Martins Creek Quarry Project

We moved into the area 10 years ago and lived on Patterson Road for some time, this was when the quarry was operating in full production, at that time there was a steady amount of trucks coming up and down Patterson Road.
The trucks coming from Martin's creek would use compression braking causing a high volume of noise, this would occur from 6am until approximately 6pm, the vibration from these vehicles travelled through the ground and into the house, this was herendous and became very tedious.
With the proposed increase of trucks coming up and down Patterson road, this will have a significant effect/impact on the environment that we live in, not to mention the cost of repairs to our roads, our properties and the increased safety risk to the residents.
In 2015 when the floods occurred there was no access to Flat road due to flooding at the bottom of Patterson road all the vehicles/trucks that came down Patterson Road were diverted down bolwarra Road via Kensington Road and Bayswater Road. Having moved from Patterson road to one of these roads I'm sure it would only be a matter of time before we see this happen again.
I'm usually all for creating jobs and for growth within the community and support various projects around the area, however very little consideration has been given to the community, wildlife and the enviroment and effect it will on those who live within the affected area, this is a huge concern for us.

I would like to express my concerns re the expansion of the Martins Creek Quarry.

This expansion affects the residents and small businesses of the Dungog, Port Stephens and Maitland Shires who have lived harmoniously with the quarry for many years. It is the expansion of the quarry that is of greatest concern. It brings with it a number of issues for the locals of these shires-
* for those close to the mine
- increased blasting / noise disturbing the serenity of their homes and causing damage
- increased dust and a decrease in air quality which research has shown can lead to respiratory and other health problems
- probability of soil degradation
- water conservation - water run off and possible damage to the ground water systems

* for those communities surrounding the quarry
- extended operating hours with suggestion of truck noise from 5.30am to 7pm, 6 days / week, and 24hour train loading, 7 days / week
- increased truck traffic along already stressed roads with reported 80 trucks / hour passing through the township of Paterson and clogging the roads through to Bolwarra and East Maitland. With this comes an increased risk for accidents to pedestrians, school children / buses, visitors to the local areas and the many road cyclists who share the roads.
- within Paterson township there will be increased noise and danger as the many trucks pass the service station, takeaway food premises, Post Office and the Court House
Hotel creating danger to pedestrians and vehicles alike whilst locals attempt to go about their daily business. We will also lose car parking spaces which enable locals to access their local businesses. The visitors attracted by the serenity of the township may be lost leading to loss of business for our local businesses. Don't think the truck drivers will be supporting our businesses - they will not provide any financial benefit to our community.
- an increase in the number of haulage trucks will only lead to a deterioration of our roads and if the empty trucks return along the same route there will be a large increase in noise pollution. Will there be any contribution to road building and maintenance?

*We must also consider the destruction of another 37 hectares of land. The destruction of habitat for our vulnerable flora and fauna especially our vulnerable koalas. Is there any commitment from the managers of this quarry to rehabilitation of the site?

Remember that Brandy Hill Quarry has just been extended and a large proportion of the haulage trucks come through to Bolwarra and will join the Martins Creek haulage trucks to congest Paterson Road, Flat Road and Melbourne Street creating havoc for those of us that travel to Newcastle and beyond for work.

Let's consider the culture and historical qualities of our townships that attract residents and visitors to them. These townships are the backbone of Australia. Don't let money hungry business men walk over us for the sake of the lining their own pockets with the almighty dollar.

I wish to object to this proposal in the strongest possible manner.
I have travelled Tocal Road when it has been streaming with trucks and have seen the impact of these trucks on the Village and community of Paterson.
Tocal Road is not even a State Road – it is a Council maintained road and is not suitable for continuous use by heavy vehicles.
Tocal Road meets Paterson Road in Bolwarra Heights, a haul route from Brandy Hill Quarry. The cumulative impact of trucks from both quarries from this point to Melbourne Street in East Maitland will be enormous. It directly passes Tillys Childcare Centre and nearby by Bolwarra Public School including a daily congested intersection with Bolwarra Road.
The quarry is on the railway line and the material ought to be transported by rail.
Commissioners, you have a duty of care for the well-being of the Paterson Community and all those along this route.
I urge you to exercise this duty of care by not allowing any material to be transported from the quarry by road.

As a resident of Bolwarra Heights, I am deeply concerned at the impact that the expansion to the Martins Creek Quarry Project will have on the volume of traffic through the area. It is quite a built up residential area with a lot of families with young children and I fear that with increased volume in traffic, the safety of both pedestrians and drivers will be compromised as a result.
The traffic through this area, with an increase in new houses and developments, is already at a maximum and an increase in the number of trucks from the Martins Creek Quarry expansion will place the safety and wellbeing of local residents at an unacceptable level of risk. I hope that common sense will prevail in this situation and the proposal for expanding the quarry is rejected.

