Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project

I believe this project will have catastrophic impacts on the communities that will be affected by the many negative aspects that this project will force on those living close by, as well as those further afield. I have witnessed the traffic congestion over many years around Branxton before the expressway was built, but we still have massive congestion for long sections around Singleton, and I can only see us going back to long slow trips happening all over again in places like Branxton, which will once again become bottlenecks. when adding so many extra trucks to the area. All of us needing to travel through these areas will have to deal with excessive traffic congestion, noise, and pollution. There is also the issue of safety of school children getting on and off buses on their way to and from school. The roads are narrow country roads. With the large increase in numbers of heavy trucks carrying large loads of rock, on some steep hills, and single lane bridges. How can it be safe!? The list does go on, increased pollution due to traffic congestion, silicon from the blasting. How will the drinking water of residents close to the site be protected from being contaminated, and what protection will be in place for the excessive noise, ground vibration, risks of rock falls etc. The use of the Single Lane Elderslie Bridge over the Hunter River, with its access and exit, a steep hill on the South side is going to be a major problem, as well as the totally inadequate contributions this project has offered to compensate for its excessive road use. The just finished major patching job on the whole road between Glendonbrook and Branxton has already started to fail. By adding 50 tonne loads to this road, is going to destroy the road amenity very quickly. It just seems like this project does not have any safeguards in place to protect the community who are already living here, and it would be reckless and irresponsible to proceed, under the circumstances. Maybe an option in the future when they have contributed substantially to buiding a second bridge over the Hunter River instead of being allowed to use a single lane bridge built over 100 years ago. And they also make suitable contributions to the wear and tear of all the roads they are travelling on, 6 days a week, or they build their own road, without impacting on so many communities. Until these issues are addressed and the community feels they have been listened to, I believe we can't have this project starting now. The Government being prepared for us to cope with the dangers and inconvenience of so many trucks for something like 30 years, is just incredible, and I believe will not be tolerated well, by those affected. I pray that we will be listened to.

The impact of the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project on Branxton and the surrounding communities will potentially be far reaching. It is hard to fathom how a quarry can be considered when it is situated amongst prime agricultural land, next to a National Park, within direct catchment of the Hunter River (the main water source for the Hunter valley residents), on a ridge where particles will be blown via wind towards the wind tunnels that form along the Hunter River. If there were a Horse Stud or vineyards planted in this area, then the quarry would not be going ahead. But how are other farming land uses and surrounding houses any different to the aforementioned horse studs and vineyards?

The road safety of the proposed route is highly questionable and a major concern for all users of these roads.
Stanhope road is at best a local country road, very undulating, and whilst single lane in each direction, they are very narrow single lanes. Not appropriate for heavy haulage trucks. I suggest the people reviewing these submissions come out and drive along the proposed route themselves and see the conditions of the roads and imagine semi-trailers and truck and dogs travelling it, up to 60 trucks in an hour (30 empty and 30 laden) in peak times.
The Elderslie Bridge is a single lane bridge. Already in peak hours you can wait at the bridge for 5-10 minutes. The likelihood of having to wait will dramatically increase as will the length of time you will have to wait to cross the bridge. Traffic lights or widening of the bridge would be the minimum requirement needed to adapt for the haulage trucks from the quarry.
220 trucks (110 empty and 110 laden) on average per day increase on the country road that is Elderslie Road. Not to mention the extra fuel trucks, supply trucks, water trucks, maintenance trucks etc. This is a significant increase in weight and frequency of heavy vehicles on the haulage route. My children catch a school bus that travels along Elderslie Road morning and afternoon. There would need to be widening of the road to ensure the bus could safely pull in to load/unload children at each bus stop. Bus shelters would need to be erected to give a safe place for children waiting for the bus and protection from spray from trucks travelling past. There would also need to be safety railing (w strap) installed as the heavy haulage trucks would travel directly beside the cycleway/pathway along Radford Park which heads into Branxton.
Once these heavy haulage trucks head towards the intersection of Elderslie Road and Maitland Road they approach a known flooding area. Multiple times this section of Elderslie Road and Maitland Road has flooded due to Anvil Creek breaking its banks. The concern would be trucks travelling through the flood waters as they are higher and heavier, as well as the concern they would take the alternate route through residential areas of East Branxton- suburban town roads with no guttering that are definitely not designed for heavy trucks. Possible solution would be the proponent paying for the road to be raised to mitigate this issue.
Would need the road to be widened and a merging traffic lane added when turning left onto Maitland Street from Elderslie Road. This intersection is already busy at peak school times. Without these additions the traffic would be banked up back into the town of Branxton.
The Branxton to Greta Shared pathway that is currently under construction along Maitland Road. If the road is basically becoming a highway with the number of haulage trucks proposed to travel along it, then there is a need for more safety barriers for the pedestrians and cyclists' using this pathway, many of whom are children.
Once the Semi-trailers or Truck and Dog, reach the intersection of Maitland Street and Wine Country Drive, we find ourselves at a known accident-prone area. I believe that this intersection requires assessment before any future level of traffic is placed upon it. Perhaps consulting with local police/Rescue teams as per the number of incidents that occur at this intersection. Traffic lights and extra turning lanes would be a requirement, along with assessment of the angle required to turn right onto Wine Country Drive to reach the Hunter Expressway. It is this sharp angle that already makes this intersection dangerous, and that is without constant extra heavy haulage trucks involved.

