Martins Creek Quarry Project

I would like to register my concern at the planned expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry.
My main concern is the increase in truck movements, which will impact on Butterwick Road, where we live. This increase will mean more noise, traffic congestion on an already busy road, and deterioration of the road surface.
I think that there is already an alternative in place - the rail link to the quarry. I would be much happier to see this upgraded to meet the new requirements of Daracon and keep the truck movements to a minimum.

I am opposed to the ridiculous expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry. When this quarry was established it was primarily a rail transport quarry. The existing trucks are causing major deterioration of our roads, damage to road user's cars and presenting a significant safety risk. I travel to work in Dungog and I have had two smashed windscreens and many stone chips caused directly from trucks throwing up crumbling chunks from the edge of the road. An expansion of the quarry will cause further major deterioration of our roads, increased traffic, dangerous road conditions and is a huge cost to our local councils and rate payers. The expansion is completely inappropriate and does not address any of the community's concerns. It must be rejected.

I have been employed with Daracon for 3 years and have enjoyed the stable employment that they provide .
I believe that the Martin's Creek Quarry plays an important part within not just the Daracon Group and in the supply of necessary construction materials to many projects in the Hunter Valley area and to numerous local businesses.
The success of the Quarry helps to maintain the jobs of over 850 employees and over 1000 contractors and their families.
Supporting communities and aiding in many local charities and creating jobs which in turn support the economy.

"I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion"

The small town of Paterson is just that, and with one road through the town that is not equipped to handle major truck traffic.
1. The amount of trucks passing our home vibrate the house.
2. Excessive noise.
3. Crossing the road with three children in hand is nearly impossible.
4. Devaluation of property.

We object to the quarry expansion as we are very concerned about the impact the quarry trucks will have on the already busy Brandy Hill Drive including the noise, visual and environmental pollution. There is also heightened risk of traffic collisions with the increased truck numbers posing a real threat to other road users and pedestrians. The risk of injury and death to wildlife will be also increased. The noise alone will impact negatively on the quiet rural setting which residents in this area value highly.

Objection to the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry
NSW Government Planning and Environment
Application Number SSD 14_6612

I am writing to object to the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry. The key issues that I am most concerned about are the social and economic impact on the local community, the traffic and transport implications of the quarry expansion, the rehabilitation of the quarry site and the violation of the current consent. I will address these issues separately and outline my concerns.

Paterson is a picturesque and historic rural village located on the Paterson River. It services the surrounding localities of Duns Creek, Martins Creek, Butterwick, Woodville, Tocal and Bolwarra Heights. The residents of these areas are able to go to Paterson to access the services of a doctor, pharmacist, vet, mechanic and various other tradespeople. Paterson has a well-stocked supermarket for groceries, a butcher shop, a shop supplying agricultural needs, a clothing store, cafes, art gallery, B and Bs, service station, post office and hotels. In addition there is a nine hole golf course, playing fields, tennis courts, train station and a public school with an enrolment of approx 100 students. Numerous community groups such as Rotary, Rural Fire Service, Paterson Progress Association, Red Cross, CWA, Church groups, Sporting groups and the Historical Society meet in Paterson on a regular basis. This is a township which provides the many services that are vital to the lifestyle of its residents. Needless to say it is a popular destination for tourists being an easy drive of just over 2 hours from Sydney.

The social amenity of Paterson is already adversely affected by the heavy truck haulage through the town centre. Local residents and visitors go to the cafes and B and Bs for social interaction, sustenance, as well as getting away from the city for a short stay in a rural setting. Imagine being woken up by the noise of passing truck and dogs before 6am when you are supposedly having a holiday! In the age of social media, negative feedback is detrimental to businesses who are unable to control the increasing traffic noise outside their establishments. Social connectedness is vital for rural residents who may not have close neighbours so therefore a trip into town to collect mail and buy groceries etc can also become an opportunity to meet for a coffee and have a yarn. However, if there is a convoy of trucks passing through town (which is typical) it won't be the pleasant experience it should be. The majority of businesses in Paterson are owner operated and the local residents who are employed rely on their employment to support their families. They are not itinerant workers looking for a holiday job - they are members of the community who need to earn a living. The residents and businesses of Paterson and surrounding areas must NOT be allowed to suffer socially and economically because of the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry.