The amount of traffic heading north and south, in and out of Maitland CBD is already bumper to bumper during peak hour. It often takes me forty minutes to travel from my home into the CBD during peak hour to get to work and school, and home again in the afternoons. It's worse just before 5pm! Adding so many trucks to this route will just create more traffic on a road which is single lane so you cannot pass them. It is already unsafe through Bolwarra and Lorn with drivers being impatient due to the traffic backlog. They pull out from Hunterglen Drive and the side streets off Belmore Road, darting dangerously across moving traffic to join an already long queue of cars. Not to mention the two school zones between Bolwarra and Lorn, with children and parents dropping off and picking up, children crossing busy roads across traffic and trucks cannot slow down quickly.
Lorn is a quaint little town with many heritage homes. People come to Lorn to avoid the busyness of the township and support local small businesses. Many cafes and shops have tables outside so customers can relax and have a coffee or eat outside. They wouldn't get the trade with all the trucks because people just wouldn't come. The noise alone, as well as pollution would be enough to keep customers away.
Being predominantly one lane in and out of Maitland through little heritage townships that Maitland is so proud of, that hold so much history, they would be ruined by trucks. No one will visit and small businesses would suffer. So maybe the expansion would create jobs, but at what expense?! At the cost of small mum and dad small businesses who have been in family's for generations.
Lastly, the value of our homes will decrease. Noise, pollution, traffic, safety and inconvenience will reduce the prices of homes all along the suburbs linking the quarry to the New England Highway. How many family's will be affected by this expansion? It isn't worth the extra jobs and income if it will have such a negative effect on people's lives. The area is a highly sought after location however buyers and renters will avoid these areas as they will be deterred by the noise and especially the traffic getting to and from the Highway, which is one of the current benefits of living in these areas.
This cannot go ahead. It just can't. It affects too many people. It is well documented that suicide rates go up when there is constant noise pollution. This is because residents cannot have quiet enjoyment of their home and they have no escape from it. This isn't ok and it is ridiculous that it is even being considered.
Please, please do the right thing. This isn't right and has too many negative effects on current residents. There is no room for compensation either. There is nothing this expansion can provide that will outweigh the negative impacts it will have if it goes ahead.
It just isn't right.

Myself and young family a residents of Bolwarra heights who will be effected by the increase of the trucking traffic from the quarry.
It is disheartening to think that we will have to listen to to the trucks rumbling past again.
Not to mention, at an increased frequency . Tocal road is already a busy section of road and I fear it’s condition will rapidly deteriorate even after some recent much needed repairs.
Furthermore adding to my concerns surrounding the increase in truck traffic is the safety risk posed to pedestrians and light vehicle traffic, particularly around busy school times. Given the increase in population in the local area, the roads are already presenting some short comings at certain intersections.
Lastly I would like to point out the effect it will have on home values along the proposed rout. Even in a rapidly growing housing market, these homes are sure to be disadvantaged.

NSW GOV MAJOR PROJECTS SUBMISSION:
OPPOSED TO MARTINS CREEK QUARRY EXPANSION ON THE GROUNDS OF DETRIMENT TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT TRANSPORT QUARRY MATERIALS BY ROAD

I am writing to express my concerns and strong opposition of the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion. I have been a resident of the Bolwarra community since 2015 and live less than 50 metres from Paterson road. This section of the current truck route is an established residential area. Much of the truck route passes through communities that are 50 – 120 years old (Vacy, Paterson, Gresden, East Maitland, Bolwarra Heights). This particular section of the road is the primary access point to the Bolwarra primary school (420 students), Bolwarra sports reserve, Bolwarra Heights Playground lookout. It is also in a residential growth corridor with Bolwarra heights, Bolwarra tops, Hunterglenn and Maitland vale all currently being intensely developed. Further major residential development is projected in the immediate region over the following 20 years (Maitland 10+ strategic plan). This section of the road has already become a major thoroughfare linking to the commercial and shopping precinct of Maitland, Rutherford and East Maitland. It has narrow single lane road sections with little to no side allowance for cyclists or pedestrians down to Flat road.

Daracon’s amended DA seeks approval to use this road and others for up to 280 truck movements per day operating between the hours of 6:45am to 7:00pm. That’s an additional 256 trucks than what is currently approved of today. Up to 500,000 tonnes of quarry material per year. Should any one business be allowed to use a public road this extensively, without considering the impact on the local community?

The original permit for this Quarry in 1991 was for rail ballast transport yet the expansion application has a 3 x increase in rail use and a 5 x increase in road use. Why would a quarry that’s current license is that of a rail ballast quarry apply for such heavy road use? The answer provided to the public was that it cost $1 more per metric tonne to transport via rail. Whilst this may be a minor cost to the company at what accrued detrimental cost will it be to these established communities?