In the EIS it is stated that clearing of vegetation would occur but avoidance of 20 hollow-bearing trees in order to provide potential habitat for the Southern Myotis bat. How can disturbance of any vegetation occur when it is known that these bats inhabit the caves and areas of the Tangory National Park and surrounding bushland? These bats are at a vulnerable level and at high risk of becoming endangered due to the clearing of land/vegetation and associated pollution. They depend on good water quality of the creeks and bodies of water where they inhabit. Clearly the process of quarrying (drilling, blasting, noise, dust, pollution etc) are not in any way conducive to ensuring that the Southern Myotis ecosystem remains intact in this area. As you will see in the attachment (EIS Pg18 Biodiversity) I have highlighted where it is clearly stated that in order for the quarry to go ahead, they will not be able to avoid impacting the biodiversity of the area in which the Southern Myotis forages. The suggestion of the NSW BAM Credit calculator coming into play is interesting. From what I have read and understand this does not take into account near-threatened species, only those already on the list. We should be conserving areas of biodiversity, especially when we know that vulnerable inhabitants such as the Southern Myotis bat are present.
The proposed works will have a significant impact on these vulnerable animals and put them on a trajectory of becoming threatened in the future.

As you can see from the above, the proponent, Bluestone Hardrock Quarry, have not genuinely taken into consideration the environmental pollution, biodiversity threats or road safety issues that would arise if this project was to go ahead. The residents of Branxton and surrounding areas deserve better.

To Whom It May Concern

My Name is Tim Horan, I am a local resident close by to this proposed development and I am in full support of this project.

Firstly, this region and corridor is growing by the day. People are moving into this magnificent region because its affordable and has opportunities metropolitan cities cannot offer. Developments like this create jobs and supply chains grow off the back of it. For example, between management, operating staff, logistics, fitters, mechanics, electricians this business will generate ~50 jobs maybe more each day. Each of these 50 pay rent or buy a house locally, they send their kids to local schools, they shop at local shops and grocers. It puts millions back into the local community each year, how is that a bad thing! This is how nations build.

Apart from managing my local farm here in the Hunter Valley I am also the owner of multiple quarries and concrete plants in North West NSW, also right in the middle of coal fields. We recently celebrated being in the region for 40years, our haulage business manages approx 30 truck and trailers daily in and out of the quarries several time a day on regional roads and through major town like Narrabri and Gunnedah. I can assure you over these years the coal businesses have had far more accidents and incidents then we have had. Because we are local, family operated and understand how to manage logistics and support local issues.

I would suggest well over half the people objecting to this development work in the coal mines and turn a blind eye to the statistics their own industry generates. Every week speed camaras are set up out here to catch speeding drivers returning home after work "going the back way" or speeding to work "going the back way". At the intersection of MVR and LVR multiple vehicles have ended up in paddocks crashing into fences and guard rails. Th worst this lately is that Melville Ford bridge has reopened and hi vis commuters are back, perhaps getting behind a slow-moving truck and trailer may help...

Another this worth noting is with all the growth in our region aggregates are required regardless, so we either make it local and haul it locally or we bring it in out of the region and run more trucks on the road to do it anyway. Common sense needs to prevail.

I am full support of this project.

Regards
Tim Horan

I wish to formally object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry at Elderslie.

As a resident and member of the local community, I have significant concerns regarding the long-term impacts this development will have on public health, road safety, the environment, and the rural character of the area. I respectfully request that these concerns be given full consideration during the assessment process.

1. Dust and Silica Exposure

One of the most significant concerns is the generation of dust, particularly respirable crystalline silica, from blasting, crushing, stockpiling and the continual movement of heavy vehicles.

Fine silica dust has the potential to travel considerable distances, settling on homes, rooftops, rainwater tanks, dams, gardens, pasture and children's outdoor play areas. Many rural properties rely on harvested rainwater as their primary source of domestic water. Dust contamination of roof catchments and water tanks presents an unacceptable risk to drinking water quality and household water supplies.

Dust deposition on dams may also affect water used for livestock and irrigation, while contamination of pasture and crops has the potential to impact agricultural productivity.

Young children living in rural areas spend considerable time outdoors playing in yards, paddocks and open spaces. They are particularly vulnerable to airborne dust because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults. Any increase in airborne particulate matter or silica presents an unnecessary health risk for local families.

The proponent must demonstrate, with independent scientific evidence rather than modelling alone, that dust emissions can be effectively managed under all weather conditions, including drought, strong winds and prolonged dry periods. Given the nature of hard rock quarrying, this cannot be guaranteed.

2. Traffic and Road Safety

The proposal would substantially increase heavy vehicle traffic on local rural roads that were never designed for industrial freight movements.

Of particular concern is the single-lane bridge constructed in 1910. This bridge represents a significant traffic bottleneck and raises serious safety concerns.

Increased heavy truck movements will:

* Increase the likelihood of vehicle accidents.
* Create conflicts between trucks, school buses, farm machinery, cyclists and local residents.
* Increase delays for motorists required to give way on the narrow bridge.
* Accelerate deterioration of the bridge and surrounding road network.
* Increase noise, vibration and maintenance costs.

The bridge's age and original design raise legitimate questions regarding its suitability for frequent heavy quarry traffic over many decades.

Residents should not be expected to accept increased safety risks because industrial traffic is introduced onto infrastructure designed more than a century ago.

3. Rural Landscape and Amenity

Elderslie is valued for its peaceful rural landscape, open space and natural beauty.

The proposed quarry would fundamentally alter the character of the district through:

* Large-scale excavation.
* Rock blasting.
* Crushing operations.
* Industrial infrastructure.
* Stockpiles.
* Heavy vehicle movements.
* Noise and artificial lighting.

Once the rural landscape is industrialised, these changes cannot be easily reversed. The proposal is inconsistent with maintaining the existing rural amenity enjoyed by residents and visitors.

4. Environmental Impacts

The proposed quarry has the potential to cause substantial environmental harm.

Concerns include:

* Vegetation clearing.
* Habitat loss.
* Dust deposition on native vegetation.
* Increased sediment runoff.
* Water quality impacts.
* Noise impacts on wildlife.
* Potential groundwater impacts.
* Long-term landscape scarring.

The cumulative impacts over the life of the quarry must be assessed rather than considering individual impacts in isolation.

5. Proximity to Tangory National Park

The proximity of the proposed quarry to Tangory National Park raises significant environmental concerns.

National parks exist to conserve biodiversity, protect native species and preserve natural landscapes for future generations.

