers.

Ronez was also keen to support the idea of having a mineral resources safeguard area on a site at Chouet headland.

It believed there was a case for retaining the area for mineral resources and wanted to keep options open for the future – it wanted it protected until completion of the waste, water and stone review.