Martins Creek Quarry Project

I object to Martins Creek Quarry Project. I feel the current Dungog Shire Council approval for use of the site should remain unchanged. The proposal for the expansion of Martins Creek Quarry will destroy the amenity of Paterson township as well as making road travel very dangerous. The noise, dust and vibration caused by truck movements through Paterson township would be unacceptable as we have experienced this during Daracon's period of unlawful activity during 2017-2019. The proposed road changes within Paterson would do nothing to change this. The only option would be for a complete bypass of Paterson township. I completely reject the expansion proposal for Martins Creek Quarry.

I am a property and small business owner in the township of Paterson. I own and live in the Post Office (still operating) and I run a gallery and studio situated on the same property. I am very much opposed to the expansion of the Quarry at Martins Creek. I have lived here for 11 years and remember very clearly the horrific conditions that we endured at the peak of operations at the quarry in the past, conditions which are proposed to recommence should this request by Daracon be granted.
The traffic on the main street though our town is extremely busy, it is constant from 5am until at least 9pm 7 days a week, that is regardless of truck movements, that's just normal traffic. To increase the traffic flow by another 280 trucks per day would be absolutely horrendous. There is no designated crossing on our main thoroughfare and as it is, it is dangerous to cross our road. Children, elderly, dog walkers and people with prams often wait ages for a break in traffic. With an extra 280 truck movements per day it will be nearly impossible to cross the road safely.
The corner outside my home (the post office) is apparently an issue. I'm told that it will be modified to allow a faster and easier flow for trucks driving through, REALLY?? Is that a solution? To move trucks even faster around the busiest intersection in town where people cross constantly between the post office - café - service station - B&B - chemist - doctors clinic - pub and hairdresser. All of those business are within 20 meters of each other on that very corner where 280+ trucks want to rattle through our village at a speed greater than they can now! Honestly, this does not make any sense at all. I haven't even mentioned the noise, the dust and the diesel fumes, all of which would be quite significant, most likely unbearable and detrimental to our health.
The solution is not to sell and move, who would purchase a property on a major haulage route through a heritage listed village? Roads in this area are certainly not built to withstand that amount of use. There are many quarries operating in the Hunter Region but none of them need to be accessed via small built up historic village like Paterson, it is completely unreasonable.
I am not opposed to the quarry operating such as it is. I am violently opposed to it being expanded. The only way this could ever be considered a possibility would be if a separate access road for trucks was built which doesn't go through our residential towns or if everything was sent out by rail.
Please consider carefully all of our submissions. Our concerns and anxiety are very real. Our lives and lifestyles will be greatly impacted by the proposal to expand the quarry if it is approved. There are alternatives, the wrong decision will have lasting and very damaging consequences. Please decide to do the right thing for our community, our roads, our historic buildings and our local wildlife habitats. Our future here will be nothing like what we have hoped for, and it will be because of the greed and wealth of a few people who have no regard for us.
Regards,
Catherine Varcoe.

I fully support the Martins Creek Quarry Project. The quarry provides employment for many personnel and quarry products to many major construction sites and businesses which generates further employment and aids development of the entire region.

The loss or reduction of capacity from Martins Creek Quarry would have a significant effect on the Newcastle Region.

I would like to voice my strongest objection to the Martins Creek Quarry expansion. The expansion would in my opinion turn Paterson town and surrounding roads into a freeway for heavy vehicles. The previous operations level was in itself a burden to the community. The roads were severely degraded, it was dusty, noisy and dangerous for pedestrians to cross the road. It turned a beautiful quiet town into a rat run from the quarry to the city.
The infrastructure of the area is not sufficient to handle the current approved number of truck movements let alone a massive expansion. The elbow in the main street is of particular concern as the heavy vehicles do not make this turn easily and my concern is that a major accident with on coming traffic or a pedestrian will result. The deceleration and acceleration noise combined with the diesel fumes will again ruin this beautiful town.
Dungog council is already struggling to keep up with road maintenance in our area. The roads are single lane with limited verge, pot holes and smooth sections due to lack of maintenance. They are country roads, designed to handle country traffic not dozens of heavy vehicle movements a day let alone hundreds. The scale of this proposal is staggering considering the toll the previous approval had on this small community.
Quarry operators showed complete disregard for the community in its previous illegal operation of the quarry and would without doubt push the limits of any increase again this time. They have zero community trust and a company that over steps so egregiously in the name of making a profit will not hesitate to do the same again.
I cannot comment on the issues associated with dust and noise on the Martins Creek community, I am sure the residents of this community will be making similar submissions.
I would love for this site to be closed permanently. The change in Paterson town without the trucks pumping through is tangible. People enjoying their meals outside at the cafe and in the beer garden at the pub are obvious examples. Its just not enjoyable when a truck come past every few minutes.
I believe the only way to move forward with any mining on this site is strict adherence to environmental controls in regards to blast noise ,dust and amount of material. The mined material should be transported by rail. In my opinion there should not be an increase on the current approval level or an extension of the years it is allowed to operate.

