Martins Creek Quarry Project

I Oppose The Expansion Of The Martins Creek Quarry.
I feel this way because I know the increase in trucks will be dangerous and detrimental to our little community.

We live very close to the Martins Creek quarry and are affected by blasting at the quarry as well as the huge number of quarry trucks passing through Paterson and surrounding areas. We either stop in or drive through Paterson on a daily basis and are concerned that there will be an accident one day. The quarry trucks are frequently travelling in convoy and often at unsafe speeds. It can be difficult to cross the road to get to and from our car. The volume of traffic is loud, frightening and is affecting everyone living in the area.






and also stop to shop in the local stores, we are very concerned there will be a nasty accident involving one of the trucks. We see many instances of truck convoys

Please see attached letter to oppose the martins creek quarry extensions

Submission has been uploaded.

Once again we, the residents of Bolwarra, Lorn, Martins Creek, Paterson and Largs are being subjected to intrusion, inconvenience, wreckless consideration to our homes and lives. Each resident of these areas are entitled to feel and live safely, rear our children safely in our selected homes. But this is being invaded, our rights to live in peace and safely stomped on, or should I say "thundered" over by trucks, more trucks. IS THIS FAIR, seriously would you tolerate it? NO!. We live across the road from a child care centre and watch on a daily basis the idiots that try to maneuver in and out, some illegally because of the already exceeded traffic limit expectation on Paterson Road. My son was rear ended, severely, our neighbour has been rear ended, near misses regularly, because THIS ROAD CANNOT TAKE ANYMORE TRAFFIC. DO YOU NEED THE DEATH? What does it take, STOP pushing this. If you must extract every single bit of rock from that Quarry (greed prevails), then take your trucks down a more convenient, appropriate road way, the one that was approved, Third River Crossing roadway, less residents, no day care centres, schools, shops, houses way back off the road. Common sense surely should prevail. I TOTALLY OBJECT TO THIS PROPOSAL. Our house is slipping off it's peers because of the vibrations, our heritage glass in the front shakes and rattles, some is already cracked. Two front rooms are cracked due to traffic vibrations, who fixes that? Daracon? The vehicle tyre refuse constantly settles on our house, let alone we breath it in no doubt. So much for opening and airing our heritage house out.

Dear Sir/Madam

I oppose the Martins Creek Qyarry Expansin for the following reasons.

1/ Decrease in quality of life and
2/ decrease in value of property
due to
a/Increase Truck numbers and hours of operation totally disrupting sleep.
b/roads at present are deteriorating because inadequate for current truck traffic--can't possibly cope with proosed increase with any degree of safety, or further deterioration.
c/ Traffic congestion inevitable--not organised to cope with such heavy vehicle traffic---disrupting rural and Village lifestyle.
3/ unacceptable destruction of natural habitat.


Please delete my Personal information before publication.

I have not made a reportable poitical donation.

I am extremely unhappy about the proposed level of road vehicle movements. The local road infrastructure is not capable of supporting this level of movement without rapid deterioration. Please reconsider the level of road movement and instead move products by rail which already provides bulk grain and coal shipments on the line passing by the quarry's doorstep.

As a resident of Brandy Hill Drive I am deeply disturbed by the proposed expansion of the Martins Creek quarry and oppose the expansion the of the quarry.

I moved to Brandy Hill approx. 10 years ago wanting a peaceful rural lifestyle. At this this point in time I am awoken to the noise of quarry trucks thundering up Brandy Hill drive at 5am in the morning whether it be from the Hanson quarry at the end of Brandy Hill Drive and the Martins creek quarry. You absolutely dread the scenario when the road is not in perfect condition because the sound of an empty truck hitting a pothole is like a clap of thunder.

I have an 8 year old child who attends Seaham Primary School who catches the bus to school regularly. I have concerns the increased traffic with regard to young children exiting from school buses, when quarry trucks are hammering down Brandy Hill Drive in convoy at the current speed limit of 80 km/h. You wonder whether they could pull up in time if a young child were to be on the road.

At times I also difficulty exiting my property due to the number of trucks travelling on the road and when there is a major contract on there is no regard for residents amenity because profit and volume is paramount.

With the proposed expansion(doubling of the Hanson quarries production as well from 700,000 tonnes to 1.5 tonnes p.a production, has a holistic evaluation of the cumulative effects in terms of air pollution, loss of public amenity, noise, real estate values and the effects on the community been undertaken?

I have major concerns about the increase that 80 trucks per hour using Brandy Hill Drive for transport would have on gaseous and particulate pollutants levels and the effects on residents long term heath if the expansion were to go ahead.