Dust, noise, vibration and increased traffic have the potential to adversely affect flora and fauna well beyond the quarry boundary. Wildlife does not recognise property boundaries, and industrial activity adjacent to protected areas can fragment habitat, alter animal behaviour and reduce the ecological values the national park was established to protect.

The proposal appears incompatible with the conservation objectives associated with such a significant natural area.

6. Noise and Blasting

Regular blasting and crushing operations would generate ongoing noise and vibration that are inconsistent with a quiet rural community.

Noise impacts would affect:

* Residents working from home.
* Children playing outdoors.
* Livestock.
* Native wildlife.
* Recreational enjoyment of surrounding properties.

Blasting also creates anxiety for residents due to vibration, air overpressure and uncertainty regarding structural impacts on homes, sheds and water tanks.

7. Property Values and Rural Lifestyle

The establishment of a major quarry has the potential to reduce nearby property values and diminish the lifestyle that residents have invested in.

People choose to live in rural areas for peace, clean air, natural scenery and safety for their families. Introducing a long-term extractive industry fundamentally changes those expectations and imposes impacts on existing residents for the benefit of a commercial operation.

8. Inadequate Precaution Regarding Health Risks

Given increasing scientific understanding of the health impacts associated with fine particulate matter and respirable crystalline silica, the precautionary principle should be applied.

Where there is uncertainty regarding potential long-term health impacts, particularly for children and vulnerable members of the community, decision-makers should err on the side of protecting public health rather than permitting a development that may create irreversible harm.

For the reasons outlined above, I strongly object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry at Elderslie.

The proposal presents unacceptable risks relating to:

* Air quality and silica dust.
* Contamination of rooftops, rainwater tanks and dams.
* Public health, particularly for young children.
* Heavy vehicle traffic over a single-lane bridge constructed in 1910.
* Road safety.
* Noise and blasting impacts.
* Loss of rural landscape and amenity.
* Environmental degradation.
* Potential impacts on Tangory National Park.
* Long-term impacts on the local community and rural lifestyle.

The cumulative impacts of this proposal outweigh any claimed economic benefits. I respectfully request that the consent authority refuse approval for this development in order to protect the health, safety, environment and quality of life of current and future residents of Elderslie and the surrounding district.

Thank you for considering this submission.

To The Planning Commission NSW, I write this letter in support or favor of the project. The benefits that this brings through employment, community engagement, costs of living in my post code and to the greater state of NSW can't be ignored. With a area that is facing job losses through mine closures and associated industries, the town or local area needs continued growth with interest rates and costs of living also climbing. This project brings a broad minded and managed new business to the area from a man or business who is successful in what he sets out to do. He has carefully planned this project and has been working with all government officials to make it work but at the same time consult with the community and keep locals updated with progress and where the application is at. This also add to the economics of the area and savers costs of local road upgrades as the items can be sourced locally. I support this both as an individual and as a business owner and we simply cannot keep knocking back progress moving forward in any part of this state. Regards Aaron Goadsby

As a local resident I object to the application with concerns of both transport corridor proposed and dust generated from transport .
The proposed transport corridor will be utilising rural roads not designed or maintained for the daily truck movements proposed. The amount of truck movements will add considerable noise, road damage and potential risk for school children accessing transport.
The transport corridor also travelling through the town of Branxton will add significant noise and congestion with intersections not capable of managing an additional 60 truck movements per hour. The pathway to access the Hunter expressway will impact an already congested intersection that already has a history of risk or an alternate pathway through the township will be a major change to the existing village community adding congestion and noise levels that will negatively impact the township.
The concern from dust comes from trucks travelling at speed limits on a rural road will generate dust from the load. How would this be monitored and reported.

The environmental impact would be devastating for a region that is already suffering from the effects from mining and industry
While I support local businesses, the amount of noise, dust and road traffic that this project will a significant problem . Not only with local residents but the wider community, the negative affect to property values is also very much at risk.
Considering that the regular blasting from the mines in the Singleton area is very noticeable, having this occuring locally would be unacceptable. The effects on local livestock and pets is already distressing when over 30 kilometres away.
Thank you for responding out request to withdraw this application.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry Project in the Elderslie/Branxton area of the Hunter Valley.

I’ve been part of this community for the past eight years, and I care deeply about how our land is used and protected. I am very concerned about the long-term and potentially irreversible impacts this project could have on our farming district, local environment, and the wellbeing of people living in Elderslie and Branxton.

Our area depends on productive farmland, clean water, and a healthy ecosystem. The quarry threatens all of these. Dust, noise, and increased heavy truck traffic won’t just affect residents—they will also impact livestock, crops, soil quality, and our river systems. These impacts are well known from other quarry operations across New South Wales.

One of my biggest concerns is respirable crystalline silica dust. Hard rock dust can contain high levels of silica, and these particles are invisible to the naked eye. Breathing them in can lead to serious illnesses like silicosis or lung cancer. Even with the stricter exposure standards now in place, I am worried about how these risks will actually be managed—not just on-site, but across the wider community.

As the owner of more than 400 pecan trees that produce thousands of nuts each year, grown completely organically without any chemicals, I am especially concerned about contamination. If silica dust settles on our crops, it raises serious questions about food safety and the future of our trees, the soil and our Pecan Nuts.
I would like to understand how air quality monitoring will be handled. How often will testing be done? Where will it take place? And how will it account for areas beyond the quarry site? Dust doesn’t stop at property boundaries—it travels with the wind. Elderslie is known for strong winds, sometimes reaching 120 km/h, so the potential spread of dust is a real concern for everyone in the area.

Water use is another major issue. The proposal to change an agricultural water licence to a mineral one, allowing water to be taken from the Elderslie River for dust suppression, could have serious consequences. This river is essential for local farmers who rely on it for irrigation and livestock. Lower water levels will also increase temperatures and harm native fish like silver perch, and mullet, putting more pressure on an already fragile system.

