Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project

Matthew Perriman
[email protected]
0419 473 839
6th July, 2026

Objection to Project: Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271)
Location: Springvale Road, Elderslie (Singleton Shire LGA)
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to log my strong objection to the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry proposal. My family lives right off the haul route on Maybon Close in Branxton, and this project is going to directly destroy the safety, peace, and financial security of our neighbourhood.
A 30-to-50-year approval for a massive quarry tearing up our local roads is completely wrong for this area. I want to highlight the following core issues:
Unacceptable Traffic & Infrastructure Risk: Elderslie Road is completely unsuitable for a massive fleet of 30-tonne trucks. Adding an estimated 66,000 heavy vehicle movements a year onto a narrow, rural-residential corridor is a recipe for disaster. The single-lane Elderslie Bridge is already a historical bottleneck and was never built to survive decades of continuous heavy industrial pounding.
Severe Danger to Our Kids: My biggest concern is the safety of local children. This road has narrow shoulders, very few proper footpaths or separated bike lanes. The proposed truck haulage hours directly clash with school bus schedules and the exact times kids are walking or waiting by the roadside. Having heavy truck-and-dog configurations barreling past every two minutes while kids are trying to get to school is an accident waiting to happen.
Constant, Disruptive Noise: The acoustic impact on our daily lives will be relentless. Trucks starting as early as 6:00 AM, heavy downshifting, and massive engine compression braking on the downhill slopes right past our homes will create a non-stop wall of noise for up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. You cannot introduce that kind of chronic industrial noise to a family neighbourhood and expect people to just live with it.
Destroying Property Values & Household Equity: Families like mine bought into this area for a semi-rural, quiet lifestyle. Introducing a major heavy freight route right past our doors will decimate property values across the Radford Park estate and surrounding streets. Knocking down our hard-earned home equity after we’ve invested heavily into this community is a massive, unfair blow to local families.
The Financial Injustice on Local Taxpayers: Right now, every household is dealing with a brutal cost-of-living crisis. We are all stretched to the limit. The proponent's small annual road contribution won't cover a fraction of the actual, long-term damage these trucks will do to our roads and bridges. That means the massive repair bills will end up falling on Singleton Council and the State Government. It is completely unfair that local families - the very people whose safety and lifestyle are being ruined by this quarry - will be the ones forced to foot the bill through our rates and taxes to clean up their mess.
The massive profits of a private quarry should never be put ahead of the safety of our kids, the integrity of our roads, and the financial well-being of local ratepayers. The Independent Planning Commission previously threw out the Martins Creek Quarry expansion on these exact road haulage and community grounds, and that project was half the size of this one. This proposal needs to be rejected.
Sincerely,
Matthew Perriman
19 Maybon Close, Branxton NSW 2335

I am writing to formally lodge my objection to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry Project in the Elderslie / Branxton area of the Hunter Valley. I have lived and worked in this community my entire life, and I’ve witnessed many changes - some positive and some not so much. The local population has grown significantly since 2020, prompting radical improvements in infrastructure to accommodate the growing demand for day care, schools, medical facilities, supermarkets and sporting venues.
However, I believe the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry development will not be a harmonious addition to the area. It poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem, introducing atmospheric dust, including silica dust, which is known to cause lung fibrosis and can ultimately lead to death for those who develop this debilitating disease.
The proposed quarry site is surrounded by farms and like my own property relies on rainwater for drinking. This water is collected from the runoff from roofs on homes and sheds. The dust from the quarry will settle on these structures and be washed into our drinking water. Will we be required to install costly filtration units just to have access to clean water?
The wind in the Elderslie / Branxton / Stanhope area reaches speeds of up to 120km/h at times, meaning that silica and quarry dust could be carried for kilometres, affecting a much larger area than just the immediate vicinity of the quarry.
In addition to the dust, the noise from trucks, subsurface blasting and the crushing plant will significantly disrupt the peace of our rural community. Rather than the sounds of farm animals, we will hear the constant rumble of trucks driving along Stanhope Road, across the one lane bridge, before passing by our front gate on Elderslie Road, which is a residential road, not a specific buile haul road. With up to 30 truck and dog movements per hour, the noise and disturbance will fundamentally alter the character of our community. There is also the likely risk of ground vibration from the blasting, which could affect surrounding properties.
The nearby Tangory Nature Reserve borders two sides of the quarry, covering approximately 503 hectares. This reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife, native vegetation and waterways that feed into local catchments. Disturbances from blasting, excavation and quarry runoff will degrade these vital habitats, undermining the environmental values that I believe the NSW Government has committed to protecting.
The economic benefits of this quarry do not outweigh the long-term losses to local agriculture, community amenity, and overall wellbeing. Branxton’s identity is intrinsically linked to farming, viticulture and rural industries. A quarry of this scale is fundamentally incompatible with the character, health and sustainability of our region for a mere 50-year gain.
I urge you to undertake a thorough, independent review of the environmental impacts of this proposal, and to take into account the serious objections of the Branxton and Elderslie communities. This project must be rejected, as it does not align with the values or needs of the local population.