I live in View St, Vacy, perhaps 1 km from the quarry, and I object to any expansion of the quarry.
The quarry is inappropriately sited for such an expansion, being surrounded by homes in close proximity, and with the only route south being a winding road with 2 sharp corners through the historic town of Paterson. This is a scenic drive towards the Barrington Tops, popular with grey nomads in their caravans and bikers on day trips, who all like to stop at the cafe in Paterson, right by the right angle turn in the road. Imagine a B double rumbling by every minute with noise, dust and exhaust fumes! Accidents waiting to happen!
I moved here for the peace and tranquillity and particularly for the night sky and astronomy.
Daracon is proposing 24 hour 7 days a week rail loading. Dust, bright lights obscuring the night sky, noise. This is a nightmare.
Plus it is all so unnecessary when there are other quarries in the Hunter with better access to major arterial routes. It is a case of insatiable greed destroying the environment for everyone. Surely it can’t be allowed?

Trucks, road conditions, dust, noise from proposed hours on Saturday’s, clearing of more land near my boundary

I object to the movement of the 500,000 tons of quarry material via our road system.
Approval of the project will directly impact us in our home at Bolwarra, adjacent to the Flat Rd roundabout. There is a long hill going North from the roundabout - all trucks make a substantial amount of noise as they descend the hill going South, or as they accelerate to get up the hill going North. A large number of fully loaded quarry trucks will make an unacceptable amount of noise in our vicinity.
There is a rail transport option - this should be the only approved mode of transport, other than minor deliveries in the local area

I object to this project based on the glaringly obvious negative impacts to the communities of Paterson and Martins creek detailed in the submission.

Every submission supporting this project is from outside of the area and blatantly employed by or finaincially interested in Daracon Group or the success of the quarry expansion and should not carry any weight.

My partner and i have recently built our first home in paterson, we chose paterson as it is a peaceful, quite little town we thought would be nice to raise a family in. The approval of this quarry would quickly make that dream unrealistic.

The expansion of the Martins Creek quarry will create far too much traffic and noise in Paterson, Woodville, Bolwarra and East Maitland. I've been cycling these roads for over 20 years and the residential traffic has already increased markedly in recent years. The addition of 280 truck movements per day is untenable and unsafe, bad for the road, residents, drivers and cyclists. It will also make it even more difficult and unsafe to get to Bolwarra Primary School and Tillys Childcare Centre. The increase in noise, dust, and air pollution from so many trucks five days per week will ruin the village of Paterson. There has been no explanation why the quarry can't use the railway line instead of transporting so much volume by road. I'm also deeply concerned about the environmental impacts of clearing native vegetation and the loss of native wildlife.

We have lived in Vacy since 1984. My husband, myself and our 3 children moved from the city to the countryside for a peaceful rural lifestyle. Martins Creek Quarry was operating servicing our community with little impact at that time. Daracon purchased the quarry and everything changed. We have be impacted by blasting and dust and noise. Our children have now built homes in Vacy and Paterson with children of their own. Our grandchildren attend the local schools. One of our grandchildren has asthma and the extra dust will impact his wellbeing. We strongly object to the expansion and extraction of 1.1 millions tonnes of quarry material by Daracon.