Noise and traffic will also significantly change our way of life. Blasting, crushing operations, and up to 30 truck-and-dog movements per hour will bring a level of disruption our roads and community simply aren’t designed for. Roads like Stanhope and Elderslie Roads were built for local use, not constant heavy industrial traffic. The use of a heritage-listed one-way bridge by heavy vehicles is another serious concern, both for safety and potential damage.

The quarry’s location next to Tangory Nature Reserve adds further risk. This reserve supports a wide range of wildlife, including black cockatoos, owls, kangaroos, wallabies, and ringtail possums, along with important native vegetation and waterways. Quarry activity, including blasting and runoff, threatens to damage these habitats.

In the end, I don’t believe the short-term economic benefits of this project outweigh the long-term impacts on agriculture, the environment, and our community. Branxton and Elderslie are built on farming, rural enterprise, and a strong connection to the land. A quarry of this scale simply doesn’t fit with that.

I respectfully ask that your office take a close and independent look at the environmental and social impacts of this proposal, and that the concerns of the local community are properly considered. At the very least, this project needs a much more thorough assessment and genuine community consultation. Ideally, it should not go ahead.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.

Kind regards,
Jo Mathers

I am emailing to strongly oppose this Quarry. I live 6 km away from Elderslie and daily travel along the Elderslie Road and travel across the 1880 approx built old, One lane Bridge this bridge is not suitable for so many trucks as visibility is poor on the approach side.
My concerns are the amount of Trucks which are inappropriate for this rural dairy farming town with the Bridge and the wait times this will impact my drive time to Dr appointments.
The Elderslie Community Hall hold many General Meetings, Family gatherings, Milestone Birthdays, Funeral gatherings and childcare activity which are all held in the Hall, even the Voting is done in this hall.

Trucks in this community should not be allowed it is a dairy community.
My other concerns are, I know the phascogale bird has nest their, and have been seen on this site, so you would be losing this bird and its nesting.

The Elderslie residents are now facing a battle to keep their community in the Quiet pictureses village that it always has been and I can not see why any one would want to turn it into a Industrial Centre making the rural roads dangerous.
I strongly disagree with the location of the Quarry .
The landscape of Elderslie should remain as it is with The quiet serene rural atmosphere.
Kind regards

Submission Objecting to the Proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry (SSD-76210271)
To the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure,
I write as a local resident and member of the community to object to the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry at Elderslie and Glendon Brook.
I acknowledge that the Hunter Region requires access to construction materials and that quarrying has an important role in supporting regional infrastructure. However, development should only proceed where it can be demonstrated that environmental, social and transport impacts are genuinely acceptable and can be managed without placing an unreasonable burden on existing communities or the natural environment.
While the proponent argues that the project is a State Significant Development needed to supply future construction materials, New South Wales already has an extensive network of operating hard rock quarries supplying aggregates for the building and construction industry. The existence of statewide demand does not, of itself, justify approving this proposal if its local environmental and community impacts are unacceptable.
After reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), I remain unconvinced that the proposal has demonstrated that its environmental, social and transport impacts can be appropriately avoided, mitigated or managed over its proposed 30-year life.
Traffic and Road Safety
Traffic is my greatest concern with this proposal.
The quarry seeks approval to extract up to one million tonnes of material each year, generating approximately 220 heavy vehicle movements each weekday over a project life of 30 years. While the EIS concludes that the road network has sufficient capacity, this does not reflect the reality experienced by those who regularly use these roads.
A key concern is the reliance on the historic one-lane Elderslie Bridge as the primary haul route. The bridge already functions as a bottleneck, requiring motorists to give way to oncoming traffic and causing regular delays. Introducing hundreds of additional heavy vehicle movements each weekday will significantly increase traffic through this constrained crossing.
Although the EIS concludes that routine maintenance is sufficient and that no significant safety issues exist, the assessment appears to focus largely on the bridge's structural capacity rather than the broader, long-term impacts on traffic flow, road safety, emergency access, driver behaviour and the experience of other road users. The question is not simply whether the bridge can carry quarry trucks, but whether a locally listed, single-lane historic bridge is an appropriate haul route for a State Significant Development over the next 30 years.
I am also concerned about the right-turn movement from the New England Highway into Wine Country Drive. The EIS acknowledges that this intersection already operates at a poor level of service but concludes that additional quarry traffic will have little impact because delays already exist. Existing congestion should not be used to justify introducing further heavy vehicle movements into an intersection that is already under pressure.
More broadly, the assessment relies heavily on traffic modelling. While modelling is a useful tool, it cannot fully capture the cumulative effects of tourist traffic, agricultural vehicles, school buses, emergency vehicles, cyclists, driver behaviour and the combined impacts of other developments across the Hunter Region.
Road safety should be assessed not only against engineering standards but also against whether the community can reasonably expect safe, efficient and reliable travel throughout the life of the project.
For these reasons, I do not believe the EIS has demonstrated that the existing road network, particularly the Elderslie Bridge and surrounding intersections, is suitable to accommodate the proposed quarry traffic over the life of the project.
Dust and Air Quality
Although modelling predicts compliance with air quality standards, dust generated from quarry operations and heavy vehicle traffic remains a significant concern.
Dust does not simply affect neighbouring properties. It has the potential to impact agriculture, grazing land, roadside vegetation and the health of residents living along haul routes. This is of particular concern because this quarry’s dust may contain respirable crystalline silica, prolonged exposure to which is known to cause silicosis and other serious respiratory diseases.
Climate variability, drought and strong westerly winds have the potential to increase dust beyond predicted modelling.
I am not satisfied that the EIS adequately considers these real-world operating conditions over a project life of three decades.
Noise and Amenity
The proposed hours of operation are extensive.
Maintenance activities may commence from 6.00 am, truck haulage from 6.30 am, extraction from 7.00 am and operations continue six days each week, with blasting proposed during weekdays.
Even if individual activities comply with technical noise criteria, the cumulative effect of continual truck movements, machinery, reversing alarms, crushing operations and blasting over many years represents a substantial reduction in rural amenity.
Compliance with modelling does not necessarily equate to an acceptable quality of life for nearby residents.