Diesel combustion exhaust is a source of atmospheric soot and fine particles, which is a component of the air pollution implicated in human cancer, heart and lung damage, and mental functioning.

Will there be Oxides of nitrogen monitoring and any real time particulate monitoring undertaken in the area if this proposed expansion and the Hanson expansion were to go ahead?

On finalisation I strongly reiterate that I object strongly to this proposed expansion and urge you to look at the effects of both quarry expansions in this area and the effects that these expansions will have on residents beloved rural lifestyle. Why should they have to relocate to another area because of excessive noise and air pollution which has the potential to be worse than a National Highway because of the ratio of heavy vehicle movements.

I would like to object to the increase in the volume of trucks travelling through Bolwarra and surrounding suburbs. It is almost impossible to get out of sidestreets onto the main road at peak times due to the number of subdivisions built in the area and the volume of traffic, including trucks, that this brings. The infrastructure has not kept pace with the development, and we are heading for serious accidents, with many unreported near misses already.
The present roads have been in place, unchanged, since the 1940s or before and cannot cope with the current volume of traffic using them.
Please note that these trucks not only go to their destination, but also return to the gravel quarry on the same road, many times a day in a continuous stream.
You can"t allow this traffic volume to destroy the historic small town of Paterson. We elect the politicians of this country to be our representatives and stand up for what is best for the whole community in their electorates. Our member for Paterson needs to be heard in this matter.

I object to this EIS and my submission is attached

I write to express my objection to the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry. I live north west of the quarry and am badly affected by the regular blasting and daily noise from the quarry. The constant grinding, heavy truck movement within the quarry makes it unpleasant to spend time outside in my garden and many visitors ask and comment on the noise. I have had cracks appear in some internal walls and doors and windows which now don't open or close and I have had artwork fall off the wall following blasting. I have had visitors jump out of their chairs and attempt to run out of my house during a blast, fearing they were experiencing an earthquake. I am very anxious about the current creeping progress of the quarry towards my home. There has been much comment on the effects on Martins Creek and Paterson but there seems to be a total lack of awareness of the impact on my small neighbourhood. and this concerns me.

I am not a buffer zone for the quarry.

I am frequently woken early mornings by empty trucks passing, some have parked on Dungog Road below my property, motors running, lined up waiting for the 0600 opening. These trucks have travelled some distances to get to my place so must be passing through other communities far too early.
I also work shift work and am always aware of the quarry noise when I am trying to sleep during the day.
I have had 3 cracked windscreens repaired and damage to paintwork on my car. fog lights smashed by gravel chips.,
When travelling to work early in the mornings I will encounter many trucks, travelling at speed, sometimes in convoy, always intimidating as they come up behind, or turn in front of my small car. The access to the quarry over singe lane bridges (eg Gostwyck) should be investigated thoroughly. This region has restoration occurring to a number of the old wooden bridges yet we have a company running hundreds of large, heavy vehicles over them faster than the teams can repair them.
The heavy truck traffic through Paterson is a disgrace and must be addressed very quickly and stopped!. The local community's well being and needs are remarkably absent in the EIS. Obviously any effects on the businesses in Paterson and surrounding areas has never been considered when the quotes on providing jobs for the Hunter is dangled in front of everyone.

As I understand it there will be 80 heavy truck movements an hour, 14 hours a day for 6 days a week, most of which will be on the Tocal Road and down towards Flat Road. This is an excessive amount for those roads that will be painful in the extreme for all residents and road users in the area. The business owner of the proposal will no doubt not be affected. Combined with an equivalent amount of truck traffic proposed from Brandy Hill, this is just not on. How many is too many?! Bumper to Bumper? Find another way to transport the increase in output.

We support the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion. Our business relies on the quarry for various products on a regular basis to maintain our farming business. It's good to have a local supplier.

Name: David and Michelle Oberdorf
Address: 19 Paterson Road, Bolwarra, NSW, 2320
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To: Director - Resource Assessments
Planning Services
Department of Planning & Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

RE: Martins Creek Quarry Expansion - Application No SSD-14_6612

Dear Sir/Madam,

We oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.

Our reasons are as follows:

* Early morning impact - sleep disturbance due to truck noise and vibrations;
* Impacts to pedestrian and cyclist road safety;
* Reduction in property value - our house has experienced cracks in the walls due to truck movements, plus the noise interferes with our peaceful enjoyment of the property;
* Health and environmental issues - black diesel residue coats the front of our house;
* Impacts to heritage buildings in the area, and:
* Deterioration in infrastructure - Paterson Road is cracking under the weight and volume of truck movements.
Any increase in truck movements would exacerbate all of the above.

We have not made a reportable political donation.

