Brandy Hill Expansion Project

I wish to submit my objection to the proposed expansion of the Brandy Hill quarry. I am concerned for the:
* Increase of dust with our Easterly breezes
* Crusher noise
* Traffic issues with the increase of trucks the proposal will bring

I wish to submit my objection to the proposed expansion of the Brandy Hill quarry. I am concerned for the:
* Increase of dust with our Easterly breezes
* Crusher noise
* Traffic issues with the increase of trucks the proposal will bring
* The devaluation of our property due to the expansion

1. Roads. Trucks are traversing very narrow country roads that were not established to handle the volume of truck movements that is proposed. A lot of children live in this area and use school buses to and from school. I am concerned for the children's safety if the volume of trucks using these roads is increased. There are insufficient turning bays for cars picking these children up from bus stops too.
2. The amenity of the area will be completely destroyed if the proposals put forward are approved. Increased truck movements will result in constant noise and dust pollution.

I am not happy with this quarry extension as it will substantially increase toxic dust that is not good for the health of my family. It will also have a negative effect on the native fauna in this area, which includes endangered species.

I am worried about the effect this quarry extension will have on the wildlife and the noise levels at our house.

I am very worried about the negative effect that this plan would have on the health of both myself and my family due to the toxic dust that would shower our property, especially whenever we have an easterly wind. We grow a lot of fruit and vegetables and am very concerned about the effect that this dust would have on our soil. I am also concerned about the increase of trucks on the local roads.

We moved out to the country in order to have a safe and quiet spot to raise our children and grow our own food. These new quarry extension plans will negate this as it will increase the noise levels as well as increase toxic dust that will be detrimental to our health.

I am concerned about haulage movements along seaham road nelsons plains and the social and economic impact on our property. There are currently little to no haulage movements along our road frontage at night. This will a longer be the case with the proposed expansion.There will be safety concerns regarding entering and exiting our driveway.The safety of children catching buses along seaham road From our review of the EIS we have ascertained that this expansion will impact on our property.

I am studying nursing at the moment and am worried about the health effects this quarry extension will have on the community due to the amount of toxic dust this will produce. I am also concerned about the loss of vegetation and wildlife this will cause.

Firstly, I have been in the transport industry since 1972. I was a Senior Supervisor for nearly ten years with a Brambles company. My family and I have lived in the Brandy Hill/Seaham area for 27 Years.
Listed below are our concerns with the proposed development at Brandy Hill Quarry:-

NOISE
Seaham /Brandy Hill and surrounding area is zoned rural and has no significant built up areas, so noise does carry. Hanson's company state that their trucks are "up to date with their trucks and equipment and use air bag suspension therefore reducing effect of noise from trucks". Air bag suspension only gives you a smoother ride. The noise is mainly from truck engines, from the quiet Cummins engine to the screaming GMs. There is noise from the truck gear changes, air brakes, compression braking and mostly from the empty aluminium and steel tipping bodies hitting the many bumps in the road. There is also the noise of speeding trucks trying to get back in time for one more load. Imagine laying in bed on a warm summers night listening to the sounds of the crushing plant cranking until midnight, lovely, or the sounds of plant equipment being operated at full noise to get trucks loaded and out, great. Noise does carry better at night. The boundary of Brandy Hill Quarry is approximately one (1) kilometre (as the crow flies) from the centre of Seaham and is only a few metres from the township of Brandy Hill.
Hanson's advise that the noise effect from the quarry blasts is low, and state that this is at 41db. We dispute this advice as it currently rattles the windows of neighbouring homes.
The noise impact of 24hr a day truck noise ,the sound of the crushing plant until midnight and the "blasts" at the quarry are totally unacceptable. Not good planning at all.

PROPOSED HOURS of OPERATION
The above issues are exacerbated by the proposal to operate 500 trucks 24/7 which would have significant impact on the amenity of our rural community. In addition, a crushing plant operating until midnight is unacceptable due to noise. Even airports don't run 24hrs a day due to the impact of noise on nearby residents.

TRUCK ROUTES- The truck routes outlined in Hanson's submission, identifies Brandy Hill Drive, Seaham Road and the centre of Raymond Terrace as its main route. I can see safety problems here with resident's driveway accesses and pedestrians walking on the side of these roads (no footpaths in the Rural area)The problem of gridlock in and around Raymond Terrace area, trying to get through the lights at the corner of Seaham Rd and the old highway. Should Hanson's company have a job north of Raymond Terrace' will they send trucks through Seaham township itself?. Our roads are not built for such traffic. Will the public pay for repair to those roads when Hanson refuses?.
Residents on this proposed truck route will also suffer the health effects of lack of sleep as there is no break from the continual noise of these trucks.