I object to the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project and request the application be rejected.

I believe the quarry would worsen our climate change crisis and have negative and polluting impacts on social, safety, biodiversity, air, land and water quality and our financial economy.
Our rural and regional roads and, particularly the historic one-lane Elderslie bridge, are not built to take the continual weight, size and volume of truck movements this quarry would generate.
Quarry trucks would worsen road safety not only for everyday motorists but particularly for anyone around the numerous morning and afternoon rural school bus stops on the haulage routes. Cyclists and pedestrians using Elderslie Road, for instance, would be seriously putting their lives at risk during haulage times.
I know bureaucrats have listed 70 policies, guidelines and plans the quarry's environmental impact statement has to consider, but these requirements are antiquated and, for instance, have not kept pace with scientific facts outlining the urgent need for immediate global climate crisis action.
One of my concerns is that this quarry would generate thousands and thousands of diesel fuelled truck movements every year, for 30 and perhaps 50 years, covering up to 400 kilometres per trip throughout the Hunter region and down to Sydney and back.
I request the New South Wales governmental assessment of this quarry include its climate impacts, in line with requirements and guidelines set out by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Yes, approval of this development would probably include pages of "stringent conditions" but I doubt whether they would be worth the paper they're written on. What governance authority ever has the manpower - or willpower - to continually check all the conditions on all approved developments, let alone police them?
That's obviously rhetorical - the answer is none.

If this quarry is approved, I request its conditions include:
1. Having its owners pay to build and maintain a second Elderslie bridge with safe cycle and pedestrian lanes.
2. Pay to build and maintain a three metre wide cycle and pedestrian track through Elderslie to the Glendon Lane intersection.
3. Build and maintain a similar track from Elderslie to Branxton.
4. While ever the quarry operates, pay for the employment of independent governance officials, with authority to continually check, police and take qenuine action on consent conditions, such as halting quarry operations when environmental, safety or other consent breaches warrant.
Thank you, Paul Maguire.

I write to formally object to the proposed bluestone rock quarry due to serious concerns regarding public safety, unsuitable infrastructure, and the negative impacts on local residents.

My primary concern is the significant increase in heavy vehicle traffic, particularly along Elderslie Road. This road is narrow, has no pedestrian verge or footpath, and is not designed to accommodate frequent heavy truck movements.

Children, including my own, regularly walk along Elderslie Road to reach town and access school bus services. Under current conditions, this already presents challenges. The introduction of large numbers of heavy vehicles will make this route exceptionally dangerous.

There is no safe space for pedestrians to move aside, and visibility is limited in sections. The close proximity of trucks to children walking along the road creates an environment where a serious accident is highly likely. This is an unacceptable and foreseeable risk.

The safety of children and pedestrians must be prioritised. Approving a development that significantly increases heavy traffic on an unsuitable road, without appropriate upgrades or protections, demonstrates a failure to meet basic community safety standards.

Elderslie Road and surrounding local roads are not fit for purpose in supporting quarry-related traffic. The width, condition, and lack of pedestrian infrastructure make them inappropriate for sustained heavy vehicle use.

Without substantial upgrades, including road widening and the provision of safe pedestrian pathways, the existing infrastructure cannot safely accommodate this development.

Increased truck movements will result in ongoing noise, vibration, and disruption. Residents will experience a decline in the peaceful rural character of the area, with early morning operations and constant vehicle activity affecting daily life.

Dust generated by quarry operations and vehicle movements also raises concerns about air quality and health, particularly for children and vulnerable residents.

Conclusion

This proposal presents unacceptable risks to the safety of children and pedestrians, particularly along Elderslie Road, where there is no safe walking space and no capacity to safely manage increased heavy vehicle traffic.

The existing road infrastructure is inadequate, and the impacts on safety, amenity, and wellbeing are significant.

I strongly urge Council to reject this proposal in its current form to protect the safety of local families and the integrity of the community.

I strongly oppose the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry.

