Martins Creek Quarry Project

My opposition to the Martin’s Creek Quarry Expansion proposal is based on the key point that no residential community should have such a burden of hazardous traffic movements inflicted on them. If ‘state significance’ does not take into account the well-being of its residents, then what is it that the ‘state’ regards as significant in the first place? If the residents of a particular area of NSW, and their physical welfare are not significant to the state, then what is? Any ‘state’ which disregards the welfare of its citizens fails to adequately represent its constituents.

The northern suburbs of Maitland and beyond to Paterson are very peaceful and support a growing community of young families. The roads through this area are narrow, winding and not supportive of large volumes of heavy vehicles. The majority of roads in Bolwarra Heights do not support vehicles parked on the sides of the road as they are too narrow and large vehicles occupy the whole road surface. Additional heavy vehicles will also destroy the peaceful amenity of this area. We have absolutely clear comparison of life with and without these semi-trailers since the cessation of traffic from the Martin's Creek quarry in recent years having lived here for sixteen years. What is now calm and peaceful was once choked with heavy vehicular traffic from (before) dawn to after sunset travelling to and from the quarry. To allow the quarry to reopen, and with the increased road transport proposed, the place where we and hundreds of other live could be returned to noise, congestion and a dangerous place to walk and drive.

We have lived in the area since 1973 and the original quarry was run by the NSW Railways and was a small concern which created little problems. Now the quarry owner wants to expand substantially creating major environmental problems such as water, noise, dust and major travel destruction to roads and road safety. This quarry has operated illegally for many years and should not be authorised definitely not expand.

Our roads cannot handle the trucks and traffic now our roads are not built to have 280 trucks per day.

Please find attached Metromix Pty Ltd letter of support for the Martins Creek Quarry

Coffey Testing supports the Martins Creek Quarry, the operation of this material quarry supports our businesses 30+ staff in the Newcastle / Hunter region as detailed in the attached letter.

I object to this project on the grounds of safety, effect on communty housing and on the environment.

Submission is attached.

This is an extremely unnecessary proposal that will hugely impact the community living in Paterson. Up to 40 additional trucks per hour passing through the town will create more noise and pollution. It will also impact the wildlife that lives here.
This town has a nice atmosphere which is why I have been visiting the town for 10 years. This atmosphere will be destroyed by the increase number of trucks passing through. The Paterson café has been a go to on all my visits, however I am fearful that this will no longer be possible if the project is approved. This will also create an unsafe environment as increased traffic will pose a potential risk to pedestrians in Paterson.

I stongly object to the Daracon proposal to expand the Martins Creek Quarry for the following reasons.
1. Any route to and from the Martins Creek Quarry passes through small villages or residential communities which have road systems that were never designed to handle bulk haulage.
2. Most of the villages along the proposed routes are lined with average size residential housing blocks with regular residential vehicle access to the street. Even under the current haulage rates one can be seriously traumatised by the threat of being hit from behind by a truck when turning into one's drive.
3. Safety analysis suggests the risk of injury=risk x frequency. In this case the risk of injury is high because risk (heavy vehicles on residential streets) x the increased frequency of truck movements.
SUGGESTION:
Any increase in the Quarry output must only be transported by rail to an industrial zone for distribution by truck to construction sites. The current operation has good access to rail and there are plenty of rail serviced distribution areas near highways for example at Hexham.

This is an inappropriate Project on the grounds of the safety and well being of communities and businesses along the route as well as environmental impacts.

My submission is attached.

The very suggestion of this project (expansion to Martins Creek Quarry) going ahead, is ludicrous. 200 to 280 extra truck movements per day, on our already congested roads CANNOT HAPPEN. Patterson is a beautiful rural community cherished by locals and visitors alike and should remain so. Companies chasing the almighty dollar are DESTROYING precious natural habitats of our flora and fauna,( as well as the animals themselves, needless to say). Not only would Patterson be destroyed, but ALL the surrounding towns, such as East Maitland, Thornton, Beresfield, Maitland and possibly Lorn, would be substantially affected as well. All these areas would be subjected to MORE TRAFFIC, dangerous DUST PARTICLES, and even more POTHOLES than we already have. Our region contains many, many schools and children. DO NOT ALLOW this expansion to proceed, under any circumstance. DO NOT ALLOW OUR TOWNS TO BE DESTROYED FOR A GREEDY MINORITY!!

