Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project

I have concerns with traffic over the Elderslie Bridge. If the project is to go ahead we need a bridge that can take two way traffic. Presently the bridge is single lane with a give way sign at one end. This set up is inadequate with the traffic demands now. There are more houses and housing estates being built now at East Gresford and on the Gresford Road. With the introduction of potentially a truck movement every few minutes traffic at the bridge will be unbearable. One can only imagine what it will be like in 5 years let alone 30. On foggy mornings one has to play roulette as there is no way to see to the other side. I can only imagine what would happen if a car and a truck meet mid way.
If the project is to go ahead a two lane bridge must be part of the approval.
If you would like to discuss the issues with traffic on the bridge I would be happy to discuss.

I object to the project. Dust pollution we are on tank water. Danger to people of Branxton, the trucks will pass many bus stops used by general public and school children. Noise pollution, this proposal has trucks using Elderslie rd which ascends and descends into Branxton township. Exhaust braking and engine reving for long amounts of time. Not suitable.

Invalid and defective administration approval process lacking transparency and consultation. Boundaries and scale incorrect in documents. Environmental assessment and terrain do not have the water capacity to contain dust or firefighting in the event of a emergency situation. Infrastructure grade of tar for haul road not to standard, width of road approach angles onto Stanhope road Elderslie intersection Elderslie bridge all lack clear and safe driving standards due to the road being either too narrow. Incorrect camber or lack visibility for merging and passing. Potential for serious roll overs and accidents. Elderslie bridge and the road shows degradation of the road surface will not sustain the potential extra traffic. Safety for children being picked up by buses on the road and dropped off has not been taken into the process and should be considered , North wind will shift dust into the hunter river and catchment making the already struggling waterways even more pollutted from dust debris and diesel pollutants .

As a long time resident of Branxton who is watching in horror at the huge increase in traffic in our town. The proposal to have a huge number of heavy vehicles travelling from the proposed quarry over roads/bridges (the existing Elderslie Bridge being a single lane bridge) is preposterous. These narrow country roads are not fit for the proposed increase in traffic. Even the fact that these heavily laden trucks will need to pass through Branxton which is already experiencing traffic snarling from the thousands of extra residents in Huntlee. These planned traffic routes are used already by hundreds of Coal Miners travelling from nearby towns.
The T intersection that meets with Wine Country is dangerous enough now. That you would consider it as a means of passage needs to be looked at hard. After departing the T intersection and if turning right to travel up to the roundabout and then onto the M15, you have NO merging lane and the speed limit is 80km. No heavily laden truck could do this safely, much less other drivers using an already problem intersection. This particular intersection WOULD NEED TO HAVE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR A ROUNDABOUT INSTALLED.
I would ask that the Planning Officers responsible for this application, arrange an on the ground inspection to understand why I and so many others are concerned with the transportation of the goods from any proposed Quarry.
Branxton in particular is now reeling from the huge increase in traffic as a result of the new town Huntlee. I personally am not against progress, but I do want for common sense decisions to be made after the proposed Quarry documentation is weighed up. Those people in the vicinity of this Quarry will be subjected to dire traffic numbers everyday AND the current roads are only just coping with the traffic utilising these roads now.

I object to this project, it will greatly impact my property, live stock and lifestyle, as well as impacting the surrounding community. Noise pollution is already a factor as we can hear machinery working, the quarry will also create water and air pollution. With this I expect there to be contamination coming into my livestock and disruption to them, this will also affectct the natural endangered species and their habitat in the area. We are a direct Neighbour to this Proposed Quarry and will be visually affected, will lose our privacy, quality of life, and an expected significant decrease in the property value, with special mention to the vibration of blasting and silica dust. Outside of my direct property, the heavy haulage trucks will cause destruction the existing road ways, and extreme congestion and back log on the ELderlie Bridge, which when built was not made for heavy haulage trucks

Letter attached for my objection submission

I have attached my objection letter, please consider all of my concerns for this application

We are currently building in Radford park estate, In Branxton. I’m highly concerned with the proposed impacts this new proposal in Elderslie will bring. The impacts to our safety, our environment and health.