Martins Creek Quarry Project - Objection to Proposal
BACKGROUND - Having lived and worked in the Paterson area for 60 of my 70 years I have seen many changes in the social fabric of the surrounding communities and utilisation of the resources of the area. Although now not living close to the proposed haul route or the quarry we feel the effects of major increases as proposed through our community interaction and access to businesses and facilities within the town. We also see the anguish created for those more directly effected and speak on their behalf as well.
THE QUARRY - The Martins Creek Quarry was initially establshed to supply rail ballast for NSW railways and fulfilled that role until the early 90's when NSW Railways considered it unviable to continue operations due to conditions placed upon it by Dungog Shire Council and the operation was eventually sold to DaraconPty. Initially operations continued with litlle change apart from an increase in road transport traffic which until recent times was considered tolerable by most of the population.
Daracon is a very successful and agressive competitor in many major projects in and around the Hunter area and in 2016-17 secured a contract for a very large contract in the region which required a huge increase in output from the quarry of which a large was transported by road. This saw an increase in the number of heavy vehicle movements through Paterson and Martins Creek increase to a point that was clearly dangerous and absolutely intolerable to those resident living close to the main thoroughfare through the villages. Use of Gresford Road and Maitland Road for any recreational purpose ie walking, running or cycling was clearly too dangerous and out of the question.
THE PROPOSED QUARRY UPGRADE - I understand at the time of high output in 2016-17 that the output of the quarry was similar to that proposed in the current submission 23104167. If approved this will have the direct effect of formalising the conditions that the community were forced to endure at that time. The noise for those living along the haulage route was beyond belief along with the dust, fumes and physical danger of the vehicles. For others living further away and not exposed to the direct effects of the haulage traffic it became a challenge to drive through the village and must have had a severe impact on the several businesses within the town. Even after the haulage hours were reduced due to complaints the number of truck movements did not change and the frequency of movements increased given the shorter timeframe available. It should be noted here that Daracon were operating illegally through this whole period well outside the development consent.
Residents therefore have "lived" experience of the effects of the quarry working at its proposed output.
DUST AND NOISE - Dust and noise pollution are at a high level and traffic congestion is clearly evident especially around the King St and Duke St intersection which has a tight turning circle requiring a truck and dog combination travelling towards Martins Creek to swing wide of the kerb and well across the opposite lane to negotiate the corner. During peak periods the trucks are bumper to bumper so the effect in this section is magnified manifold.
BUILDINGS - There are many historical buildings in this area as well and the effect of vibration have resulted in building damage. None of these buildings have been constructed to deal with this environment in terms of structural suitability of occupant comfort. Additionally many are placed very close to the main thoroughfare having been built up to 100 years ago when this type of threat was never envisaged.
SOCIAL AMMENITY - The quiet rural atmosphere of the place has, over the last couple of decades, attracted many families to the area and helped to build a strong community with schools and community organisations experiencing growth and vibrancy. The social ammenity of the area is important and I feel, will be put at risk if this devlopment is allowed to proceed. Although a small community the main business area of Paterson is a very busy hub on most days and becoming more so. The proposed increase in heavy vehice movements will exacerbate an aready stretched ability to cope with even local small vehicel traffic.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS - The quarry expansion will be felt most directly by the residents of Martins Creek and close surrounding areas although there is to be some road upgrade works to lessen the direct effects of truck movements on the village proper. The dust and noise however will be problematic and although EPA requirements for dust control will (or should) be implemented it is unlikely that no increase in airborne dust will occur for those close to the site. Noise is another matter and an increase in vehicular traffic, machinery operation and frequency of blasting within the quarry site will virtually guarantee an increase in noise continuity and volume. The proposal includes the clearing of some 40ha of woodland. This is never without consequence for plant, animal and birdlife and should be condemned in this age of environmental sensitivity. Noise dust and vibration will be an ongoing concern both in proximity to the quarry and along the entire haulage route.
CONCLUSION - The community has at no stage sought the closure of the quarry but simply that the effects on the community be maintained at a level that the available infrastructure and the community at large can deal with. As far as the development being of "State Significance" is concerned there are many quarries producing large quantities of the andesite product within the state with some quite close by and it is suggested that the project be relabelled "Daracon Significant". In virtually all cases where major quarry production upgrades have been allowed to proceed there have been major upgrades in infrastructure undertaken to address environnmental concerns and lessen the effects on nearby communities. The Road infrastructure in Dungog Shire is already in an appalling state due to lack of funding and cannot be expected to handle the massive increase in heavy traffic that will be created if the development is allowed to proceed. The meager road improvements that Daracon have proposed will do little to address the concerns and fears of those affected. The "improvements" at the King and Duke St intersection will involve some uptake of existing pedestrian space and bring the traffic even closer to two valuable heritage assets. The effects of traffic increase further along the prorposed haul route(s) will also be significant through residential areas and several school zones on roads not designed for this pupose.
The effect on real estate values along the entire haul route will also not be insignificant paticularly in the closer proximity areas such as Paterson and Martins Creek and compensation to those effected should be considered mandatory.
In my view If approval for the production increase is granted it should only be under the following conditions:
1. That the major proportion of the production increase be transported by rail rather than road or that a purpose built haul road be constructed to convey the materials that will not disrupt local communities
2. That the residents close to the quarry site be offered compensation or relocation.
End of Submission