This project is unsafe for our community. Elderslie Road is already narrow and unsuitable for regular heavy vehicle movements. I already feel unsafe when a truck is travelling towards me on this road, and any major increase in quarry truck traffic would create an unacceptable risk for local residents, children, pedestrians, cyclists and all road users.

The roads and infrastructure in our area are not designed to support this type or volume of industrial traffic. The proposed quarry would place significant pressure on local roads that are already constrained, narrow and unsafe for heavy vehicles.

I am also extremely concerned about the impacts of noise, dust and airborne particles, particularly silica dust. These impacts would affect the health, safety, amenity and wellbeing of our small community. Residents should not be expected to live with increased dust, noise and industrial disruption as part of everyday life.

The proposal also raises serious concerns for the beautiful heritage Elderslie Bridge. This bridge is an important part of the character and history of the area. It is already limited by one-way traffic conditions, and the introduction of frequent quarry trucks would make traffic movement through this section extremely difficult, unsafe and unsuitable for the community.

This project does not reflect the capacity, character or safety needs of Elderslie and the surrounding community. It poses unacceptable risks to residents, children, road users, local infrastructure and the heritage value of the area.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry and request that the proposal be refused.

My husband and I vehemently object to the proposed bluestone quarry. Our property is situated on the route that these blue stone laden trucks would travel every minute or so daily.

It is fair to say that we can expect truck traffic and therefore noise pollution to start prior to the opening and post closing of the quarry to allow for travel time so I would expect to have these trucks on our roads from 6am - 6pm everyday.

Our children get off the school bus on this street and it poses a significant safety risk to have them share this space with this level of traffic. This area has become highly populated with young families and our family would be one of many with this same problem. As it is there is no footpath to travel from elderslie road into the town of Branxton and people are frequently seen walking on the road to make this trip by foot.

The negative impacts to our property value and enjoyment of our lovely quiet rural block would be significant by turning this road into a haul road. The road itself is not built for this level of heavy traffic, nor is the small one way/give way bridge it is proposed that the trucks would travel on.

We also object to the risk to our health with the poisonous chemicals being emitted and released into our environment (silica).

Why should our (many) lives be upended, disturbed and financially destroyed for the sake of the prospective wealth of one entity? (Developers for the blue stone quarry)

Please - reject this proposal and let this be a win for our community.

I have significant safety concerns regarding the increase in heavy vehicle traffic along Elderslie Rd this project will create. This road already sees a high amount of pedestrian traffic with no footpath or crossing facilities in place. Given a high percentage of this pedestrian traffic is children on bikes and scooters, how long will it be until a child is hit by a haul truck.
This project creates an unacceptably high risk to the local community as well increasing traffic, noise pollution, and silicates in the air.

the proposed quary has a quality aset that will be needed for roads 'concrete and the costruction industry in general .the existing quary at allandale has nearly depleted its resource .the clousuer will have asever impact on construction cost as material will have to be trucked some two hours away adding to the congestion on roadways while I understand this will impact some residents the benifit to the broader community outways there concerns iam surevcertian conditions can be imposed to appease all concerned

I strongly object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry.
This project represents an unacceptable risk to the safety, health and wellbeing of the Elderslie community and surrounding residents.
Elderslie Road is already narrow, constrained and unsuitable for regular heavy vehicle movements. I already feel unsafe when a truck is travelling towards me on this road. Increasing heavy vehicle traffic for quarry operations would create a serious and unacceptable safety risk for local residents, children, school traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency services and all other road users.
The local road network and infrastructure are not designed to support this type or volume of industrial traffic. The proposal would place unreasonable pressure on roads that are already inadequate for heavy vehicles. The community should not be forced to accept increased danger on local roads simply to accommodate a private industrial development.
I am particularly concerned about the impacts of dust, airborne particles and respirable crystalline silica. These are not minor amenity issues. They are serious health concerns. The community should not be exposed to increased dust and potential silica risk from blasting, crushing, loading, haulage and quarry operations.
Noise impacts are also a major concern. The ongoing noise from quarry operations, truck movements, machinery and potential blasting would significantly damage the quiet rural character of the area. Residents have a right to the safe and peaceful enjoyment of their homes and community.
I am also deeply concerned about the impact on the heritage Elderslie Bridge. This bridge is a beautiful and important heritage feature of the area. It is already limited by one-way traffic conditions and is not suitable for frequent quarry truck movements. The proposed increase in heavy vehicles would create congestion, conflict, safety risks and potential damage to this important local asset.
This proposal is completely out of character with the local area. It would introduce industrial-scale impacts into a small rural community that does not have the road capacity, infrastructure or environmental safeguards to support it.
The risks are too significant. The consequences would be borne by local residents, families and road users every day. Once the amenity, safety and heritage character of this community are damaged, they cannot simply be restored.
For these reasons, I strongly object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry and request that the proposal be refused.
No approval should be granted unless and until the applicant can independently demonstrate that there will be no unacceptable impact on road safety, community health, respirable silica exposure, dust, noise, local infrastructure, traffic movement or the heritage value of Elderslie Bridge.