Read on for our story …

On moving to this region from inner west Melbourne, we were a young healthy energetic family ready to cycle and walk the country roads and explore the pretty regional vistas as much as possible. Bike trailers and prams at the ready we were astounded by the heavy traffic on our road and many trucks roaring by. We felt unsafe. Beginning at 5:00am through to 23:00pm 6 days per week, the regular disruptive noise of heavy diesel deceleration and acceleration throughout the day, night and early hours of the morning greatly impacted sleeping patterns of both adults and infants. Many of these vehicles were from the Martins creek Quarry. We have since heard that this amount of usage was not permitted and legal action was taken against Daracons’ unlicensed excessive road use by Dungog council. We dread the thought of this frequent abrasive noise returning to our community and still to this day Daracon trucks have been sighted travelling outside the permissible operation hours.

 
I continue to walk myself, dog and children regularly to school, playgrounds, and day care. Whilst I try to use a route that is both quiet and safe, it is a challenge. I must still cross Paterson road during peak times and walk upon different sections of the road unpathed. A new footpath along Paterson road completed by Maitland council in Feb 2021 has made these journeys somewhat safer but with heavy exhaust pollution it is not quieter or at all healthy. Crossing the road causes us the most concern as there is an almost constant stream of oncoming traffic in both directions during most of the day and no pedestrian islands within Bolwarra/Heights. We sometimes stand and count cars until we are able to safely cross, often we reach upwards of 100. 272 vehicles is our record. The additional Daracon trucks on the road will make the simple act of crossing our road more difficult and unsafe.

Within 1 year of moving here my then 3 year old daughter was admitted to ER with severe breathing difficulties. It was her first Asthma attack and she now carries her Ventolin inhaler everywhere. I have also succumbed to regular respiratory infections and have recently commenced using Symbicort an Asthma inhaler to overcome a chronic cough I’ve had for the last 18 months. We are the first in our extended families to be diagnosed with this respiratory disease. Whilst this cannot be attributed to Daracon’s quarry alone the further addition of 31,000 trucks per annum emitting carcogenic diesel fumes and silica rock dust as they pass through the community could indeed amount to further health complications to myself and many more residents in this region.

Australia is setting targets to reduce it’s carbon emissions, however this major project application will not assist this. Over the coming years can Daracon work towards becoming a zero emission company? Not just by revegetating land and purchasing biosource forested land as an offset, but by investing in vehicle technologies that are both quieter and lower in emissions? Can it rely on rail ballast transport rather than stressing an already heavily utilized residential route? Can it expand it’s output by 5-10% rather than a major tripling of size to meet the requirements of its’ national clients?

Whilst the use of road transport may provide cheaper running costs for Daracons already lucrative quarry than rail, it must be asked what is the ultimate cost to the surrounding community? And whilst the 3 fold expansion would offer more jobs, and obviously more quarry material for both the national and the international markets does it really need to be so extensive? I ask local, state and federal government members who look to strengthen and protect it’s communities to reject the current Major project Martins creek quarry expansion proposal.

Regards
Camille Adams
12 Canna Street, Bolwarra, NSW, 2320

I write this e-mail to oppose the Martins Creek Quarry Expansion for several reasons.
Paterson is deemed by many to be a quaint rural town along with the localities of Tocal and Mindaribba.+The suburbs of Bolwarra and Bolwarra Heights are expanding with many young families.
These areas are generally seen as excellent places to reside and visit except when it comes to truck traffic!
It would be hard to imagine a significant increase in the truck movements through these areas.
It seems incomprehensible that the project is considering the use of trucks when there is an existing railway line to the site. The use of this infrastructure to deliver bulk material to a siding in an existing industrial close to the intended markets would seem to be a better outcome for the folks that live along the planned truck routes.
As a recreational cyclist in the area I am fully aware of the hazards that exist with large trucks on often narrow country roads.
There would be an extremely adverse consequence for cyclists in the area with a increase in truck movements which may negatively affect tourism, not to mention the increased hazards and risks for road users.
The appropriate rail infrastructure exists to enable the project to proceed without severely impacting on the health, lifestyle and wellbeing of residents and road users in the surrounding areas.
Please maintain a quality of life in the surrounding areas by rejecting this expansion of the Quarry based on the plan to use trucks to export the finished products from the site.

The total destruction of land for profit, and increase in truck movements on quiet, and increasingly busy, roads are completely objectionable.

I am very concerned that the increased truck traffic in the built up area could cause a serious accident with children near the travel route and also general traffic

I do not believe that there is suitable infrastructure for thr expansion of the Quarry.
The roads are not capable of the increase in traffic.
This will be detrimental to the area.

I have one major gripe about this project. The route that utilises Melbourne Street, East Maitland is already radically over used as an arterial road for the area particular during peak hours. As a local resident I've noticed a significant increase in volume of traffic in only 3 years. If I recall correctly the last traffic volume study was performed 6 years ago.