I have been a resident of Woodville for over 15 years.

I do not oppose the current road movements of heavy vehicles in their current form. I do however oppose an increase though in the proposal to increase heavy vehicle movements with the expansion of the Martin Creek Quarry Project.

The increase in movements will cause further damage to roads and infrastructure which is already noticeable.

I travel the roads that will be impacted reguarly, and as I said, further movements will only cause further damage and make it even more hazardous to drive these roads for the everyday motorist.

Regards,

K. Austin
Woodville

I write to oppose this new Quarry proposal by Buttai Gravel part of the Daracon Group to operate the Martins Creek quarry.
I live in Butterwick and I am directly affected. I am also very concerned for all residents that live in this beautiful area.
I can’t believe we are even revisiting this proposal again considering a verdict has been ruled on previously and upheld after many objections. The Daracon Group were found to be operating illegally. Should be end of story.
Daracon can not be trusted and treat this latest proposal as tick and flick exercise until they get the verdict they want. Why can’t they accept the law and the rulings handed down. Something smells here.
I hope the Independent Planning Commission look closely at all the submissions on the planning portal closely as they will notice nearly all the Quarry support submissions come from people who don’t reside or work in this community. I wonder if these same people supporting the proposal would be supporting it if this proposal was on there door step or suburb. It’s not hard to work out who is behind the support submissions and who is to gain from these support submissions.
You don’t need to be Ironside to work out what blasting (noise/dust etc) and extracting of 1.1 million tonnes of quarry material every year for the next 25 years will do to our natural bush land, loss of koala habitat and other already endangered animal species and noise pollution.
I am also very concerned about our water ways, particularly with the Paterson River near by. Daracon use a washing plant and a crushing plant. There is always run off, seepage and of course the spills. Also I believe Daracon add carcinogenics with the final product after the crushing process. They may say they(Daracon) wet down to reduce dust emissions into the air we breath. What about those hot summer days when the product dries out, what about the emissions to the air along the haulage routes. Covering loads does not stop emissions or particles into the air. Also the extra diesel fumes will be another on going long term effect.
Imagine the direct effect of local residents houses in Martin’s Creek and the nearby surrounding houses on small acreage that are effected by blasting and vibrations. The air quality and pollution impacts which bring on asthma and other respiratory problems. Simple things like hanging your clothes out to dry after washing then having to wash again due to dust particles floating through the air.
Then incorporate noise from trucks and large machine operation along with the road haulage in and out of the quarry. The empty trucks rattling along Butterwick Road is an aggravation that nobody needs.
Where is EPA?? Have they forgotten who they represent.
Try living next to a road or street that has large truck movements constantly, the empty truck noise returning to the quarry is horrendous. I note the return route could be any number of roads. Who monitors this? Daracon will say they do. To their advantage of course. What about the elderly and shift workers health residing along the impacted streets and roads affected by this proposal. We’re not talking about a quarry out in the middle of nowhere it’s in a village surrounded by small lifestyle blocks with people residing wanting a quiet lifestyle.
The Paterson area is a tourist area and the gateway to the Barrington.
Then we have school children’s safety to take into account. We have the nearby schools of Martin’s Creek and Paterson, plus Bolwarra and Lorn schools. With the housing boom and the more people moving to our lovely area are roads are busy enough and having trouble coping with the extra traffic. The truck movements along these already busy roads will impact the risk of children being injured or worse possible fatalities. Children can be unpredictable when crossing roads, can you imagine a truck fully loaded stopping in time. The School busses also use the same roads mentioned in the proposal which constantly stop start to pick up and drop off children. I live on Butterwick Rd which is a small country road designed for minimal vehicle access not a heavy vehicle detour. When Daracon were operating previously there own trucks and sub-contractors where using this road like a race track. The road deteriorated very quickly as it can not handle the weight of the truck and trailer combinations or the excess movements.