Flooding and Emergency Access
The Hunter Valley has experienced repeated and significant flood events in recent years.
While the EIS concludes that off-site flooding will not increase, I remain concerned about operational safety during flood events.
Questions that appear insufficiently addressed include:
• How will heavy vehicle movements be managed when floodwaters affect sections of the haul route?
• What contingency arrangements exist if access roads become impassable?
• How will emergency services safely access the site during major flood events?
• What impact will flood-related road closures have on local communities already affected by natural disasters?
These matters deserve greater consideration before approval is granted.
Primary Production
The project is proposed on land zoned RU1 Primary Production, with surrounding land continuing to support agricultural activities.
The rural landscape is valued not only for its productive capacity but also for its contribution to the identity of the district.
An industrial quarry operating for 30 years, with continual heavy vehicle traffic, dust and noise, is difficult to reconcile with the surrounding rural landscape and ongoing agricultural land uses.
The long-term coexistence of these activities requires more careful consideration than is demonstrated within the EIS.
Biodiversity and Remnant Vegetation
The loss of remnant native vegetation is of particular importance to me and is one of my primary reasons for objecting to this proposal.
The EIS acknowledges that impacts on biodiversity cannot be completely avoided because of the location of the resource and instead proposes biodiversity offsets through the purchase of ecosystem and species credits.
While offsets may satisfy legislative requirements, they cannot replace mature native vegetation and wildlife habitat that has developed over many decades. Once cleared, these ecosystems and the ecological relationships they support cannot simply be recreated elsewhere within a meaningful timeframe.
Remnant vegetation provides habitat for native wildlife, supports ecological connectivity and contributes to the long-term resilience of the surrounding landscape. In my view, these values should be protected wherever practicable rather than treated as losses that can be compensated through offset credits.
As someone who values environmental conservation, I believe the planning system should give priority to avoiding impacts before relying on offsetting measures. I am therefore not persuaded that the proposed biodiversity offsets adequately compensate for the permanent loss of remnant native vegetation at this site.
Conclusion
For these reasons I do not believe the Environmental Impact Statement has adequately demonstrated that the environmental and social impacts of this proposal can be managed over its proposed 30-year life.
I remain unconvinced regarding:
• the capacity of the local road network;
• increased heavy vehicle traffic;
• safety at existing constrained intersections;
• continued reliance on the one-lane Elderslie Bridge;
• cumulative impacts from noise and dust;
• flood resilience and emergency access;
• impacts on primary production land;
• loss of remnant vegetation and biodiversity.
I respectfully request that the Department give careful consideration to these issues and refuse development as it can not clearly demonstrate that these impacts can be avoided or managed.

I object to this project based on the lack of infrastructure, the roads in and around the proposed site are no where near up to standard let alone the amount of interaction the proposed trucks will have with cars, trucks and school buses.
Development has its place but not when the infrastructure is no where near adequate, these terrible roads and the number of trucks is a recipe for disaster.

I strongly oppose of the Bluestone Quarry.
My objections are listed below:
Heavy vehicle and Truck movements in a rural dairy community with, High Volumes of trucks 720 additional daily movements (360 each way) on week days and 420 movements on a Saturday.
Inadequate roads such as Elderslie and Stanhope roads which are not suitable they are country roads not main highways
Truck movements over a heritage listed bridge with a One Way sign totally unacceptable with low visibility with oncoming traffic
Health Risks from Silica, dust and blasting vibrations and the total destruction of the landscape in the rural area.
The extra wait times this will cause a normally 12 km trip to Branxton due to the Give way sign.
The severe lung diseases linked to the quarry and crushing process on the residents of Elderslie and Stanhope.
The local rain tanks who rely on the rain water for their drinking water with the airborne dust settling on the roofs.
Finally the noise generated by the heavy machinery potentially exceeding 100 decibels will disrupt the peace and quiet of this serene farming village only one person will benefit from this quarry and hundreds of local residents will suffer.
I live approx 6 km away and the wind from June to September will also blow these particles to my property as well.
I strongly oppose to the location of this quarry, it is in the wrong position.
Kind regards

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry Project in the Elderslie/Branxton area of the Hunter Valley.

I have been part of this community for the past eight years and care deeply about how our land is managed and protected. I am concerned about the long-term and potentially irreversible impacts this project may have on our farming district, the local environment, and the wellbeing of residents in Elderslie and Branxton.

Our area depends on productive farmland, clean water, and a stable ecosystem. The proposed quarry places all of these at risk. Dust, noise, and increased heavy vehicle traffic will not only affect residents but also livestock, crop production, soil health, and our river systems. These impacts are well documented in similar quarry operations across New South Wales.

A key concern is respirable crystalline silica dust. Hard rock dust can contain significant levels of silica, and these particles are not visible to the naked eye. Inhalation can lead to serious health conditions, including silicosis and lung cancer. While stricter exposure standards are now in place, I remain concerned about how these risks will be effectively monitored and managed, both on the quarry site and within the surrounding community.
As the owner of more than 400 pecan trees producing thousands of nuts annually, grown organically without the use of chemicals, I am particularly concerned about the risk of contamination. The potential for airborne silica dust to settle on our crops raises serious questions about food safety and the ongoing viability of our business.

I would appreciate clarification on how air quality monitoring will be carried out. How frequently will sampling occur, where will it be conducted, and how will monitoring extend beyond the quarry boundary? Dust does not recognise property lines and can travel considerable distances, particularly in high winds. Elderslie is known for strong wind events, and this increases the risk to the broader community.

Water usage is another significant issue. The proposal to convert an agricultural water licence to a mineral licence, allowing extraction from the Elderslie River for dust suppression, could have serious consequences. This river is a vital resource for local farmers who rely on it for irrigation and livestock. Reduced water levels may also increase temperatures and negatively affect native fish species such as silver perch and mullet, placing additional pressure on an already fragile system.

