Martins Creek Quarry Project

Please find attached submission for Dungog Shire Council

objection

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to voice my disapproval of the application for increased extraction from Martins Creek Quarry. I have been traveling to the area for many years know to visit my parents and for my kids to enjoy the rural setting. Over this time I have witnessed the amenity being eroded by the number of haul trucks along the roads through Paterson and past my parent's property. It is more peaceful living in the suburbs of Melbourne than in the quaint rural setting of Paterson. I urge you to force the movement of product from this quarry onto the rail system where it should always have been.

I am objecting to the quarry expansion because I am so sick and tired of Daracon trucks parking across my driveway, the only entrance to my business, Paterson Gallery. Trucks parked here are also parking in a bus stop. So they are breaking 2 rules at the same time whilst also making it very difficult for people to see or enter my shop. This same truck as it drove away also just pushed a roadworks sign into the back of my friends car which was parked in front of it.

I am writing to voice my disapproval of the application for increased extraction from Martins Creek Quarry. I have been traveling to the area for many years know to visit my parents and to enjoy the rural setting. Over this time I have witnessed the amenity being eroded by the number of haul trucks along the roads through Paterson and past my parent's property. It is uncomprehend able what these trucks are doing to the quaint rural setting of Paterson. I urge you to force the movement of product from this quarry onto the rail system where it should always have been.

I oppose the expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry. Due to the impact of the traffic, noise, vibrations, dust and more will have on a small rural community including residential persons and business persons. Also the impact on the surrounding suburbs. Whilst I am not opposed to job opportunities in the area I am opposed to the expansion/volume being put forward.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry, because of road safety concerns,property value, quality of life.

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry expansion, for health reasons. I have an allergy to dust! I am also concerned about road safety in our town and surrounding roads.

As a resident of the village on Paterson, who actually resides on south end of the main road through the village, I would like to raise the following concerns with regard to the proposed quarry expansion.

1. Paterson is an historic village with narrow roads and houses built close the property line. There is little to no shoulder to the road and only quite narrow nature strips. Most of the homes along the roadway are more than 70 years old, some are more than 90 years old and the constant passing of trucks so close the these dwellings causes severe vibration.
The side effect of that is shaking to foundations, windows and floors and the rattling of crockery. This currently starts at 5.40AM and is constant for several hours, though it reduces slightly during the day it continues to late afternoon. The proposed expansion will increase not only the number of trucks to 80 per hour in each direction (one passing every 22.5 seconds) but will extend the hours of operation therefore giving residents no reprieve from the noise and vibration, thus causing us to lose our basic right to quiet enjoyment of our homes.
2. The diesel fumes and road dust generated by these trucks coats the houses and rooves with black soot, which then contaminates the rain water which we used to be able to drink but sadly can't any longer.
Due to age of the homes, they are not as well sealed as new homes so everything inside is also coated with fine black soot which we are all breathing.
3. The route the trucks use is also the route the school bus uses and each morning and afternoon the children must compete with the trucks to cross the road to get to the bus stop. This is already dangerous. Any increase in the number of trucks will make it even more so, putting the lives of our children at even greater risk.

I would like to request that the Dept of Planning and Environment look into an alternative route for the trucks and or alternate modes of transport for the materials coming out of the quarry. The quarry was not originally intended to produce the amount of material it is now and this town was not designed to accommodate that. We are the local village of a farming community, we did not ask to be industrialised.
At the very least the roads need to widened though the heart of the village and some sort of pedestrian crossing erected near the shopping area and one further north for school children to get to the bus stops on either side of Maitland Road near the corner of Sloane Street .
The village of Paterson comprises a unique combination of generational residents and those who have come here from large cities in search of utopia.
Please consider our lives and our hopes and dreams, our peace of mind and our future when you consider the request of one company who has the capacity to ruin our whole village.