In conclusion: It's time to listen to the people who have small businesses and live and reside in this beautiful area, who are opposed to this extension. This proposal will destroy people’s lifestyles and will cause health and mental health issues. The plain simple truth is the current road infrastructure is not built to accommodate haul trucks or the excess daily movements.

People and lifestyle not profits.
Kind Regards
Trina Wilson

I object to the expansion of the Martins Creek quarry due to the environmental and safety risk it poses to the my local community and wildlife.

Objection to the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion
SSD-6612
27 June 2021

I strongly object to the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry. The key issues that I am extremely concerned about are the social and economic impact on the local community, the traffic and transport implications of the quarry expansion and the rehabilitation of the quarry site. 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 small township of Paterson provides an incredible range of services, shops, entertainment and tourism options. Residents have access to a medical practice and pathology collection, a pharmacy, post office, farm and gardening machinery stockist, a service station and hair dresser. There are two hotels with bistros, Bed and Breakfast accommodation and cafes. Very importantly there is a well-stocked supermarket and butchery - both of which make deliveries throughout the local area. There is even the opportunity to buy seafood twice a week from the visiting seafood seller. The picturesque John Tucker Park is an attractive destination for families and visitors. Dungog Shire Council recently completed building a new amenity block as well as a covered BBQ and picnic table area which has become a very popular spot for children’s birthday parties and family celebrations. The Paterson School of Arts Hall (run by a committed group of community members) is well maintained with a new kitchen and available to hire for events, weddings, fundraisers etc. The Courthouse Museum, Art Gallery and Railway Motor Society open on a regular basis and attract many visitors. Paterson also has a primary school, a preschool, a sports ground, tennis courts and golf course. There are a number of active community groups and charities that meet and operate in Paterson including the CWA, Rotary, Red Cross, Progress Association, Historical Society, Rural Fire Service, Fishing Club, Sports groups and Church groups. Needless to say Paterson and surrounds are popular destinations for tourists being an easy drive of just over 2 hours from Sydney.

From 2007 until 2019 the social amenity of Paterson was adversely affected by the increased heavy truck haulage of quarry material through the township until it became intolerable. The lived experience of Paterson citizens, residents in the vicinity of Martins Creek Quarry and those living on the haulage routes is testament to the outrageous disregard for the well being of residents, their lifestyle and community in which Daracon operate their business and profit from. Daracon continued to increase extraction amounts with no attention to the rules governing the operation of Martins Creek Quarry causing huge distress to residents in the vicinity of the quarry and along the haulage routes. Dungog Shire Council was forced to take action against Daracon in the Land and Environment Court to establish the legal consent for operating the quarry. This took place over 5 weeks in 2017 and the court ruled that Martins Creek Quarry must operate under the consent issued in 1991 which states that 300,000 tonnes can be extracted per annum and that is primarily for rail ballast. Eventually in September 2019 Daracon was forced to comply with the court ruling after losing their appeals. Since then Paterson has returned to being a lively and attractive hub for community activity and a welcoming destination for visitors. It is so pleasing to once again see people going about their business, socialising and being able to stop and chat without the constant interruption of noisy trucks travelling through the village. Social connectedness is vital for residents living on rural properties who may not have close neighbours so therefore a trip into town to collect mail and buy groceries 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 it won’t be the pleasant experience it should be and people will not be keen to stay any longer than necessary. In recent years there has been a great deal of concern about the mental health of farmers and their families and the issues facing them. Do NOT add to their burden by taking away the amenity of their local town! 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. In the age of social media, negative feedback is detrimental to businesses who are unable to control the noise and pollution of trucks passing their establishments.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 imperative that consideration be given to the address of those making a submission. If they do not live in the vicinity of the Martins Creek Quarry, own a business/work in the area or along the haulage route then they don’t have a lived experience of the negative impact that the proposed expansion of the quarry will have.