CONCRETE CRUSHING PLANT-
We are aware of a major Civil Construction company in the Newcastle area, which has advised its staff not to purchase crushed recycled concrete due to the risk of Asbestos being contained within this product. As it is intended that this plant is to be used to recycle concrete we have major concerns re -Asbestos and other contaminates being released into to air and health effects of exposure to Asbestos and dust for our community. So, what guarantees does our community have that this plant won't be crushing concrete containing asbestos.

QUARRY WORKING 24/7-We believe a company of the likes of HANSON (Australia wide) can better handle this project, so that they do not have to operate 24/7.

IN CONCLUSION-I believe HANSON should be allowed to expand and grow, but not to the detriment of residents along their routes. Newcastle airport has a operating time curfew placed on them because of noise, Sydney airport has a curfew because of noise. The residents of Australia have noise restrictions (curfew) placed on them because of noise. I am sure the continuing noise levels will cause health problems to residents. It will certainly decrease property values.
HANSON should be able to work inline with these noise curfews, like everybody else, with Sunday a 24hour quiet time.

I am against the proposal to expand Brandy Hill Quarry to 7 days per week and extended hours each day of operation. This will increase truck movements along Brandy Hill Drive. My concern is the noise implications due to an increase in the number of trucks each day; as well as the pollution from the diesel fumes and the dust the trucks will bring through the area. Also, the number of trucks that presently move along the road, especially at the beginning of the shift, make it dangerous crossing Brandy Hill Drive or walking along the edge of the roadside, which we have to do due to no footpaths already. An increase would also bring an increase in the danger to residents using the road and exiting from the side streets. Therefore, I would request that the proposal to extend is not allowed.

I object to this application on several grounds
1 Brandy Hill Drive is a rural road with no footpaths where children wait for school buses and it is a common road used by residents for walks run etc. The increased truck traffic is excessive and will increase the danger to pedestrians and children waiting for school busses
2. Brandy Hill is a quite rural area. the level of truck traffic now is tolerable but the level being requested is excessive and will disturb the environment we choose to live in.
At the start of the day, around 7am there is already a lot of truck traffic as all the trucks head for the quarry to start work. This already makes it hard to enter Brandy Hill drive from Elouera close and other side streets at a time when a lot of residents are going to work.
4 The air is fresh and healthy in Brandy Hill, with the increased level of diesel fumes will ruin this environment.

For all of the above reasons I request that you reject the companies submission.

In Response:

Continued quarrying for another 30 years only reflects the greed of Hansons and the lack of respect they hold not only for the Earth but also the local community.

The extraction of 1.5 million tonnes of hard rock is no more than an abuse of our natural resources and their lack of vision, which is obviously caused by blinding dollar signs.

Greening can take hundreds if not thousands of years and the
wildlife that live within that area may never return.

In respect of the on-site infrastructure I would like to know what other Industrial areas have been suggested as there are existing that could be expanded.

The opening hours should be restricted not expanded from the present that are in situ.
Loading should ONLY be done in daylight hours 5 days per week, as previously trucks rumbling down the road from 3am
caused health issues with sleep deprivation.
Dust from these trucks is not being monitored nor is the speed
at which they travel or ensuring loads are tarped.
At no stage as far as I am aware has compensation been offered to residents who will be forced to sell up and take a lower price for their property, or have it fitted with sound proofing materials should this GREEDY project be approved.

Factories of this type should be in existing Industrial Estates where the Roads used are limited to Industrial NOT Residential.

Rehabilitation of the site is a joke I suggest after the damage is
done it will never be returned to what it was.

I am totally opposed to the Brandy Hill Quarry extension due to the following items

* Increased truck movements making Brandy Hill Drive extremely busy and dangerous.
* Current speed limits high .Whilst turning onto BHD from side streets takes some time to bring vehicle up to speed causing trucks to tailgate you continually.
* Increased damage to pavement as has been shown recently with the additional movement of trucks.
* Council slow to act on large potholes some having to be repaired a large number of times over a period of a few months.
* Potholes in road causing oncoming traffic to swerve onto wrong side of road to miss them to prevent vehicle damage.
* Personal vehicle damage due to the potholes being left unrepaired.
* Excessive truck noise due to this road damage.
* Personal vehicle damage caused by gravel coming off loaded trucks not just from drawbars of truck and dogs but from rocks being caught in tyre treads.
* Trucks "drag racing" turning onto Seaham Rd from BHD , trucks two abreast whilst approaching school bus area at peak bus movement times
* Excessive noise from quarry operations which travels into the current rural housing area
* Excessive dust which travels from current quarry operations into current housing area
* Dangerous intersection on Clarencetown rd when approaching BHD from Seaham area @ the posted speed limit of 100kmh
* BHD currently too dangerous to walk along side of road due to current truck movements let alone with increased truck movements
* Excessive truck noise due to the use of engine brakes despite signage asking for this type of brake not to be used.
* Lack of "pull off areas" on BHD for people to pull off road in case of emergency
* Lack of Policing on BHD causing trucks to use excessive speed to make deadlines
* Dangerous for school children , actually anyone to cross the road safely with large trucks driving past
* Drop in property prices due to BHD becoming a main "freeway"
* Large quarries of this nature need to be away from suburban areas , eg Boral Seaham
* Regeneration of quarry after operations have ceased will become a large hole in the ground with nil vegetation around
* Removal of a large amount of vegetation to allow the quarry to extend.
*

