Roadstone Provinces Ltd. - CRH

Objective

To preserve and enhance the local biodiversity though looking for ways to encourage wildlife into the quarry and its surroundings.

Roadstone Dublin Ltd. is dedicated to pursuing best practice in environmental management and operates environmental management systems certified to ISO 14001 at all 17 of its quarries and pits in the Dublin Region in the east of Ireland. Roadstone Dublin Ltd. is part of the CRH group, committed to the highest standards of environmental responsibility.

Context

Roadstone Dublin’s Dehnamstown quarry has been in operation for over 40 years. It supplies raw material for Irish Cement’s nearby cement plant, as well as the local aggregate market. Many quarries and pits are favoured by wildlife as a safe and natural habitat, both in operation and on restoration when resources are exhausted. It is Roadstone’s policy to manage the visual impacts of its operations on the local environment, and the encouragement of biodiversity is a key part of this.

Solution

Beside the quarry, a pond was allowed to form. Natural vegetation was encouraged to grow in this area, encouraging insects and other wildlife. This in turn attracted birds, most obvious being the ducks pictured. The workings plan for extraction at the quarry now excludes the pond area and its immediate surroundings, in order to preserve the natural biodiversity.

Result

The provision of a habitat for visiting waterfowl has been achieved by careful supervision of a natural process. Management of the quarry ensures that the operations do not adversely impact on the biodiversity area. In this way, Roadstone Dublin Ltd. demonstrates its commitment to best practice in environmental management.