It is obvious that the roads through the township of Paterson were not built to accommodate the heavy haulage trucks carrying quarry material from Martins Creek Quarry. There are no options for upgrading the Prince St/Duke St intersection so it remains problematic. Traffic congestion, safety concerns, noise and pollution levels present the greatest threat to residents and visitors. 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. There is no clarity around who will maintain the roads and ensure how the roads will remain safe and fit for purpose. Two quarries in the Southern Highlands have acknowledged that truck haulage through rural and residential areas is not appropriate and therefore built bypass roads. Gunlake Quarry built a 4km bypass around Marulan and Multiquip Quarry built a 6km bypass around Bungonia Village. This has been recognised as best practice in the industry. The current proposal of 280 truck movements per day through Paterson is unacceptable! The only options are to build a bypass road or transport all material by rail.

I am concerned that the plan for rehabilitation of the Martins Creek Quarry site is unclear and lacking a timeline - at the cessation of quarrying activities? No plan until 3 years prior to cessation? This is not good enough. 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 and ensure that there is ongoing and regulated rehabilitation so that the community is not left with this blight on our environment.

I must point out that Daracon’s 2016 Development application was constantly used by Umwelt as a baseline for comparison when documenting and discussing the amendments promoting the idea that Daracon was reducing the extraction amount, truck numbers etc. This was completely misleading because the 2016 Development Application was only a PROPOSED Development and NOT given any approval. Actually the correct baseline for comparison is the 1991 Consent deemed legal by the Land and Environment Court ruling. In fact Daracon is applying to extract more that 3 times the amount that is currently allowed.

Martins Creek Quarry was established in the early 1900s to provide rail ballast for the Main Northern Rail Line. As it is located 26 km from state arterial highways meaning that truck haulage must take place on the regional roads of Dungog Shire Council, Port Stephens Shire Council and Maitland City Council and rail ballast is no longer required I would question the need and viability of expanding the quarry operation. There are six other quarry facilities servicing the area.

I strongly oppose the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry based on the detrimental social and economic impact on Paterson and surrounding communities, the destructive and harmful effects of heavy haulage traffic and the environmental need to rehabilitate the quarry site.

I object to this proposal on the grounds of causing dangerous traffic conditions, impacts on rural amenity health. air quality, industrial noise and blasting vibrations.
I understand that this project will put 280 trucks on our road system for the next 25 years.
Total madness.
Maitland's roads are already congested because of the council's over-development and failure to maintain the proper and necessary infrastructure to go with it. Several subdivisions only have one access road so moving out into oncoming traffic will become a nightmare due to frustration and waiting times. Also, where I live, the road sweeps downhill which could lead to excess speed.
Add to this the fumes from so many trucks and normal traffic will add to a toxic mix of air pollutants. Because of the number of houses approved by our council, there are very few trees left to soak up the fumes.
I am also very concerned about the companies involved with this expansion. There is a history of continually breaking previous conditions which applied to extraction. This is well documented on Dungog council records. The bottom line is trust.
How can we trust this organisation to obey rules when there is money involved. Small fines for breaking regulations will not be enough to stop them - in my opinion.
It is obvious that, by far, the majority of residents from Paterson to Lorn, to East Maitland and beyond are totally against this project going ahead. I believe this is a case where People Power should prevail. For the number of people who write a submission against this proposal there would be a conservative 100 against who don't write a submission. I have not met one person in favour of this proposal.