My concerns -

Kids getting off buses along elderslie - there is no walk way and the road is very narrow.
Pulling out onto elderslie road. There is a bend to the road, coming out of radford park estate, on the left hand side. A truck going 80 along this road can hit a car coming out of the estate easily, as they are unable to slow down quickly.
Elderslie bridge - it’s one way.
Bin collection along elderslie road. Trucks going around garbage trucks.
The dust pollution, getting into the waterways - impacting those with breathing issues and getting into the water ways and environmental impacts.
Loss of value to homes, this will effect all of us dramatically

I highly object to this project.

To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to support the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry.
I have lived in this area for 69 years and have lived at Glendon Brook for the past 40 years. I know the area well and have seen many changes over that time. Our region continues to grow, and with that growth comes the need for local resources.
I have worked in the mining industry for many years, so I understand the compliance and regulation that quarries must meet. These operations are closely monitored, and the standards for safety, noise, dust, traffic and environmental protection are high.
I also know how important quarries are. The rock they produce is essential for concrete, roads, houses and other building projects. As our area expands, we need a dependable local supply of these materials rather than relying on distant sources.
I believe this quarry will be good for the area. It will provide an important resource and support local jobs while operating under strict government regulations.
I support the project and hope it is approved.
Yours sincerely, Greg Cooke

I am strongly opposed to the project on the basis of increased truck interactions and traffic, detrimental road damage, lack of infrastructure including bridges, safety concerns with excessive truck interactions on a quiet country road, increased truck activity through New England Highway in Branxton, and unnecessary industrialisation of our pristine country locality.

This project is required to ensure the supply of materials to support housing growth and future development, and to prevent it having to be transported from long distances away, increasing road damage, emissions and cost transport costs.

On behalf of my husband and our young child, we oppose this project for reasons I will list below.
Our community at Radford Park is made up of a lot of young families as well as retirees. As a registered nurse, I am concerned of the health impacts these blasts will have with added dust in the air.
With all ages living in this area, we do not want to expose our children especially to the decrease in air quality.
Another concern is the Elderslie road and the amount of traffic from trucks passing hourly Monday to Sunday and the damage this will cause to the roads, as well as the safety impact. These trucks will be on time schedules hauling material from the quarry and there is great concern that these trucks will be flying down Elderslie road. Children wait for their buses along this road. Houses back onto this road. There is a foot path accessible from Radford Park which a lot of neighbours use for walks or bike rides with children and when you have a sleeping baby in a pram and a large truck changing gears as they go down hill, this is not ideal. Often my family and I have walked into Branxton town from Radford Park and as there is no footpath that continues down to the main road, this already is very risky and unsafe as you have to wait for traffic to pass while walking on the side of the road to get past the areas that do not even have a path. Elderslie road will be damaged and it appears the council will not have the money to maintain the upkeep of the road, as they have yet to make a decision on a footpath into town which alone would cost a lot of money.
Regarding the quarry itself, this is very close to home and the blast are going to be felt, as we already feel blasts from the Singleton base. The house rumbles and animals get distressed. Our cats run and hide and several of our neighbours dogs have jumped the fences. It is a common occurrence and this is felt from many kilometres away. We are concerned not only for the blasts that will be felt like an earthquake, but the potential damage to our houses over time as the ground shifts and moves from these additional blasts.
There is potential decline to the value of our homes, our community and health. This is not something that my family and I support.
We hope that you will please consider these concerns on the decision to not go ahead with this quarry project.
Kind regards.

Cessnock City Council writes to formally lodge a submission to the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (SSD-76210271), formerly referred to as the Pittman Quarry.
This submission should be considered as an objection to the proposal.

To who it may concern,

I don't support this quarry going ahead.

My family and I chose to live in Glendon Brook because it is quiet and peaceful. We don't want to see another big industrial project come into the area.

I am worried about all the extra trucks that will be using our local roads. They are country roads that people use every day, and more heavy trucks will only make them more dangerous.

I am also worried about the blasting, dust and noise. Even if it is only at certain times, it will still affect the people who live nearby. Nobody wants to hear blasting or have dust blowing around their home.