To Whom it May Concern,
We oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Project (SSD-6612) Amended Development Application for the following reasons.
The proposed primary haul route from the Martins Creek Quarry to the intersection of Melbourne Street East Maitland and the New England Highway passes through the suburbs of Bolwarra Heights and Bolwarra respectively by the use of Paterson Road Bolwarra.
There is a substantial number of homes located along this narrow section of Paterson Road when it enters the suburbs Bolwarra Heights and Bolwarra. These homes are well within 500metres of the roadside, some of the homes are only a few metres from the roadside
The Proposed increase to the large diesel truck movements along this section of road, will not only increase relentless vehicle noise, increase congestion and hinder safe access to the road for those living along this already busy road. We have already had first-hand experience of all of these problems from 2013 having had to live with this during the unlawful period of operations by Daracon.
We will be yet again exposed to a large and regular increase of diesel emission from the proposed increase in truck movements all Paterson Road.
The corridor were Paterson and Tocal Roads merge to the intersection at Flat Road already has a large number of diesel trucks travelling from the Brandy Hill quarry. The addition of the proposed increase in truck movements from the Martins Creek quarry on a daily basis will great increase the diesel emission along this narrow corridor. Therefore, we will be exposed to a rapid and real increase in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, total oxides of nitrogen, diesel particulate matter and other by products of diesel exhaust for 25 years, which has been declared by the World Health Organisation as a “known carcinogen”.
This is before we consider the impact of the increase in truck movements from the Martins Creek quarry has on the green gas house emissions. Surely the increase in truck movements coupled with the destruction of old growth forest and habitat will greatly increase the carbon foot print of this operation at a time when most industries are looking to decrease their carbon foot print. It appears that those at Daracon do not care at all about greenhouse gas emission or reducing their carbon foot print because if they did they would increase/upgrade the rail infrastructure.
During the period when Daracon was operating outside their operating conditions using Paterson Road Bolwarra as haul route and making large sums of money to the detriment of those living in my home and other homes along Paterson Road, besides the constant noise from the trucks there was large increase in small sticky black particles that could not be sprayed off surface out door surfaces with water. It had to be scrubbed off, it settled on our cars, garden furniture and house etc. When scrubbed off it what return to precleaned levels in a matter of a few days, I began to despair.
When Daracon were force to comply with their original development consent conditions I no longer had to scrubber the sticky black particles off the garden furniture, cars and house etc.
I do not know why we have to be exposed to rapid increase and continuous exposure over 25 years to know “carcinogen” like we were previously for the profits of the few. I ask who will be paying for sound proof fencing, double glazed windows, the regular washing down of property, doctor’s bills for mental and for any future cancer treatment link to increase excess exposure to diesel emission from heavy vehicles.
The Martin Creek quarry has good access to the rail network. So please do not turn Paterson Road Bolwarra from a suburban main road into a Quarry Haulage Route on a grand scale. Other parts of the world are banning heavy diesel vehicle from populate areas.
Yours faithfully
Selina McDonald

Assunta Camilleri
33 Thompson lane
Stroud
NSW 2425
Martins creek quarry proposal
Application no SSD-6612
I AM SUPPORTING THE QUARRY
To whom it may concern
i am Assunta Camilleri from Sc Haulage Pty Ltd
i am a small family transport business that had 8 heavy vehicle trucks and trailers 6 was truck and dogs
before it was closed all our 6 truck and dog plus our subbies would run in there daily out of Martins creek, that was our main income working out of that site we all understood the rules and we know there was material allocated per day, but we as the company and the quarry had done the right thing and there was no issue
as soon as it was shut i had to sell half my fleet most of my subbies had sold there truck s and find work and my boys had to go find another job somewhere else.
By closing the quarry down about 15 people lost there there job s and businesses (including the subbies ) it was a bad time for us and everyone else, it put financial pressure on us and our subbies and we are still suffering we are only a small minority that impacted us, But there is alot more that are in the same position if not worse
Please consider opening the quarry so the town and surrounding business like us and other company that need the material can get back on there feet and there will be more jobs security for every one. We all aware of the environment , martin creek quarry always had that in place and we all work together to make everything sustainable
please make this happen and open the quarry
kind regards Assunta Camilleri Sc haulage Pty Ltd
i Declare that i NEVER accept any political donations

