Dunmore Lakes Quarry (Mod 2)

Exhibition of Modification Request
Dunmore Lakes Sand Extraction Project
DA 195-8-2004 MOD2

i object to this proposal
The reasons for objection are :
1.The proposal is in the catchment of the Minnamurra River
on low lying land on the flood plain of the river.
2.Area 5A is very close to the old Minnamurra Tip which has a large
toxic bloom in the water table. This sand mine will disturb the
groundwater because the pit once excavated will be filled with
rubble.This potentially could mobilise the ground water and pollute
the Minnamurra River which is just beside the old tip
3.Area 5B has 56% of its area made up of Bangalay Forest on Sand which
is an EEC listed under NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 There
are 7 listed threatened fauna Species. The large nest of the White
Bellied Sea Eagle is right beside this sand mine.
4.These 2 mine sites are distant from the currently approved
extraction area and they will have very different impacts on the
biophysical environment. The DPE should terminate this modified
proposal as it is very different to the original consent given in 1999
and modified in 2005. This should be a new proposal.
5.235,000t of fill will be trucked in on the local road which is the
primary access road for Minnamurra,Gainsborough,Kiama Down
residents.This is over 8000 truck trips. This will lift the LoS
category to D with delays and increased possibility of accidents.
This mine is about 500m from The Village residential area.
6.The Minnamurra River is a major tourism, boating,fishing,and
recreation area which is in The Coastal Management SEPP 2018 Zone.
This proposal is inconsistent with the objectives of The Coastal
Management Act
This Mine site is beside the main access road and is completely
inappropriate and a negative factor for tourism and residents
7.No one has been able to visit the site as it is on private land. It
is impossible for me and other interested parties to see first hand
the impact of the proposal. The EA prepared by Boral ought to be at
least peer reviewed to check its authenticity. There ought to be fully
guided tours of the site with Boral staff to answer questions

As a surfer and fisherman of this area I strongly oppose this project. I
don't know how the first 2 sand mines got approval but please don't
let this one go ahead. Minnamurra is our only free flowing waterway in
area. I feel as if this project will affect the fishing and surfing of
this river and beach as it is a fragile ecosystem not to mention the
tourism it brings to the area. It already has 2 tips on it and is
still recovering from the bypass construction years ago. Please think
about our precious river and the impacts of your actions Thankyou
Ben watts

i object to this proposal and my submission is attached as a pdf
document

We object to the proposed sand mine as outlined in our submission
attached as PDF

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed expansion of
sand extraction activity at the Minnamurra River site. I am sever lay
concerned about this proposal for the reasons stated below:
* the increased likelihood of causing environmental impact
* the proximity to the Minnamurr River, and thus the impact on the
delicate ecosystems
* the possible impact on groundwater supplies
* the proposal appears to be inconsistent with the objectives in Part
2 Section 6 of the Coastal Management Act 2016.

I request that the Department of Planning terminate the current
process and consider this a new proposal. The impact on the
environment needs to be seriously considered.

I do not support this sand mining by Boral at Dunmore for a variety of
reasons.
1. I operate a touring company on the south coast which is a start up
business. One of my tours is of the south coast where I was born and
raised and have lived for many years, predominantly in Kiama.
2. I have worked with Tourism NSW to list this tour as a way of
promoting the area to international and national visitors. My tours
are also listed on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse site (ATDW)
for tourism operators nationally and internationally to access and I
working towards a long standing operation.
3. The south coast tour includes days spent in Kiama where we spend
time kayaking on Minnamurra River including up the tributaries that
would be affected visually and by noise as well as relaxation (because
to my knowledge there is nothing relaxing about being located next to
a sand mining operation.)
4. There are several species of vegetation rare to this area which
will be affected by this proposal.
5. There are also local wildlife species in the river and the
vegetation that will be affected by this proposal and that will impact
negatively on the eco system in total if the proposal goes ahead.
6. Many kayakers (including myself) enjoy the use of this area
currently. These people come from all over the country as well as
living locally. This opportunity would be denied not only them but
future generations of the opportunity to explore and enjoy this
beautiful area.