The quarry is meant to run for around 30 years. That is a very long time. Once it starts, local families will have to put up with it for decades.

I also don't like the amount of bush that will need to be cleared. We have lots of native animals around here, and they should be protected where possible.

I think enough land around here has already been used for mining and industry. We don't need another quarry changing the area even more.

Please listen to the people who already live here before approving another large project.

For these reasons, I object to the Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project.

Cheers,

Hello,

I don't want this quarry to happen.

I live around here because it is nice and quiet. If this quarry gets built there will be more trucks, more noise and more dust. That is not good for the people that already live here.

The roads around here are busy enough now. Big trucks will make them worse and more dangerous. Kids, families and farmers all use these roads.

I also don't like the blasting. Even if they say it won't be that bad, it will still bother people. Nobody wants to hear explosions near where they live.

The quarry is going to be here for a long time. Thirty years is too long. Once it starts we can't just get rid of it if it causes problems.

There is already enough mining around this area. We don't need another big project. The bush and the animals will also lose more of their home.

I think the people that already live here should come first.

Please don't approve this quarry.

Thanks.

To Whom It May Concern,
I am a resident of Tangory Mountain and wish to lodge a formal objection to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry development in the Hunter Valley.
As a nearby resident, I have serious concerns regarding the potential impacts of this project on the health, safety, amenity, environment, and quality of life of local residents and the broader community.
1. Health Impacts
The proposed quarry is expected to generate significant amounts of dust through blasting, crushing, screening, excavation, and heavy vehicle movements. Fine particulate matter can travel considerable distances depending on weather conditions and has the potential to affect residents living in surrounding areas.
I am concerned about:
Increased exposure to airborne dust and particulate matter.
Potential respiratory impacts, particularly for children, older residents, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Dust deposition on homes, water tanks, gardens, crops, and livestock.
Long-term cumulative health impacts from ongoing quarry operations.
The assessment should not rely solely on modelling but should carefully consider real-world weather conditions, prevailing winds, drought periods, and cumulative impacts from other industrial activities in the region.
2. Blasting Impacts
Blasting activities present significant concerns for residents living in proximity to the proposed quarry.
I am concerned about:
Ground vibration and air-blast overpressure affecting homes and rural infrastructure.
Structural damage to dwellings, sheds, water tanks, and other buildings.
Stress and anxiety caused by repeated blasting events.
Potential impacts on livestock, horses, native wildlife, and domestic animals.
Reduced enjoyment of rural living due to noise, vibration, and uncertainty surrounding blasting operations.
The rural residential character of Tangory Mountain is incompatible with regular industrial-scale blasting activities.
3. Traffic and Road Safety Concerns
The quarry is expected to generate substantial heavy vehicle traffic on local roads.
This raises concerns regarding:
Increased road safety risks for local residents, school buses, cyclists, and agricultural vehicles.
Road deterioration and increased maintenance requirements.
Dust generation from truck movements.
Increased noise from heavy vehicles operating throughout the day.
Reduced safety at intersections and access points.
Emergency service access during periods of high traffic.
Many local roads were not designed for sustained heavy quarry traffic. The increased use of these roads by large haulage vehicles may significantly alter the safety and amenity of the area.
4. Environmental and Biodiversity Impacts
The Hunter Valley contains important native vegetation, wildlife habitat, and ecological corridors.
I am concerned that the quarry may result in:
Clearing and fragmentation of native vegetation.
Loss of habitat for native fauna.
Impacts on threatened species and ecological communities.
Increased weed invasion and habitat degradation.
Noise and disturbance affecting wildlife behaviour and breeding.
Long-term landscape scarring and loss of environmental values.
Any biodiversity assessment should fully consider cumulative impacts and not assess the project in isolation.
5. Water Resources
I am concerned about potential impacts on surface water and groundwater systems.
Potential issues include:
Alteration of natural drainage patterns.
Sediment runoff into local waterways.
Contamination risks associated with quarry operations.
Reduced groundwater availability for neighbouring landholders.
Impacts on stock water supplies and rural water security.
Given increasing pressure on water resources, precautionary measures should be applied.
6. Noise and Rural Amenity
The proposed quarry would introduce industrial-scale activities into a predominantly rural environment.
Noise sources may include:
Blasting.
Crushing and screening equipment.
Excavators and loaders.
Heavy vehicle movements.
Reversing alarms and operational activities.
These impacts may significantly reduce residents' ability to enjoy their properties and diminish the rural character of Tangory Mountain and surrounding areas.
7. Social and Economic Impacts
The project has the potential to adversely affect:
Property values.
Rural lifestyle and amenity.
Community wellbeing.
Residents' enjoyment of their homes and land.
The attractiveness of the area for future residents and visitors.
Any economic benefits associated with the quarry must be weighed against the long-term costs imposed on local communities.