Submission Objecting to the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project – Elderslie

I strongly object to the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project and respectfully request that the NSW Department of Planning refuse this development.

While I acknowledge the importance of supplying construction materials for the State, this proposal places an unreasonable burden on the residents of Elderslie, Branxton and the surrounding communities. In my view, the environmental, social and safety impacts significantly outweigh the claimed economic benefits.

1. Traffic Safety and Community Risk

My primary concern is the proposed heavy vehicle transport route.

The proposal would require truck and dog combinations to travel across the heritage-listed Elderslie Bridge before continuing along Elderslie Road through residential areas and into Branxton.

This is not an industrial transport corridor. It is a local community road used every day by families, school children, cyclists, pedestrians and recreational users.

The proposed route passes:

* children riding bicycles between Elderslie and Branxton
* people walking along the road and surrounding areas
* children and families fishing in the creek adjacent to Elderslie Road
* residential homes with direct driveway access
* the signalised intersection in Branxton
* Branxton Swimming Pool, where children regularly cross the road during summer.

Introducing large numbers of heavy quarry vehicles onto this route will substantially increase the risk of serious accidents involving vulnerable road users.

Even if the route technically complies with engineering standards, the real-world interaction between heavy vehicles and a growing residential community has not been adequately addressed.

The safety risks are unacceptable.

2. Inappropriate Use of Local Roads

Elderslie Road was never designed to become a long-term quarry haulage route servicing a State Significant Development for decades.

Truck and dog combinations carrying quarry products will accelerate pavement deterioration, increase maintenance costs and impose an ongoing burden on local and State road authorities.

The Environmental Impact Statement should not simply assess whether the road can physically accommodate these vehicles. It must also consider whether it is appropriate planning to transform a quiet rural community road into an industrial freight corridor for the next 30 years.

3. Heritage Impacts

The proposal relies on the use of the heritage-listed Elderslie Bridge as part of its transport network.

Regardless of any structural assessment, dramatically increasing heavy vehicle movements over a heritage structure fundamentally changes its setting, character and significance.

The bridge is an important part of the area’s historic identity and should not become a quarry haul road.

4. Air Quality, Dust and Public Health

The project has the potential to generate significant dust through blasting, crushing, stockpiling and the continual movement of heavy vehicles.

Respirable dust has well-documented impacts on human health and can affect nearby residents, rural properties and local vegetation.

Dust generated from quarry operations and heavy truck traffic has the potential to reduce air quality, diminish residents’ enjoyment of their properties and negatively impact the rural lifestyle that attracted many families to the area.

The cumulative impacts over a proposed 30-year operational life should not be underestimated.

5. Loss of Rural Character and Community Amenity

Elderslie and Branxton is valued for its quiet rural character, open landscape and peaceful environment.

The continual movement of heavy vehicles, industrial noise, dust and visual impacts will fundamentally change the nature of the community.

These impacts cannot realistically be mitigated through landscaping or operating conditions.

Once approved, the character of the area will be permanently altered.

6. Cumulative Impacts

The Environmental Impact Statement should not assess each impact in isolation.

Residents will experience the combined effects of:

* increased heavy vehicle traffic
* road safety risks
* noise
* dust
* air pollution
* visual impacts
* vibration
* deterioration of local roads
* reduced community amenity.

When considered together, these impacts represent a substantial and unreasonable burden on the local community.

7. Public Interest

The planning system requires consideration of whether a project is in the public interest.

While the quarry may provide economic benefits and construction materials, those benefits should not come at the expense of the health, safety and wellbeing of existing communities.

The public interest extends beyond supplying aggregate. It includes protecting established communities, preserving heritage assets, ensuring road safety and maintaining liveable neighbourhoods.

In this case, the proposal places disproportionate impacts on the residents of Elderslie and Branxton while delivering benefits primarily to the project proponent and users of the extracted resource.

Conclusion

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Department refuse approval of the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project.

At a minimum, the Department should require:

* an independent review of the Traffic Impact Assessment;
* an independent road safety audit focused on pedestrians, cyclists and school-aged children;
* a detailed assessment of cumulative impacts over the life of the project;
* a comprehensive heritage assessment of the increased use of Elderslie Bridge;
* independent modelling of dust and air quality impacts under worst-case conditions; and
* genuine consideration of alternative heavy vehicle transport routes that avoid residential areas.