G Wheeler
23 Oxley Ave
Kiama Downs 2633

Exhibition of Modification Request
Dunmore Lakes Sand Extraction Project
DA 195-8-2004 Mod 2

I object to this proposal.
The reasons why I object are -
* One of the pits is in an area where there are literal rainforests.
There will be large removal of endangered species of which there are
7. One of these is the Bangalay which is protected by the EEC. It
could not be replaced. It is slow growing and the trees there could be
200 to 300 years old.
* The Bangalay tree has hollows used by endangered gliders and
possums. It is also the nesting site of the White Bellied Sea Eagle.
Which if not in the site will be right next to it.
* The new pit proposal is in the Minnamurra River Catchment. Therefore
a new assessment must be made not use the old assessments.
* No one can visit the site and the survey was done on one night for
one hour on the 10th of May.
* There will be a risk to the public with thousands of trucks merging
onto Riverside Drive
* This project will take place in an environmentally sensitive area
covered by NSW state legislation.
I have not made any reportable political donations in the past 2 years

I object to this proposal

The reasons why I object are set out below

1. These 2 pits are on very low lying areas close to the Minnamurra
River. Pit 5B is on the flood plain on a large meander bend of the
River.
2. Pit 5B is planned to be 27m deep over an area of almost 8 hectares
. This will be left as a open water body. This will require the
removal of trees and vegetation which are habitat for 7 endangered
species. The main vegetation is Bangalay forest on sand.. This is
listed as an endangered community under state legislation. This mature
forest cannot be replaced.
This is the home of the White Bellied Sea Eagle whose giant nest is
right beside this sand mine this is shown on the map on page 100 of
the Report.
3. Pit 5A is very close to the old Minnamurra Tip where there is a
very large
toxic plume in the watertable. This is beside the Minnamurra River.
Taking sand out and then filling the hole with rock will change the
water
table - this could cause the pollution under the tip to move
into the Minnamurra River.
4.The plan to transport 235,000t of fill by truck to fill pit 5A will
bring
thousands of truck movements onto the main local road residents use to
access the Motor way to travel north. This would be a potential
traffic risk
5. This proposal is for a new mine to be opened up which is in the
Minnamurra River Catchment. Borals other pits are in the Rocklow
Creek catchment. This should be assessed as a new proposal not part of
the original 1999 approval.
6. This area is on the flood plain of the Minnamurra River. If this
gets
approved this opens up the real possibility that Boral will want to
want to
apply to keep expanding the mine where they know there is a very large
sand reserve.
7. No one has been able to visit the site because it is on private
land.
8. This proposal is in an area which is very environmentally sensitive
.The
area is under many State environmental pieces of legislation . This
area
ought to be left alone for future generations to enjoy and for the
flora and
fauna to be undisturbed .

I am very concerned about the environmental impact that sand mining will
have on the Minnamurra River and surrounding areas.
I feel that we need to protect the environment, and I object to sand
being taken from this area.
The sand mining has the potential to impact on ecologically important
ecosystems such as Coastal Wetlands and Bangalay Sand Forest, in
addition to impacts on tourism and the scenic amenity that is of very
high value to the Kiama Community.
I am also very concerned that it is located opposite Kiama Municipal
Council's Waste and Recycling Depot and sand extraction in that
location will potentially impact upon groundwater hydrology,
mobilising contaminated groundwater with resultant impacts on the
adjacent Minnamurra River. I see this as hazardous to the environment.
I understand that this potential risk has not been sufficiently
evaluated.
Once again, I object to the Sand Mining of this area.
Thank You.

Instead of mining the Minnamurra River floodplain for sand the
construction industry could be using recycled glass sand, and develop
a circular economy. I oppose the mine expansion because it is
important to protect and preserve fertile agricultural land and native
forests and wetlands.
The sand mining proposal will also destroy three Aboriginal sites if
the new dredge pit goes head. Already 1,292 Aboriginal artifacts
discovered - mostly flakes and stone tools. I oppose this loss of
Aboriginal heritage. So much has already been lost, what we have left
should be preserved.
I am very concerned that the sand mining will impact the water table
of the neighbouring Minnamurra wetlands and expose acid sulfate soils.
I oppose the clearing of the Bangalay Sand Forest, an endangered
ecological community which provides essential habitat and feeding
sites for threatened species such as the Grey Headed Flying Foxes and
the Greater Glider. Bangalay trees are extremely slow growing on sand,
providing long-term housing for animals. These trees live for 600
years, and onky get their first hollow at about 100 years of age. One
old tree can have 4-5 large hollows that suit Greater Gliders and
other large mammals.
I am also concerned about insufficient transparency within the
planning system, especially now that the office of environment and
heritage has now subsumed within it. The original sand mining approval
was granted last millennium under the discredited and defunct Part 3A.
In the last 20 year a lot has changed in environmental assessment,
coastal hazard mapping and the recycled glass sand market. There have
been numerous modification application, and it's time to drae a line
in the sand. A new assessment should be required, not a modification
request.
There is no economic case for the removal of 600 year old trees for
just 2-5 years of sand extraction. I would prefer recycled glass fines
to be used in construction instead of Minnamurra sands. There is an
export crisis for recyclable material, and the federal government has
failed to act to strengthen domestic markets of recycled glass. The
import of glass bottles, coupled with high recycling rates, means the
supply of recovered glass exceeds demand for new glass making in
Australia. Crushed glass can be used as an aggregate when building new
infrastructure. While recycled glass fines are being stockpiled or
worse, sent to landfill, why is this company seeking to mine more
sand?

