Tallinn opposed to opening new quarry in Nõmme
The national Environmental Board is seeking the opinion of the City of Tallinn on a geological survey for the opening of a new quarry in Nõmme, the area between Viljandi Road and Lake Raku. Tallinn strongly opposes the opening of the new quarry and rejects the application.
“We are well aware that the opening of quarries has a major impact on the environment on a wider scale and that the new mining activity would have a significant impact on the quality of life of people living in the Raudalu and Männiku settlements. Even though we have two months to respond to the application, we can already say clearly that we will not approve the application for this geological exploration permit. In other words, we will not allow the opening of a new quarry in Tallinn,” said Vladimir Svet, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn.
The application is for a permit to carry out a geological survey on a state-owned 8.24 hectare plot of land at Viljandi Road 34a in Nõmme district. The application was submitted by Sokkel Karjäärid OÜ. The permit to carry out geological prospecting is granted or refused by the competent national authority, Environmental Board. However, the local municipality can express an opinion on the matter to the Environmental Board.
The groundwater supply in the Männiku area is linked to the water in the sand quarries, so a new mine could have a dangerous impact on the wider territory. In addition, the area of lakes Raku and Männiku on the southern border of Tallinn is a source of drinking water for Tallinn under the Tallinn Public Water Supply and Sewerage Development Plan 2010-2021. The area where the study is to be carried out is currently covered by forest, and its loss would also have a significant impact on the plants and animals growing in the area. The protected Männiku boulder, one of the largest in Tallinn, is also situated in the vicinity of the potential quarry site.
“Tallinn has long experience of the negative impacts of the Väo quarry, including dust, noise from blasting operations, traffic from construction vehicles carrying dirt onto surrounding roads and damaging them, and other factors, not to mention the wider adverse impact on the natural environment. We are of the opinion that there is no place for new quarries in the city,” explained Svet.