The long-term environmental, social and safety costs to our community outweigh the claimed benefits of this proposal.

I urge the Department to place the wellbeing of existing residents, future generations and the unique character of Elderslie and Branxton ahead of this development and refuse the application.

Please see attached submission against this project.

I object to the project on the basis of my submission attached.

• I object to the quarry proposal project. It is my opinion the development would not be appropriate for this location because it would introduce major and ongoing impacts to a semi-rural community, including and not limited to concerns about road and traffic safety, biodiversity, water resources, air quality, noise, vibration, the local environment and the quality of life of residents in Elderslie and surrounding communities. This includes Branxton, Greta and even Singleton depending on which wat the truck movements go.
• The proposed quarry area has the potential to effect native wildlife, including koalas, bats, flying foxes, honeyeaters, parrots, treecreepers and quolls. The project also has the potential to directly disturb and reduce native habitat, while dust, noise and blasting may create further stress and disruption for animals that rely on this environment.
• It also has the potential to impact the fish habitat, fish passage and local waterways, including creeks and the Hunter River, particularly if sediment, dust or runoff enters these systems.
• The quarry proposal is also likely to generate significant noise, vibration and blasting impacts. In particular, i am concerned about the effect of blasting on nearby farms, residents and native habitat. Ongoing noise and vibration would affect the wellbeing of people living in the community and may also disturb livestock, domestic animals and native wildlife. Also the Boarding Kennel business that has been a well-established business within the shadows of the proposal. The substantial increase in road traffic noise and wear and tear on the local roads associated with more than 200 B double truck movements per day is a major concern. Elderslie Rd is already under a state of continual repair and Elderslie Bridge being a single lane bridge is not designed for these types of truck movements.
• There are serious concerns for the amount of dust generated by the quarry and could reduce air quality and affect the ability of residents to breathe clean air. Dust may also settle on waterways, vegetation, homes, farms and surrounding land, creating broader health and environmental impacts. Poor air quality may negatively affect vegetation, native animals, domestic animals and livestock. The cumulative impact of dust over time is a particular concern for current residents and for the future health and amenity of the local community. Dust is likely to be generated during quarrying, processing, stockpiling, loading and road haulage activities. The operational, incremental and cumulative impacts of dust should be carefully assessed, including the combined effect of on-site activities and truck movements through the local area. Dust generated from on-site activities should not be considered in isolation from the impacts created during transport and handling.
• There is also a concern that dust, sediment and runoff from the proposed quarry could affect local water sources. Potential impacts on surface water and groundwater should be carefully considered, including effects on creeks, the Hunter River, farm dams and other water storage relied upon by local residents, farms, livestock and wildlife.
• As mentioned above, the quarry proposal would result in a minimum of 110 loaded truck-and-dog movements per day, with return trips creating more than 200 heavy vehicle movements on Elderslie Road. This would be a major increase in heavy traffic on a rural road that was not designed for this level of use. Elderslie Road has an 80 km/h speed limit and crosses the single-lane Elderslie Bridge, creating additional safety and traffic management concerns. Elderslie Road is already regularly under repair due to existing traffic volumes. Additional heavy vehicle movements would likely increase wear and maintenance demands on the road. The amount of capital that the developers are prepared to put into road maintenance would be lucky to cover the damage that will occur to the roadways. The road has limited verges and no footpaths. The proposed operating hours overlap with peak local traffic periods, including resident travel, school bus services and workers commuting. Between 4 pm and 6 pm, traffic often queues at the T-intersection of Elderslie Road and the New England Highway. Additional heavy vehicle traffic would also affect the T-intersection of Maitland Road and Wine Country Drive, which provides access to the Hunter Expressway. School bus services operate along these roads to Branxton and Singleton, increasing the importance of road safety for children and families. These rural roads are not built to safely accommodate sustained high volumes of heavy vehicle traffic. There are no bicycle lanes or pedestrian/shared paths along Elderslie Road, meaning pedestrians, cyclists and local residents must share the road environment with general traffic and heavy vehicles. The 80 km/h speed limit creates further risk where heavy vehicles are slowing, turning, entering or exiting rural roads and intersections. As previously mentioned ,Elderslie Bridge is a single-lane bridge, which presents significant traffic management and safety issues if large trucks and motor vehicles are required to share this route. Elderslie Road runs through a semi-rural community where children wait at bus stops without footpaths or separated pedestrian areas. This would create an unacceptable safety risk. Pedestrians and cyclists would be required to share the road with increased traffic and heavy vehicles, which would make everyday travel more unsafe and less accessible for the community. Truck movements at the T-intersection with Maitland Road would likely affect traffic flow and safety, whether trucks are turning left or right. If trucks turn right onto Maitland Road, they would travel through the small community of Branxton, where local traffic, shops, parked cars and pedestrians already create a busy village environment.
• The proposal may also affect the operations of the Hunter pet Motel and Elderslie Airport, which supports general aviation, charter operations and parachute jumping activities. The project is inconsistent with the semi-rural lifestyle and quiet residential character valued by the local community. I am concerned about the potential impact on farm income and productivity, including effects on livestock health, crop quality and the local dairy industry. Dust, noise, vibration, traffic and reduced amenity may place additional pressure on farms and rural businesses that rely on a healthy local environment. For these reasons, I ask that the assessing authority give significant weight to the concerns of local residents and refuse approval for the proposed quarry. The potential impacts on road safety, community wellbeing, the natural environment, local farms, waterways and the semi-rural character of Elderslie are too significant to justify the project proceeding in this location.