Noise and traffic will also have a substantial impact. Blasting, crushing operations, and up to 30 truck-and-dog movements per hour will introduce a level of disruption that local roads and the community are not designed to accommodate. Roads such as Stanhope and Elderslie Roads were built for local use, not sustained heavy industrial traffic. The use of a heritage-listed one-way bridge by heavy vehicles raises further concerns regarding safety, structural integrity, and potential costs to the community.

The quarry’s proximity to Tangory Nature Reserve adds to these concerns. This reserve supports a diverse range of wildlife, including black cockatoos, owls, kangaroos, wallabies, and ringtail possums, as well as important native vegetation and waterways. Quarry operations, including blasting and runoff, have the potential to damage these habitats.

Overall, I do not believe the short-term economic benefits of this project outweigh the long-term impacts on agriculture, the environment, and the local community. Branxton and Elderslie are strongly defined by farming, rural enterprise, and their natural environment. A development of this scale is not compatible with those values.

I respectfully request that your office undertake a thorough and independent review of the environmental and social impacts of this proposal, and that the concerns of the local community are given proper consideration. At a minimum, this project requires a more rigorous assessment and meaningful community consultation. Ideally, it should not proceed.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
Andrew Stewart

I oppose this project as I'm sure the majority of the community in the area are also opposed. I am concerned about the noise that will be generated from the blasting as well as the trucks going back and forth. There is also Elderslie Rd and the damage that having 200+ trucks going to and from the quarry. I am also asthmatic and am worried about the amount of dust that may come over from the quarry. There is the concern as well about walking along Elderslie into town and the safety of the community as there isn't a sidewalk along the road so you have to walk on the road at times.

Things this effects

Kids getting off buses along elderslie
Pulling out onto elderslie road
Getting onto the highway and Hunter express way
Trucks will be running along both
The intersection at the end of elderslie road and the narrow bit at the end
Elderslie bridge
There is no detour route
What happens when it floods down the bottom of elderslie road
Pedestrians
Bin collection along elderslie road
The dust pollution, getting into the waterways and the animals
Your veggie gardens
The kids playing outside when the wind is pushing the dust through the air
The roads and surfaces as they will only be giving the singleton and Cessnock council 900k between them
They have no water management plans so if there is a big heavy rain dump this will end up in the Hunter river and then effect anything and everything getting watered by that
220 truck movements per day which is 1100 trucks per week along elderslie road and passing our estate
These drivers will be on strict time to get jobs done ( won’t be slowing down )
More trucks for other things that need to happen on site like fuel getting delivered
Water septic removal
Loss of value to homes, this will effect all of us dramatically

Submission in Support of the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271)
To Whom It May Concern,
Re: Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271)
Quarry Products (Newcastle) Pty Ltd is pleased to provide this submission in support of the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project.
As a long-established supplier to the construction, infrastructure and development sectors, we understand the importance of maintaining secure, reliable and sustainable sources of quarry materials to support the continued growth of New South Wales. The proposed project will establish a new quarry capable of supplying up to one million tonnes of hard rock material per annum over a 30-year period, providing an important source of aggregate for future construction and infrastructure projects
The Hunter Region and Greater Sydney continue to experience significant demand for construction materials driven by residential development, transport infrastructure and industrial growth. Access to high-quality local quarry products is essential to ensure these projects can be delivered efficiently and cost-effectively. The Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project will assist in strengthening the area’s construction materials supply chain and provide greater certainty of supply for the industry particularity as some of the existing providers are reaching the end of their resources.
From our industry's perspective, the project offers several significant benefits:
• Increased availability of hard rock aggregate required for concrete production, road construction and civil infrastructure projects.
• Greater diversity and resilience within the regional construction materials market.
• Long-term support for housing construction and critical infrastructure delivery throughout NSW.
• Economic benefits through direct employment, contractor engagement and increased activity across supporting industries.
• Reduced pressure on existing quarry resources and improved supply security for the broader construction sector.
Quarry Products (Newcastle) Pty Ltd acknowledges that projects of this scale require detailed environmental assessment and careful management of potential impacts. We understand that these matters are being comprehensively examined through the Environmental Impact Statement process and associated regulatory assessment.
In our view, the strategic importance of securing future construction material resources, together with the economic and infrastructure benefits that will result from this development, strongly supports the approval of the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project.
Accordingly, Quarry Products (Newcastle) Pty Ltd respectfully requests that the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure give favourable consideration to this application and approve the project.
Yours faithfully,
Steve Frost
Director
Quarry Products (Newcastle)) Pty Ltd 6 July 2026

I am a licensed residential builder operating in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region, specialising in renovations, additions and custom homes. I am writing in support of the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project and wish to offer a perspective from within the residential building industry — the industry that ultimately depends on the material this project would supply.
Hard rock aggregate is a fundamental building material. There is virtually no stage of a residential build that does not rely on it. Quarried aggregate is the primary constituent of concrete used in footings, slabs, retaining structures, driveways and paths. Crushed rock is used as road base and sub-base for driveways and access roads, as drainage aggregate behind retaining walls, as bedding for stormwater and sewer pipework, and as compacted fill beneath slabs. Every home I build, and every home built across the Hunter starts with, and is held up by, quarried rock. It is not an optional input; there is no substitute.
Local supply directly affects housing cost and delivery. Aggregate is a low-value, high-mass product, which means cartage distance is one of the largest components of its delivered cost. When local quarry capacity tightens, material must be hauled from further afield, and that cost flows straight through to concrete prices, civil works and ultimately the price of new housing. At a time when the NSW Government has set ambitious housing supply targets and builders are contending with sustained materials cost escalation, securing long-term local sources of construction aggregate is essential.
Reliability of supply matters as much as price. Constrained aggregate supply causes batching delays that ripple through entire construction programs, adding holding costs that are ultimately borne by homeowners. Additional regional quarry capacity strengthens the resilience of the supply chain that residential construction depends on.
I acknowledge the community's concerns regarding haulage routes and traffic, and I consider these are appropriately dealt with through conditions of consent such as managed haulage hours, road maintenance contributions and a driver code of conduct rather than refusal of a project supplying a material the state's housing program cannot function without.
I support the approval of the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project.
Tom Adams
Director
Adams Building Pty Ltd

I object to the the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project on the grounds outlined in my attachment.