I object to the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry and my reasons are detailed below:
Traffic – The Gostwyck Bridge is a single lane heritage timber bridge maintained by the RMS. RMS has stated that it considers with increased traffic volumes that a dual lane two-way bridge would be required at this location to comply with current design guidelines.
The RMS has reservations regarding the proposed new access from the quarry which will include a new bridge over the railway line and new road intersection at Dungog Road. This includes the intersection not complying with the Austroads Guide to Road Design, sight distance for all movements at the intersection, and approach sight distance to the intersection, access to private properties, proximity to trees and property boundary fences.
Primary Haul Route 1 – Apart from Dungog, Port Stephens and Maitland Councils are having to maintain these Regional Roads along Haul Route 1. The current traffic, especially at peak hour, on Flat Road, Pitnacree Road, Melbourne Street and the New England Highway is at maximum capacity. There are long queues on Pitnacree/Flat Road and Melbourne Street most mornings and the reverse in the afternoons on Melbourne and Lawes Street East Maitland.
Daracon is not seeking approval for their earlier proposed Haul Route 2 on Butterwick Road, Clarence Town Road, Brandy Hill Drive and Seaham Road. Daracon are stating this route is only be going to be used used to service local jobs on or directly accessed from the route. Who knows how many truck and dog trailer combinations that will not only be from Daracon, but also contractor’s trucks who Daracon have publicly stated they would have no control over. The lack of approval means Daracon can run as many truck movements as it chooses along this route. Remember, Daracon has failed to abide by its consent conditions in the past and cannot be trusted to only use this route to service “local” jobs.
The village of Paterson will not survive the proposed 280 truck movements a day. There has already been incidents with trucks colliding with vehicles in Paterson. The businesses in Paterson will lose their out of area patrons who come to relax at the bed and breakfasts, cafes and art gallery. There are currently no pedestrian crossings in the village and when the railway gates are closed the number of trucks will build up on either side of the line meaning there will be a constant stream of traffic and convoys of quarry trucks when the gates reopen.
ARE THE 280 TRUCK MOVEMENTS PER DAY FROM THE MARTINS CREEK QUARRY ONLY DARACON TRUCKS or DOES IT INCLUDE OTHER CONTRACTOR’S TRUCKS FROM THE MARTINS CREEK QUARRY AS WELL? HOW MANY TRUCK MOVEMENTS WILL THERE REALLY BE THROUGH PATERSON?
Health is a huge issue with the quarry. Air quality cannot be guaranteed and long term and short term exposure to Particulate Matter causes health issues. PM2.5 particles are small enough they can embed deep in the lungs and bloodstream causing lung and heart disease. PM10 particles are small enough to be inhaled, passing through the nose, throat and into to lungs causing serious respiratory diseases.
Daracon will be emitting noise from the quarry: train loading 24 hours 7 days per week as well as general maintenance and environmental management control (unidentified) 24 hours 7 days per week as required.
Daracon specify that there will be no crushing or processing prior to 7:00am Monday to Saturday but will this work still finish at 10:00pm? It is unclear from the Revised Development Application when work ceases at night.
Daracon specify there will be no pugmill mixing and binder delivery 7:00am Monday to Saturday but will this work still finish at 10:00pm Monday to Friday and 6:00pm Saturday?
Daracon specify there will be no loading of product trucks prior to 7:00am Monday to Friday but will they still be loading them at 7:00pm? Also will Daracon still be stockpiling for road transport from 5:30am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday?
If this Development is approved there is the probability of noise being emitted from the quarry 24 hours per day 7 days per week. There will be a large area of the community of Martins Creek, Paterson and Vacy and on clear nights even further (Butterwick, Duns Creek, Tocal) that could be exposed to this noise. Noise can have negative effects on the communities with loss of sleep and stress.
With regard to the further land disturbance it appears this has been reduced from 30.5 ha to 17.5 ha? This is a large area to be cleared, with the Brandy Hill Quarry recently being approved to clear 52 ha of Koala habitat as well as other native fauna and flora. This is a large loss of habitat in light of the devastation of the bushfires of 2019 - 2020 and will possibly contribute to the extinction of more fauna and flora.
To approve the Martins Creek Quarry Project with the conditions applied for the next 25 years is untenable.

The noise these trucks make going through our small rural village is extremely loud and totally unacceptable. It impacts greatly on our quality of life and the safety of everyone living and visiting the village. They also cause pollution and environmental damage, both at the quarry and along the route they travel. They are also responsible for the deterioration of our roads and our well being. I strongly object to this project and the negative impact it would have on our life here in Paterson.