There are a large number of issues which concern me with the SSDA. These include an unacceptable number of quarry truck movements, road and bridge deterioration, noise, dust and, importantly, disturbance of the social amenity. These issues have not been satisfactorily addressed by the applicant's consultant's reports. I imagine that a large number of objectors will address these issues in more detail; all of whom will echo similar sentiments.
I would like to focus on a few issues:
1. Personal, economic and financial cost:
In 1999 my wife and I purchased land on the edge of Martins Creek village with a view to subdivision and sale at a later date. For some time the 'shadow' of the quarry expansion has been a serious threat to the viability of any development by us of the land and to its value.
2. Haul Routes:
Daracon is proposing that truck movements to and from the quarry be limited to prescribed haul routes. To ensure that these routes are used, Daracon intends to introduce a 'code of conduct' for truck drivers and, should the route be ignored, Daracon claims it will sanction the defaulting driver/s. It takes little imagination to see the flaws in this. Such a proposal is putting the 'fox in charge of the hen house'. Truck drivers, particularly independent contractors, will take whatever route suits them. Daracon has not shown itself to be a good or trustworthy corporate citizen. It has deliberately ignored planning laws, ignored community objections and lost any social licence it may have had. Moreover, I doubt if the Department/IPC has the legal capacity to enforce adherence to prescribed haul routes even if they are made a condition of consent. It begs the question as to how breaches would be sanctioned. Should Daracon be required to pay a meaningful monetary penalty for each breach? Who is to police this and other requirements? Is Daracon to be required to reimburse Dungog Shire Council for the cost of employing a compliance officer? I expect that Daracon will, after a 'honeymoon' period, not concern itself with haul routes! Trucks will continue to use whatever roads serve their convenience.
3. Unfair advantage:
Daracon wants far lower compliance requirements imposed on it than those of its competitors. Other quarries in this State have had to expend considerable amounts on road and rail infrastructure. On the other hand Daracon only makes vague suggestions that it intends to reach agreement with Councils to cover some of their costs resulting from expansion. If any approval is given to continue or expand Martins Creek Quarry, it shoul be at no public expense.
4. Future Generations:
There is a strong moral argument for keeping the quarry resource for future generations. From the wider community or regional point of view, there is good reason not to deplete the resource at a great rate. The resource is not going to deteriorate and future generations will still need quarry product. For this reason, approval should not be given for an increase in extraction rates. The status quo should prevail. Moreover because the Martins Creek quarry is handicappe by the proximity of residences and a constricted road network, it is poorly situated and cannot expect to operate as a large rock extraction undertaking.
There should be no approval of any expansion and the existing requirement of 70% removal by rail, should be continued.
I reserve the right to make further submissions should the deadline for submissions be extended.

I object to this project - I experienced living in Paterson when Daracon operated at the proposed scale, which they are now trying to make lawful, and it creates several problems for the area as the quarry is too far from arterial roads and will release carcinogenic silica dust. Umwelt have not consulted me to hear my concerns.
Paterson, a historical village and tourist town, would experience a big impact in noise and air quality, impacts to rural amenities and the shops, including many necessary rural services such as grocers, post office, doctors, and chemist. There is no bypass and the country roads are too small and not designed to be a heavy haulage route. Village activity, along with the many visitors for weddings and tourism will be negatively impacted along with property values. Further along the haulage route, traffic, noise and dust will compound with the haulage route from Brandy Hill quarry on Paterson route, resulting in over 350 trucks a day past schools and preschools in Bolwarra as both quarries share the same route.

I also have very serious concerns about the release of dust - the proposal will lead to a release in carcinogenic silica dust throughout several communities, their businesses and schools. Wetting down loads will not be sufficient on hot days, and empty loads release more dust than full ones.
I have experienced the blasting vibrations and noises from Paterson, which could only increase with the size of the quarry's operations.

The proposal suggests that it will use rail transport 'if feasible', yet management has said repeatedly, including in court against Dungog council, that they found rail transport to be unfeasible. This leads me to think the suggestion is only to push the project through.

The Martin's Creek area is also home to populations of endangered Eastern Quolls and Koalas, some of the last remaining. Nearby Brandy Hill had its Koala habitat destroyed for a quarry of this proposed scale, and a NSW government report in 2020 reported that Koalas will be extinct in the wild by 2050 unless we stop habitat destruction. Any attempt to offset destruction at this stage through habitat planting will not be ready before that date, therefore making this habitat irreplaceable.

I cannot trust Daracon to operate with the full concerns of the people their proposal affects. Their years of unlawful operations at Martins Creek Quarry showed us the dangerous impacts the increased trucks will have on our community. Aside from the significant environmental impacts, the quarry's haulage route has no close arterial roads and passes too many residential areas with increases to noise and silica dust, and Daracon will not commit to using rail. I currently use the village for all of my business, post, shopping and medical needs, something I couldn’t do when it previously ran at such scale.

