Sutton Forest Sand Quarry

I am a frequent visitor of the Pauline monestry. It is a place of quiet
and peacefulness. I object that you have not allo ed sufficient times
for the pilgrims of Penrose to be given time and the ability to know
about this project.
My objection is to defend the present sanctity of the area. My
objection is also in concern of the many shrines that have been
erected without any real sound structure. And with the ground pounding
by explosives, these structures will crumble. And these have been done
by pilgrims and are sacred sites.

Then there is the church.. how will this impact on the church. Has
there been a study done on how the foundations of the church will go
with all the blasting? Has there or will there be compensation drawn
up with the church for any damage done...

I oppose this project. And everyone I speak to says it's stupid idea
to do such a thing so close to a sacred and quiet place.
There obviously someone there getting a kick back of money to be able
to pass this through...

With so much sand in the outback ... you need to mine here? Next to a
quiet monestary. In the bush? Plain stupidity.

I have practically grown up at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, Penrose
Park. Ever since I was about 5 years old, my family and I have been
going there on and off- sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, sometimes
every couple of months - depending where we were living. This Shrine,
the peace that I find there and the blessings of the Pauline Fathers
have greatly impacted my life and who I am. If this proposed mine is
built (which is only 120m from the grotto) how can I and all the many
pilgrims, visitors and regular parishioners find that same peace and
have that same atmosphere?
The noise and pollution from the mine will affect not only that peace
but it also will take away the very nature of the place- the kangaroos
that are always hanging around, where will they be? The water, how
clean will that be? The air that we will breathe, how healthy will
that be? This mine is not good for the environment and never will be-
especially in this place.
I am saddened that such a project could even be considered.
Please, not only for my sake but for the sake of the many thousands of
people visiting the Shrine, the Pauline Fathers and Brothers and the
people living on neighbouring properties, the wildlife- the fauna and
flora, the water, the whole environment. Please, reject this proposal
now and at any time.
Thank you.

I have friends with property in the vicinity of the proposed mine that I
stay with on regular occasions. This is a very special place for
wildlife and the surrounding serenity.

A sand mine nearby would cause issues on numerous fronts of which
include noise, pollution, traffic, wildlife and water pollution.


This mine cannot proceed,

We have friends that have a property next to this proposal we enjoy our
visit to both their property and the local area. It would be
disappointing to see this wonderful area jeopardised with a sand
quarry that would cause both noise and dust pollution. Then further
diminished with a waste fill area would be a great in justice to the
natural beauty of the area.

I am writing to lodge my objection to the Sutton Forest Quarry project -
I used to live in Sutton Forest and frequent Our Lady of Mercy Shrine
"Penrose Park" owned by the Pauline Fathers, which is adjacent to the
proposed quarry. I still visit the shrine, which is open to the
public, and has many visitors of all different cultural backgrounds. I
believe this quarry would negatively impact not only the residents of
the Pauline Fathers monastery and other local residents, but also the
thousands of visitors who visit the Penrose Park shrine annually. It
is a venue where people come to retreat from everyday life and enjoy
peace and quiet in order to pray and contemplate, and this would be
severely compromised were there a quarry operating so near the shrine
causing continuous noise pollution, as well as dust pollution
negatively affecting people's health. Also, digging the site to a
depth of 39 metres below the current water table will adversely affect
the bores that many locals currently depend on. It will also pollute
the adjacent Long Swamp and permanently impact the Sydney/Nepean water
catchment.

I also believe that clearing so much bush land will have a negative
impact on the community and environment, as it will clear 63 hectares
of native bush and critically block this section of the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor. Hence the local fauna will be negatively impacted -
many kangaroos and other native wildlife live in this area, and are
enjoyed by the many visitors to Penrose park. I strongly urge the
Department/Council to reconsider this project due to the manifest and
wide-ranging negative effects for the local environment and community,
as well as the many visitors to the area.

My primary concerns are as follows

The financial position of the company with regard to the costs and
possible overrun of costs associated with the rehabilitation of the
site. Will the government be holding a sufficient bond to allow for
this work to be carried out if the owner\developer of the quarry
becomes financially stressed\bankrupt/ under administration.

Are the rehabilitation and biodiversity offsets properly calculated to
be actually meaningful to the local environment including the
ecological communities present in this area. What safeguards,
supervision and monitoring will be carried out during the operation of
the quarry as well as flora and fauna surveys, surveys of roadkill on
the highway and adjoining roads, and population of plants and animals
in adjacent areas.
Water monitoring offsite in local aquifers, groundwater level
monitoring etc.
Will air quality monitoring be carried out routinely

This operation will continue 24 hours a day. I live in the village of
wingello and this is approx 7kms from the Hume hwy. Noise from the
highway can be heard from this area at night when all else is quiet.
If blasting is to occur as close as 500m to penrose park what
safeguards are in place that this property and its requirement for
tranquility can be maintained. This also applies to the residential
properties adjacent to the proposed property.
What protocol will be followed to guard against percussive damage to
residential properties during blasting activities.