I have serious concerns on many adverse impacts on the local community, unsafe traffic conditions, deteriorating roads due to damage from heavy vehicles, dust from quarry blasting and crushing, air pollution contaminating household drinking water and stock water. At the top of the list is the approx 130 year old Elderslie Bridge, which was not built to withstand a daily onslaught of heavily laden modern day trucks, possibly more than 100 crossings per day, every week day.
Also of great concern is the safety of the school bus services that use Elderslie Rd, Stanhope Rd,Rusty Lane to Branxton and Lambs Valley Rd and Roughit Lane to Singleton. Daily from 7.30 am to 8.30am there are 4 buses collecting students along these roads and transporting to the respective schools. From 3.30 pm till 4.45pm the same as above in reverse order. I notice in the EIS there is not clear indications of which way the trucks will proceed after turning out of Elderslie Rd into Maitland St Branxton and then onto the New England Highway, if this is the proposed haul route.
Air pollution. Why does the desktop study rely on data from Singleton South and Beresfield, using weather recordings from Cessnock Airport rather than conducting actual localised studies (ie. Residences with 5kms ) over a 12 month period.
Question: Do the wind records for 2017 (at Cessnock Airport) provide a reasonable guide to the local wind conditions in the area surrounding the proposed project site?
I sincerely hope that all these issues are considered seriously in due course on the devastating impact on the rural villages of Stanhope, Lambs Valley, Elderslie , Radford park and the town of Branxton.

Branxton deserves better & this would affect the families living theres

The current proposal is a joke. The Elderslie bridge that is heritage listed requires constant repairs and maintenance as it is, adding the extra wear and tear of dedicated freight haulage along this route will cause undue delays and detours for the people living in the area. This also doesn't take into account the extra noise pollution and traffic congestion that will be inflicted upon the residents along this route.
This quarry needs to do what all large resource extraction operations do and consider a freight rail or building their own road to a major arterial connection as options in order to reduce harm on the residents and businesses in the area they want to operate.
As the proposal stands, it cannot be allowed to succeed.

I wish to formally object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry at Elderslie due to the significant environmental, safety, health and community impacts that this development would have on local residents and the surrounding rural area.

Elderslie is a quiet rural community valued for its peaceful lifestyle, agricultural activities, natural environment and abundant wildlife. The proposed quarry is fundamentally incompatible with the existing character of the area and would permanently change the amenity enjoyed by residents and visitors.

Traffic and Road Safety

The proposal to operate approximately 110 heavy truck movements per day on local rural roads raises serious safety concerns. These roads are narrow, winding and were not designed to accommodate such a high volume of heavy vehicles.

Many residents regularly ride horses along these roads, and the increased truck traffic would create an unacceptable risk to horse riders, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Horses can easily be startled by large trucks, leading to potentially catastrophic accidents. The increased traffic would also negatively affect school buses, farm machinery and local residents who rely on these roads every day.

The proposal also relies on a single-lane bridge that is approximately 115 years old. It is difficult to understand how infrastructure of this age and design could safely accommodate continuous heavy quarry traffic without compromising public safety or the structural integrity of the bridge. The increased loading, vibration and frequency of heavy vehicles warrant an independent engineering assessment before any approval is considered.

Environmental Impacts

The proposed quarry threatens the local environment through vegetation clearing, habitat disturbance, increased noise, dust and vibration. The Elderslie area supports extensive native wildlife, including mammals, reptiles and birdlife that rely on the existing habitat. Quarry operations would fragment this habitat, increase wildlife mortality and permanently alter the natural landscape.