I have resided in the Paterson village for the past several years, a move away from the bustle of Newcastle city to enjoy all that this quaint rural historic village and surrounds has to offer.
Unfortunately this change of lifestyle has been drastically impacted due to the rip, tear and bust of Daracon's quarry trucks tearing through this rural amenity, one I WAS planning on living in for years to come and raising a family......
During this time I have endured first hand the real impacts by the expanding operations of Daracon at Martins Creek Quarry such as:
- traffic noise from trucks (causing lack of sleep, interruption to sleep, inability to work from home office due to noise)
- vibration from trucks causing movements & cracks in my heritage house
- safety concerns around the boundary of my property (unsafe to enter and exit driveway to access off street parking)
- safety concerns crossing roads to access local business's on the main street re butcher, local supermarket, post office, country cafe, service station)
- safety concerns when visiting relatives with children are exiting/entering vehicles on kerb alongside my property.
The above factors are why I am in opposition to the expansion of Martins Creek Quarry, these are the impacts faced on a daily basis, with any such increase to the current operations which are already making this village of Paterson unbearable to live in. I can't begin to imagine how the community will cope with what Daracon are seeking approval for:
- 1.5 million tonne expansion
- increase in operation hours
- 430 truck movements a day
- 80 truck movements per hour
- the clearing of 100ac native vegetation (this area is abundant with native protected species & beautiful birdlife etc)
There has been NO consultation from Daracon with the community, NO consultation from government or state members. Daracon SHOULD be required to take their product by rail as per their existing consents.

No small community should be subjected to such a invasion of the road the increased operation hours is untenable. The expansion is not manageable in our beautiful quite village. Don't allow the major company's to put at risk our lifestyle.

We are submitting a letter against any increase in activity at the Martins Creek Quarry
Please find attachment below outlining our views

I oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion on all grounds
for the following reasons
Personal Health - continuing dust that is blown over from the quarry settles inside and outside of the house - I am required to breath the dirty air. The fly screens and the deck are now a milky white dust covered mess that needs cleaning every week.
The dust settles on the roof that collects my drinking water and the dust emissions particles I must now drink have polluted my water. I now have to spend money on a filter to safely consume the water.
Noise - the quietness has gone I live off Martins Creek road a stone throw away from the quarry and have to now listen to the droning noise of trucks and machinery clucking away. I left Newcastle for that reason BHP noise all over again.
Financial: My house values have dropped, I have damage to my house foundations cracks in the tiles - The blasting noise and shock waves that follow with the blast sucking the air away and then once it explodes the glass windows literally move and shake.
I am still waiting for notification that there will be blasting now more than 4 years on. Bet the EPA has no interest.
My Car I have so far spent money on 4 new wind screens from flying rocks often the size of golf balls. The scratched bonnet from the speeding trucks is relentless. I clearly remember the day a truck was flying down Martins Creek road from the quarry doing more than the speed limit of 80km he lost control got on the gravel and swerved out of my way then showered me with a rain storm of gravel only 18 months ago. He was driving so fast I could not catch him.
Flora and Fauna - I lost count on the amount of road kill I see daily Kangaroos,Wallaby, echidnas, bandicoots, birds, of all kinds - yes some are hit by cars but I had seen a truck hit four cockatoos in one swipe and yet again the dead birds flying on to my wind screen.
My morning drive to work at 0600 - I count 25 trucks flying down paterson - tocal road - ?? Where are the marshals directing the traffic. I clocked one driving 120km + I could not catch him.
These drivers I suggest need drug testing most likely on something to keep them awake driving through the community at 430 am sure is unhealthy.
When the quarry expansion goes ahead yet again without being approved who will look at the loss of animal species lost displaced. Paterson has more that over 100 species of birds and tree dwelling marsupials and clearing the fires for greed and more rocks they are loosing nesting habitat and that cannot be denied.
I used to be able to walk along Martins Creek Road on a weekend to enjoy this beautiful place now I have to be scared that I will get run over by trucks - Bike riding is a hazard and you would not tackle it during the week to ride a circuit through Paterson. Children are not safe walking or playing in Martins Creek Village.
The quarry proposal is ill considered and is now a major impact on the well being of children adults and animals a like.

I oppose the expansion and further destruction that is planned. I oppose plans for more trucks down our roads. When will Daracon give back to the community what they have damaged. How about building a cycle way circuit contributing to the community for a change.

You are more than welcome to contact me to discuss my concerns as a 17 year resident of Paterson / Martins Creek. I have seen the community change and anger and frustration mounting because of being ignored by the council that I pay to look after the community my rates are wasted on the council. So spare a thought for the tax paying citizen please.