It is obvious that the roads through the township of Paterson were not built to accommodate the heavy haulage trucks which currently drive through. Traffic congestion, safety concerns and noise and pollution levels present the greatest threat to residents and visitors. The volume of trucks using the road in the morning creates congestion for residents trying to commute to work, schools etc. Students commuting by bus must negotiate their way across the road to the bus stop without the safety of a pedestrian crossing. The proximity of homes to the main thoroughfare through Paterson used by heavy haulage vehicles means that families are exposed to unbearable noise levels and increased diesel pollution. I live in Duns Creek on a property that is 500 metres from Paterson Road and 900 metres from Tocal Road (as the crow flies) with dwellings between me and those roads. Even at that distance I am subjected to significant and constant noise from trucks using those roads from early in the morning to approx 10am. The EIS states that properties on Butterwick Road (also used by heavy haulage vehicles) were deemed to be set back far enough from the road so as not to warrant an assessment of noise levels. This is an arrogant assumption and disregards the amenity of these residents. There is no clarity around who will maintain the roads and ensure how the roads will remain safe and fit for purpose. More use of the available rail corridors for transportation of materials must be made to reduce the road transport impact on our rural community!

Regarding rehabilitation of the quarry site the EIS states:
"It should be noted that this SRP should be considered a concept plan for site rehabilitation, with the extent of works required for adequate rehabilitation to be identified in a regularly updated n Site Rehabilitation Report for the subject site. The Site Rehabilitation Report will provide an ongoing detailed revision required for this SRP and the requirement for the preparation of a detailed plan for rehabilitation may be part of the consent issued for the development (see clause 17 of the Mining SEPP). It is proposed that the rehabilitation plan be undertaken as the resource extraction areas in Lot 5 and 6 reach their extraction limits. As such, it is proposed that the rehabilitation works be implemented progressively over the next 25 years, as: · Ancillary disturbed areas are no longer required for ancillary activities; · Quarry benches and extraction faces reach their extraction limits."
What is meant by a concept plan for site rehabilitation? It is proposed that rehabilitation works will take place over the next 25 years but is there a timeline or any details for this process? It seems that to date there hasn't been any rehabilitation of the quarry site carried out by Daracon (Buttai Gravel Pty Ltd). The community needs a guarantee that Daracon will act responsibly to rehabilitate the leased land from which they have extracted materials and operated a profitable business. The Daracon website states:
"We place the upmost importance on public safety and environmental protection throughout all of our activities as we foster a strong sense of responsibility and continually strive for excellence in ensuring community well-being and environmental integrity."
It is imperative that Daracon show evidence of any rehabilitation that is already being undertaken at the quarry site.
Finally, I must question why this proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry is being considered by the Department of Planning and Environment when Daracon (Buttai Gravel Pty Ltd) has clearly violated the consent requirements of Dungog Shire Council and for this reason are currently involved in legal proceedings in the Land and Environment Court. It is absurd that they want to "regularise" existing operations at Martins Creek Quarry which already exceed their current consent. They must be brought to account for acting outside the existing regulations that govern their operation.

I strongly oppose the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry (application number SSD 14_6612) based on the detrimental social and economic impact on the Paterson and surrounding communities, the destructive and harmful effects of heavy haulage traffic, the environmental need to rehabilitate the quarry site and Daracon's violation of current consent regulations.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry expansion due to the noise, dust and traffic with truck & dog trailer combos travelling through the village.
I believe that the areas roads are unsuitable for the current truck volume,the vehicle weights and turning path.
The empty trucks rattle through the village creating unwanted noise ,this will only increase given the proposed earlier start time,some trucks currently wait at Tocal from 5:30am others don't care what they do and proceed through, a 5:30am start will see trucks passing through the village from 5:00am possibly earlier.
This will see driver fatigue increase with drivers awake at 3:30am & working from say 4:00am and driving until the last load at 7:00pm arriving home after 8:00pm over 6 days per week, an accident waiting to happen with fatal consequences.