I am totally opposed to the Brandy Hill Quarry extension due to the following items

* Increased truck movements making Brandy Hill Drive extremely busy and dangerous.
* Current speed limits high .Whilst turning onto BHD from side streets takes some time to bring vehicle up to speed causing trucks to tailgate you continually.
* Increased damage to pavement as has been shown recently with the additional movement of trucks.
* Council slow to act on large potholes some having to be repaired a large number of times over a period of a few months.
* Potholes in road causing oncoming traffic to swerve onto wrong side of road to miss them to prevent vehicle damage.
* Personal vehicle damage due to the potholes being left unrepaired.
* Excessive truck noise due to this road damage.
* Personal vehicle damage caused by gravel coming off loaded trucks not just from drawbars of truck and dogs but from rocks being caught in tyre treads.
* Trucks "drag racing" turning onto Seaham Rd from BHD , trucks two abreast whilst approaching school bus area at peak bus movement times
* Excessive noise from quarry operations which travels into the current rural housing area
* Excessive dust which travels from current quarry operations into current housing area
* Dangerous intersection on Clarencetown rd when approaching BHD from Seaham area @ the posted speed limit of 100kmh
* BHD currently too dangerous to walk along side of road due to current truck movements let alone with increased truck movements
* Excessive truck noise due to the use of engine brakes despite signage asking for this type of brake not to be used.
* Lack of "pull off areas" on BHD for people to pull off road in case of emergency
* Lack of Policing on BHD causing trucks to use excessive speed to make deadlines
* Dangerous for school children , actually anyone to cross the road safely with large trucks driving past
* Drop in property prices due to BHD becoming a main "freeway"
* Large quarries of this nature need to be away from suburban areas , eg Boral Seaham
* Regeneration of quarry after operations have ceased will become a large hole in the ground with nil vegetation around
* Removal of a large amount of vegetation to allow the quarry to extend.
*

I am totally opposed to the Brandy Hill Quarry extension due to the following points

* Increased truck movements making Brandy Hill Drive extremely busy and dangerous.
* Current speed limits high .Whilst turning onto BHD from side streets takes some time to bring vehicle up to speed causing trucks to tailgate you continually.
* Increased damage to pavement as has been shown recently with the additional movement of trucks.
* Council slow to act on large potholes some having to be repaired a large number of times over a period of a few months.
* Potholes in road causing oncoming traffic to swerve onto wrong side of road to miss them to prevent vehicle damage.
* Personal vehicle damage due to the potholes being left unrepaired.
* Excessive truck noise due to this road damage.
* Personal vehicle damage caused by gravel coming off loaded trucks not just from drawbars of truck and dogs but from rocks being caught in tyre treads.
* Trucks "drag racing" turning onto Seaham Rd from BHD , trucks two abreast whilst approaching school bus area at peak bus movement times
* Excessive noise from quarry operations which travels into the current rural housing area
* Excessive dust which travels from current quarry operations into current housing area
* Dangerous intersection on Clarencetown rd when approaching BHD from Seaham area @ the posted speed limit of 100kmh
* BHD currently too dangerous to walk along side of road due to current truck movements let alone with increased truck movements
* Excessive truck noise due to the use of engine brakes despite signage asking for this type of brake not to be used.
* Lack of "pull off areas" on BHD for people to pull off road in case of emergency
* Lack of Policing on BHD causing trucks to use excessive speed to make deadlines
* Dangerous for school children , actually anyone to cross the road safely with large trucks driving past
* Drop in property prices due to BHD becoming a main "freeway"
* Large quarries of this nature need to be away from suburban areas , eg Boral Seaham
* Regeneration of quarry after operations have ceased will become a large hole in the ground with nil vegetation around
* Removal of a large amount of vegetation to allow the quarry to extend.
*