I wish to formally lodge my objection to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry Project development in the Elderslie / Branxton area of the Hunter Valley. I have been a member of this local community for the past 30 years, and as someone who understands the importance of sustainable land use, I am deeply concerned about the significant and potentially irreversible impacts this project will have on our farming district, our environment, and the wellbeing of both Elderslie and the Branxton township.
Branxton, Elderslie and the surrounding rural properties rely heavily on productive agricultural land, clean water, and a stable local ecosystem. The proposed quarry threatens all three. Dust, noise, and heavy vehicle traffic will not only directly affect the people who live here, but also livestock, crop production, soil and river system health. These impacts are not hypothetical; they are well documented consequences of quarry operations in agricultural regions across New South Wales.
Hard rock dust levels can contain up to 35% silica. Because respirable silica dust is not visible to the naked eye, breathing in these particles may lead to silicosis, a progressive and ultimately fatal fibrotic lung disease or lung cancer. Since February 2020, the NSW Minister for Better Regulation has introduced a new respirable crystalline silica exposure standard, reducing levels from 0.1 mg/m³ to 0.05 mg/m³. I can see the quarry only has a proposed limits for Silica, but I am extremely concerned about how the proponent intends to monitor and manage these risks—both on the quarry site and in the surrounding community.
How will air sampling be scheduled and conducted to meet legislated requirements? Where will these samples be taken from, and how will the proponent ensure that monitoring extends beyond the quarry boundary? Silica dust does not recognise borders; it will travel wherever the wind takes it. Respirable silica dust can travel significant distances and remain suspended in the air for long periods, especially in strong winds. Elderslie and the surrounding areas are known for being a windy valley—we have experienced winds of up to 120 km/h in the past. I am genuinely worried about what this means for the health of not only my friends and family.
The proponent has also indicated an intention to upgrade an agricultural irrigation licence to a mineral irrigation licence, allowing water to be pumped from the local Elderslie River into dams for use as dust suppression. This river is the primary water source for many landowners in the area, who rely on it to grow feed for their farms and to water their animals. The volume of water required to prevent dust exceedances reportable to the Resources Regulator is likely to be significant. Reducing river levels further will increase water temperature, making conditions unsuitable for fish such as silver perch, catfish and mullet—another blow to an already delicate ecosystem.
Environmental noise from trucks, blasting and the crushing plant will also disrupt our way of life. Not long ago, the sounds here were mostly cows and the occasional dog. While I recognise that the Branxton area has developed over time, Stanhope and Elderslie Roads were built for residential and local traffic. Up to 30 truck and dog movements per hour will substantially increase noise and disturbance in our area and change the character of our rural community. The one lane bridge on Elderslie Road, built in 1891 and spanning approximately 55.5 metres across the Hunter River, is the only practical route for many residents travelling to Branxton from Elderslie, or to Singleton from the Branxton side. While the Hunter Expressway is an alternate route, it is already becoming congested during peak times. The bridge already operates beyond its intended capacity and required almost 12
months of repairs in 2022, causing major disruption for local residents.
Introducing up to 30 heavy quarry truck movements per hour to this already compromised rural network will:
• Increase delays and congestion
• Heighten the risk of accidents
• Accelerate structural wear and tear
• Increase the likelihood of future closures
For many residents, this bridge is their single point of entry and exit. Any additional traffic—let alone fully loaded quarry trucks—poses a serious safety and accessibility risk. I drive these roads every day. I see the risks firsthand. I know how quickly a near miss can become a serious accident. The proposed quarry will not simply increase traffic—it will fundamentally change the safety, accessibility, and livability of our community.
There is also a broader environmental cost. The proposed quarry site sits on the border of Tangory Nature Reserve, which covers approximately 503 hectares. This reserve supports an abundance of wildlife, including black cockatoos, owls, kookaburras, kangaroos, wallabies and ringtail possums, as well as established native vegetation and waterways that feed into local catchments. Disturbance from blasting, excavation and runoff will degrade habitats and undermine the environmental values that I understood the NSW Government were committed to protecting.
Importantly, the economic benefits of this quarry do not outweigh the long-term losses to local agriculture, amenity and community wellbeing. Branxton’s identity and livelihood are tied to farming, viticulture and rural enterprise. A quarry of this scale is fundamentally incompatible with the character, health and sustainability of our region.
I respectfully request that your office undertake a thorough, independent review of the environmental and social impacts of this proposal, and that you give serious weight to the strong objections of the Branxton and Elderslie community. We ask that the project be rejected, or at the very least subjected to far more rigorous assessment and genuine community consultation than has occurred to date.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that the concerns of local residents and farming families will be given the serious consideration they deserve.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally lodge my strong objection to the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271). As a directly impacted resident living immediately adjacent to the corridor on Maybon Close, I am deeply concerned by the profound, life-altering impacts this massive extractive industry will impose on our community.