The use of compression braking only serves to increase the noise level, this is obvious at the approach to the Paterson railway crossing with loaded trucks slowing to 60kmh. Stick up a sign , the drivers and company will just ignore it, as Daracon stated they have some company drivers, the majority are owners/paid drivers paid per trip so will do whatever they have to to make a dollar .

If I started mowing my grass at 4:30 am I am confident I would have a visit from Council or even police due to the noise generated,it would appear that there are rules for some and nothing for others

The roads are country roads and fail quickly now with the current loadings and volume, increase that and the failures will only increase. These failures are evident on the Tocal road in both the Dungog and Maitland sections and occur over a short period, repairs are not carried out in a timely manner and are only pothole patches, the roads are neither wide enough or engineered to take the proposed pounding.

The width of the roads is unsuitable for the combos, with trucks turning over the centreline, a proposal to rework the intersection will only serve to damage the village businesses incl cafe, CBC B&B and the post office, removal of the parking areas will reduce patronage, the school buses pick up in the area outside the CBC which will again be an issue with trucks travelling around the corner ,a serious risk assessment would rate this as probable with fatal consequences.
There isn't a pedestrian crossing in the village requiring people to cross wherever, increase the number of trucks increase the risk potential that someone will be struck. I have followed a truck through the village and I slowed at 60kmh and they pulled away, no concern at all for rules , safety or life after all they are driving 60t of loaded truck. Will we see a repeat of the recent incident where a truck ripped apart a bus in northern NSW

The approach to Paterson has a blind corner as does the approach to the bridge over the railway at Pitnacree, fully loaded trucks on a wet road when either the railway gates are in operation or at peak hour at the traffic lights on Melbourne Street when the traffic is backed up to the bridge has further potential for a major traffic accident.
Paterson and Vacy are historical villages which will be sacrificed for no gain, the only benefit is to a commercial entity which leased a quarry with known extraction limits now they want to change the rules after already flouting their approved limits, how much further outside any future approval will they venture without fear of prosecution or prepared to pay a minor financial penalty as an accepted cost of breaking the rules

I object to the expansion on the grounds of the impact it will have on our community, mainly on the deterioration of heritage listed buildings (C.B.C. Bank, Old Retry Old Courthouse etc. etc.) & the heritage listed Village of Paterson. (Gazetted in England). You also have to bear in mind the impact to both human & animal life in the area. Surely common sense will prevail. I am aware that this is to be a personal submission but as I see it these items are very personal to me.

The volume of truck movements as I have outlined in my attachment

We support the project.

Greg and Wendy Penman
216 Butterwick Road
Butterwick 2321

Dear Mr Reed,

I am writing to outline some issues relating to the Martins Creek Quarry expansion. We have a number of serious concerns centring around the unsafe nature of Butterwick Road for any increases in heavy vehicle usage and the declining amenity of the village of Paterson.

As you can see from the above, we live along one of the routes of the quarry trucks - Butterwick Road. It is quite a narrow road in some parts. Recently one 80kph part of the road was upgraded and widened somewhat which made the road a bit safer. However, most of Butterwick Road remains narrow and has lots of hills and hollows in the tar surface. A number of the houses sit quite close to the road and school buses run along this road and have to make stops to pick up and drop off children.

I live beside a 100 kph section of the road which is on the floodplain and as such, it is inundated even during a low level flood. As a result, this section of the road has become extremely degraded and has a "trough" in the surface. When I have been sitting at my gate, waiting to pull onto Butterwick Road, I often have trucks rumbling past, hitting this trough at 100kph. The trucks lurch and roll and I often feel very afraid of what might happen as I am helplessly stationary. The trucks are only inches away from my car as I sit in the driveway. This section of road will be very difficult to ever properly repair, given the constant subsidence of the flood plain.