I respectfully request that the consent authority give substantial weight to the concerns of local residents and carefully assess the cumulative impacts of the proposed quarry.
In addition to the specific concerns outlined above, residents of Tangory Mountain and surrounding areas are already experiencing significant disruption due to the ongoing condition and maintenance requirements of local roads within the Singleton Council area. Roadworks, repairs, traffic control measures, and road closures are a frequent occurrence and already impact travel times, access, safety, and daily life on a regular basis.

This is premium Australian country and in my opinion the most beautiful countryside within close region to Sydney, moments away from one of the countries biggest tourism hotspots. Sure the country is big and accessible enough to find a location which will not have such a disastrous impact on families, premium farmlands and not to mention the newly designated nature reserve bordering the proposed site. How this project could be even considered in this area is astonishing. If you have not visited this area you are welcome to come and visit and I am sure you will appreciate this project would be a disastrous mistake.

The introduction of a major hard rock quarry and the associated increase in heavy vehicle movements would place further pressure on an already stressed road network and has the potential to increase road deterioration, maintenance requirements, traffic disruptions, and safety risks for local residents.
The cumulative effect of existing road issues, together with additional quarry traffic, noise, dust, blasting activities, and environmental impacts, would impose an unreasonable burden on nearby communities and significantly diminish the rural amenity and lifestyle currently enjoyed by residents.
For these reasons, I object to the proposed Bluestone Hard Rock Quarry development and request that the application be refused.

Regards

Brett Garner
28 Tangory Rise
Glendon Brook

My biggest concern is that the bridge over the Hunter River at Elderslie is only one vehicle wide and was never engineered to take heavy truck traffic, let alone frequent heavy vehicles. The trucks that use the bridge already don’t give way to cars. They just push their way onto the bridge. A second bridge will need to be built by the quarry.

The roads are not suitable for constant heavy traffic and will need upgrading and repairs. This cost should not be paid by the public. It should be an ongoing operational cost to the quarry.

I am concerned about vibration from blasting of the rock and affecting the groundwater supply (borewater) to my property, which is on the same seam of blue metal, but at a higher altitude.

I am concerned for the safety of school children along the the same bus route as the haul trucks will take.

The queues of trucks on the road and at the bridge will cause massive congestion on the road. I am concerned about the increase in accidents between cars and trucks, especially if drivers get impatient.

I am concerned about the threat to native wildlife being displaced by the quarry and hit by trucks. I worry about the effect on Tangory Nature Reserve and Aboriginal sites.

I am concerned about pollution: noise pollution, air pollution, brake dust, exhaust fumes, silica dust, waterways, groundwater.

Please see attached Submission

I am writing to support the proposed quarry development in our local community. As someone involved in property development and management, I understand the critical importance of access to reliable and affordable construction materials.
A local quarry will provide essential resources such as blue stone,crushed rock, sand and gravel, helping to reduce construction costs and improve project efficiency. This is particularly important in supporting housing and commercial supply and maintaining affordability for new developments.
The project will also contribute positively to the local economy by creating jobs and supporting related industries. In addition, sourcing materials locally reduces the need for long-distance transport, lowering costs, traffic impacts, and emissions.
With appropriate environmental management and regulatory oversight in place, I believe the quarry can operate responsibly while delivering long-term benefits to the community.

I object to the proposed Bluestone Hardrock Quarry at Elderslie. Please see attached document.