The proposal seeks to extract up to 1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) over a staggering 30-to-50-year lifespan, generating an estimated 66,000 heavy vehicle movements per year. This does not represent a temporary disruption; it forces a permanent reclassification of Elderslie Road from a peaceful rural-residential corridor into a high-frequency, heavy industrial haul route.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) fails to meet basic standards of adequacy, safety, and procedural fairness. I urge the Department to refuse consent based on the following critical grounds:

1. Failure to Assess Cumulative Traffic Impacts in a Growth Corridor

State Significant Development (SSD) guidelines strictly require a comprehensive cumulative impact assessment, yet the project's traffic modeling treats the corridor as if it were entirely static. The Branxton-Greta-North Rothbury area is currently the highest growth zone in the Singleton LGA. The EIS is fundamentally deficient because it fails to integrate:

* Radford Park Estate: 169 existing lots directly on Elderslie Road, plus an approved 162-lot expansion (PP-2022-3868), totaling 331+ residential lots directly facing the haul route.
* Huntlee Development: Approximately 1,200 homes are already built, with clear plans expanding to 7,300 total dwellings.
* Infrastructure Conflict: Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and Council are currently investing public funds into residential intersection infrastructure - including the proposed Rusty Lane roundabout - to support family housing. Running high-frequency, 30-tonne trucks through this exact infrastructure creates an unresolvable policy and safety tension.

A traffic model that assesses a 1Mtpa quarry in total isolation from approved, rapidly expanding residential growth fails the legal and planning standards required for an SSD.

2. Infrastructure Fatigue and Severe Structural Risk to Elderslie Bridge

Elderslie Road is geographically constrained with narrow shoulders, steep grades, and multiple residential access points. The single-lane Elderslie Bridge is a critical historical bottleneck.

* The Fatigue Fallacy: The proponent relies heavily on a basic "load rating". However, a static capacity rating is completely separate from a structural fatigue life assessment. Subjecting a narrow, single-lane historic bridge to 66,000 heavy vehicle movements annually for decades requires Austroads fatigue design modeling.
* The Hampden Bridge Precedent: TfNSW’s recent intervention regarding the Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley proved that sustained heavy vehicle loading causes rapid, hidden structural degradation that legacy load ratings fail to predict.

3. Severe Threats to Vulnerable Road Users and School Transport

Elderslie Road almost entirely lacks footpaths, separated cycleways, or modern pedestrian safety protections. Dozens of families and children walk, cycle, and access residential driveways along this exact stretch.

* The School Bus Overlap: The proposed haulage hours create a highly dangerous, direct conflict with school bus routes and peak student pick-up/drop-off times.
* With a projected truck frequency averaging one heavy vehicle every two minutes, the risk of a catastrophic interaction involving school children or cyclists is unacceptably high. The EIS fails to demonstrate that this risk has been reduced to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).

4. Chronic Acoustic Destruction and Corridor-Wide Air Quality Deposition

* Acoustic Crushing: Operational noise and heavy downshifting will permanently degrade local health. Descending heavy vehicles will utilise compression and engine braking on the downhill grades immediately adjacent to residential homes, causing highly disruptive, intermittent acoustic spikes that have not been adequately modeled at our residential receptors.
* Water Supply Risks: The EIS restricts its air quality focus to the immediate site, ignoring the corridor-wide dispersion of diesel particulates, brake/tyre dust, and road surface abrasion. Because many properties along Elderslie Road rely entirely on harvested rainwater tanks, the continuous settling of toxic industrial dust on residential roofs poses an unmitigated threat to domestic drinking water safety.

5. Devastating Impacts on Local Businesses, Tourism, and Home Equity

The haul corridor directly impacts long-standing local employers and agricultural operators, including Pierre's Wines and the Elderslie Pet Motel.

* Pierre's Wines: Agritourism and cellar doors rely completely on experiential peace and scenic amenity. Flooding the road with heavy haulage directly past their doors during time-sensitive operations like vintage will devastate customer confidence and business viability.
* Elderslie Pet Motel: A commercial animal boarding facility is entirely dependent on a low-stress acoustic environment. Sustained engine braking, heavy downshifting, and blasting vibrations present severe animal welfare risks.
* Private Capital Devaluation: Families invested in Radford Park and Maybon Close under the promise of a semi-rural lifestyle. Introducing a 50-year heavy haulage route will decimate property values, destroying household equity during an already volatile economic climate.

6. Inexcusable Procedural Unfairness

The community engagement process has been fundamentally flawed. Directly affected commercial stakeholders on the primary haulage route, including Pierre's Wines, were explicitly denied direct access to the proponent’s traffic consultant during the preparation phase. A traffic assessment built without on-site consultation with the most vulnerable commercial premises along the route fails the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for genuine engagement.

7. Macroeconomic Shifting: Taxpayers Funding the Fallout

Every operational and structural failing detailed above carries a heavy financial consequence - none of which will be sustained by the proponent. Instead, the severe cost-of-living pressures and economic climate currently placing unprecedented strain on everyday families are completely ignored by this proposal's financial framework.

* The Infrastructure Subsidy: The exponential damage inflicted on local road pavement and the structural remediation required for Elderslie Bridge will vastly outstrip the proponent’s token $1 million annual road contribution. These multi-million dollar lifecycles are set to be borne directly by Singleton Council and State government authorities.
* Perverse Funding Structure: Consequently, the local taxpayers who are most severely impacted by the safety risks, toxic dust deposition, noise pollution, and property devaluation of this project are the very people expected to fund its infrastructure enablement and long-term degradation through their rates and taxes.
* Public Deprivation: Forcing public agencies to absorb open-ended infrastructure liabilities for private industrial gain will inevitably lead to deferred maintenance of vital public assets elsewhere or trigger Special Rate Variations. It is economically unjust to transfer private operational costs onto public budgets at a time when households are already stretched to their absolute limits.

Conclusion and Clear Legal Precedent

The Department must look to the Martins Creek Quarry expansion precedent (SSD-6612). The Independent Planning Commission refused that project in 2023 on nearly identical road haulage and amenity grounds - a decision strongly upheld by the Land and Environment Court in July 2025. Crucially, the Martins Creek proposal involved half the annual tonnage and half the operational duration of what is currently being pushed upon Elderslie.

If half the tonnage over half the timeline was deemed completely unacceptable at Martins Creek, the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project cannot logically be approved. Private commercial profit must not be prioritised over public safety, public infrastructure budgets, and the intergenerational equity of our community. I urge the Department to reject this application in its entirety.

Sincerely,
Morgan Went