Travelling South, the section of the road from my driveway through to Glenurie Drive is also 100kph and particularly narrow and dangerous because of the hidden driveways. The driveways feed into Clifden Lane which opens directly onto Butterwick Road at approximately number 192. This is especially problematic, because the trucks driving from North to South , have to negotiate a crest, a blind curve , an unfavourable camber and a very narrow width with absolutely no shoulder on the road on which to take evasive action. It's worth noting that the hidden driveways all belong to families with children already on their P's or soon to start learning. At 100kph, the trucks have absolutely no way of seeing over the crest and round the corner and then being able to stop if a car is leaving Clifden Lane.

It is possible that the trucks are obeying the speed limit, but the nature of the road and the size of the trucks makes them seem to be hurtling and it is very intimidating to be near them on the road.

Further from home, but certainly part of my daily life is the township of Paterson. I do much of my food shopping in Paterson; I use the Post Office, the chemist and the service station and I eat at the cafes and restaurants. Visitors to Paterson often say that it is a "quaint" and "pretty" little village, but for us, the locals, it is not just a place to visit. It is a very important and necessary part of our daily life. However, over recent years it has become increasingly unpleasant to visit this "quaint" and "pretty" village because of the sheer number of very big trucks that thunder right through the centre of the town. The right turn that South bound trucks make adjacent to the CBC B&B is horrific. I often wonder how long it will be before a truck goes straight through the building. I certainly wouldn't elect to dine on the front veranda of the CBC.

It is beyond the pale to have such heavy, noisy and potentially dangerous vehicles roaring through the town at such close quarters. The maintenance of both the local economy and the social fabric of the town of Paterson is worth much more than the proposed increase in output of the quarry.

I am keenly aware of the need for the quarry to keep producing and for truck drivers to keep working, but under the present arrangements for road transport, there is absolutely no "wriggle room" when it comes to proposals to actually increase truck movements. I think the number of truck movements has already reached tipping point.

My husband and I attended a community meeting in Paterson on November2.The hall was packed,standing room only,with community members from Hinton,Morpeth,Bolwarra,Martins Creek,Wallalong,Woodville and other small villages.There were also representatives from State Planning and Daracon.
The concerns raised were many and heartbtraking.One resident spoke of being woken at 5.45 six days per week by the rumbling of trucks ,the shaking of the house and of the cracks appearing in the walls of her home.That complaint was widespread.Another resident,from Martins Creek,said her son was visiting during a blast at the quarry,and he thought it was an earth quake as ornaments fell from their shelves.
These concerns were from the whole community.Their properties will be worthless.
We came away in disbelief that anyone from State Planning or anyone eise could think that running one truck per minute or 80 trucks per hour through the small village of Paterson,then onto local country roads,which local councils are responsible for is acceptable.
We left the meeting,hoping and wishing that someone is watching and listening.

We oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion. Our main concern is with the increase in trucks on the roads in our area, there early and late movements included, all subjecting noise and when relevant, light pollution. One would have hoped that they were aiming to reduce the numbers of trucks, not vastly increase them. We fear the usual (trick) idea of submitting something so expansive is in the hope that some up-to-half-way compromise will be made and anything (more than current) seen as a win by the applicant.

We have nothing against prosperity and progress, but this is not that, it would be a curse on the people and land in what should be a reasonably rural and peaceful area. The employment opportunities and monetary gain, cannot, in our view, be used as a trade off for the well being of the residents.

We hope rather that better use of the rail service be considered.

My submission is attached.