Regards Andrea Bene

I oppose the Martins Creek quarry expansion as it will impact my quality of life in that as I only live aprox 3 Km from the quarry, the increased blasting and dust will affect my lifestyle. Also the increased truck movements put me and my family in danger when ever we travel from Paterson, and there is also the dmage to the shires roads, which in turn will damage my vehicles. At the present time the trucks do not pass by my house, even though it is the shortest route, this is only due to the load limit on the bridges preventing them, but in the future if these bridges are upgraded, or an alternative road is constructed, I could have all the trucks passing my house, this would have a detrimental effect on the real estate prices for people living on Martins Creek road.

we make this submission to oppose Daracon's proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry on the following grounds;

Increased traffic and noise pollution, increasing in truck movements to 80 per hour on Brandy Hill Dr will change foreever the rural ambiance of the locality; it will make it difficult to enter and exit our property with safety and greatly add to the problems of deterioration of road surfaces.

We object to the proposed new working hours. The trucks already walk us up early in the morning as it is.

To whom it may concern,

i have lived in the area for the last six years and have had no issues with either owners of the quarry and My property adjoins the quarry on my southern boundary which is 700m long and the new quarry expansion will come along the boundary about 400m which i will not have any issues with and have had no issues with Daracon and must say that the communications with Daracon as a company and myself as the property owner have been well above expectations and in a timely manner. Blasting has been no concerns for us as our house is on piers with no cracking issues and i have built a new shed with a concrete floor and has been down for five years with no visible cracking and that the blast communications are at a high level with text and email notifications thank you. I believe that the quarry expansion should go ahead as i believe that it would help the Martins creek community and area although there are a few concerns that need to be addressed by the Dungog Council to assist with the expansion for and through the communities that will be involved. also looking through application for the expansion i believe that Daracon has put a community care factor through on its noise and dust concerns through the introduction of the NVB walls and the new entry to the quarry coming off Dungog road.
The new area that they are going to clear and mine to the south of my property is only good for a quarry and really nothing else as it is very hard to get anything to grow through this area and there is not a lot of flora and fauna up through this area as i have spent plenty of time get my cows back from the quarry who by the way communicated this with me.

I object to the expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry due to the impact of the extra truck movements. The current number of quarry trucks has a major impact in the following areas;
1 NOISE - truck movements start as early as 5.00 to 5.30am, the constant rumble at this time of day is enough to keep me awake and I live approx 100m from Tocal Road
2. SAFETY - Tocal road is 1 lane in each direction with a lot of side streets, fully loaded trucks travelling at or above the speed limit present a high risk to local trafiic.
3. COST to Maitland Council in road repairs. Paterson road has been extensively upgraded in recent years and already additional repairs have been carried out on the south bound lane due to damage from trucks. Road maintenance also has a huge imapct on traffic as there are few alternative routes into Maitland
A large increase in truck movements is totally unacceptable and will impact on the lives of thousands of people who live near and use Tocal and Paterson Roads

I have been employed by Daracon group for almost 6 years. I believe I speak on behalf of many of the employees when I say that we rely on Martins Creek Quarry for many of our projects, and also for our jobs. I work directly at Martins Creek, and see firsthand how many of Daracon's projects rely on materials available from Martins Creek Quarry and our jobs and projects would be at risk should the expansion not proceed.
I am in my early 20's and have done Certificates in Surface Extraction, without the quarry I would not have been able to do these courses as they require practical experience.
As one of the 800+ employees of Daracon, I support the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion Project.

We don't agree with the expansion & the impact on the local community. The extra trucks daily is totally unacceptable . We love where we live & believe the impact would greatly affect our quality of life.Main concern is the sheer noise & volume of truck movements daily. ( Not to mention the impact on the road surface with truck movements).Our children deserve a quality of life too,both of them attend Iona public school.We love our community.I understand the reasons for the expansion etc but disagree wholeheartedly with the impact of local communities.

my partner works for daracon and we reply on his job to keep our family stable. daracon provides my partner with constant learning and with out this expansion there could be a possibility that he could loose his job