To Whom it may concern:
I would like to formally object to all aspects of the proposal of the expansion and change of operations of the Martins Creek Quarry as proposed by Daracon.
I have lived on my property on Paterson Road since 2007 and have enjoyed the rural aspect, peace and quiet and wonderful village community, which all contributed to me wanting to move here.
During the illegal operations of the Martin’s Creek Quarry after 2012 I got a taste of what it means for the quarry to operate at the currently proposed high volumes.
• Truck and dog vehicles passing my home every 90 seconds, often driving dangerously, creating noise, vibrations, diesel fumes and constant dust.
• These big trucks are always in a hurry and have no real chance of stopping when confronted with cars pulling out of one of many concealed driveways, or worse, a group of recreational pushbike riders in one of the many bends. This is a popular route for bike riders, there’s no bike-lanes and nowhere to get off the road = fatalities are inevitable
• There are numerous bus stops (marked and unmarked) across the haulage route, where young children get on and off their school bus and cross the main road. With more and more developments in the greater Paterson region, traffic is becoming more dangerous already. Adding these massive trucks into the equation makes this a gamble for every person crossing the road, every day.
• During the high-volume operations, I could barely leave my windows open as dust covered everything in the house on a daily basis. Trucks are meant to be covered, but the dust comes off the trucks as well as out of the empty, uncovered trucks. Silica, the fine dust from the quarry, is carcinogenic.
• If the fine dust finds its way into my house, it seems obvious it will also be on my roof and will get washed into my rainwater tanks – the only water source available to me – and contaminate my drinking water.
This is just from personal experience. In addition, there are many more concerns. Paterson is a small rural town that, with its charm and rich history, relies heavily on tourist trade. With a truck and dog thundering through the small town centre, navigating the ninety degree bend past the café and post office, it will longer be an idyllic escape for anyone. Everybody, including the elderly, children and disabled, have to cross this road to access the service station, take away and cafes which will never be safe. The same applies to the supermarket and butcher. Every single business in the village will be greatly affected, as will numerous others along the haulage route. In addition to the Silica dust there is the traffic noise, truck vibration and highly toxic NOx emissions from the trucks. As well as the economy being badly affected, the property values are set to plummet, and hardworking, honest people will lose a good portion their lifesavings.
All that for what? So someone can take home even more profits?
Further down the line there are bottlenecks where traffic holdups are already happening in peak times (school/work traffic). Adding this insane amount of haulage trucks will make this situation even more unmanageable. The infrastructure for such a burden is simply not in place!
The roads are continuously torn up and damaged, but there has been a very clear improvement after Daracon was ordered to scale back their illegal operations to approved levels after the court case.

Conclusion: There are many quarries in NSW that do not have these direct detrimental effects on their communities and can supply the materials needed for infrastructure etc. We do not rely on increased production from Daracon. The company barely employs anyone from this area and the community has no benefits from their operations. None of the profits are invested in this neighbourhood. The only people profiting from the operation is the company itself.
Daracon has proven to be a greedy company with absolutely no regard for the safety, well being or interests of the community whose idyllic historic village and surrounds they are planning to rape, exploit and destroy. They have ignored the law in the past, arrogantly walked over people to get what they want and will lie, evade, deceive and whatever else it takes to make their profit.
To approve their application is to condone and encourage this type of behaviour as even a compromise will not stop them from finding a sneaky backway to get what they want.
Please set an example and show that, at the current level of operations, they can still make money without taking our health, safety and homes from us.
Is adding another few million to Daracon’s net profit really worth risking the lives, health and property of our families and destroying one of Australia’s beautiful heritage villages?
Addition: Scrolling through the submissions on the website I have noticed that only 2 or 3 people in favour of the proposal actually live in an affected suburb. It’s easy to be in favour of something that has no impact on your health or safety, so please keep that in mind when reviewing the submissions.

I am a local resident and a local business owner. I object to the Martins Creek Quarry project due to the damage I believe it will cause to our local land and wildlife.
The township of Paterson is of historical significance, our business building in of brick construction dating back to 1882. We already suffer damage to the building due to vibrations from the heavy load movements. Our roads both in width and build were never meant for such heavy continuous loads, it is unsafe for pedestrians crossing Maitland Rd, Duke St and King Street to use our local businesses. The 3 streets mentioned make up our main road through Paterson and this included a rail level crossing, the pollution from the stationary traffic during a rail movement will be significant.
In the course of running my business I am required to follow state legislation for the safety and benefit of the community I don't believe that Daracon are doing the same.