The cumulative environmental impacts extend well beyond the quarry site itself and would affect neighbouring properties and surrounding ecosystems for many years.

Dust, Silica and Water Quality

The generation of dust, particularly crystalline silica dust associated with hard rock quarrying, is a major concern. Fine dust has the potential to travel significant distances, particularly during dry and windy conditions common in rural areas.

Many surrounding properties rely on rainwater tanks as their primary source of household water. Dust settling on roofs and entering water tanks raises concerns about water quality and the long-term health of residents. Silica exposure is a recognised health hazard, and every effort should be made to prevent airborne dust from affecting nearby homes.

Dust deposition would also impact gardens, livestock, agricultural operations and the overall liveability of neighbouring properties.

Blasting, Noise and Loss of Amenity

Regular blasting would generate vibration, noise and shockwaves that would significantly disturb nearby residents. The peace and quiet currently enjoyed by the community would be replaced by ongoing industrial noise from blasting, crushing operations, heavy machinery and truck movements.

This loss of rural amenity cannot be adequately mitigated. Residents chose to live in Elderslie because of its tranquil environment, and the introduction of a large-scale quarry would permanently diminish their quality of life.

Community Character

The proposed quarry is inconsistent with the rural nature of Elderslie. The community is characterised by farming, horse riding, native bushland and peaceful living. Establishing a major industrial operation in this setting would fundamentally alter the identity of the area and undermine the values that residents have invested in protecting.

Conclusion

Given the significant risks to public safety, the inadequacy of local road infrastructure, the reliance on a 115-year-old single-lane bridge, the impacts on horse riders and other road users, the threats to wildlife and the environment, concerns regarding dust, silica and rainwater contamination, and the unacceptable loss of peace and rural amenity, I strongly urge the relevant planning authority to reject this proposal.

The long-term environmental, social and health costs to the Elderslie community far outweigh any short-term economic benefits that may be claimed by the quarry operator. Protecting the safety of residents, preserving the natural environment and maintaining the rural character of Elderslie should be given the highest priority.

I object to this proposal. I am the owner of 16 Maybon Close, Branxton, a two-acre residential block adjacent to the haulage corridor, purchased to build a family home for myself and my two children which is severely impacted by this proposal. My detailed submission is attached.

The road is already hard and dangerous enough to enter from side streets due to the enormous amount of traffic. As a mother I am concerned about the level of traffic and the safety given no sidewalks or crossings. I am also concerned about the air quality for the surrounding community