When will the needs of the environment surpass the greed?
We are at a critical time as our life here on earth will depend on
whether action is taken to preserve and give our earth a chance to
heal and regenerate - or we keep letting things like this be allowed
and slowly see our earth die - and the human race along with it.

D Mastoris
23 Oxley Ave,
Kiama Downs, 2633

Exhibition of Modification Request
Dunmore Lakes Sand Extraction Project
DA 195-8-2004 Mod 2

I object to this proposal.
The reasons why I object are -
* This area has the Bangalay tree used by endangered gliders and
possums. It is also the nesting site of the White Bellied Sea Eagle.
Its nest is within very close proximity (within or at least adjacent)
to the proposed site. This will have a huge impact on the White
Bellied Sea Eagle and future breeding.
* Sandmining will be in an area where there are literal rainforests.
There will be large removal of endangered tree species, of which there
are 7. The Bangalay (one of these endangered species) is protected by
the EEC. It is slow growing and the trees there could be 200 to 300
years old. It is a tree that specifically grows in sand. When the pit
has run its course it will not be filled with sand, and so these trees
will be lost forever.
* This site is off limits to anyone with concerns and the survey was
done on one night for one hour on the 10th of May. Surely inadequate.
* Risks are great especially with concerns to hydrology.
* Thousands of trucks merging onto Riverside Drive will be a danger to
the public.
* N.S.W. state legislation covers the area on which this project will
take place.

I have not made any reportable political donations in the past 2
years.

I have travelled around this area and allowing this sand mien to be
extended so close to the river, removing important habitat is a major
disaster. This mine cannot be allowed to be extended so dramatically,
the river and associated habitat need to be protected.

We need to protect the Bangalay Forest.

As a local GP, I can attest to how important the river is to the
recreation and enjoyment of my patients. Anything that puts the
Minnamurra River ecosystem at risk needs to be carefully considered
and rejected of the risks outweigh the benefits.

I am both a concerned local resident and representative of an
Environmental NGO.

I have spent my entire life growing up in Jamberoo and spent a lot of
time going to Minnamurra River and its surrounds. With a gorgeous town
and stunning natural beauty, it is just coming into its own as a
tourist destination.

The plan to expand Boral's sand mining operations will dramatically
impact the visual landscape, reducing its aesthetically pleasing,
beautiful surrounds. The Colong Foundation for Wilderness is extremely
concerned about the impacts the proposed expansion will have on
endangered ecological communities such as littoral rainforests and
coastal wetlands. Endangered species and migratory bird species which
utilise the areas in or adjacent to the proposed mining sites should
take precedence over a short-term profit driven decision. The
destruction of old Bangalay gums which are essential for habitat of
many different species are also of great concern.

This proposal does not take into account the nature of the surrounding
town and its residents. This proposal threatens extremely significant
and rare endangered ecological communities.

I would like to submit my objections to the extension of Boral's request
for the extension of sand mining to the edge of the Minnamurra River.
I believe this would raise many ecological questions particularly
regarding dangers to the endangered species in this area. The
extension of sand mining is totally innappropriate.

I am very concerned about the threat to endangered wildlife in the
removal of their very limited habitat, and to the damage of sites of
aboriginal heritage. Our natural ecology is a wealth that belongs to
all of us and it's destruction for the enrichment of a few is not
reasonable. Recycled glass is being stockpiled and can be used instead
of virgin sand.