Yours faithfully

David Oberdorf

Michelle Oberdorf

The people of martins creek and all of the surrounding suburbs have all had our say and we dont want this expansion to go ahead we all are law abiding tax payers if the nsw planning department just ignores us we are all going to stop paying our taxes and start spending all of our money overseas. You come and live here and deal with 50 trucks driving past your house at 6:00am every morning. I REPEAT WE DO NOT WANT THIS EXPANSION TO GO AHEAD DARACON AND IT'S CRONNIES ARENT WELCOME IN OUR TOWN!!

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion. My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a property on Gresford Road Paterson from my mother. The property has been in our family since 1938 and we intend building a house in which we can retire and graze livestock in peaceful rural surroundings.
The Daracon proposal must be considered cynical in that the company already disregards the restrictions on truck operating hours; such cynicism shows no regard for government departments, local council or the residents affected by truck movements. The damage to the environment wherever operations like the Martins Creek Quarry occur are long-term and ultimately end up being a problem for the community and government resources, and the "bullish" companies that cause the damage walk away counting their profits.
Don't continue to be fooled and cajoled by yet another big business and their cynical spin. Fight back by insisting they fall in line with current restrictions, and explore other ways to increase their profitability like good corporate citizens.

To Whom it may concern,

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion.

The expansion of the quarry should not be permitted due to impacts on the surrounding communities, including but not limited to:
- Road hazards
- Noise

So tell me family now what do you think ?
Watch it all go down the great big sink.
Watch how the scum it rises to the top.
Don't you wonder when it's all gonna stop?
Sometimes I wonder how we do sleep,
serving the dodgy companies we keep.
All kicking and scrounging for the very first place -
dictionary definition of a rat race.
Pay off those losers we elect to lead,
stealing from the mouths that we're meant to feed.
Enslaving the very clothes upon my back,
I feel the sting but I hear no crack, no crack, I'm saying

Running through the fire, running through the flame,
running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
running through the hopelessness and shame,
revolution already underway.

Big Heavy Pirates man digging those holes,
messing with something that they can't control.
Tresspassing lands where they don't belong,
all I hear is screaming where there once were songs.
I got my brothers there fighting those wars,
fighting over scraps and scraping their souls.
Under a blanket of a fire and pride
that can't keep us warm for the cold inside,
inside, I'm saying

Running through the fire, running through the flame,
running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
running through the hopelessness and shame,
revolution already underway.

So tell me when you think we're gonna rise?
Wake from this slumber wipe the tears from our eyes?
Yes from this nightmare yes I must now wake,
open my fist my destiny I take !
Good people sick and tired of being pushed around,
we call them kings but I see no crown.
Tell me when you think we'll just stand up,
say enough is enough is enough,enough I'm saying

Running through the fire, running through the flame,
running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
running through the hopelessness and shame,
revolution already underway.

Take back your feet, take back your hands.
Take back your words, take back your lands.
Take back your heart, take back your pride.
Don't got to run, don't got to hide.
Revolution.

Ben got a job at the mine along the way.
He said everything was fine until that fatefulday.
That's when his life, started to change.
The day he went to help and go blow up that Mountain Range.

Ben Moved to town a year ago or maybe more
Straight out of High School
the whole world he had in store
Wanted to travel, needed some dough
Everybody worked the mine why should he say no.

Don't ask him why
Now things for him have changed
It's not his land, they're not his song's
He can't work out why he don't belong,

He part of Company
part of Company Sin.
Won't someone please tell the lad,
when Humbug did begin.

Now legend has it or so they say,
The Bones of an Ancient People,
Yeah, that's where they lay and,
Their Descendents, Hold close to Heart.
Oh that Mountain Range Ben was helping blow apart

And as I said for Ben things weren't quite right.
Now he's waking up, screaming every single night.
Hearing voices in a different tongue,
The screaming of the Old, the screaming of the Young

He part of Company
part of Company Sin.
Won't someone please tell the lad,
when Humbug did begin.

Now Ben moved on, job left him a while back
Now his thanking God that his boss gave him the sack.
But in the mirror, yes he can face.
The day he stopped helping go blow up that Sacred Place

The upper class: keeps all of the money, pays none of the taxes. The middle class: pays all of the taxes, does all of the work. The poor are there...just to scare the shit out of the middle class.

Daracon capitalism at it's finest corporations like this are part of a big club that the average joe blow isn't a part of they can come in and do what ever they want while the rest of us hardworking slaves have to just cop it sweet? Does this sound like a fair deal to you it's not we are getting shafted whilst these smug millionares laugh in our faces STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS BEFORE WE ARE ALL BENT OVER BEING WIPPED BY THE OWNERS..