Everything else I've reviewed appears to make sense.

This project will have a devastating impact on our quiet, rural community. Issues include dust, vibration and noise from blasting operations, as many as 280 trucks per day moving through rural village communities on local residential roads and school bus routes which will impact road surfaces, general driving conditions and residential safety. The increased hours of operation of the quarry will have a noise impact on neighbouring residents. This and the aforementioned blasting operations and truck movements will have a negative effect on property values and quality of life. Daracon unlawfully operated various aspects of this mining operation at this quarry from the period 2012 to 2019 and the impacts experienced at that time were as described above. We have no desire to return to these conditions.

This project expansion will lead to many impacts which I believe are not in the interests of the community. I live in Paterson which has high pedestrian traffic. Many school kids walk to and from the bus stop here in the morning and afternoon and I believe that the increase in truck movements will lead to the increased possibility of someone getting struck.
The safely of our community should always be the number one priority and this project expansion does not take this into account.

To the Department of Planning , Industry and the Environment,

We wish to forward this submission contesting any expansion of Martins Creek Quarry.
In particular we wish to strongly object to Daracon’s general operation, the impact on residents, the disturbance affecting community life and impact on movement and road conditions.

The operators of this venture have shown continued disrespect towards Bolwarra, Paterson and Martins Creek residents for many years through illegal truck movements, unlawful extraction limits and excessive noise levels. The courts have continued to support our communities by blocking all Daracon’s plans for expansion, however Daracon continues to submit proposals for increased output. We urge the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to continue to reject any submissions to increase operations.

The impact on residents needs to be central in determining Daracon’s submissions. Martins Creek residents suffer excessively due to blasting, dust and truck movements. Bolwarra and Paterson are greatly affected by noise, traffic movement and the increased potential for accidents. Paterson’s Main Street rail crossing, combined with the 90 degree corner turn adjacent to the rail crossing make expansion very dangerous for residents and other traffic. Our area has an increasing population which all impacts on traffic flow. There are young people in our area learning to drive, and also a great number of young inexperienced drivers from Tocal Agricultural College, all at increased risk due to the proposed expansion of the number of truck movements.

Our small, historic villages need to be appreciated for their unique, peaceful atmosphere and we feel any expansion is detrimental to Bolwarra, Paterson and Martins Creek.

We wish to add our voices contesting the proposed expansion of Martins Creek Quarry .

We strongly urge the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to continue to reject any submissions to increase operations and to safeguard the safety of our residents.

Pam and Max Gentle
Bolwarra Heights

I live in East Maitland and operate an Airbnb in Vacy. I drive between these locations multiple times per week. I am well aware of the poor state of Dungog Council's roads and expect the state of the roads to be even worse due to the huge increase in truck movements expected with this project. The risk extends beyond dodging potholes and maintaining safe clearance to trucks on narrow roads. The gravel dropped by the trucks does damage to windscreens and headlights which are a safety hazard, expensive to repair and impossible to recoup from those creating the hazard (Daracon). If the stretch of Gresford Road from Paterson to Dungog Road was rebuilt and widened, the worst part of the road I need to share with the truck traffic would be improved.
I am also concerned that the truck traffic detracts from the quiet, rural area that is a draw for the tourists I serve. Particularly Paterson will be hard hit by the constant flow of trucks through its main street. I am sympathetic to the local residents affected by the noise, dust and traffic hazards posed by the increase in traffic. I can appreciate the loss they must feel of their rural lifestyle and the relative peace and quiet of their homes and farms.

Concerning the increase of traffic due to trucks on Paterson Road. The road is already severely congested and it would be both inappropriate for the suburban area and a disaster for traffic management. I speak in regards to Bolwarra/Bolwarra Heights but I’m sure this problem is also relevant to the other areas the truck route goes through. Please do not allow our beautiful country suburbs until a truck thoroughfare.
Thanks-
Chloe

This will have a devastating impact on Paterson and the wider communities in Bolwarra and East Maitland.
Paterson is a busy town; there are no pedestrian crossings and it will pose a much higher risk to people with such an enormous traffic load.
In addition to this the roads have historically been in terrible condition due to the truck traffic. They will deteriorate rapidly under such high use as they are country roads not designed to have 280 trucks per day!! Repairs will not keep up with the damage, and Dungog council can not keep up with basic road repairs as it is. This will make the roads more dangerous into town and severely impact lifestyle.
Daracon blew their chance with illegal operations, how can they be trusted to do right by the communities. It is outrageous that they should be given another chance.

It is already hard enough to get onto Paterson road without the added traffic the quarry expansion will bring. There are a lot of children who walk to and from Bolwarra Primary school that cross the road this would make it more unsafe for them to do so

I will definitely not appreciate all the extra traffic and pollution in the area.