Dear Sir/Madam

As a resident of the Kiama LGA I strongly object to this proposal by
Boral to extend their right to sand mine 2 new pits on private land,
distinct and distant to the existing operation at Dunmore Lake.

I urge NSW dept of Planning and Environment to apply the Precautionary
Principle given the sensitive nature of the EEC of Banagalay Sand
forest in this location and the proximity to the Minnamurra River and
floodplain. The Coastal Management Act 2016 (and the former SEPP 71)
objectives are about protecting coastal wetlands and littoral
rainforests in their natural state. This Act should be upheld to
provide protection in this case.

This is valuable remnant forest and habitat for native fauna, which
would be irreparably damaged by this significant mining operation.
There is precious little of this EEC remaining on the South coast and
this special ecosystem must not be considered economically expendable
for the short term and unsustainable practice of sand mining. This
community will never be recreated or replaced by vegetation offsets.

The people of this area demand that you safeguard this environmentally
sensitive land, also valuing and respecting the natural beauty and
recreational value of the Minnamurra river. I am also very concerned
about the impact of the mining operation vehicles on the local roads.
The current Boral operation has a private road with access directly
onto the Highway. This would not be possible in this new location.

Although the private land is in the Shellharbour LGA, Kiama Council
have tabled an extensive document setting out why they oppose the
development. Having read the document, which is well reasoned,
supported by legislation and comprehensive, there is little else that
I can add at this point other than stating that I support the Kiama
Council document in full.

Finally, I request that this application is terminated and requested
to be submitted for approval as a separate application rather than en
extension to the existing Boral sand mining application, which is not
on the same parcel of land in question here. This parcel of land needs
a full, transparent and independent process to any existing to
determine any right to mine this land.

Thank you for your consideration of my submission in opposition.

Kind regards,
Amanda Lloyd

I am in strong opposition to Modification 2 for the following reasons:

The areas proposed in Modification 2 are physically separated from
those considered in the original approval and have a far greater
likelihood of causing environmental impact.

Areas 5A and 5B are both located in very close proximity to the
Minnamurra River, and unlike the existing extraction areas, has the
potential to impact on ecologically important ecosystems such as
Coastal Wetlands and Bangalay Sand Forest, in addition to impacts on
tourism and the scenic amenity that is of very high value to the Kiama
Community.

Area 5A is located opposite Kiama Municipal Council's Waste and
Recycling Depot and sand extraction in that location will potentially
impact upon groundwater hydrology, mobilising contaminated groundwater
with resultant impacts on the adjacent Minnamurra River. This
potential risk has not been sufficiently evaluated.

The proposal appears to be inconsistent with the Objectives in Part 2
Section 6 of the Coastal Management Act 2016 (and the former SEPP 71)
which are as follows:
(a) to protect coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests in their
natural state, including their biological diversity and ecosystem
integrity,

(b) to promote the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded coastal
wetlands and littoral rainforests,

(c) to improve the resilience of coastal wetlands and littoral
rainforests to the impacts of climate change, including opportunities
for migration,

(d) to support the social and cultural values of coastal wetlands and
littoral rainforests,

(e) to promote the objectives of State policies and programs for
wetlands or littoral rainforest management.

The potential impact on Flora and Fauna is likely to be significant
and has not been evaluated sufficiently. Area 5B is surrounded on
three sides by the Minnamurra River and coastal wetland containing
mangrove forests and salt marsh.
Area 5B is very low-lying and council is concerned that the extraction
will impact on natural groundwater and surface water (flood) flows
with resultant impacts on the adjoining coastal wetland ecosystems.

According to the supporting documentation, 56% of Area 5B is made up
of Bangalay Sand Forest vegetation that is classified to be in either
moderate or good condition and it is proposed to remove completely
4.53 hectares of this ecologically endangered forest.

Council is concerned about noise and dust pollution to the residents
of The Village (part of Minnamurra, off Riverside Drive), located
within 500 metres of Area 5A.

Council is concerned that increased heavy vehicle traffic on Riverside
Drive to service area 5A (including proposed backfill at that site)
will add a significant traffic risk on the primary northern access
road to the suburbs of Minnamurra, Kiama Downs and Gainsborough and
has not been adequately addressed.

Neither council nor the community has been provided access to Area 5B
to allow evaluation of the impacts of the proposed Modification.


I request that the Department of Planning terminate the current
assessment process and consider this a new proposal, as Areas 5A and
5B are distant from the current approved extraction areas and will
have a range of different impact