I am totally opposed to the Brandy Hill Quarry extension due to the below points

* Increased truck movements making Brandy Hill Drive extremely busy and dangerous.
* Current speed limits high .Whilst turning onto BHD from side streets takes some time to bring vehicle up to speed causing trucks to tailgate you continually.
* Increased damage to pavement as has been shown recently with the additional movement of trucks.
* Council slow to act on large potholes some having to be repaired a large number of times over a period of a few months.
* Potholes in road causing oncoming traffic to swerve onto wrong side of road to miss them to prevent vehicle damage.
* Personal vehicle damage due to the potholes being left unrepaired.
* Excessive truck noise due to this road damage.
* Personal vehicle damage caused by gravel coming off loaded trucks not just from drawbars of truck and dogs but from rocks being caught in tyre treads.
* Trucks "drag racing" turning onto Seaham Rd from BHD , trucks two abreast whilst approaching school bus area at peak bus movement times
* Excessive noise from quarry operations which travels into the current rural housing area
* Excessive dust which travels from current quarry operations into current housing area
* Dangerous intersection on Clarencetown rd when approaching BHD from Seaham area @ the posted speed limit of 100kmh
* BHD currently too dangerous to walk along side of road due to current truck movements let alone with increased truck movements
* Excessive truck noise due to the use of engine brakes despite signage asking for this type of brake not to be used.
* Lack of "pull off areas" on BHD for people to pull off road in case of emergency
* Lack of Policing on BHD causing trucks to use excessive speed to make deadlines
* Dangerous for school children , actually anyone to cross the road safely with large trucks driving past
* Drop in property prices due to BHD becoming a main "freeway"
* Large quarries of this nature need to be away from suburban areas , eg Boral Seaham
* Regeneration of quarry after operations have ceased will become a large hole in the ground with nil vegetation around
* Removal of a large amount of vegetation to allow the quarry to extend.
*

To Whom it may concern,

I am a perturbed resident regarding the proposed expansion of the Brandy Hill Quarry. The most important being the proposed 24/7 operation of this site. As a resident, I am on the roads on a near daily basis along with the trucks which I find to be fairly considerable in number as it stands. The increase in operation will greatly increase the numbers of the trucks as well. This increase in truck movements will also naturally increase our travel times as they are slower moving vehicles and cars have limited sections of road in which to overtake safely - especially as some sections are up-hill. The state of the roads are always a problem with large trucks continually causing more and more sections of the road to fall apart; this of course increases dramatically with rain. The constant repair of the roads will increase council spending to fix it. In the last few weeks alone we were required to drive slowly through a large section of damaged road on Brandy Hill Drive that filled an entire lane or try to drive around in the other lane where it was safe to do so as it would cause damage to your car at the 80km/h speed and would also damage the road further. I am also concerned with the need for children to wait on the side of the road on Brandy Hill Drive and Seaham Road whilst waiting for the school buses. As a parent I am not willing to allow my children to stand unattended on the side of the road without my presence - it is far too dangerous.

I am a shift worker myself, required to work on a 24/7 roster. This is a necessity in a hospital as people require care on a 24hr basis. However the expansion of the quarry to 24 hour operation is nothing more than corporate greed requiring more people to work at unnatural times of the night when we are designed for sleeping. This in turn creates more potential for fatigued drivers of trucks on the road in the middle of the night when their bodies are telling them to sleep. Not a safe option for anyone! With so many trucks moving 24 hours a day, the noise will also affect how well the residents sleep - especially those located on the main roads. There will also be noise coming from the quarry itself. This will double the effect. For those of us already trying to sleep (unnaturally and not very effectively) in the daytime due to our 24/7 shift work, it will be even harder with more noise.

As we are already in the flight path for commercial and military aircraft, we are already subjected to louder noises at various times (including in the evenings). This will increase again with Joint Strike Fighter planes. I do not believe that a 24/7 operation is a genuine requirement from Hanson and while it's expansion and potential for expanded operating times may be considered, the residents concerns should outweigh the monetary income for one business in the area that has a huge potential to negatively affect these residents lives. A 24/7 operation should not be an option.

I would like to know what monitoring is going to be put in place to ensure all truck drivers adhere to any limits placed on them. Will all trucks on the road be tracks to make reporting of traffic infringements and safety issues easier to report. The RMS use number plate tracking of trucks, this technology could be used on all trucks using Brandy Hill Drive.
Traffic noise monitoring should take place a night, since this is going to be the most noticeable time of day when the noise of trucks will be much greater than the background noise.

i am very concerned by the proposed expansion of the Brandy Hill Quarry for the following reasons:

1. I moved from Sydney to an area that has been zoned Rural. I enjoy walking, running and bike riding in the rural area of Seaham. To increase the truck usage by the proposed number on roads that are already unable to cope with the current usage would be unsafe. There are very limited footpaths in Seaham, and when competing for the road with huge heavy and dusty trucks it is unpleasant and dangerous.

2. The amount of dust the quarry is currently producing is at times effecting our lifestyle. To increase the usage of the mine - would increase the dust and dirt - and I see nothing in your plan to help reduce this pollution.