I currently travel to narellan from wingello 5 days per week and will
be in the area of the quarry interchange on the Hume hwy between 5.30
am- 6.00am. Has the extra traffic entering this road been considered
in regard to the increasing traffic from the development of
residential areas locally in marulan, berrima, and moss vale. The
extra traffic will impact these roads and add to the already heavy
traffic north of Picton road. The new development proposed for Wilton
and the Douglas park area also should be considered when assessing the
impact of traffic increases.
Has the possibility of these trucks going in to the local
fuel/roadhouse/mcdonalds restaurant been considered ?? This is the
only available fuel on the highway between marulan and pheasants nest
and could cause a lot of congestion.

I worry about the long term impacts of this type of development on the
local environment that is already under pressure from development,
land clearing and climate change. The local environment has been
drying and I wonder at the viability of rehabilitation of vegetation
in soils that once reinstated will be structure less and possibly
nutrient rich due to concentration of fines etc. they may also be
extremely compact after settling occurs. What contingency is in place
if autumn plantings, seeding is unsuccessful and the soil is left
bare??

I dont think the assessment adequately considers the loss of amenity
in this areas of relatively untouched vegetation and the affect on the
mental health of local residents that have bought property in the area
with the understanding they will be living in a quiet relatively
isolated area. How can this be addressed.

If the local aquifers are damaged in any way the impacts could be
permanent and devastating to this area. What is the real cost of this
proposed development

Regards Karen Thorogood
B.App Sc Applied Science, Parks, Recreation and Heritage, Cert IV
Horticulture

The proposal to establish a Sand Quarry at Sutton Forest must be stopped
at all costs.
Having spent many weekends at Sutton Forest with friends on an
adjoining property, the whole appeal of the area is the rural silence
and fresh air quality. All this will be ruined if the go ahead is
given!
The area is still a natural, pristine bush setting which gives people
the chance to get back to nature, not to mention the devastating
effect it will have on the native animal population.
There needs to be extremely serious consultation with the local
residents and landholders as this decision will have an enormous
impact on their lives and health.
The only sensible decision is to stop this project and prevent its
adverse effects on the local people and more importantly, adjoining
land owners.
Stop the quarry!!

I object to this sand mine as I don't agree with clearing 63 hectares of
native bush and the drastic consequences this would have for
endangered species.
The affect this would have on our bores and the quality of water.
The noise it will create, pollution, the large amounts of trucks on
our roads.
It's also appalling how this project was not well published, not
enough time for community consultation, why hide and why not make sure
that all the community get a chance to have a say?
This sand mine must be stopped.

I am writing as someone that will be moving into the area and very close
to the site in the next month. I am extremely conspired about the
effects this mine will have on my health. Not only the problems it
might cause to the ground water, which is the main source of dinking
water but the noise pollution. I am not a great sleeper and noise at
night is really a problem for me. If they are going to be working as
described I fear greatly the effects on my health both mental and
physical. I am also worried what it will do to the wildlife which is
one of the great beauties of the area. I don't think it should go
ahead under any circumstances.

Dear Sir / Madam
I object strongly to mining in this delicate water catchment area.
These large mining companies have a history of projecting best
practice and minimum risk. The Southern Highlands is an area of
significant beauty and history and an agricultural and tourist area
generating vast income from tourism and weddings functions. Even MORE
IMPORTANTLY the pristine water supply of Sydney flows from the
Southern Highlands and it astounds me that this whole area does not
have a security of supply protection zone stamped all over it
-especially with Sydney population growing. Absolutely no! The risks
to environment are too high!

I am writing to plead with the government not to approve the proposed
sand mine which will border surrounding farms and the Penrose Park
Monastery. This is such a peaceful, beautiful area, filled with native
flora and fauna. In an otherwise hectic and frenetic paced world, we
need to retain areas such as these where we can come to reconnect with
nature and regain a sense of peace and tranquility. The Penrose Park
Monastery is a very important spiritual place and the constant noise
from an operating mine would be extremely detrimental to the residents
and visitors alike, not to mention the pollution of the water supplies
in the area. Please, please don't allow this mine to proceed

I am very concerned about this application. We are in the Sydney
catchment area and are presently suffering from drought conditions.
Water is vital to this country and the Sydney catchment area should
remain just that. An area free from mines that put it at risk.

The proposed sand mine will put in danger the native animals including
koalas as it reduces the corridor destroying pristine bushland.

The jobs are minimal. It's just not worth the risk.

I object to the proposal on a number of issues -

1 The scale of the project
This is a 42 hectare open-cut pit to a depth of 60 metres, 39 metres
below the current water table!