I am a resident of the Elderslie–Stanhope area and wish to lodge this submission in strong opposition to the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271).
My family chose to live in this area because of its peaceful rural character, productive agricultural land, natural environment and close-knit community. This proposal would fundamentally change that character for at least the next 30 years by introducing an intensive industrial operation into an area that is neither designed nor suitable for it.
While I recognise the importance of quarry materials for infrastructure and construction, I do not believe the significant and enduring impacts of this proposal on local residents, the environment and road safety have been adequately justified. The long-term costs to our community far outweigh the benefits.
An Industrial Development of an Unacceptable Scale
The proposal seeks approval to extract, process and transport up to one million tonnes of hard rock each year for approximately 30 years. An Industrial Development of an Unacceptable Scale.
This is not a temporary construction project or a small rural quarry. It represents the long-term industrialisation of a quiet rural landscape, bringing decades of heavy vehicle traffic, crushing operations, blasting, vegetation clearing, noise and dust.
Approving a project of this magnitude would permanently alter the character of Elderslie and Stanhope and fundamentally change the community.
One of my greatest concerns is the impact of quarry traffic on local roads and public safety.
The proposal includes up to 216 laden truck movements each day, creating a level of heavy industrial traffic that is completely out of character with the existing rural road network.
These roads are regularly used by:
• local residents
• school buses transporting children
• farm machinery
• livestock movements
• cyclists
• horse riders
• emergency service vehicles.
The proposed haul route is particularly concerning because it includes the historic one-lane Elderslie Bridge.
This bridge was never designed to carry continuous heavy quarry traffic. It is narrow, requires vehicles to give way, and already presents challenges for motorists. Introducing large numbers of heavy trucks onto this crossing would increase safety risks, congestion and driver conflict while placing additional pressure on an important piece of local infrastructure.
Furthermore, the bottleneck as the trucks travel through Branxton and eventually onto the Hunter Expressway, places these trucks in conflict with school buses and local traffic.
Parents should not have to worry about school buses sharing these roads with constant heavy quarry vehicles, and local residents should not have to alter their daily lives because quiet rural roads have effectively become an industrial freight corridor.
In addition to safety concerns, increased truck traffic would generate:
• continuous traffic noise
• diesel emissions
• dust along transport routes
• vibration affecting nearby homes
• accelerated road deterioration and increased maintenance costs.
These impacts would be experienced every day for decades.
The proposed operating hours would significantly diminish the quality of life for the communities of Stanhope, Elderslie, Branxton, Leconfield and Dalwood.
The Environmental Impact Statement indicates:
• quarry operations from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm on weekdays
• product loading from 5:00 am
• regular blasting during the week.
These activities would expose surrounding residents to prolonged industrial noise over much of each weekday.
Early morning loading activities are likely to disturb sleep and reduce residents' enjoyment of their properties before normal daytime activities even begin.
Blasting introduces another source of concern. Beyond the measurable effects of vibration, repeated blasting can create ongoing stress and anxiety for residents and raises concerns regarding potential impacts on homes, farm infrastructure and livestock.
The cumulative effect of machinery, crushers, reversing alarms, trucks and blasting is fundamentally incompatible with the quiet rural environment that defines Elderslie and Stanhope.
Dust generated by quarrying, crushing, stockpiles and heavy vehicle movements has the potential to affect surrounding homes and agricultural properties.
Residents may experience dust settling on:
• homes
• outdoor living areas
• rainwater tanks
• gardens
• vehicles
• washing
• livestock facilities.
Dust also has the potential to affect air quality and reduce residents' enjoyment of their properties, particularly during dry or windy conditions. This is particularly concerning for our communities as we rely on rainwater.
While management measures are proposed, it is unrealistic to expect dust generated over a 30-year quarry operation to be completely contained at all times.
The proposal involves clearing approximately 35.28 hectares of native vegetation within a disturbance area exceeding 40 hectares.
This level of clearing will permanently reduce native habitat and biodiversity and further fragment the remaining vegetation across the landscape.
The environmental impacts extend beyond vegetation removal alone. They include:
• loss of wildlife habitat
• reduced ecological connectivity
• increased erosion risks
• sediment movement into surrounding waterways
• permanent alteration of the landscape.
Although biodiversity offsets may be proposed, they cannot replace mature native vegetation or recreate the ecological values of established bushland that has developed over many decades.
Agriculture is an important part of the local area and should remain a priority land use.
The proposed quarry includes substantial earthworks, blasting activities and stormwater management infrastructure, all of which introduce potential risks to:
• groundwater
• surface water quality
• surrounding soils
• nearby agricultural land.
Dust deposition on pasture and crops, together with vibration and increased industrial activity, has the potential to adversely affect farming operations and livestock.
These impacts are inconsistent with maintaining the long-term productivity of the surrounding rural landscape. The Hunter Valley has shouldered much of the burden for state projects for many years and this has severely degraded our water supply and our land.
Planning decisions should consider not only environmental and engineering matters but also the wellbeing of the communities expected to live with a development.
For local residents, this proposal would mean:
• increased heavy vehicle traffic every day
• regular blasting
• continual industrial noise
• reduced air quality from dust
• increased safety risks on local roads
• loss of rural amenity
• visual impacts from quarry operations
• reduced enjoyment of homes and properties for decades.
Many families have invested their lives in this community because of its peaceful rural setting. That character would be fundamentally changed by this proposal.
The benefits of this development are largely commercial and extend beyond the local area, while the environmental, social and safety impacts fall overwhelmingly on the residents of Elderslie, Stanhope and surrounding communities.
The Department must carefully consider whether it is reasonable for one rural community to bear three decades of industrial impacts for benefits that are realised elsewhere.
In my view, the proposal does not strike an appropriate balance between economic benefit and community wellbeing.


I respectfully request that the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure:
• refuse development application SSD-76210271 for the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project;
• protect the rural character, environmental values and agricultural significance of the Elderslie and Stanhope area;
• prioritise the safety, health and wellbeing of existing residents; and
• ensure that future development is compatible with the established rural landscape and community.
The Bluestone Hardrock Quarry is simply the wrong development in the wrong location.
Its scale, duration and cumulative impacts would permanently transform a peaceful rural community into an industrial landscape characterised by heavy truck traffic, blasting, dust, noise and extensive vegetation clearing.
These impacts cannot be fully mitigated, and they would be experienced not for a few years, but for an entire generation.
I respectfully urge the Department to refuse SSD-76210271 and protect the long-term environmental, agricultural and community values of Elderslie and Stanhope.