I strongly object to the proposed quarry expansion on a number of reasons.
Firstly, due to road safety.
Both Gresford and Dungog Road serve our local community as two important roads and I believe the added burden of numerous and slow turning trucks will see a potential increase in road accidents and fatalities, there by becoming extremely dangerous. Support vehicle movements and staff driving to work in addition to this will have a profound effect upon the area and I believe that traffic congestion will increase and have a negative impact on the local community. With the community hall being directly on the route and popular local run business utilizing this facility (dancing classes) I have serous concerns about a potential fatality from a child arriving/leaving the venue.
Secondly noise pollution.
I live directly on the proposed route and I have received no consultation in regards to traffic or noise surveys, this is not good enough considering this is a major issue. I also have to question the integrity of the detailed Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) considering the position of my property on the proposed haul route and the fact that local affected residents have not been involved. The only reference to any noise (db) reading is with the Martins Creek Quarry update information sheet #3 on page 8 where it states that the quarry trucks “results in an exceedance of the Environment Protection Authority’s Road Noise Policy (RNP) criteria at one residence where it was not already calculated to exceed the criteria”. Is this the standard that is accepted by Daracon and does this mean every property on the haul route is in exceedance of the RNP, surely an approval cannot be given under these circumstances? It also states that “the predicted increase in road traffic noise due to quarry trucks is predicted to be less than 2 dB”. According to the Victorian Governments document Vic roads April 2013, it states that doubling the traffic volume with no speed variation actually increases the noise by 3dB. This is not taking into account that these are trucks carrying 32T of Quarry material using engine brakes on country roads not designed to accommodate this weight. In my opinion there still is no control measures that are adequate to control the noise pollution risk and its impact on the community.
Sense of community
The property values of the picturesque Paterson and surrounding areas will be impacted and it will transition from a desirable location to a noisy and dangerous town with Loaded and unloaded trucks travelling through the centre of the small township of Paterson.
Health
With Martins creek public school being approximately 750m away, there is incontrovertible evidence that small particles from dust quarry operations (blasting, crushing, screening and stacking quarry operations, as well as conveyor belts and transport vehicles) is related to increases in cardiopulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumoconiosis and premature death in those with pre-existing conditions.  The elderly and the young will be most affected in the short term, but the effect on the health of the local community over a period of approximately 15 years is unquantifiable.   Crystalline silica dust is common product from processing and is a known carcinogen, which is a real health risk.

Is this expansion necessary?
I also question if the expansion of Martins Creek Quarry is even warranted with the recent expansion of Brandy Hill Quarry being just 15 minutes away. Also with the perfectly positioned Hunter Quarries on the Pacific Highway at Karuah and Allandale Quarry located right on the hunter expressway. These Quarries provide excellent coverage to the Hunter Valley and surrounding areas.
It seems that this expansion is a money making enterprise with no regard for the local community and the clear negative effects it will have on its citizens.
Finally, I have lived through the previous experience of Martins Creek Quarry and I am fully aware of the negative impacts it has on the whole community. I do not want to relive this time and I think we can come up with a better alternative that does not have so many negative impacts on a beautiful community.

Dear Minister of Planning,

In response to Daracon's recent application for Martins Creek Quarry Project (SSD-6612) I would like to submit my objection to the proposed project due to the following:
1. I experienced the impact of Daraconf's unlawful operation from 2007-2019 having been a resident of Bolwarra Heights over the last 21 years. Prior to the unlawful operations of the quarry I enjoyed living in a peaceful country town in the midst of local forest and with the native creatures that inhabit the area. Since then I had been woken up in the early morning hours with trucks going to and from the quarry and continually disturbed when at home by truck noise until it was finally reduced when Daracon finally lost the case. Life since 2019 was a breath of fresh air again.
2. The proposed extraction tonnage would significantly increase the traffic congestion even further, imagine having road truck movement in the residential area along Paterson, Tocal Road with 40 truck movement for every hour for the next 25 years, the infrastructure in this area is not designed to cope with such traffic volumes. On top of that there are other trucks and school buses using the narrow stretch of road between Paterson to Maitland.
3. The proposed clearing of 21 ha of native vegetation will be catastrophic to the native animals and is damaging to the environment. We have lost so much forest to accommodate housing demand many native animals have lost their home and sanctuary. We will add more damage by clearing of this native vegetation to accommodate this quarry's expansion.
4. My proposal to the Minister of Planning is to not approve this expansion application for the greater good of the environment and the local residents who dearly value the joy of living in the country. Thank you

Kind Regards
Lintje Tjahjadi
4 Wesley Street
Bolwarra Heights
NSW 2320

See attached submission

Please accept my attached submission articulating my strong objection to the proposed expansion of the Martin's Creek quarry road operations.

This project has no benefit for the local community, however the noise, dust and traffic congestion will have a significant negative impact on the local community.
The local roads are struggling to cope with the wear and tear for existing traffic without the extra impact from more heavily loaded vehicles.
Paterson is a thriving tourist spot supporting and employing many local people, visitors are attracted from a very wide area.
Parking at Paterson is already at a premium and crossing the road can be hazardous. If large numbers of heavy vehicles are added to the situation it will become very dangerous to cross the road and injuries or a fatality is quite possible. The road through Paterson is unsuitable for large numbers of heavy vehicles.
Destroying the peaceful atmosphere of the town of Paterson is totally unreasonable.
Further down the haulage route Melbourne street East Maitland is already heavily congested and can't possibly cope with any extra traffic.
The noise and air quality degradation in the quarry area is totally unacceptable in our quiet rural community.
The quarry operators have already shown that they have little regard for government regulation by exceeding their quota for material extraction by a large amount.
They are only interested in personal profit and are also damaging valuable wetland environments where they are depositing the material.
We run a cattle breeding and tourist accommodation business at Vacy which relies on the peaceful rural ambience of the area, this development will damage the viability of this business.