2 The impact on the water table and water use.
*Lowering the water table at Sutton Forest will adversely affect the
bores on which so many locals depend for agriculture and life.
The EIS makes NO mention of the illegal dewatering of the pit that is
needed to mine 39 metres below the water table.
*Removing this immense volume of sandstone that has a critical role in
filtering and cleaning the aquifer and the river flows and then
tipping 18 million tons of Sydney landfill into the pit, creating a
PERMANENT leachate into the aquifer and surface flow. This appallingly
unscientific EIS is SILENT on the impact of this back-fill tipping,
and in particular on the pollution of Long Swamp Creek and the
aquifer, which feed Sydney's Nepean water catchment.

3 Health Issues
Adverse health effects of airborn dust from and open-cut mine (asthma,
silicosis, fibrosis, cancer) carried by prevailing winds across the
population centres of the Highlands.

4 Environmental damage to land.
*Land clearing 63 hectares of native bush that will narrow the Great
Western Wildlife Corridor (at its narrowest and most fragile point) to
just 500 metres in sections, harming endangered native flora and
fauna.

5 Noise and light pollution
Noise, blasting and light pollution 24/7 will further damage this
critical habitat for both wildlife and human use.

6 Increased heavy truck movements
*Dramatic increase in heavy trucking on the Hume Highway (> 400 trucks
a day), including the planned use of the Illawarra Highway overpass as
a U-turn for all south-bound trucks.

7 Direct impact on tourism
*Destroying of peace and tranquility at The Shrine of Our Lady of
Mercy - Penrose Park, which attracts 10,000 national and international
tourists a year to the Highlands, and destruction of the Kingsbury VC
memorial park to create another interchange ramp for truck access.

8 A damaging private venture requiring public funds
*Committing Wingecarribee Council to maintain a new Hume Highway
overpass and local access road for a private venture that does not
benefit our Shire in any way.

9 Contravention of local government planning principles
-This project contravenes several principles and goals of
Wingecarribee Council's 2031 Strategic Plan

10 I opposes this project and lodge my submission to the Dept of
Planning and Environment against it

My major areas of concern are 1. Drilling into the aquifer and below the
water table leading to a very real contamination risk for local and
Sydney water supply . The partial destruction of the Great Western
Wildlife Corridor which is at its narrowest at that point. 3.
Increased dust and noise pollution and the associated health effects 4
. The effects on farms and livelihood and in particular a place of
worship located right next door( Penrose Park) . 5. The increased
traffic ( an extra 300+ sand laden trucks/ day) on the already
dangerous stretch of Hume Highway.

My objection to this planned site is based on the environmental impact it
will have on wildlife in the area . I visit my family that live next
to the proposed site and they have acres of gum forest. The birds that
live on the property are some rare and endangered species and will
suffer greatly if this goes ahead . The mammals and marsupials in the
area will also be in danger with in increased traffic and destruction
of habitat. This area already has a water shortage because Coca Cola
drains huge amounts of water from the area and this will only compound
the problem. We all have a duty to look after the environment and that
includes any company that has an impact on wildlife. Think twice
before you do this . Australia is an amazing country so please don't
destroy it just for profit

I have previously lived in this area, and still have family residing very
close to the proposed site. This Sand mine affects my parents and
their property by lowering the water table which provides them with
their drinking water. The adverse health affects should also be noted,
the dust will affect the residents near to the mine and the quality of
clean air will lower dramatically.

As a catholic, I Reguraly attend the Shrine of our lady Mercy at
Sutton Forest. This is a peaceful park where people come to reflect
and have time with our Lord, I myself use the park as a place of
solitary prayer, with the proposed sand mine the peace and tranquility
of this park will be no longer.

I believe that this location has been chosen due to an idea that it can
be approved due to its limited (deemed) significance to the homeowners
surrounding the proposed site. I however, am familiar with a family
owned property that this would completely impact on which at present
over at least twenty years has developed & was bought due to its land
content & rural setting. A sudden Sand mining access Road directly
beside it would change everything - value, peace, not to mention
safety of an already existing highway having to accommodate more heavy
vehicle access causing dust, pollution & possibly a threat to pristine
aquifers being contaminated affecting quality water supply to this &
surrounding areas
In respect to structures surrounding this area, I.e. Religious
Homeage, & long term residents that obviously are seen as having no
voice, I stand by my opinion that this is not appropriate &
consideration of who's needs are being met not be detrimental to
environment.

I oppose this mine on the basis that it will threaten our fragile
ecosystem, disrupt aquifers and destroy habitat for much wildlife that
has fewer and fewer places to go, now that its sandwiched between
mines and urban sprawl.

Please protect the area & please do not allow the mining to happen. The
church for worshippers, the environment for plants & animals, the
welfare of everyone around the area are more important than money from
mining. Please help save the area.

This Ill-thought out proposal poses a risk to our water supply, amenity &
environment. As a long term Moss Vale resident I am astounded that
this project is even being considered.
The dust, noise, traffic and water supply problems that it will
generate pose great risks to residents and those reliant on downstream
water.
The threat to the great western wildlife corridor is shameful.