I would like to state that I am strongly opposed to the expansion proposed by Martins Creek Quarry and object to the expansion on any Scale. Daracon has already has a major negativity impact on our lifestyle under their current operations. Everyday we are woken before our natural sleep pattern ends by noise and vibration that by any other industry standard would be considered criminal.Dust and carcinogenic pollution veil our homes and limit our ability to enjoy the quiet tree lined community. Our home is being devalued and our environment traded in for short term profit. Shame on all those involved in this proposition. Unless you are willing to wake up a day in our bed and walk in our shoes you are disgracefully putting profit before communities, family and the environment. There is a rail line that could be perfectly utilised for this company please see sense and enforce this company do the moral, ethical and logical requirement and utilise an existing resource rather than destroying others. We have spent a lot of money trying to find ways to currently cope wth the noise, vibration, dust. and dangerous traffic including window shutters, external blinds, new fencing, hedges,and paying for the whole exterior of our house to be cleaned every 6 months, why must we continue to be financially, spiritually and emotionally impacted, whilst all daracon get to consider is how to make more money!! We are extremely stressed and anxious about the current proposal as we feel we have no options left to stay in the community we love, but cant afford to leave as our house has been devalued too much. Please support us and the beautiful Bolwarra heights that we live in and reject this application entirely.
Thankyou.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.
The proposed increased truck movements through Paterson and on the roads are unsafe. ( 3 broken windscreens already)
Use the rail system (like before you guys sold this asset to Daracon) to transport the gravel to a major transport corridor.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion
Increased flow of truck traffic is of concern to me as I believe it poses a risk to the safety of residents, visitors and motorists.

I would like to strongly object to the expansion of Martins Creek Quary. The truck traffic that already slaughters McKimms road is appalling, we live directly in front of the 80kms to 60km sign.
The sound of trucks screaming down the road who NEVER abide by the set speed limit, anytime from 6am to 5pm is not only DANGEROUS but it is completely deafening. The thought of this possibly increasing makes me wish i never bought in the area.

Dear Sir/Madam
I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion for the following reasons
Increased truck noise. Living on Belmore Road, Lorn, the trucks are much too loud traveling through this residential area and often travel in the 50 km/h zone much too quick causing a decrease to safety in the area, especially having a young family.
The traffic congestion is also already very busy on the road and will only get worse with the increase in trucks, which will also increase the deterioration of the local roads.
The above factors will cause a decrease in quality of life for my family and will also cause a decrease in my property value and all other properties in the area.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry expansion. Myself and my family live on Horns Crossing road in line of sight of the current active workings at Martins Creek Quarry to the East of our property. Whilst we are at work/school obviously the noise from the quarry operations is irrelevant but when we are at home whilst the quarry is operating, eg. Saturday mornings, you are reminded of what some have to put up with all day Monday to Friday. We do not wish any extension to the current operating hours and if one compares these hours with, for instance, the Hunter Quarries at Karuah which is remote to residential housing by comparison it seems ridiculous to allow greater operating hours for a quarry surrounded by a small township and small rural acreages.

Secondly, the basis of this objection stems from the heavy vehicle traffic we are currently contending with and the real possibility of this increasing in magnitude and duration. It is not uncommon to meet trucks on Gostwyck bridge as they travel south from the quarry. I don't blame the drivers, the approach is immediately after a sharp turn and is steep so stopping a fully laden truck and trailer combination must be tricky. The bridge is a single lane, iron construction whith some heritage significance. Regular, high levels of heavy vehicles were clearly not its design brief (there is a semi-permanent work site conducting repairs of some nature on the southern approach).

Finally, Paterson is a small historic village with a road designed in a pre-motor car era. The rail crossing close to Webbers Creek Rd, the right hand bend (when travelling South), the chicane past the Paterson Tavern and Tucker Park are all features incompatible with regular high volumes of heavy traffic. We lived in Paterson village for 12 years and escaping the noise of the trucks was a definite motivation for moving onto acreage further out. Also, traffic is traffic. The fact that a lot of the existing traffic is represented by trucks and trailers just makes it worse. Any increase to this in volume or duration is worrying.

Over and above the points above but perhaps irrelevant from a strict submission response point of view is my cynical view that any conditions imposed will be 1. Adhered to, or 2. Enforced. See current court case between DSC and Daracon.